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. Known to scholars as the City-States of Theodova, among its people they are far more likely to call themselves Palgorii or Croton than Theodovian.

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 smaller cities, burned the Drago Setta Temples, and hauled away both slaves and gold. The people in villages not yet sacked banded together to form larger city-states in order to ward off the Zent raiders. Abdora, Crotus, Thulli, and Edessia each founded by people fleeing the raiders.

This was all brought to an end by a large volcanic eruption in the Tarakian Islands in 1890 AE destroyed most of the Zenti cities. By this time Zenti raiders were more often than not turned back by the city-states of Theodova who worked together to safe-guard their lands.

By 39 AH a new age of enlightenment began to take hold in the city-states. The wealthy merchant class began to use its wealth to support great works and art so that their names would be remembered long after their passing. Even the burgeoning middle class of craftsmen, artists, and land owners often drove their families into debt to ensure their place in history.

Word of these great works spread throughout the lands by the speed if the city-states merchant vessels. The Water Gardens of Kutulan, the Great Library of Mufari, the Sable Lighthouse Libero, and many other rose up along the shores of the Serpente Sea. The inhabitants of each city spent as much money as it had to out-shine its neighbors in art, science, or philosophy.

It continued along this path for almost 300 years. Although the city-states spent far more money that they had in their coffers, the large influx of the best scholars, artists, wizards, and philosophers made the city-states the shining star in the darkness. Human technology and understanding expanded rapidly with many other nations trying to copy what was happening in the City-States of Theodova.

The central core of this enlightenment is the central square and clock tower. Although originally simple water clocks surrounded by stones where anyone could stand up and debate anything it has grown over the years of Enlightenment. Most towns now have mechanical clocks and the large cities compete to have the most accurate astronomical clock among their neighbors. Great statues of the gods and well-known philosophers line the square as if to beckon all men to come forth and speak their mind.

By 390 AH, the complex system of patronage by the wealthy eventually began to shift from egalitarianism to materialism. The idle wealthy drew to them sycophants and criminals in equal numbers. The theaters that once held great works of art were now used for gladiatorial combats. The large number of debtors were forced to sell their children to the merchants who used them in massive orgies and carnal plays.

The excessive greed and corruption has caused a conservative backlash among the common people of the lands. In the small villages and hamlets the people have rekindled the worship of the Drago Setta. These people have cast off the worship of the gods of the cities and embraced the strictest traditions of the Theodovian Dragon Kings. Although their numbers are growing, they must still hide their faces for the worship of the Dragon Kings is forbidden upon pain of death within the City-States.

• Name: City-States of Theodova
• Periods:

  • Archaic Period: 1150 - 1461 AE
  • Zentirovan Period: 1461 AE - 39 AH
  • Enlightenment Period: 39 - 390 AH
  • Draco Period: 390 AH - Current
• Head of State: No Central Government
• Land Area: 128k km²)
• Population: 1.2 million

  • Ethnicity: Human

The geography of the city-states is as varied as their location, except for the cities located along the historical shoreline of Theodova where the land is near sea-level and flat. Geographically there are three major regions.

The largest geographical area are the historic lands of Theodova. Located along the northern shore of Aquanius between the Blasted Lands and mountainous Dengal Strait. This is a fertile land of marshy lowlands and large gentle hills. While the wide shoreline causes frequent flooding from the Serpente Sea, the lands immediately south of the bluffs have plentiful grasslands, rivers, and lakes. An abundance of rainfall allowed Theodoian merchants to export food for most of its history.

The dense broadleaf forest and tropical rainforest further south would provide excellent opportunities for lumbering, the area remains uninhabitable. Several attempts to colonize it have been met with failure either by attack from native tribesmen or rampant sickness.

Main Article: Dengal Strait

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.