Lacertillia
Originally a refugee camp, Lacertillia eventually became a metropolis occupying the northern half of the island and is known as the halfway port of the gem sea with most ships stopping to rest during long journeys. Though it is 'claimed' by Zumontiarth, he does little to enforce that claim.
History
Humble beginings
Founded by a group of escaped slaves, whose ship was destroyed by Zumontiarth, The slaves found a defensible hill and built a small settlement. An emergency council was formed from Neal 'the awoken', Hjalmar, Grahain Waterbane, Oum Shroud, Professor Cornelious Ashorn, and Rolakas, with an old Gith named Jahova as speaker. These beings lead the early settlement through its early trials, discovering the nightmare beast, creating a river to give water to the settlement, and starting farming. Though not all was happy sailing with a few councilors rubbing certain groups the wrong way, the biggest of these was Grahain and the hunters because of a few poorly chosen words. By 50 Rebel, the settlement had only slightly grown but was now a functioning town with a raised road to a newer fishing settlement to the north. The various council members had focusing on different aspects.True democracy and the eternal speaker
In Rapha of 51 Rebel, the emergency was declared over and the fate of the council, and government of the area, was to be decided. In the heated debate which saw Grahain storm out the chambers, reported to have called his fellow members 'stuffy old idealists' though some reports use less polite language. Now with Neal and Cornelious leading the debate things quickly lead to a pure democracy with no council. In a twist of fate, with the others having no idea how to implement it, the constitution was written by Grahain, its most vocal opposition. A year later the decision to abandon the forest was made, and during the consequencing riots, by the hunters, Johova was stoned to death. After his funeral, buried in pride of place in the center of town, his spirit showed back up in the speaker chair. Grahain went after the hunters with the full force of his constitution. This led to a group of hunters as well as a few of their supporters being banished to the far side of the island.World stage, exppassion
In the following decades, Lacertillia, like many islands of the gem sea, became home to many trying to escape wars on the mainland. This grew the main town while the fishing village was being grown by the resupply need of ships traveling between Rivell and the Blessed plains and Frostmourn. This combined double growth caused Lacertillia to rapidly expand connecting the two settlements to combine into one city. This period also saw the first council pass, leading to statues of each being built in their honor. The Last one to pass was Hjalmar whose final work was the giant northern dock to house the ever-increasing number of ships. The dock stretched the whole north-western coast, with the north-eastern being for the home defense fleet.Devine age onwards
With the empire of Akoom expanding, Lacertillia saw a dip in trade for the first century, this turned when the empire turned to the sea. Helping and funding the islands in the emerald isles resisting the empire, even giving Rivell a warning about the incoming attack. In an attempt to stop their aid, Lacertillia was invaded. Using a modified strategy of Rivell, by adding every available boat rather than just hulks and then blowing them up, leading to the destruction of the whole Akoom navy, killing the prophet, and halving its military. This led to the Treaty of Lacertillia, securing the independence of the island. The empire started using Lacertillia as a trade port, increasing prosperity. This continued throughout the remainder of the empire's history. It once again became a refueling point for all trade through the gem sea.Goverment
An absolute democracy, every issue is voted on by every adult male. This is done under the watchful eye of the speaker Jahova, who announces the results of each vote. For urgent situations, the most qualified take control to make decisions while the disaster is resolved. An example is Trafor Waterbane giving complete authority to negotiate the Treaty of Lacertillia.Districts
Capital hills
The original settlement border is the only walled-off section within the city, originally requiring citizenship to enter. A practice ended by High priest Cornelius Awakener. Inside are three hills, the first holds the council hall and the Plaza of origin (holding the first council statues and the grave of Jahova), The second holds the Statue shire (a temple with thousands of statuettes of 'spirits'), the consortium of knowledge (a vast library with an amphitheater were masters lecture anyone who wants to learn), and final hold the farms that feed the settlement.New town
The area surrounding the hills of the capital is mostly residential for citizens. A market square sits at the entrance of capital hill and holds the entrance to the raised highway. Other entrances to the highway are spread throughout the area. Though classified as a single district on paper, it is in reality twenty districts, each the size of a small village, separated by large avenues.Forest wall
A large reinforced wall surrounds the majority of the city but is most concentrated at the forest edge. Barrack towers dot the edge while the highway leads straight on top of the wall. notably, the wall has no gate.Dock districts
A massive area on the northwest of the island is filled with docks, warehouses, and taverns. purposefully built to accommodate the hundreds of ships that pass through each day. The Northeast coast is home to the fisheries and home navy, which make up its own district.The burden of consciousness was bestowed to me when I was a slave. Whether out of malice or goodwill I cannot say. What I can say is that even before I knew the names of the seas all around Lacertilia or the true meaning of the terms inscribed in our constitution we all knew a pain that need not be described, nor bestowed once again. That, O'Emissaries of Akoom, is why Lacertilia shall always be free.High Priest Nolan Awakener to Akoom envoy lead by Fylkir Nulgha demanding Lacertillia's submission
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