Republic of Terales
Terales is an oligarchic republic which has long been the dominant force within Cloriadme. A leading member of the Cloriadmen Confederation and capturing the lion's share of the region's trade, they have been able to leverage their resources and population to get ahead. Their navy, long one of the most advanced on Telgren, has traditionally been the pride of the state, though the recent success of the Alfumerran uprising has led to a reevaluation of priorities. Ever since they were pushed from the region, Terales has focused on shoring up their power and preparing their land forces to hopefully overwhelm the rebels, while blocking their admission to the Confederation.
History
Terales' initial state first arose in the early 14th century following efforts by Kosmevair missionaries in the region. With their core located on the edge of the eastern saltmarsh, Terales was one of the last places in Cloriadme to be converted to the faith. However, the local rulers quickly realized the potential of this new religion, and embraced it wholehearedly, using forced conversions and punishments to centralize their domain with the help of the missionaries. This centralization led to the formation of the Duchy of Terles in 1314. The dukes would use this power base to expand their borders greatly, conquering the "heretics and heathens" of the hinterland and enforcing their control over the lands. By the late 1300s, they were ascendent in the region, and dominated the east especially. Their only potential rival was the Republic of Suvelka, but this worried the dukes little. With a positon of power secured, they sought extend their control diplomatically, leveraging their size and population in commercial means.
In 1399, they would get the chance at last. The Duchy of Wellenia, a fellow Cloriadmen nation was being invaded by Fraspika, and the Wellenians had urged their fellow Cloriadmen to assist them. Many of the other nations were in favor of assisting the Wellenians, but were stymied by their weak militaries as well as the poor road network of Cloriadme and their lack of naval forces making troop transport difficult. Terales, though not afraid of Fraspika, sezied this opportunity to organize the coalition forces. As the only nation in Cloriadme with sufficient timber resources besides Wellenia, they financed the construction of naval forces, transporting the other coalition members' forces into Wellenia. After the victory of the coalition forces in this war, the people naturally looked to the actual troops that had arrived as their savior, but the other nations understood that Terales was the real reason those troops arrived. Terales would leverage this as well as their new naval strength to settle matters between the various participants, as well as strongarming the formation of the Cloriadmen Confederation.
As their main goal was to further their own interests, this quickly led to the end of the alliance between the various nations in the Confederation. Terlaes obtained commercial concessions from the weaker members, while playing the stronger ones off of one another an slowly gaining more control. Skirmishes between the other nations were still common during this time, but Terales generally preferred to invade those that had not joined. By 1450, all the remaining islands in the Saltmarsh that were not previously controlled by another Confederation member had been seized by Terales, and they would soon establish total control over trade through the Saltmarsh, charging tariffs for marchant ships wishing to enter or exit. Their growing navy combined with their dominance in trade with Ærellion and contacts with the Gnomes and Telrai of the region made their position unassailable. Though the other nations of Cloriadme also grew in wealth during this period, Terlaes saw more growth than any of them. Between 1400 and 1600, their population doubled, and arable land was greatly increased, though land was not in short supply. Other nations, having less fertile lands, were more focused on dikes and dams, which increased the fertility of their lands but also cost far more money than what Terales required to expand their farmlands. This left Terales wealthier, more populated, and more developed than the other Cloriadmen, further increasing the already sizable gap. It is often said that without Terales looming over their shoulders, the other nations in the Confederation would have been far more aggressive and warlike towards one another.
