Citystate of Yaty
Home to merchants and explorers, they saying goes that Yatians spend less time in their city than aboard their ships. Given their prowess for the open seas, their influence is felt throughout Tarien's history, even if their star has waned of late. A center of commerce and philosophical thought, the past century has seen many Human nobles send their children to the Yatian Finishing School to learn the art of rulership, further cementing the citystate's ties with the rest of Tarien.
Structure
Yaty has an unusual position among states on Tarien. In the first days after its independence from the Empire of Eldoria it was a true democracy. Perhaps because of its small size, or perhaps because of its remote location, Yaty has retained that spirit even as it has grown into a republic, its bylaws set down in a short treatise known simply as Our Republic. While each citizen has a voice in government, they do not manage its day-to-day affairs. Instead, citizens vote to determine who will hold a position in the Senate, a council of twenty-five officers who dictate the policies and laws of the Citystate. Senators serve for five years at a time, and upon completion of their term, a Senator must wait at least three years before he may serve again. One-fifth of the terms are voted upon each year. Elections are held after the spring planting, while the bulk of the outlying population has little work and the sun makes it difficult to leave the shade of sidewalk café’s and their political discussions. Politicking is a popular past-time among the citizens, and those running for office often spend the days before elections moving from café to café, or holding open discussions in the Yatian Forum when the sun dips and the cool evening breeze comes in from the Darsiac Ocean. Election campaigns are battles over ideas. Campaigns that involve slander and mudslinging are seen as poor taste, and candidates, who use these tactics rarely, if ever, get elected. All votes are held by secret ballot, where a citizen tells his vote to an Electorate, one of the nine leading priests from each of the primary Human gods. The need to vote by speaking to a memeber or the Electorate means that all citizens of Yaty travel to the forum on Election day, creating a festival-like atmosphere. The Electorates tally the vote and add them at day’s end.
The Senate has complete control over the affairs of Yaty. They divide themselves up into three person committees who research issues and present their cases before the entire Senate for a vote. They serve as justices and hear cases brought forth by both the state and by individual citizens. The Commandant of Yaty’s small military, which also serves as law enforcement, is selected by and reports directly to the Senate. The Senate also maintains relationships with other nation-states, especially its major trading partners of Eldoria and the Zennonaize Confederacy. Generally, the Senate attempts to obey the will of its citizens and further the interests of the citystate. Occasionally, a Senator has more devious ends. The Senate does, however, have the ability to call a general vote of confidence in any Senator at any time. If the citizens vote no confidence, then that Senator must step down, and special elections for a replacement are held.
Everything in Yaty depends upon being a citizen. The government raises money by taxing citizens and non-citizens alike. Citizens, however, pay fewer taxes. Tariffs on goods entering or leaving Yaty are also high. As many goods either bound for or originating in in the Confederacy must pass through Yaty, these tariffs give the citystate a large budget. Citizens have many rights not found elsewhere in Tarien such a Free Speech, Right to Trial Before the Senate, and a small annual allowance from the Senate should they fall upon hard times. Non-citizens have rights under the law, although they are substantially less protective. They also have no voice in government.
Citizenship is also difficult to obtain. At any given time, less than a third of the citystate's population can consider themselves citizens.
Three methods exist to obtain citizenship. First, anyone born of parents who are citizens of Yaty automatically obtain citizenship themselves. As the citystate has few people, and less citizens, this method usually does not require documentation or proof. If the citizenship of a person’s parents is questioned, only two citizens need to vouch for their citizenship before the Senate to lay the issue to rest. The second method of obtaining citizenship is through military service. Anyone who serves in the military for ten years receives the status of a citizen for himself, his spouse, and his children. The Senate may also grant citizenship to the family of any person who died in military service. While this may seem like a popular means of obtaining citizenship, it is often quite difficult. Due to the small size of Yaty, its military often does not have any need for additional soldiers. Finally, a person may be granted citizenship by a general vote of the Senate. Such a person must have a Yatian sponsor, recite the history and philosophy of the citystate, and swear an oath to Yaty.
