Umenorin (uhm-men-or-ehn)
The sun cradled city of the Elves, Umenorin is the second oldest surviving city in the world. Beat out only by the Animalian city Sheth'Baru. Situated right on The Scorch Line as hemmed by the Sol to be closest to their patron; the sun. The light reflects off the beautifully intricate detail of every building as chipped away by generations - that is to say, thousands of years of dedication to a single task.
But more importantly, it deters the Doka as the turncoats and the Stygvens as the dwellers of the shadows wishing to sink the rest of the world into the same cold. Umenorin is sworn to protecting the natural beauty of Demetora Valley (that exactly, not just beauty, not just nature) but not to rule it as they only take what they need for their city and no more. Other settlements in the area must be ungreedy in what they take and they too will not be deemed a rash on the plains but part of it. And so far, Umenorin seems to adhere to these words.
Demographics
Dominant Race: Sol
Common Races: Leif and Sysen
Other Races: Ocea, Half Elves and the odd Lethven
Absent Races: Most all else just find themselves struggling to stand so alone here. Doka and Stygvens are outright exiled
Beasts: Pegasus, Clydesdale and Pearl horses
Government
The Courts
Individual leaders called princes and princesses rule over different courts that govern different systems within the city and come together to decide upon major decisions. As Elves highly value and respect personal freedom the actual governing appears lazy in the eyes of others. At most these courts maintain the systems to keep order, great change is rare and mostly seen as unnecessary. They've ruled this way for centuries and it has always worked for them, why change now?
That said, many court positions stay within certain families, creating a sort of Elven nobility of families. This is supposedly purely to pass on the most experience to the most convenient, i.e. a master to young family member. By nature rather than direct intention it's simply best to keep the skills in the family, but that is by no means a hard set rule.
The Ruling Chain
Princes and Princesses: "The leader of a Court, which all together run the city." There is no sole leading Court within Umenorin, should one act to step out of line, all others will rise against them. But each Court is ruled by one to better direct the action, but the best work closely with their court members. Due to the cycle of generational teachings, many courts are of the same family.
Lords and Ladies: "Next in command." Those likely to disperse the work for the Prince and Princesses and most likely to inherit the position after them due to the accumulation of experience.
Court Members: The remaining members that make up a Court. Some courts have many, some only require one or two. It entirely depends on the purpose and need of that specific Court.
Positions in a Court are not set in stone despite the fairly consistent cycle (Elves and their cycles huh), someone believing themselves better for a position than someone else can challenge for it in a public display appropriately designed to display their reasoning: combat strategy for the Thorns, artistic skill for the Blooms etc. Although who wins these duels of skill is decided by the present public, so it's not entirely unlike a popularity contest in the end.
Defences
- The Court of Thorns is essentially the military. The smallest military in the world for the city's size. However, each member is reportedly worth 20 to 50 soldiers of any other.
- The Court of Vines are very skilled in magic, after all Elves have all the time in the world to master The Magic Thread
- In truly devastating catastrophes, the Sysen are able to magically pull on their tethers to Ribosia to relocate the city to the dream plane. This is truly a last resort as it abandons Demetora Valley, which is pridefully under their protection
- ???
Industry & Trade
Level: Low
Common out trade: Fine unqiue crafts, and perhaps the most magical based creations
Common in trade: Not much else
Source of food: Farms for itself readily
Source of water: Unerground water wells are magically purified
Infrastructure
- Focus on finely carved golden marble (a golden rock that can be polished to appear like marble)
- Some savanna environment influence as well
Districts
Deities & Worship
General view: Good, lawful and neutral deities are fine
Common deities:
- Soephina goddess of Spring
- Aller goddess of Autumn
- Faylee god of Winter
- Sumoris god of Summer
- Slerris of Magic Nature
- Demetora goddess of Nature
- Azaloth god of Magic
- Erena goddess of Knowledge
- Pashakal god of Light
Restrictions: The Abyssmals naturally, as the enemies and dangers to their preferred deities
Implementations: Temples all over of all sizes and shapes
Reliance: High, if only because there are so many and highly connected to the Elven history and being
Guilds and Factions
The Courts
Circles: Some parts of the city are separated into literal circle shaped districts (to a pretentious degree) according to certain purposes to allow efficient distribution of resources and focus. Each Court has a Circle, some being larger by need than others.
The Court of Thorns
In essence, the military force. The prince/princess acts as the general, the lords/ladies as captains and all else as the foot soldiers.
Current Prince/Princess: ???
Current Lords/Ladies: ???
The Court of Vines
The magic and magic education and development. Separate from the military to keep one court from amassing too much destructive power, the two courts are responsible for keeping each other in check.
Current Prince/Princess: ???
Current Lords/Ladies: ???
The Court of Blooms
Like an artisan guild, the court of blooms ensures creation in whatever form that may be. Such creations are then often passed onto the Court of Pollen to be sold, traded and so on to their heart's desires.
Current Prince/Princess: ???
Current Lords/Ladies: ???
Lord Imeralis Irphenkiir of Gem Bloom, heading the jewellery craft
The Court of Pollen
Like a traders guild, the court of pollen ensures the economy within Umenorin remains strong because that is the standard of which the rest of the world runs and it wouldn't do to fall out of time and favour with them.
Current Prince/Princess: ???
Current Lords/Ladies: ???
Points of interest
- Its architectural beauty
- Being heavily Elf dominant, especially the Sol
Geography
Location: Bright Ring, Svercorr, Demetora Valley, on The Scorch Line
Terrain: Lush savanna (if dewy grass and flower fields had the colouring of the savanna) and gold stone
Climate
As it's located in The Bright Ring it sees a full day of sun and only a 6 hour semi-twilight period as the sun only dips to touch the horizon before rising once more. Experiences the conditions of Summer to Spring, with coastal breezes at least keeping the humidity low.
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