Terales' dominance didn't last forever, though, and things came to a head in [tbd]. For many years, Terales' eastern border was populated by various Egrivalad tribes, but this mattered little to the Duchy as the land was poor and they had plenty of resources already. These Egrivalad had also been left in peace due to their maintenance of a great magical shield which prevented the demons and devils of the Cursed Woods from escaping. Ruled by a council of mages, they were also seen as a good source for magical artifacts. Unfortunately, in [tbd], the shield fell and the demons and devils escaped. The Devils formed the nation of Kazielbon in the hills between the Egrivalad and Cloriadmen and began expanding their domain into Terales. This shocked the populace, who had long seen the Egrivalad as a heroic people led by divine forces which kept the evil sealed away, as per the teachings of Tweledism. Seen as heretical by the Kosmevair, Tweledism had prebiously prevailed. However, the failure of the Egrivalad to keep the forces of evil out convinced many that Kosmevair interpretation were in fact correct, and inspired religious fervor among Terales' population. Even as demon hordes roamed the lands, the people were spreading the word and soon a large host of peasant from across Cloriadme had assembled. Alongside professional military units from the various members of the Confederation, the priests called for a crusade against evil. Although there were initially setbacks, and the capital of Terales was sacked and the royal family slaughtered, the crusade continued and eventually succeeded. This led to the establishment of the Prince-Bishopric of Ostleckt, and the Cloriadmen people became far more devout, with Tweledism falling out of favor.
The Cloriadmen Crusade, though saving Terales itself, had devastated the country. Many people remained missing or were traumatized by the demons, and religious radicalism swept through the country. Those unlucky enough to have been forced into producing a Cambion were slaughtered as supposed colaborators, and those who still held faith in hero-worship were imprisoned or expelled from the country, further harming the demographics of the nation. This would lead to the flight of thse who feared being accused of such things to the Egrivalad lands, but most were caught and executed by the new Prince-Bishopric. Many formerly prosperous lands lay fallow for years after the war, contributing further to Terales' dark age. The southern parts of Terales would also be looked upon with suspicion, as many considered their light escape suspicious. Such mistreatment would later lead to the Alfumerran rebellion. Terales also saw great political strife, as the monarchy's fall and decline of the countryside left the burghers and clergy as the only viabe authorities. With many of the celrgymen later being "moved" to Ostleckt, the oligarchic merchants were left in charge, and the foundations for the current government were laid.
Overall, the 17th and 18th centuries S.C. were tough times for Terales, but their fall stengthened the Cloriadmen Confederation as other members were able to exploit new opportunities. They have largely stayed out of wars and taken a step back from strongarming their foes, although the navy remained strong throughout this period. In the end, despite the centralization of power to the wealthy burghers, prosperity would return to the nation by the 1800s, as Terales once more assumed a leading role within the Cloriadmen Confederation. With their population recovered, modern technology consistently producing better ships, and increasing global connectivity, Terales continued to grow in power an wealth. By the mid 1800s, they had clearly regained their position at the forefront of the Cloriadmen Confederation. Terales' desire for maritime dominance threatened the Tritons of the Gulf of Cloriadme, culminating in the 1867 Battle of Foroingen against the Tritons, in which a Tritonic invasion into Terales was repulsed and the Tritons slain as they attempted to retreat into the ocean. Gnomish weapons were affixed to the Teralan navy, which fired at the retreating Tritons as they entered the surf. Combined with archers from land, the Tritonic invasion was decimated. From this war, Terales became the first (and only) Cloriadmen nation to gain control over part of the Triton-held island of Marcisate. Terales' victories allowed the rise of the Tritonic nation of Maghleburn, which became close allies with Terales, eventually ceding their own land on Marcisate to them in 1912 for a lump sum. This allowed Terales to expand upon the goblin slave operations of Marcisate, which they were better-suited to compared to the Tritons. Thus, the slave trade became a valuable part of the Teralan commercial empire.
Terales spent much of the 20th century maintaining its commercial enterprises, though during the Telgren Time of troubles their economy would suffer. In 1988, the region of Alfumerra, which had long been poorer than the rest of Terales, revolted against the oligarchic council, installing a peasant republic instead. The Alfumerrans had been seen as lesser since the Cloriadmen Crusade, and had suffered greatly in the Tritonic invasion of the 1860s. During this time of hardship, rather than give aid to the Alfumerrans, the Teralan elite bought their lands and expanded logging operations, enriching themselves. Due to the demand for lumber during the Time of Troubles falling, many who had been employed in logging were let go and became destitute, while the oligarchs refused to sell their forests as they felt lumber prices would rise once more. This greatly angered the Alfumerran populace, who began resenting the state and desired independence. Although Tweledism had declined due to oppression, it returned in full force as the populace of the region turned against the state and its church. Things came to a head when a peasant gathering was accused of blasphemous behavior and arrested by clergymen. The village, infuriated by this move, hung the priests. This prompted a military intervention from Terales, which attacked the village. Although the assault was successful, the rest of the region was thrown into disarray as villages learned of and became infuriated by the massacre. This led to a fullscale revolt, which eventually won their independence in 1995.