Culture
Yaty prides itself on its tolerance of ideas. Yatian society revolves around the debate. Most Yatian’s spend their afternoons in cafes, discussing politics, religion, and philosophy. Late afternoon brings a return to work for most citizens, but as the sun begins to fade over the Darsaic Ocean, men and women return to the streets to gentlemen who continue to work hard, augmenting their own fortunes and maintaining a vibrant economy. Almost any ideas, way of life or belief are tolerated. There is, however, a strong sense of community well-being that binds Yatian's together. While they might bicker over the nuances of meaning in a poem or delve into theories about the best ways to worship Zardula, they draw the line at anything that threatens their community. The rights granted by citizenship are never taken lightly and a sure way to find oneself in a Yatian prison is to threaten them.
History
Compared to many nation-states in Tarien, the history of Yaty is relatively brief. Still, with settlement of Azermathia bringing a swath of newer nation-states in the political fold, Yaty has recently begun to influence world events much in the way that more established human nations have, particularly with its leadership in exploration, trade, and of course, philosophical discourse.
The settlement of the city began in 232 AC when colonists seeking land and opportunity arrived from Eldoria arrived, complete with a full Imperial Legion after the then Baron and soon to be Duke Parfelle convinced Emperor Jethrick d'Uthar III that a colony along the western shores of the Prydith Peninsula was to the benefit of the Empire. As a far-flung colony, the Duke had virtually absolute control over his citizens. While the Duchy ran smoothly, economic times were hard. The extreme heat of the summer sun, despite the lack of humidity in the region, and the general lack of easily accessible natural resources made the Duchy an unprofitable venture from the outset. Hundreds fled before farms were firmly established, many fleeing to the new city of Gartcha or to the better farmland south of the city before the Duke completed construction of city walls around the base of a large hill on Theridon Bay in 263 AC.
His son, Jermaine Parfelle was named Duke. Jermaine promoted two key changes during his reign. First, he hired the architect Frances Chezonne to help solve the agricultural challenges plaguing the city. With its unusually dry climate - the only rains coming in torrents during the change from the city's mild winter to its warm summer and back again, there was little fresh water with which to grow crops. Chezonne's answer was to employ the mighty columns for which he was ridiculed in Karradone. These towering columns carried water in troughs out from the Wind Wall Mountains and into the city, providing ample water for crops and what was once a critical shortage became a surplus. Jermaine soon began to subsidize the farmers that had fled south and taxes flowed into his coffers.
With his new found wealth, Jermaine allowed the architect to convince him to redesign the city. With bold ideas, Chezonne proposed a city plan, one that would allow the Duke to control the growth of the city. He built concentric circles around the hill, leading from the harbor to the palace atop the hill. He lined these hills with great arches, columns and trees of olive, fig, and lemon to provide shade. By Jermaine's death in 294 AC, Yaty was a splendid city growing faster than housing could be built. The projects, however, were as expensive as they were ambitious and the Duchy was horribly in debt.
Jermaine’s son, Marmaduke Parfelle, assumed control of the Duchy and immediately doubled all taxes in an effort pay down his father's debts. Finding that the farmers bent to the new taxes but managed to scrape by, and faced with his accountants reckoning that at his current repayment of debt, his grandson would still be paying down the interest, doubled his tax levy again a winter later. It took until that fall's harvest for the farmers, looking at their meager earnings for their hard work, to begin to rise up.
As a far flung outpost of the Empire, Yaty had less than a full Legion with which to keep order. Worse for Marmaduke, over the past century, most were recruited from local colonists. They had never seen the Island of Eldoria and their loyalties lay with their families, not the Empire. As farmers took pitchforks and torches to the streets in protest, he wrote to the Emperor who, faced with his own debts, declined to send any aid. When the mob finally overran the Duke's palace, hanging him from own of its signature orange trees, the Emperor again declined to retaliate, instead granting the city its freedom.
For three years, the local farmers, bakers, smiths, and soldiers met to define their government, terms of citizenship, and their rights. The debate started and stopped several time, drawn out by the need to till fields, bake bread, mend shoes, and fight off local monsters. Finally, after many words were exchanged, some coarse and honest and others, if the historical dramas written about the times are to be believed, eloquent and even poetic, consensus was attained. Yaty would experiment with government by all. There would be no nobility, no king. Instead, the common people would govern themselves in a moral and sensible manner. Finally, in 306 AC, the first general elections were held to determine who would dedicate five years of their lives to govern the city.
