Theodova

Egalitarian City-States along the shores of the Serpente Sea

A collection of independent city-states with a shared cultural history located along the shoreline of the Serpente Sea.

Around 1150 AE the nation of Theodova emerged from the ashes of the Lycene civilization. Much of the Theodovian culture was derived from Lycene, except for the adoption of the Zenti alphabet. While the nation was first founded in northeast Aquanius, it soon reached the Blasted Lands after defeating the Manninites in 1212 AE and Parshan in 1230 AE.

There was a brief civil war from 1249-1253 AE, which ended with the crowning of King Beoshiric. In the next two decades, the rise of the mercantile class and minting of coins increased wealth as Theodovian traders spread across the Sea. Beoshiric died in 1279 AE and was followed by his eldest son who took the name Beoshiric II. Under the rule of Beoshiric II, the navy was rapidly expanded and by 1291 AH it was considered the most powerful navy on the Serpente Sea.

From 1302-1318 AE, Theodova conquered several port cities on the Miran coastline, which gave them new territories on the northern shore of the Serpente Sea. 1320-1420, Theodova is at the height of its power. Their navy gives them uncontested control of the trade on the Serpente Sea and their merchants bring back many foreign goods to their markets. Several cities along the Serpente that were not conquered by the Theodovians still were forced to pay tribute to their king.

Beoshiric IV was considered by all to be a failed king so in 1422 three of the larger cities broke away from the kingdom and formed their own independent city-states. From 1422-1447 AE Beoshiric IV fought to regain control of the rebellious cities until he was assassinated. The head of the navy crowned himself King Andesarvium and resumed the attack, but in 1458 AE he was forced to surrender at the Battle of Leppi as much of his navy was sunk.

King Andersarvium was killed in 1461 AE and what remained of Theodova fell into civil war.

The Zentirovan were a sea-faring people who lived in the Tarakian Islands and had long been paying a tribute to the Theodovian King. When Theodova fell into civil war, it was Zenti warships that came and conquered the weakest of their lands. The largest city-states of Zanparvium, Palgorus, and Hippilicies managed to stave off the Zenti, but most of the others were forced to become tribute-cities.

From 1488-1534 AE the Zents sacked many of the cities, burned the Drago Setta Temples, and hauled away both slaves and gold.

The people in villages not yet sacked banded together to form new city-states in order to ward off the Zent raiders. Abdora, Crotus, Thulli, and Edessia each rose from the ashes of Theodova.

A large volcanic eruption in the Tarakian Islands in 1890 AE destroyed most of the Zenti cities, the city-states of Theodova had worked together for several years to turn back all but the largest Zent raiding fleet.

By 259 AH the fires of war died down and a new age of enlightenment began to take hold. The nation of Theodova no longer existed. Instead the provinces were governed by the surviving city-states and the Kings, Princes, and Empresses who ruled them. The people of these city-states no longer referred to themselves as Theodovian, but instead by the city-state who ruled them. The people are still bound by a shared history, culture, and religion - but no longer ruled by the same man.

To this I've added some darker elements of Poe (Cask of the Amont…, Masque of the Red Death, Pit/Pendulum, etc. [aka torturers and dungeons]), the beginnings of the darker side of trade and mechanization (hereditary slavery by race, abuse of workers by capital, child labor, dehumanization of lower classes) and a conservative backlash.

Conservative backlash to all this change takes the form of increased superstition in rural areas, religious revival, peasant revolt, constant small conflicts, bloody skirmishes, revenge raids and bigotry stereotyping, witch-hunts, etc.

The rise of civilization and order has also brought a more “organized” criminal element. Not only do they seek to profit outside the laws, but they also participate and act as cat's paws in others intrigues. They cause Reversals of Fortune and “make offers you can't refuse”.

The prominent iconic center of each city is a gigantic clock tower rising over the city and surveying the countryside. Beneath and around these structures the populace: debates philosophy, exchanges ideas, engages in trade, angles for patronage, trades favors, gossips, shops, attends entertainment, discusses foreign events and criticizes literature, music and theater.

For racial stock lets look at Canaanite/Lebanese/Semetic. Their language will be a shade different, but mostly just coupled in with the Irillian language.

We mostly put them on the southern Serpente Sea (northern shore of the southern continent) and scatter some city-states on the southern short of Miran (northern continent) and Tarakian Archipelago. Talarak (largest island in the Tarakian archipelago) is my Tortuga - this nation's Silicians should slot in nicely.

In order to fuel this growth - even though they are now in a stagnant/devolving stage of their cycle - they will need access to some limited trade goods. Something that will draw wealth to them - rare spices, dyes, etc.

Some of these wealth will come from taxes on Turanian shipping and goods, which has been greatly reduced with the founding of the new Turanian colony on Miran.

For this nation, I am seeing a small idle class at the top. A very top-heavy wealth system. The middle class would be very precarious - relying on patronage and favors to keep them from falling down. The lower classes would be massive and for the most part squalid (slavery, beatings, etc.). The sciences are not used to reduce labor-hours, instead favoring manual labor intensive industries.

I would imagine that their gods will be reflective of their idle lifestyle. They will have gods dedicated to coin, arts, literature pleasure, and the sciences. To keep the lower classes in line there would be a god of labor, good works, and paladins.

For the rural conservative element - a dragon cult would work wonders. There is a very powerful shadow dragon that lives in the mountains. Plus dragon elements are found in Irillian stories and beliefs (shared beginnings). They believe they were created by the blood of a dragon (Irrish) when it fell to earth as she battled a powerful devil. A dragon cult among the populace should slot in nicely.

Nationally they would struggle against the Turanians in the oceans. They would control the Serpente Sea via control of both sides of the Straits. Although Sithara (Shoag) stretches through there, the Shoag care not to restrict passage of ships. The Turanians founding a colony on the eastern shores of Miran is a problem as now the Turanians can transship goods into the Western Realms without their ships paying taxes to enter the Sea.