Estia

Cover image credit Antoine Helbert

"As a jewel among stone, so sits Estia. A beacon for all who wander this world and find it lacking."
-Rakim Mystraleth, Bard, from Songs of Somewhere Else, 1591 C.C.

Structure

The city state is ruled by a democratically elected High Council of ten people dubbed Hallisars, each member with a single term limit of ten years. These ten work in conjunction with a similarly elected Low Council of thirty-one dubbed Connsirtars, and an organized but unregulated citizen's board of prominent community members below them. The merchant class hold's the most sway in the city, though the will and advice of the mages from the Magisterium holds much sway. While there is no organized military representatives of the Pike Guard adventurers company are held on semi-permanent retainer as city defenders, and members of multiple other Companies are prominently represented in the city.

Culture

Estia is a city of free thought and individualism. The culture of the city encourages everyone to act in their best interest, while also placing emphasis and taking pride in helping the less fortunate. Ideas of hard work, entrepreneurship, and innovation keep the wheels of the city turning and the constant flow of coin is the blood in the city's veins.

Public Agenda

The basis of Estian society is commerce and a free market economy. The city was founded in an effort to trade freely from the oversight of neighboring governments and the mission of the city and it's people remains largely the same today; to make everyone as much money as possible with as little interference as necessary.

Assets

The city is known as the City of Golden Waters for a reason. Since it's founding as a trading outpost the settlement has grown rapidly on the premise of free trade into a wealthy and influential port city. While the majority of the cities wealth is consolidated in the pockets of it's elite, a reputation of generosity and cooperation permeates the political landscape so charity and infrastructural growth are widespread and encouraged.
While the city has no standing military the Pike Guard adventuring company has become the defacto force of law and order. Boasting a small but infamous naval force and being well respected amongst the population, the Guard are a small but effective mercenary outfit that have been on the city's payroll for nearly a century.
The city famously plays host to the Silver Towers of the Magisterium, the premier learning and gathering place for magic users across the continent. The Magisterium was founded in Estia as a refuge for wizards and sorcerers of all kinds from the harsher and sometimes life-threatening laws and oversights of other powers. It has since grown into a powerful and influential institution in the cities eastern ward, and holds much sway in the day to day running of the settlement.

History

Founded in 1534 C.C. as a remote wilderness trading post, Estia grew quickly into an economic and cultural powerhouse as people across the land flocked to this new 'Free People's Town'. Created as a haven away from the heavy handed or greedy political powers of the day, free trade, wealth for all, and welcoming acceptance are the principles that have guided the city's evolution from backwater camp to the what many consider the most glamorous city in the world in a little less than 150 years.
The politics have grown more regimented over the years with democratically elected officials, mostly merchants, raised to lead and direct the city. Perhaps miraculously, corruption and exploitation remains relatively low, though that's not to say it doesn't exist. While the mantra of the city is 'A coin for every soul', the locals take a grim glee in the double meaning of the phrase, insinuating that every person can make their fortune here but it may cost them their soul in the long run.
The city grew very rapidly and attracted a lot of attention from it's neighbors, but the contracting of strong mercenaries and the higher than average population of magically gifted citizens has kept the wealthy city state safe as its matured. The  mages who made their home here banded together and founded the Silver Tower's of the Magisterium within the Estian walls, serving as a gathering place for all those magically inclined and a formal school of the sorcerous ways. It also forms a sort of pseudo-government for magic users across Faneshorn and beyond, and has accumulated what some believe to be an unhealthy amount of power.
In the present day Estia acts as an unrivaled trade city, setting the market for much of the continent as well as lands to the south and east. It's a cultural melting pot with people of all races, ethnicities, and religions gathering in what has generally been peaceful coexistence under the watchful eyes of the Pike Guard. It's garnered a reputation as a place you can make your fortune or lose everything you've ever known, find any treasure or secret you desire, and make a new life if you've need to run from your old one.

A coin for every soul.

Founding Date

1534 C.C.

Type

Geopolitical, City-state

Alternative Names

City of Golden Waters, Free People's Town

Demonym

Estian

Location

Faneshorn: The Center of the World