The results of these elections established the first Yatian Senators. Victors generally came from the more thoughtful and educated members of the former colony who quickly realized that for this experimental form of government to succeed, the people must be educated. To that end, the Senate set aside land for what it envisioned as a grand, public school. Unfortunately, the realities of funding such a project meant that tuition at the new Yatian Finishing School meant that only the wealthiest of families, mostly merchants, could send their children. Still, its charter contained language requiring its students to give back and to this day many of its graduates donate time and gold to the betterment of city.
Contact with Wemic tribes living in the Narmouth Desert to the east had first occurred years ago. In the intervening years it had continued in a sporadic, often violent fashion. In 315 AC, however, Yatian farmers to the southeast of the city took in two wounded Wemic cubs, and begin to raise them as their own children. Ten years later, after the cubs returned to their tribe, an emissary of Wemic chieftains, shaman, and elders approached the city gates in peace. Since that time, an unspoken truce has existed between the Wemic and Yaty and a sparse trade, mostly Yatian metal goods for rare desert herbs, continues between the two.
As much of the best farmland south of the city became settled, the Citystate's burgeoning population began to build farmland north. By 324 AC enough homesteads had been built that a bridge across the Foaming River was clearly needed. the Senate voted for its construction and the small village of Mora, just north of the river's floodplain was founded as a central market.
It was across this bridge, in that a strange caravan arrived in Yaty from the north. The caravan, containing Zennonaize merchants, cavalry, and silks, was allowed into the city for trade. Within thirty minutes, the entire stock of silk had been sold for a ridiculous price. Word of the strange land and its silks, fine horses, and crafts spread throughout the sea. The Senate, always cautious with strangers, established a small garrison in Mora, charged with destroying the bridge across the river should the caravan be followed by an invading army. Their fears have, to date, been unfounded and trade between the two states has flourished over the years with Yaty has often been called the gateway to the Northwest.
The idea of having a garrison in Mora percolated through the minds of citizens for over a half-century before it was repeated in the south, along the Damsu River. In truth, the area had seen little in the way of dangers for over a century until a marauding band of hill giants came south from the Trai'dietch Pass and forced the Senates hand. The town of Bennet grew up around the garrison and become a central market for the goods from southern farms to collect before being shipped to the city.
By the turn of the fifth century, AC, several prominent citizens of Yaty had accumulated vast amounts of wealth. A small group of them, enjoying leisurely afternoon meal and debate among the trees atop the hill, noted that the old ducal estate, abandoned since the founding of the citystate over a century past, had fallen into disrepair. it was, they declared, an eyesore. The group each vowed to donate the gold required to clear out the estate. As work proceeded, election season came and one of the individuals, himself running for Senate, held an event in on the newly cleared grounds. It is said that during his speech, while looking out among the throng seated comfortably beneath the shade of the orange trees, that he had a vision of a grand public space. Two years later, funded by city taxes, the Yatian Forum was born.
Far from the conflict, Yaty was largely unscathed by the Great War. It did send its small military to aid the Soulmeliti Forests but they saw little action, mostly organizing supply trains and generally staying away from the war's greatest battles. Several soldiers, however, returned with lucrative contracts to import Soulmeliti goods. The Second Elynthi War, however, made this trade short lived.
Yatian captains, renowned for their seamanship, led the charge to chart Azermathia during the great explorations of the sixth and seventh century. Beginning with Captain Otto Von Ghana's decision to sail south from Geltamar Canal, and his subsequent discovery of Hopki Bay, Yatians, along with their Eldorian cousins, drove the recent expansion of human settlements beyond the Inner Seas. Ghana was followed by Cedric Kandar I, who explored first the Gulf of Azermathia near modern day Rathgar and then later the Redstone Basin.
