Tel'Rhea, Land of Life
In the realm of the Goddess of Life, nature has been seamlessly integrated with the beautiful, elegant architecture of the city of Tel’Rhea. As one of the fertile regions of the continent, trees and lush landscapes abound interspersed with orchards that bear bountiful harvests every year and dot the city with clusters of vibrant colors. While all forms of life are welcome here, all those with life-bearing abilities are held a notch above all others. At the heart of the city, surrounded by the most bountiful orchards, is the City of Life… and in the distance, the smog of the City of death is held at bay…
The region of Tel’Rhea lives up to its Goddess in that it is filled with incredibly fertile land that without fail gives rise to bountiful harvests. Nature has found a beautiful equilibrium with the forces of civilization. Buildings have been constructed alongside or with the natural environment. Portions of the city ascend up trees or down the Cliffside. Rivers have been minimally altered and the falls still empty into the Neg’Varos Bay. Although not the seat of technological advancement, it is an agricultural and cultural center of the continent. As a region, higher value is placed on those capable of bearing new life into the world and, in response, a matriarchal society developed with the High Priestess of Tel’Rhea at the head.
The city of Life is connected to Ah’Shal by an ornately crafted bridge that stretches across the neck of the Neg’Varos Bay. The bridge is composed of stone and marble, reinforced by wooden beams and other sturdy vines (covered with flowers) on Tel’Rhea’s side and metal beams on Ah’Shal’s side. The bridge depicts Tel’Rhea with her hand outstretched, reaching – and nearly touching – the hand of Ah’Shal.
Basic History
In a time long past, before the calendar was instated… Tel’Rhea and Ah’Shal were one city. The twin cities, separated and connected by the bridge between them, were meant to represent the complete cycle of life and death. Both cities were considered sacred as the starting point of the cycle, Life, and the ending point, death. People moved freely across the bridge and besides the differential presence of orchards and morgues, the two cities were practically identical in architecture, people, and layout. Tel’Rhea is fully integrated with nature with buildings composed of washed stone, marble, and beautiful wood decorated with swirling and other nature motifs such as leaves, flowers, and various animals.
Yet, the city of life was always predisposed to be more bountiful than the city of death. While the city of life continued to produce fruit, herbs, flowers, and other natural products from the giving, fertile land, the city of death turned to production of other means: manufacturing. As the factories sprung up in Ah'Shal, a divide began to form between the people and the cities. The wealthy and the rich flocked to the city of Tel’Rhea to walk among the regal gardens and dance beneath the evening lights, while the poor and downtrodden moved to Ah’Shal, seeing the rapidly growing opportunities for work in the growing factories.
During the Dread King’s War, Tel’Rhea was spared much of the wrath of war. There were neither armies that marched upon her cities nor bombs that destroyed her fields and orchards. Many of the people of Tel’Rhea, however, left the cover of her greenery to serve as medics behind the lines of the war. Most notably, many ladies and men of the Lady of Life were sent to Eredet during and after the battle that was fought there. When the war ended, the current Queen maneuvered the war rhetoric to emphasize the roll that the people of Tel’Rhea played. Yet, the monuments that are built pay only little homage to the role that Tel’Rhea played in the War… at least according to Tel’Rhea’s natives.
The smog in Ah’Shal only worsened after the War. In an attempt to keep the smog from tarnishing the pristine city of life, a massive undertaking requiring much of the city’s mages and clerics, resulted in the formation of a magical field composed of green and white energy held the encroaching smog at bay. With the magical divide in place, other divides between the two cities only worsened. People from the city of death were shunned, many turned away at the bridge. Even when they were able to enter the city of Life, they were denied access to many of its amenities, including the Temple of Life.
A religious debate rose up around the continent, centered around the Neg’Varos Bay. While much of the continent turned towards Eredet, The One, and the principles of unity and all parts made whole, others pushed that Tel’Rhea should be seen as the head of the pantheon and religion… for does not life pervade all areas of the continent? Does life not pervade all other domains? The common greeting “Tel’Rhea’s light shine upon you” was brought to popularity during this period and persists to the common day. Yet it was Eredet that grew in power and prestige while Tel’Rhea continued to simply exist as it always had… watching as the smog built up until it was hard to even see the outline of the outer ring of buildings in Ah’Shal.
After spending centuries attempting to over emphasize the City of Life’s role in arguably the most devastating war of the continent, actual war found its way to the city of Tel’Rhea. The War of Forges broke out between the dwarves of Nacheevi and the warriors of Ragna. Tired of her people’s labor being spited to feed the forges of the dwarves, the Warrior Queen Ralla initially pushed to relight her own forges, denying the forges of Nacheevi the influx of gold from her Coliseum. The move angered the dwarves who, after failing to coerce her to reconsider the act via policy and trade changes, encroached upon the mining facilities in Ragna. The Warrior Queen took the slight personally. For a few years, Nacheevi and Ragna exchanged blows via small skirmishes at their border… and then war broke out. Ragna and Nacheevi clashed, both invading each other’s lands.
The other regions remained out of the war, but Tel’Rhea issued verbal support of Nacheevi. Angered by Queen Makeda's statement and believing that Tel’Rhea was sending aid to Nacheevi, the Warrior Queen marched upon Nacheevi… but sent her larger force to Tel’Rhea. The druids and clerics of the city of Tel’Rhea raised the wall of trees and thorns to defend the city… though not all of Ralla’s warriors could be kept out. Those that entered wrecked havoc on the orchards and homes. Ultimately, Ralla’s forces were turned away by reinforcements from Nacheevi and Therarask. When the War of Forges finally ended in a stalemate, the Warrior Queen of Ralla sent gifts and reparations to Tel’Rhea – a show of good faith – though nothing could repair the foul sin that the Warrior Queen had committed in the lands of Life.
