Merchant Principality of Fortuna

Fortune favors the bold.

The People of the Merchant Principality of Fortuna are an isolated, yet adventurous folk. Slow to trust, but the most loyal of friends once you get on their good side. They are people born from the sea. Hailing from a cluster of two small islands hidden in the vastness of the Great Sea, Fortunans learned to work with little to nothing. Though, it had not always been this way.

History

Long ago, the Fortunans ruled a vast Empire that spanned most of the known world. They were pioneers in arts, science, and of course, maritime expertise. According to the Histories, their civilization was founded by the demigod, Fortuna, a daughter of Vincorious the Builder. She was a renowned captain and explorer, and brought back many exotic artifacts from the Founding back to her people. Their ships carried adventurers and merchants into the vast, unknown expanse of the sea. That was, until the great collapse. Then the Great Titans waged war with one another, and Theodosius was cast into his End, the world itself reeled from the loss of one of its creators.
The land swelled like tidal waves, and the oceans turned to desert. The vast cities and grand temples of the Foruntans were swallowed in magma and wake. Fortuna protected her people and shielded them from the collapse on a small cluster of islands. From there she lead her people in rebuilding what they could from their lost grandeur.
Tragedy struck all of the seafolk whenever Fortuna was slain in battle with a Hidden One known as Dagon. Broken-hearted but not beaten, the Fortunans took up the name of their beloved demigoddess, naming their island after their great protector, and vowing to wage an unending war on all followers of the Hidden Ones, and any who spread the worship of the so-called Dark Pantheon.
It was the Seaborne dynasty that ruled over the Princedom for centuries after her death, having been descended from her firstborn son, Triton. Eventually, the dynasty ended without an heir, and a collection of captains formed a small Council that governed the people. Recently, Josiah Oceanwake, a formidable Captain, a veteran of many sea-wars against the Hidden Ones, was declared the Grand Prince of Fortuna, thus founding a new dynasty.

“The Isle of Fortuna. The mere thought brings to mind the overwhelming smell of seafoam and the taste of good ale on your lips.” ~ Captain Micah Jameson, HPS Horizon

Hierarchy:

The Prince/Princess:

The Prince and Princess-Consort are expected to be renowned adventurers and shrewd in business. While the Prince’s power is essentially absolute, it is rarely exercised. The Prince appoints members of the Council to handle matters of government while he oversees the development and growth of Fortuna, and leads expeditions into the Great Sea and beyond. The Prince is a unifying figure, that embodies the spirit of Fortuna left behind in her people.
Aside from governing and adventuring, the Prince is expected to lead Temple worship one day a year, on the anniversary of her death at the hands of Dagon. The ceremony is full of hymns of lament, sacrifice, incense burning, and more. It culminates in the Prince donning the armor of Fortuna, and slaying a represent of Dagon, renewing the Fortunan peoples’ perpetual vow to rid the world of Hidden Ones and the Dark Pantheon.

Captain’s Council

With the re-establishment of the Princedom, the council has taken on a more advisory role, providing guidance and strategy to the newly coronated prince. Different Captains are normally appointed to offices by the Prince, to which he delegates authority to handle matters of state or commerce. The only member of the council that is not a Captain is the High Priest, who informs the Captains and Prince on the direction of the tides and the will of the gods.

Lord Mayor:

The Lord Mayor of the City of Fortune is a key position that carries much prestige. Tasked with dealing with the many aristocrats and merchants that populate the booming Mercantile city. The Mayor is elected by popular vote, and is often a combination of popular interests, and the interests of several oligarchs whose wallets support the construction and repair of the wooden metropolis.

“The Seaborne Dynasty: long may their memory be. Fortuna without a prince is like the heavens without the moon.” First Captain Josiah Lucien, Presiding Captain of the Council

Succession of Monarchs:

Fortuna, the Demigoddess (Collapse-300 A.C.) Prince Triton Seaborne, the Great (300 A.C. - 386 A.C.) Prince Septon Seaborne, the Wayfarer (386 A.C. - 411 A.C.) Princess Dymphna Seaborne, The Beautiful (411 A.C. - 423 A.C.) Princess Philomenia Seaborne, The Young (423 A.C. - 455 A.C.) Princess Agora Seaborne, the Wise (455 A.C. - 471 A.C.) Prince Jason Seaborne, the Slayer (471 A.C. - 484 A.C.) Prince Triton II, the Boy-Prince (484 A.C. - 501 A.C.)
Council of Captains Interim (501 A.C. - 567 A.C.)
Prince Josiah Oceanwake (567 A.C. - Present)

The Princedom’s Patroness and Founder: Fortuna

“Our Heroine and our Lady. The shining star that shepherds us home. She is our protector and the very soul of this island.” ~ High Priest Plutonius, Sayings of the Temple-Keepers Vol. I

Adventurer. Captain. Demigod. Fortuna was one of the first humans to be born with celestial blood pumping in her veins. Renowned for her beauty and her resolve, she was a popular figure in the pantheon.
During the Celestial War, she was a cunning general for her father, Vincorious, and delivered many blows to Theodosius’s forces. Following the war during the Great Collapse, she lead her chosen people to the sea to protect them from the elemental chaos. She ruled over them for three centuries, leading them in a war against Dagon, a mysterious primal entity hidden below the waves. She died in heroic combat against Dagon, saving her son from certain doom at the cost of her life.
Her constellation is “The Lady”, and from the sky her bright stars guides her people into a bright future.

Grand Prince: Josiah Oceanwake
Grand Princess:
Motto: “Not-Self, but Princedom”
Capital: Fortuna
Religion: Bright Pantheon
Population: Approx. 48, 000

Type

Geopolitical, Principality