Both Ghana and Kandar were followed by their children who, arguably, expanded Yatian influence even more than their fathers. Hans von Ghana continued to venture south, finding the then later very corner of the continent and then, a decade later finding the dark jungles at the bottom of Azermathia. Cedric Kandar II, named an honorary noble by the Senate, raised funds to attempt to prove a theory that one could sail all the way around southern Tarienand arrive in the Merdenkal Peninsula, where a lucrative trade with the elusive Elynthi awaited. His journey met with success, though at the cost of his own life. His first mate, Marcel du Vont sees the journey through, however and later founds the Elanthai Trading Company, which to this day is the sole source of Elynthi trade with Yaty.
With that exploration came the great fishing trade and later colonization of Azermathia. Well before Anderi fundamentalists claimed Drakkar, Yatians from the middle classes, feeling the pressures of a burgeoning population in the small democracy, laid the stones to the first foundations of the city. A few years later, deep sea fishing vessels from Yaty sought shelter from a storm in Rathgar Bay, founding the first village to bear that name.
While Yatians did not return to Rathgar after it destruction at the hands of Goblins, their fishing vessels continued to work the nearby waters and use the fish processing facilities that grew up in there. the fish trade, and its processing became so lucrative that Yaty began to have colonial dreams of its own. After much debate in the Senate, the small democracy challenged the mighty Eldorian Empire, laying claim Rathgar and the surrounding waters. A dozen warships - there entirety of the Yatian navy - was sent to blockade the city. The Imperial Navy responded in kind. The trade of marlin, swordfish, and tuna came to a crashing halt. For two years, these meaty delicacies, to which nobles all across the Inner Seas had grown overly fond, could not be had. Finally, merchants with wiser heads prevailed, entreating Yaty and Eldoria to grant Rathgar independence and all a resumption of the lucrative trade that continues to this day.
Demography and Population
The majority of the Citystate's residents are Human, making up more than four-fifths of the population. Among citizens, that ratio climbs to greater than nine out of ten, though many that travel to and settle in the Citystate never achieve the lofty title of citizen. Khadra and Dharja make up most of the remaining races represented in Yaty, with both often working as merchant guards, craftsmen, or merchants themselves. A scattering of Soulmeliti still reside in the Citystate, mostly those that settled here during the occupation of the Forests, gained citizenship, and never returned after their liberation. Like the Soulmeliti, a handful Nerrid call Yaty home, all of whom have become citizens over the years. While no Ork or Elynthi have attained citizenships, a scant few have taken up temporary residence in the city, the Orks often as day laborers and the Elynthi merely extend visitors, their designs kept entirely to themselves.
Territories
Yaty's climate can best be described at temperate, though during the summer months a relentless sun beats down upon the city on the hill, driving temperatures to unpleasant levels. The cool ocean current that a runs along the Prydith Peninsula passes to the west of Theridon Bay, allowing the waters to grow warm under that summer sun. This, in turn, keeps the surrounding coastline warm as it cools more slowly than the land in the fall, moderating the chill in the air and leading to many foggy autumn mornings. Winters are cool, but rarely cold, and snow is a rare occurrence.
The surrounding countryside has been cleared of trees to make room for farms, with the massive hardwoods of the Theridon Forests ever pushed westward, both as material for Yatian ships and to open up new fields. The remaining trees soak up much of the rain and mist that comes off of the Darsiac Ocean and the Wind Wall Mountains force the rest to dump onto city and plains, falling almost every afternoon in the winter months. Blue skies blanket the region for much of the rest of the year, leaving farmers to use the Damsu River for irrigation.
Military
Laws in Yaty favor citizen’s rights, but enforcement remains strict. The military in Yaty doubles as its police force. They tolerate a wide array of ideas, but any action physically against a citizen results in swift response. The most common punishment for minor crimes is community service, while major criminals suffer exile or execution.
The military has garrisons along the major border villages of the citystate: Mora to the north and Bennet to the south. These garrisons keep the countryside clear of brigands and other dangers, but would do little to deter an invading army. Fortunately the Dono in Zennon and various kings in Prydith have no such aspirations.
