Thandalyria

The Elven City, Thandalyria, is a democratic bastion of agelessness. The Thandalyrian High Elves run a peaceful, mindful and somewhat disconnected society, that is very focused on the simple and tangible art of winemaking.

Demographics

90% High Elven, 10% human, halfling and a smattering of other races. Most Thandalyrians are well-off, as the wine business is a profitable one. The Senate enforces a strict minimum of a gold piece per week in wages for those who work on the vineyard, and 7 silver a week for farmhands and other tradespeople. As a result, there is very little poverty or homelessness in the city. However, there aren't that many jobs. Those that do not find a place to work, are not allowed to stay in Thandalyria for longer than a month. This restriction is also levied on tourists.

Government

The Thandalyrian Senate runs the day-to-day business of the city. Each of the 21 districts, responsible for about 1,000 inhabitants, elects a representative Senator who sits on the Senate. The Senate then makes decisions democratically. Living within the city walls costs a tax of 1gp per month, and living outside the walls but within the protection of the city guard costs a silver per month. Additionally, only those who have some means of income or are interested in owning a business that produces trade and jobs, are allowed to stay in the city for longer than a month. Many of the laws are straightforward, banning criminal activity such as smuggling, thievery and burglary, uncouth business practices are banned, as is murder (obviously). The Faithguard presence is minimal in Thandalyria, although the Senate does enforce the same restrictions on religion, as is required for membership of the Confederation. More specific restrictions are part of being able to hold public office, where one needs to be a full-blood Thandalyrian high elf, meaning that both biological parents must be Elvish, and one of them must be of Thandalyrian descent.

Defences

The city has a sturdy city wall with some magical defenses lining it. A wide moat surrounds the city, drawing water from the nearby Verdant Rush, with heavy drawbridges and portcullises closing entrance to the city at night and in times of danger. The city also employs an extensive Elven City Guard of highly trained warriors that protect the city from without and within. Entry and exit from the city is heavily regulated, with everyone's name, occupation (if any), reason for visiting and location of residence being duly noted upon entry.

Industry & Trade

Thandalyria is a city of wine. The semi-volcanic riverlands around the city produce the best (and pretty much only) wines in the Confederation. In addition to wine, the city also has some agriculture that is not really seen elsewhere in the Confederation, such as citrus fruits, berries and truffles.

Infrastructure

Thandalyria covers a fairly large surface, spreading over various hills in the Mezzaia Canyon with the Verdant Rush flowing through it. The inner city has large thoroughfares and interconnecting streets, making it easy for pedestrians, horses or carts to get pretty much anywhere in the city. The roads leading to the major vineyard clusters around the city are paved as well.

Guilds and Factions

There are two prominent guilds in Thandalyria: the Vignerons' Guild and the Farmers' Guild. The Vignerons' Guild is extremely rich and influential, and oversees the production and trade of wine throughout the Confederation. The Farmers' guild is more practically-minded, but still among the more well-off guilds of its kind in the Confederation. It is currently unknown whether the Chain has any presence in Thandalyria.

History

The Old Kingdom

In the days of the Old Kingdom, the Dwarven stronghold Mezzairak stood on the hill that is now the center of Thandalyria. Mezzairak's main function within the Kingdom was as a gigantic library, storing all the knowledge the Dwarves had cultivated over the centuries. The Dwarven population here held slaves, most of which were Elves. The Dwarves of Mezzairak felt that the Elves were beneath them, but could be hard-working and intelligent. Orginally having been captured from the Taurah empire as prisoners of war, most of the slaves were used as tutors, teachers, and scribes, most of whom were put to work maintaining the library. During this time, the Dwarves undertook a ritual every century simply called the Culling, where all the Elves that had survived their masters due to their extended lifespan were hunted and slaughtered for sport, as their long lives were considered unnatural and a slight against the superiority of the Dwarven race.
When the Revolution happened, the elves of Mezzairak used their innate magical abilities and their vast knowledge of the Kingdom to quickly overtake the Stronghold. However, their interests were their own, considering the rest of the Revolution to be other people's problem. Thorenn Mireton, the leader of the Revolution, did manage to trade wealth and resources for knowledge from the library of Mezzairak, which proved instrumental to the destruction of the Kingdom and the near eradication of the Duergar race. Beyond this, the Elves of Mezzairak kept their distance from the violence, instead being content to protect themselves and their own. After the Revolution was won, Thorenn the Liberator returned to Mezzairak to ensure that the knowledge of the Old Kingdom and its technological advancements was safe and ready to be used by the newly-established Confederacy. However, he found that the Elves had burned the entire collection to the ground, willing to rid themselves once and for all of the horrors that the Dwarves visited upon them. It was because of this act that it would take another century before the new city of Thandalyria would become a part of the Confederacy, giving the Elves time to establish their own society.

The Confederation

After about a century of existing in Denabra in relative seclusion, the senate of Thandalyria reached out to the leaders of the other cities of the Confederacy. The Halflings, Gnomes, Dragonborn and light-skin Dwarves had not forgotten the slight that the Thandalyrians visited upon them so easily, but the dominant Human presence in the cities of Lyndon and Amystra argued in their favour. The Confederacy should stand for inclusion and forgiveness, they believed. After much delibaration, Thandalyria was welcomed into the Confederacy in the year 109 AR. The Thandalyrian senate proposed an ambassador who would sit on the Confederate Council, an Elven scribe and former slave to the Old Kingdom, who held this position for over 250 years. The current ambassador to the Council is Ulesse Inarel, an ambitious but slightly hot-headed politician.

Winemaking

The art of winemaking is one that ostensibly originated in the Feywild. Like many other parts of Elven culture, the Elves' longevity and intellect allowed them to inconspicuously retain much of their culture. When the Revolution happened and Mezzairak had been destroyed, the Thandalyrians needed a way to sustain themselves. They discovered that the Mezzaia Canyon was extremely fertile, and the pleasantly warm climate was perfect for winemaking. Even before the Confederation had forgiven them their slight of destroying Mezzairak's knowledge, the promise of good wine was tantalising and trade slowly but surely started up in the first century AR. Now, every wine in the Confederation is made by one of the many dozen vineyards around Thandalyria, and winelovers from across Northern Denabra, the Donylian Archipelago and sometimes even Bal-Karat, make their way to Thandalyria to enjoy the wine capital of the continent.

Architecture

Much of the old construction from Mezzairak has been destroyed and replaced by very traditionalist Elven architecture. Many more precious types of stone mixed with wood, much of it evoking natural motifs of trees, leaves and other organic-looking designs.

Geography

Thandalyria lies in an area known as the Mezzaia Canyon, which got its name from the original stronghold of Mezzairak. The Elves call it Delthar, in defiance of the past. The soil is rocky but rich, there are many signs of volcanic activity that may or may not have happened in the area. The strong and wide Verdant Rush that cuts through the canyon is a wonderful natural source of water. As such, the surrounding area is covered in thousands upon thousands of acres of vineyards, as far as the eye can see.

Natural Resources

The Mezzaia Canyon is brimming with natural minerals laid bare by the erosion of the area. The natural minerals mined here are used in the construction of the refined architecture of the elves. The rich volcanic soil is also fantastic for agriculture and winemaking.

Alternative Name(s)

The Elven Bastion

Type

City

Population

21,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Thandalyrian