The City of Egrecia

Overview

As the sole city for the region,the city of Egrecia is the mercantile and governmental seat of power for the region. Although Egrecia is predominantly Kaddite, the city itself is a melting pot of cultures both across the sea and land. Egrecia houses no monarchy; rather, its government is a merchant republic composed of several, constantly squabbling guilds that have managed to maintain an uneasy balance of power to this day.

History

Pre-Kaddite

When the first colonists from Ardonia arrived at Egrecia’s coastline around year 170, they were surprised to find a rotting hulk of a city, encrusted by the rolling seas. Based on ancient documents cited from about two millennia ago, Egrecia - which roughly translates to “Ancient City” in our tongue - was a city once habited long before the Kaddites arrived across the southern seas from Ardonia. Although much of the original architecture has since been demolished or weathered away, the colossal Statue of Hishaam is undeniable proof of Egrecia’s precursors. Why Old Egrecia was abandoned, who are these precursors, and where are they now - these are amongst the many mysteries still unsolved in Tel Rialis.

However, the rise of Kaddite-era Egrecia is well documented, albeit unreliable. The city’s records have been immaculately preserved in the Scriptorium, but as all chroniclers should know - unsteady is the hand that leads Egrecia and its quill. Regardless, there is still a clear picture of how Egrecia has developed these past few hundred years, thanks to supplementary documents from the rest of Tel Rialis.

Ardonian Colony

Egrecia began as a foothold by the Kaddite empire of Ardonia. Kaddites would eventually emigrate to begin forming the neighboring kingdoms of Pastoralis and Ahumm. The great mountains to the north and impenetrable rainforest to the west would prove successful against multiple attempted conquests by other kingdoms during Egrecia’s history, and cement Egrecia as an independent power. Eventually, the region was able to negotiate lasting trade agreements that kept Egrecia away from most potential conflicts, ever-so-slightly more profitable for the Egrecians, of course.

Independence

Due to their distance from home, Egrecia developed its own political entity, developing its own policies to contend with the rest of Tel Rialis. In addition, a steady flow of immigrants from surrounding kingdoms would foster Egrecia's unique identity and culture. There were growing considerations to secede from the Ardonian Empire. An oppurtunity came when, around AD, the Ardonian Empire outside Tel Rialis became unstable. While other provinces split away through violent rebellions, Egrecia managed to negotiate their independence instead, leveraging their bountiful position in Tel Rialis to a resource-starved Empire. To this day, the relations between modern-day Ardonia and Egrecia have remained amiable.

Geography and Climate

The city of Egrecia is built along hills along the southernmost coast of the region. Its climate tends to be hot with frequent rainstorms during the spring and summer, with a milder season during the fall & winter. While the weather is not a major issue for the city built on higher elevations, the lower areas are relatively unprotected against the downpours and roiling waves.

Infrastructure

The city can be organized into three distinct sections - the outskirts outside the western gates, and the wealthy and poor districts, dubbed High Town and Low Town respectively by citizens.

Low Town

Situated at sea level, Low Town houses the slums and the docks. The district is prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season. While the docks are privileged with constant maintenance, the slums have always been in poor condition. Home to laborers, unfortunate merchants, and other undesirables, the slums stand in stark contrast to the grandoise High Town.

The boardwalks are always sinking into the mud. And there's shit all over the ground because of the storms this spring. Tripped over a branch yesterday - or I thought it was one anyway. Turns out, it was an arm. Poor boy must've drowned during the last flood.
~Sheila Al-Hessaria, Low Town citizen

High Town

Located inland towards the center of the city, High Town is the city's political, commerical, and religious hub. Massive towers, temples, and halls size up each other as pinnacles of Egrecian architecture. This is also where most of the region's elite reside.

Outskirts

The outskirts of the city and beyond are home to a sizable population of serfs, who tend great plantations that primarily feed the city. Token garrisons man forts along the edge of the mountains and rainforest, providing a defense that has yet to be needed.

Government

As a merchant republic, Egrecia's government is a democratic body composed of every recognized guildmaster, known as the Assembly. Every year, or when neccesary, the Assembly gathers to decide domestic & foreign policy in a publicly open forum (with an entry fee, of course).

Outside its borders, Egrecia is represented by a council of five elected officals, called the Five Talons. They do not have an official say on the city's daily operations, nor on how a guild deals business outside Egrecia or taxes its own goods. Their role is mostly ceremonial, serving only as tiebreakers and moderators during Assembly meetings. However, a seat on the Five is still highly coveted; every guild seeks to expand their influence - and the Council still has some sway over the Assembly.

New councilors are elected every decade, through a month-long process known as the Proving. At the beginning of the month, potential candidates must be nominated by a current councilor, which is typically another high-standing member of their own guild, although external nominations are not unheard of. For the rest of the month, the candidates are open to be tested by the other guilds, commonly through debate. Finally, the Assembly calls a special meeting to cast votes on each candidate.

Demographics

Unlike the rest of the region, the city is remarkably diverse. The majority of citizens belong to a Kaddite sect, but other beliefs are tolerated, so long as the individual themselves can meaningfully contribute. As a result, there is a relatively large Saeno population, due to their valued seafaring and trading skills. Saeneans are commonly employed by guilds as mercenaries, cargo crews, and -by the elite- tutors.

There is a poorly hidden class gap amongst the city populace, with a very small percentage holding the majority of wealth. Although there is a thriving class of craftsmen and clerks, most of them are under the employ of guilds - therefore being compensated with guild membership and privilege rather than a wage. The slums on the lower levels of the city have always been overcrowded, as the dumping ground for common laborers, the overambitious, and the guildless.

Landmarks

The Collosus of Hishaam

This massive bronze statue has existed since before Kaddite Egrecia was founded. At night, it glows softly when the moon is out, acting as a beacon for ships.

On the seventh day of our voyage, I awoke sea-sick to a commotion on the deck above. After little Sara led me up the stairs, I was beholden to the bronze colossus with his spear raised to the skies. As if beckoning us through the harbor.
~Diary of Andrea Lisandro, Shipwrights' Guild member

Arts and Culture

See: Egrecian guild system

Population: approx. 95,000