While Yaty has little in the way of a standing army, they do boast one of the finest navies on Tarien. While they may not have as many ships as the Imperial Navy, the caliber of their craft and crew has the reputation of being the finest on the high seas. Armed with the latest ballistae and navigation equipment, they favor fast and light multi-sailed ships that can both sail circles around larger Eldorain galleons while also packing enough punch to seriously threaten them. The Yatian navy has a long history of success in such engagements ranging from thwarting various sieges of Gartcha to strangling the fish trade between Rathgar and the Empire.
Religion
The Senate has long decreed that any man may worship any deity that he pleases him. Freedom of religion applies to both citizens and non-citizens. Some deities are naturally more popular than others, with Anderi being extremely popular due to the city's Eldorian roots. The large number of sailors in the city proper and a cultural disposition to the arts makes worship of Jendredi commonplace. In fact, the Museum of the Mad Mariner, located on the hillside at the outskirts of Yaty, is the closest thing to a main temple that her worshipers maintain. Merchants and philosophers, of course, hold Landric in high regard and farmers here, like elsewhere, pay homage to Chetria. The city even boasts small temples to Zardula and Mennith, though if there is any deity that Yatians distrust it is the Lord of Justice and his followers propensity for fundamentalism.
Foreign Relations
As a general rule, the Senate maintains positive relations with all foreign powers. With an army that serves more as a police force and defense against the encroachment of monsters from the nearby Rheuthengage Mountains and Narmouth Desert, they have little means of enforcing any foreign agenda. Their small but efficient Navy patrols the waters of Theridon Bay but ships flying flags from all nations are welcome at Yaty's docks and markets.
Aside from a brief conflict with Empire of Eldoria, they have maintained positive relations with their former imperial rulers and trade between the two is brisk. Similarly, the trade that occurs between the citystate and Principality of Grennig ensures that both have plenty of reasons to remain cordial. Their is always some suspicion of the Kingdoms of Prydith; their highly feudal system grating against Yaty's democratic ideals. Still, these fears, like those of an invasion from the Zennonaize Confederacy to the north have never amounted to anything. Their strongest rivalry is with neighboring Gartcha, but it is one purely born out of trade and has never degenerated to political hostilities. In fact, if anything, the opposite seems true. Gartcha can always count on a resupply from Yatian ships during one of the Confederacy's ill conceived sieges.
Agriculture & Industry
Agriculturally, Yaty is fairly self-sufficient. The farms around the City on the Hill supply it with grains, vegetables, dairy products and meats. Local fishermen add white and shell fish round out the citizens diet. The fortunes of Yaty’s citizens swing with the seasons. Spring and fall are boon times, with agriculture and trade at its peak. During winter and summer, as the traders subside and the farmers’ workloads are eased, the city’s economy relaxes.
Trade & Transport
The economy of Yaty revolves around trade. As the sole point of civilization of on the overland route between the Inner Seas and the Zennonaize Confederacy, and a merchant marine power that shuttles goods from Azermathia to points on the Darsiac Ocean and Sea of Storms in Yaty has dozens of open air markets. Caravanners swap their goods for traveling supplies. Fish, tropical fruits, and exotic metals flow north from Rathgar. Zennonaize saddles, fabrics, and manufactured metals flood the city for distribution throughout the Inner Seas region via ship or the treacherous caravan route across the northern Narmouth Desert. Eldoria sends woolen clothes, woodcrafts, and ceramics collected in Yaty’s markets for trips through Trai'dietch Pass. As Zennon produces the finest horses in Tarien, horse traders flock to the citystate. The horse market in the northern section of the city rivals markets in Katzpütch, Dharja, and even Zennon Zennon.
All citizens shall voice their opinions in the government through the mouths of those who they have selected by secret ballet.
Yatian Forum
Maps
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The Citystate of Yaty
Securing the Vote
Persius nodded in agreement, sipping his short cup of thick coffee. “More sugar, please.” The servant, white robe dancing in the salty breeze, added a spoonful and stirred. “I think that if we continue to raise tariffs on Eldorian wools, me must raise the taxes on Zennonaize silk proportionately. Both are integral to the economy of the city and without a balance between them, we will lose the benefits of being the gateway.” He slurped at the coffee, reassuring his servant with a pat on the hand.
