Zilargo
Zilargo is a Gnomish nation in the South of Khorvaire. It is best known for its national newspaper, elemental binding, bards, Korranberg Library, and diplomatic expertise. The kingdom of Galifar invaded Zilargo around 5YK and Zilargo swiftly surrendered. During the negotiations, Zilargo managed to become an independent province within the kingdom. Under the Treaty of Thronehold Zilargo managed to become an independent nation-state once again, though it still retains close diplomatic ties to Breland.
Culture
The Zil are a people that thirst for knowledge. Everything from the smallest bit of gossip to the biggest of state secrets is ambrosia to a gnome of Zilargo. This eagerness for knowledge is at the foundation of a society that is embedded in a web of deceits, deals, manipulations, and outright blackmail. For the most part, even the more underhanded of transactions are considered beneath the notice of the government which rules with an extremely light hand. In fact, many visitors to Zilargo are astonished at the lack of direct policing; a city watch and the like is generally not in sight. But they would be mistaken to think that they are unobserved and may act criminally with impunity. For the entire nation, and in fact, beyond, where ever gnomish social interests lie, the Trust is there.
The Trust was formed by the Triumvirate, the governing body of Zilargo, to police and protect gnomish interests. The secret, and ultimately the power, of the Trust is that no one knows exactly who is part of it. One's next-door neighbor could be a spy for the Trust. So gnomes tend to abide by the laws that are there, which does not mean that those laws cannot be manipulated.
For most in Zil society, though they may engage in gossip and office politics, their thirst for knowledge is not malevolent. Gnomes tend to careers that can sustain their thirst to learn; many Zil become artificers, historians, librarians, engineers, and craftspeople.
Demography and Population
Population - 250,000
| Races | % of Pop. |
| Gnomes | 60% |
| Humans | 16% |
| Dwarves | 11% |
| Kobolds | 7% |
| Other | 6% |
Territories
Zilargo is situated in the south of Khorvaire. It is bordered in the north and west by Breland, in the east by Darguun, and in the south by the Thunder Sea. Geographically its borders are defined by the Howling Peaks in the northwest and the Seawall Mountains in the east. The country is networked by several House Orien roadways, and the lightning rail passes along the eastern border with a stop in Zolanberg and terminus at Korranberg.
Military
The Trust is a national, non-military organization charged with the safety and security of Zilargo.[2] The Trust acts as a secret police force in Zilargo and among gnomes abroad in Khorvaire.
History
The gnomish security agency began in Korranberg as an outgrowth of the Library of Korranberg. The founder of the organization is only remembered by her title of the Proctor, and all leaders since go by this title. The Trust was first made public two years after the founding of Zilargo, though exact tellings of how the organization secured the blessing of the Triumvirate of Zilargo differ. Although the gnomes allied with each other, this did not stop the feuds between and within the different city-states. The feuds started to create problems for the new nation of Zilargo. So the Trust was created in order to keep the nation together. Each of the three Triumvirs was given the power to select agents from their own city to create a corps of secret police. This secret police place the interests of the nation above all else. The Trust soon secured total control over law enforcement and national security within Zilargo. The Trust has jurisdiction over punishing those it determines guilty of transgression, and its justice is swift and merciless. There is no court of law. Any Zil citizen could be an agent of the Trust and, thanks to that, Zilargo has the lowest crime rate on Khorvaire. The Trust acts only if something threatens society and they use blackmail and intrigue to eliminate the threats. They are fond of using poisons and maintain numerous observers skilled in encoding secret messages across the continent pulled from the population of gnomes.Agriculture & Industry
Despite its relatively small size Zilargo exports a large array of goods and services. Due to their renown for diplomacy, Zil translators, advocates and mediators are highly sought after. House Sivis regulates these services and maintains a lock on communication throughout Khorvaire. Zilargo is well known for its poets, orators, and bards who weave word and magic together to produce shows of illusion and song. In addition, is the newspaper Korranberg Chronicle which is shipped throughout the Five Nations to its many readers. The library of Korranberg is potentially the largest collection of general knowledge in Khorvaire and scholars from across the continent study there. The gnomes of Trolanport are among the greatest shipwrights and cartographers of Khorvaire, and even the Lhazaar princes travel there to commission Zil vessels. Tremendous wealth pours from the jewel mines of Zolanberg and the Zil have discovered a method for binding elementals to vehicles, weapons, and armor.
Type
Political, Triumvirate
Demonym
Zil
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Major Exports
Alchemical goods, education, entertainment, maps, precious stones, ships
Legislative Body
Zilargo is ruled by the Triumvirate a council made up of three representatives, a 'triumvir' is chosen for each of Zilargo's largest cities: Korranberg, Trolanport, and Zolanberg. Originally the Triumvirate was an oversight committee made to monitor the behavior of students and patrons of the Library of Korranberg. The powers and duties of this council eventually expanded to cover the entire nation. Each of the three cities has its own Council of Nine comprised of gnomes from wealthy families who are charged with dealing with local civic concerns. In theory, the cities' representative to the Triumvirate is democratically selected from amongst the Council of Nine's members. In practice, the process is anything but democratic, as secret wars of words and blackmail determine power within each council. The Trust the secret order that protects Zil society reports directly to the Triumvirate. The Trust has a coordinator for each city who works with the Council of Nine. It is a state secret that the Triumvirate possesses an impressive vault of information concerning political, military, and economic activities that rivals that of the Library of Korranberg, thanks to the work of the Trust.
Location
Neighboring Nations