In 1399, they would get the chance at last. The Duchy of Wellenia, a fellow Cloriadmen nation was being invaded by Fraspika, and the Wellenians had urged their fellow Cloriadmen to assist them. Many of the other nations were in favor of assisting the Wellenians, but were stymied by their weak militaries as well as the poor road network of Cloriadme and their lack of naval forces making troop transport difficult. Terales, though not afraid of Fraspika, sezied this opportunity to organize the coalition forces. As the only nation in Cloriadme with sufficient timber resources besides Wellenia, they financed the construction of naval forces, transporting the other coalition members' forces into Wellenia. After the victory of the coalition forces in this war, the people naturally looked to the actual troops that had arrived as their savior, but the other nations understood that Terales was the real reason those troops arrived. Terales would leverage this as well as their new naval strength to settle matters between the various participants, as well as strongarming the formation of the Cloriadmen Confederation.
As their main goal was to further their own interests, this quickly led to the end of the alliance between the various nations in the Confederation. Terlaes obtained commercial concessions from the weaker members, while playing the stronger ones off of one another an slowly gaining more control. Skirmishes between the other nations were still common during this time, but Terales generally preferred to invade those that had not joined. By 1450, all the remaining islands in the Saltmarsh that were not previously controlled by another Confederation member had been seized by Terales, and they would soon establish total control over trade through the Saltmarsh, charging tariffs for marchant ships wishing to enter or exit. Their growing navy combined with their dominance in trade with Ærellion and contacts with the Gnomes and Telrai of the region made their position unassailable. Though the other nations of Cloriadme also grew in wealth during this period, Terlaes saw more growth than any of them. Between 1400 and 1600, their population doubled, and arable land was greatly increased, though land was not in short supply. Other nations, having less fertile lands, were more focused on dikes and dams, which increased the fertility of their lands but also cost far more money than what Terales required to expand their farmlands. This left Terales wealthier, more populated, and more developed than the other Cloriadmen, further increasing the already sizable gap. It is often said that without Terales looming over their shoulders, the other nations in the Confederation would have been far more aggressive and warlike towards one another.
Terales' dominance didn't last forever, though, and things came to a head in [tbd]. For many years, Terales' eastern border was populated by various Egrivalad tribes, but this mattered little to the Duchy as the land was poor and they had plenty of resources already. These Egrivalad had also been left in peace due to their maintenance of a great magical shield which prevented the demons and devils of the Cursed Woods from escaping. Ruled by a council of mages, they were also seen as a good source for magical artifacts. Unfortunately, in [tbd], the shield fell and the demons and devils escaped. The Devils formed the nation of Kazielbon in the hills between the Egrivalad and Cloriadmen and began expanding their domain into Terales. This shocked the populace, who had long seen the Egrivalad as a heroic people led by divine forces which kept the evil sealed away, as per the teachings of Tweledism. Seen as heretical by the Kosmevair, Tweledism had prebiously prevailed. However, the failure of the Egrivalad to keep the forces of evil out convinced many that Kosmevair interpretation were in fact correct, and inspired religious fervor among Terales' population. Even as demon hordes roamed the lands, the people were spreading the word and soon a large host of peasant from across Cloriadme had assembled. Alongside professional military units from the various members of the Confederation, the priests called for a crusade against evil. Although there were initially setbacks, and the capital of Terales was sacked and the royal family slaughtered, the crusade continued and eventually succeeded. This led to the establishment of the Prince-Bishopric of Ostleckt, and the Cloriadmen people became far more devout, with Tweledism falling out of favor.