Shaking his head, the man across the table from Persius popped a grape into his mouth. “The balance comes from volume. We have twice as much silk as wool moving through the city. We need to ensure that a balance of trade exists between Eldoria and Zennonaize. If one gains a surplus of the other’s commodity, trade will cease and our tariffs will become moot.” He smiled. “Outstanding grapes, my man. Now, remember my words at today’s vote.” The man rose, straightening his white robe, and turned abruptly toward the Forum. A train of six servants followed.
A slender hand touched Persius on the shoulder. “You do not really believe that Damascus will swing the vote, do you darling?” the silky blonde hair tickled his ear.
“No, not at all. “ Persius grinned, pressing a grape through soft, red lips. “Perhaps, you should lie down. The sun is exceptionally hot this afternoon.”
The woman shook her head, blue eyes fiercely calling him. “Not unless you wish to join me,” she giggled and slunk into the Damascus’s chair. Sucking down another grape, her lips made a pop. “These grapes are delicious.” Only the popping sound of grapes broke the silence as they sat while Persius finished his coffee.
Persious smiled and leaned down to lace his sandals. “I will be back after the session, dear.” He did not flinch at the thud from the hallway. Standing, he checked his hair. Leaning over, he kissed the woman and left, stepping over the snoring form of Damascus in the doorway, and headed for the Forum.
Founding Date
306 AC
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Capital
Training Level
Trained
Veterancy Level
Trained
Demonym
Yatians
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Economic System
Market economy
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Magic in Yaty
Yatians, like most of the human nations, purged itself of the arcane during the Mage Wars. Being a people of great ideological passion, once the idea took hold, it was pursued with vigor, though given the cities propensity toward tolerance, there were few burnings. In the end, hundreds of magi were banished. With nowhere to go, many attempted to flee to neighboring nations, only to perish when they failed to pass as mundane, leading historians to wonder if there was any mercy in Yaty's "tolerance."
While that fervor has died down over the years, magic is still outlawed in the citystate. Practice is forbidden officially and those found guilty of its practice are stripped of citizenship, forfeit any property they might have, and exiled. Among the wealthiest and most educated, however, there is a tendency to turn a blind eye to the occasional infraction, especially if helps to line a merchant's purse. There are also rumors that some wish to repeal the ban, though this idea is merely whispered in shadows as it would spell both financial and political disaster to anyone who held such a belief publicly.
Yatian Waterfront
Shifting Political Winds
While the people managing the citystate have changed over the years, government has always been conducted as a service to small nation's residents. Perhaps it is the design of the Senate that has made most who serve see it as a civic duty. After all, with new Senators joining every two years and a mandatory three year wait before running for a second term, few have made a career in politics. Most serve their term and then return to their lives as farmers, merchants, and craftsmen. Government has, as a result, remained light throughout Yaty's history. It keeps the peace and maintains critical infrastructure but does little to interfere with the lives of its citizens or the lifeblood of the city, its trade.
In recent years, however, there has been a new movement toward factions. Historically, Senators voted with their hearts and minds, siding with one group on an issue and another as the next issue arose, depending upon their own beliefs. Factions, however, have begun to change that dynamic. Some Senators have formed groups that, while more or less like minded, have agreed to vote for each other's issues in an effort to get them passed. They have even agreed to "stand in" for each other during the mandatory three year hiatus, allowing a faction's members to exert influence from outside the Senate.
There has even been one faction, the Forum for Democratic Reform, that has proposed amending the bylaws of the Senate to eliminate the three year waiting period for reelection. Populated by Senators that run for election at every opportunity, they have become career politicians, something many Yatians find distasteful. Still, their growing numbers and influence has many convinced that it is only a matter of time before faction has its way, especially if rumors of their underhanded political tactics are true.
Damascus's Vineyard
They spent the whole journey whistling, swigging brandy, and eating our food. They wouldn't lift to a finger to gather firewood or help when a wagon got stuck. And yet as we passed through the maze and saw the dark shapes moving in the distance we all thought to ourselves, hiring them was money well spent.