The walls of Tel’Rhea have remained lowered since the War of Forges and life continues on much as it had before. The orchards are bountiful, flowers bloom in the spring, and the life goes on. Perhaps the wounds of the past have healed… or perhaps the Goddess of Life can hold a grudge.
Politics
Tel’Rhea can easily be considered a theocracy. In times long past, the “all life is valued” extended to the political sphere. As time progressed, however, the balance of power shifted, especially after the Dread King’s War. The democracy-style government – where respecting all life meant considering everyone’s opinion – gave way to a democracy of the few: those who were capable of bearing life into the world… and thus were seen as more favored of Tel’Rhea. After the War of Forges, a true theocracy was implemented with High Priestess Makeda becoming the first formal Queen of Tel'Rhea. Now, Queen Eleté presides over the entire region alongside her clergy, acolytes, and other chosen staff. Together, they oversee daily governance and religious affairs from within the walls of the House of Life.
Although men are permitted to serve in the political sphere, they are often delegated to lower-ranking roles or, if a male wants to pursue a more ambitious career, as ambassadors. For it is the duty of the father and the son to travel beyond the City of Life to serve.
Economy
The city of Tel’Rhea is relatively large, with fertile lands that extend well beyond the city’s “walls”. However, the city lags behind the other major cities in terms of technological advancement. The city has prioritized maintaining the balance of man-made structures with the natural growth and expansion of nature. Some technology, however, has been imported and some arcane skiffs can be seen, especially in the service of the particularly wealthy. In Tel’Rhea, however, skiffs cannot just be bought… they must be approved by Queen Eleté’s staff.
Much of the economy of Tel’Rhea is driven by their agricultural production, capitalizing on the fertility of the land and its bountiful harvests. Tel’Rhea is easily able to produce enough food for itself AND have ample to export. Primary exports include:
• Produce – Primarily fruits, but also vegetables and herbs
• Flowers – Although trickier to export, Tel’Rhea is known for growing the greatest variety and the most beautiful flowers.
• Magical Ingredients – The bountiful region of Tel’Rhea predisposes it to grow ingredients with a trace of magical essence.
Eltartem fruit is known to have healing or “life-giving” properties. It is used as an ingredient in a variety of potions, salves, and ointments of the magical variety. It can also be used to make a sweet and fragrant perfume, a fruity wine, pastries, and other foodstuffs, such as jams. In Tel’Rhea, the ingredient is relatively easy to acquire, but exporting it and selling it at a much higher price provides Tel’Rhea with a significant influx of income.
People
The formal policy of Tel’Rhea is that all walks of life are welcomed within the city. However, not everyone gets the luxury of staying. There are many subtle ways in which the people who represent and live in the City of Life are carefully selected and curated. Races that tend to have a deeper connection with nature call the city home including many “fey-like” races such as satyrs and centaurs. Other common races include tieflings, half-elves, gnomes, tabaxi, humans and earth genasi.
Elves are also present in Tel’Rhea, though in much lower numbers in comparison to Varoona. Eladrin elves are a unique circumstance. They are seen as a direct blessing from Tel’Rhea and a representation of the seasons of the year and the seasons of life. They need not be born to elves. It is possible for an eladrin to be born from two humans or from unexpected unions. They often take on features of their parents, but exhibit seasonal changes as all Eladrin do.
Religion
The matriarchal society of Tel’Rhea has its roots in its religion. Life and the ability to bring life into the world are the most valued facets of society in Tel’Rhea. This means that women are generally granted a slightly higher place in society and can occupy the higher positions in the religious hierarchy. However, this also extends, more broadly, to those who are gifted in healing, gifted in ensuring bountiful harvests, and any other form of job or hobby that may bring additional life into the world.
On Eladrin… although commonly considered elves due to their pointed ears and longevity, Eladrin are not necessarily an elven lineage. They are considered to be blessings or boons from Tel’Rhea, granted to those who have earned her blessing. They represent both the blessing of life – in their longevity – and the changing nature of life as they reflect the four seasons. They are generally honored and respected and are often granted higher positions in society than they otherwise would have had if not born Eladrin.
The Intercession of Tel’Rhea… In many stories, it is believed that Ah’Shal is the lover of Tel’Rhea. When a loved one is on Ah’Shal’s doorstep, the only goddess capable of interceding after Carmenthia’s servants had failed, was Tel’Rhea. Devoted friends and family would travel from all over the continent, but frequently from Ah’Shal, to the courtyard of Tel’Rhea’s Temple, which remains open to all solely for this rite. Once there, they would offer some token of great importance to one of the statues of the goddess, spend hours prostrated before her, and pray for their loved ones.
Tel’Rhea is almost always depicted as a mother, either pregnant or holding a child. Within the Courtyard, multiple statues of her are arranged neatly for the purpose of the Intercession. Each statue depicts her as a mother in various races to appeal to all that might seek Tel’Rhea’s assistance. The largest statue in the Courtyard, however, depicts Tel’Rhea as an Earth spirit, giving life to the entire continent.
Festival of Flowers… A festival in honor of Tel’Rhea that involves the celebration of life. The daylong celebration includes the gathering and giving of flowers to friends and loved one alike, multiple feasts of fruit and other products of the region, and dances by the light in the evening. If one is pregnant on the Festival of Flowers, they are honored and treated like royalty.
Type
City
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Related Reports (Primary)
Queen Makeda
Eltartem Fruit
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