The Cloriadmen Crusade, though saving Terales itself, had devastated the country. Many people remained missing or were traumatized by the demons, and religious radicalism swept through the country. Those unlucky enough to have been forced into producing a Cambion were slaughtered as supposed colaborators, and those who still held faith in hero-worship were imprisoned or expelled from the country, further harming the demographics of the nation. This would lead to the flight of thse who feared being accused of such things to the Egrivalad lands, but most were caught and executed by the new Prince-Bishopric. Many formerly prosperous lands lay fallow for years after the war, contributing further to Terales' dark age. The southern parts of Terales would also be looked upon with suspicion, as many considered their light escape suspicious. Such mistreatment would later lead to the Alfumerran rebellion. Terales also saw great political strife, as the monarchy's fall and decline of the countryside left the burghers and clergy as the only viabe authorities. With many of the celrgymen later being "moved" to Ostleckt, the oligarchic merchants were left in charge, and the foundations for the current government were laid.
Overall, the 17th and 18th centuries S.C. were tough times for Terales, but their fall stengthened the Cloriadmen Confederation as other members were able to exploit new opportunities. They have largely stayed out of wars and taken a step back from strongarming their foes, although the navy remained strong throughout this period. In the end, despite the centralization of power to the wealthy burghers, prosperity would return to the nation by the 1800s, as Terales once more assumed a leading role within the Cloriadmen Confederation. With their population recovered, modern technology consistently producing better ships, and increasing global connectivity, Terales continued to grow in power an wealth. By the mid 1800s, they had clearly regained their position at the forefront of the Cloriadmen Confederation. Terales' desire for maritime dominance threatened the Tritons of the Gulf of Cloriadme, culminating in the 1867 Battle of Foroingen against the Tritons, in which a Tritonic invasion into Terales was repulsed and the Tritons slain as they attempted to retreat into the ocean. Gnomish weapons were affixed to the Teralan navy, which fired at the retreating Tritons as they entered the surf. Combined with archers from land, the Tritonic invasion was decimated. From this war, Terales became the first (and only) Cloriadmen nation to gain control over part of the Triton-held island of Marcisate. Terales' victories allowed the rise of the Tritonic nation of Maghleburn, which became close allies with Terales, eventually ceding their own land on Marcisate to them in 1912 for a lump sum. This allowed Terales to expand upon the goblin slave operations of Marcisate, which they were better-suited to compared to the Tritons. Thus, the slave trade became a valuable part of the Teralan commercial empire.
Terales spent much of the 20th century maintaining its commercial enterprises, though during the Telgren Time of troubles their economy would suffer. In 1988, the region of Alfumerra, which had long been poorer than the rest of Terales, revolted against the oligarchic council, installing a peasant republic instead. The Alfumerrans had been seen as lesser since the Cloriadmen Crusade, and had suffered greatly in the Tritonic invasion of the 1860s. During this time of hardship, rather than give aid to the Alfumerrans, the Teralan elite bought their lands and expanded logging operations, enriching themselves. Due to the demand for lumber during the Time of Troubles falling, many who had been employed in logging were let go and became destitute, while the oligarchs refused to sell their forests as they felt lumber prices would rise once more. This greatly angered the Alfumerran populace, who began resenting the state and desired independence. Although Tweledism had declined due to oppression, it returned in full force as the populace of the region turned against the state and its church. Things came to a head when a peasant gathering was accused of blasphemous behavior and arrested by clergymen. The village, infuriated by this move, hung the priests. This prompted a military intervention from Terales, which attacked the village. Although the assault was successful, the rest of the region was thrown into disarray as villages learned of and became infuriated by the massacre. This led to a fullscale revolt, which eventually won their independence in 1995.
Founding Date
1316 S.C.
Demonym
Teralan
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Thalassocracy
Economic System
Market economy
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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