The Sybaris Triumvirate
The seafaring people of the Sybaris Triumvirate are no strangers to hardship and turmoil. Long before their struggle against the Tierysian Empire during the Great War as part of the Alliance of Elix, the Aristidis Isles allegedly served as the physical seat for Dhamos, the Storm Warden, during the Age of Strife. The Storm Warden taught the people of these islands how to harness the winds to master the seas. To this day, the sailors from the Sybaris Triumvirate prove to be the most competent in this regard and often serve aboard escort vessels available for hire by any nation or merchant guild. The island nation, being entirely self-sufficient in terms of sustenance and building materials, enjoys a standard of very comfortable living for all its inhabitants. The Triumvirate is ruled by the three heads of the three historical houses of the islands: Alcaeus, Galanos, and Laskaris. The Triumvirate was established well into the Age of Strife, after centuries of tribal infighting on the islands. The three claimants, men alleging to be descendants of Sybaris, an ancient and legendary sailor rumored to be the offspring of the Storm Warden, agreed to rule the Isles in unison. To this day, the heads of each of these households serves as Anax within the capital city of Myreos.
House Alcaeus, whose home lies in Myreos, is ruled by Anax Kyros Alcaeus, the eldest of the three Anax. Largely viewed as a drunkard and glutton, many doubt that Kyros has any serious role in governing the Triumvirate, despite his many public appearances at feasts and festivals. House Galanos, whose home lies in Aytia, is ruled by Anax Astraea Galanos. Astraea, who is often regarded to as the Lady of Coin, is rumored to be a cold and calculating woman with undying loyalty to her house and the Triumvirate.
House Laskaris, whose home lies in Delesius, is ruled by Anax Kallias Laskaris. Kallias, who is only nineteen years of age, is by far the youngest of the Anax and the most openly ambitious. Many citizens joke in whispers that Kallias is everything Kyros wishes he were: young, athletic, and intelligent. Though the inner workings of the governing houses and the Anax remain relatively secretive, there are seemingly no notes of discord between the three rulers. As of late, like many nations within Elix, the Triumvirate has begun pushing more international agendas, seeking to spread their influence across Elix and beyond. Rumor has it, the Triumvirate and the clergy of Dhamos are positing ideas and theories on how to conquer the Stormwalls and reap the spoils of what lies beyond.
Cities & Locations
Myreos: One of the oldest cities of the Triumvirate, Myreos is the largest, in both size and population. The nation's capitol and seat of power for House Alcaeus, Myreos sports a diverse and colorful population. Though once self-sustaining, this metropolis now relies on imports from other cities of the Triumvirate to sustain its large population. Built along the sloping hillsides that become the Xanthip Mountains, the city of Myreos is a visual beauty with each district of the city resting on its own terraced portion of the landscape. The lands surrounding the city are covered in groves of olives, grapes, nuts, wheat, and barley. These native crops have defined the capital of the Triumvirate, which has become famous for its festivals, celebrations, and art. Because of this culture, it has become a place of interest for worshippers of Henir, the Eye of Beauty, and Emon, the Inspired Reveler.
Aytia: Built on one of the larger masses of the archipelago, Aytia is believed to be one of the oldest settlements not only in the Aristidis Isles, but all of Elix. It is believed that, between Aytia and the large island of the Aristidis chain, in the deep chasm of water, the Storm Warden carved one of his ocean thrones from coral and rock. Around this natural throne, amongst dangerous aquatic fauna and flora, the ancient people of these islands, aided by Dhamos himself, constructed an underwater temple complex to honor the god of sea and storms. Though partially destroyed, most of the complex still stands today, with many tourists and devout alike paying good money to make the trip to Aytia to catch a glimpse of such an impressive site. The city itself, sporting a massive seaport, is governed by Anax Astrae Galanos, who has used the city's position and importance to bolster maritime trade, providing much coin for her house, the city, and the Triumvirate at large.
Delesius: Ruled by House Laskaris, Delesius is home to a large system of drydocks exclusively designated for the construction and repair of warships. While the docks service the entirety of the Triumvirate's military fleet, it also offers construction and repair services to other nations at a significant price. However, because the Triumvirate are renown for their shipbuilding, many are willing to pay such prices for their vessels. The city is also home to a number of small academies, sponsored by House Laskaris, dedicated to training sailors in general seamanship and naval combat. The city itself sports a unique diverse makeup because of this, with many traveling from around the lands to attend such schooling.
Empios: Like Delesius, Empios also sports a large drydock. Whereas the docks in Delesius service vessels of war, those of Empios cater to civilian and merchant vessels and therefore see a larger range of ships from more locations. Though Empios is not the seat of any of the three historic houses, Anax Astraea Galanos oversees much of the city's operations, lending to her moniker of the Lady of Coin, as the civilian drydocks generate a large income given its location and ease of access by maritime vessels from Elix and the Shattered Continent. As of late, many exploration vessels have been seen departing Empios; while many of these are seeking to expand trade routes in the known world, several are rumored to be charting new seas to the south of Elix.
Philanes & Eritithos: Philanes and Eritithos, while small, are growing cities that have found their purpose in the gathering of raw materials, primarily lumber, which the Triumvirate utilizes as fast as it is gathered. These two cities also produce a significant amount of foodstuffs, from crops, to livestock, to fish. Some maritime operations within these cities also focus on the gathering of rare sea-based reagents to be used in medicinal and magical practices.
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