Atesi
Atesi is the primary city of the Dacci people. It is laid out in a long strip inside a valley, Botel, that drains from both ends into a 25-acre inland lake, called Wagalpan. Wagalpan is fed by subterranean springs, but it is also replenished by the drainage of watershed in the immediate vicinity, all of which drains into it. The unique geography creates a defensible position, despite the city's lower elevation relative to the surrounding terrain.
Demographics
- Humans (primarily Dacci): 87%
- Orcs (Nadho): 11%
- All Others: 2%
Government
About once every twenty-five years, forces within Dacci culture will get restless and begin speaking of revolting against the Empire. This has happened three times, the most recent being in 1402 LE. In the wake of the last bout of unrest, the Empire deposed the government of Atesi, and installed a permanent military governership there under the leadership of an Utepavir.
This military government sees to order, but also to the administration of the local state. It has proven popular with the Dacci whose primary complaint against the Empire had always been a lack of attention and resources. This military government provides both.
Defences
Atesi is surrounded by a strong wall. The top of the wall is below the rim of Botel, which would tend to make defenders vulerable to attack from above; however, the walls are outfitted with buttressed stone and clay coverings that protect the walls from attack from above, whether via projectiles or by fire.
Infrastructure
Streets
Atesi boasts three major roads: Soagum Praoptima, the street which connects the Daccian Way from the west to the Dintana Way to the east and the capital; Bimgupe Praoptima, the street that leads northward out of the city to the Dagea Way, leading northward toward distant Rozga; and the Edepviusaux Optima, the road that leads to the top of the northern wall of Botel, where the legionary garrison is located, outside the city, proper. All three of these streets are broad, on the order of about fifty feet across, and well paved, in the same manners of the imperial highways.
Secondary streets are cobblestone and about twenty-five feet in width. The remaining byways of the city are simple mud and range from eight to twelve feet in width.
Sanitation
Atesi has the most advanced drainage system of any major city in the empire. The military government has excavated, at a great deal of expense and effort, an extensive subterranean sewer system. They keep in clean and repaired, all of which is deeply necessary to prevent flooding, given the unique topography of the city and its immediate surrounds.
History
The city was founded as a trading post by the Dacci people in 1150 LE, following the end of the Dragonwars. It rapidly grew into the chief settlement in Dacciia.
1291 LE, the Calpian Empire invaded the lands of the Dacci and besieged Atesi, which was eventually conquered in a brutally costly assault by the imperial legions in 1295, after holding out for four years.
In 1316 LE, the Dacci briefly rebelled under the leadership of an organization called Qupin Dacciia. The rebellion was quickly quelled and hundreds of innocent civilians perished in the fighting.
In 1364 LE, Qupin Dacciia again led a rebellion against the Empire. This time they held out for two years before being crushed at the Battle of Belus.
A final revolt occured in 1402 LE, again led by Qupin Dacciia. This time they were brutally supressed, the civilian populace of all of Dacciia, including Atesi, was gathered and subjected to Decimation, in which they were divided into groups of ten, which drew lots. The nine who drew the white stone were forced to bludgeon the one who drew the black stone to death. This gruesome and violent punishment was followed by the establishment of the Military Government of Dacciia and the formation of the Daccian Legion.
Since that time, though resentment from the Decimation remains, the Military Government has made significant infrastructure improvements, instituted a working civil bureaucracy and generally improved living conditions throughout Dacciia, including in the city of Atesi, so public opinion has begun to shift in favor of the Empire and away from Qupin Dacciia.
