Free City of Tetford
Sitting Upon the banks of the Vilev River, the City of Tetford has maintained for centuries its status as the center of trade from both sides of the continent, holding a commanding position on the Great Highway and a direct route to the sea, the city stands as the World's desire.
As the City Grew, the power and prestige of the ruling knights dwindled, with instead the merchants and artisans of the city growing in power, until eventually they formed the Chamber of Commerce, which became the Defacto ruling body for the city, while the knights were eventually relegated to an order of warriors defending the city alongside the Civic Guard.
The New Chamber of Commerce was formed by the House of Hewitt, the oldest and most powerful merchant family in Tetford, who designed and organized the Chamber as a method of expanding their influence and power, allowing them to without a drop of blood, seize control of the city and its vast trade connections, bringing about a new age of trade and economic growth.
This would eventually change when King Richard I, the first King of a united Nuzun Kingdom, arrived at the city not with an army of warriors, but with diplomatic offers. The city would officially proclaim their loyalty to the king, agree to pay the king's taxes and send segments of the Tetford Knights and the Civic Guard to fight in his army. In return, the king could never enter the city without an official statement of permission, he could not levy taxes on the trade that flowed into the city, and he granted vast swaths of farmland to the city, stretching its territory to the Bay of Gold, named so for the vast amount of gold mines along its shore. So was born the Free City, though not as free as it once was.
Under the Kingdom of Nuzun, the wealth of the city would reach an unprecedented level, it would expand at a rapid pace and would become a center of innovation and culture, it would be within it's great walls that the Industrial Revolution would be born, the first factories were born and from its trade routes spread the product and knowledge of these factories. It would be this revolution that would help restore the cities independence.
In the Year 1145, the Free City began a grand construction project that would transform its economic influence forever, removing any reliance on the river of Vilev when traveling to the Bay of Gold. From where the River Turns Northeast to the lands of the Thet, the Free City built a Grand Canal, it became known as the Horstow Canal do to the work being run by the Horstow engineering company, which gained great prestige and influence from the construction of the Canal. The Canal ran from the River Northwest towards the Bay of Gold, making use of a series of dikes and Locks for the varying height to allow ship transport from the River to the Bay of Gold and back again.
During the Nuzun Revolution of 816-817, the city simply closed its eastern gates and deployed it navy, content to watch the kingdom fall apart and continue its existence under whatever government prevailed. When the Republican forces came out on top in 817, the city of Tetford congratulated the Republic and made it clear that they were content to continue the previous enragement with the monarchy, which the republic accepted, not wanting any more conflict and risk the collapse of their republic.
During the Course of the War, despite showing a face of neutrality to the conflict, the Free City would discreetly supply the anti Nuzun Rebels with arms and intelligence, hoping that the rebels would be able to cut off the Eastern Highway of Rourhie, but the Thet left the war after securing their core lands and the Hornwich were forced to sue for peace by their Barqa allies, who sought an end to the war before the Nuzun manage to turn things around. With the end of the War, and the highway still under Nuzun control, the Free City would be forced to make a choice.
The Republic was gone, in its place a one-party totalitarian state, and Tetford was not willing to risk any form of deal with the leaders of this new state, so on the 8th of October, 840, the Chamber of Commerce unanimously declared a declaration of Independence from Nuzun, and the State could do nothing. Many would call this a move of greed, others of ideological passion, but the people of Tetford would say it was pure pragmatism.
The National Group, formerly the regional branch of the National Republican Reconstruction Party, later rebranded as the True National Republican Party in Nuzun, and often called the Goldshirts due to the color of their uniforms, is a Far-Right Paramilitary with connections to the Nuzun National State, advocating the end of an independent Tetford and the integration of the city into the Greater State.
The Blacklist are a Far-Left Paramilitary force made up of Left-Wing radicals who were blacklisted by the TNRP when they seized power in Nuzun, forced into exile, and now act as an aggressive paramilitary force, often engaged in street battles with both the Goldshirts and Civic Guard. Much like the republicans, they advocate the end of the status quo in Tetford and the city becoming a base to liberate the rest of Nuzun.
Finally, the Harrow Union, the undisputed Ruler of the Tetford Criminal Underworld, has recently been sent spiraling with the death of Sam 'Chopper' Davison, the Union's founder and leader, and the current succession crisis over who will sit the Harrow throne, and the growing forces.
The Free City finds itself entering a new age, the power and complete control of its trade empire has long since began to wane, no longer can its chains keep ships at bay, the Golden Walls cannot hold back artillery and planes, and its fleet remains formidable on the river, but the sea has nothing but a few small patrol craft. This is a new Age for Tetford, an age where their old tricks may no longer be able to save them, the Free City must either adapt, or die.
The Chamber itself is an elected body, but the rules and guidelines prevent the majority of the cities' citizens from voting, with only owners of a business deemed stable in the long term allowed to vote in a chamber election, the only definition of what constitutes a stable business is what the Chamber of Commerce Design it, currently permitting just about 1 in 6 citizens the ability to vote. The only way which allows for a non-business owning citizen to vote, is to be a veteran of the Civic Guard or Marines of Tetford, but even then, their votes can only be counted in the Steel District, keeping their voting power limited in scale and scope, preventing a populist movement from which the veterans can change the system.
The Chamber constitutes 20 elected seats within the walls of Tetford, each seat corresponding to one of the 20 districts of the city. The exact method for running for election is fairly simple, someone must arrive in person at a Districts House of Common Interests, which serve as the office for a district's Councilor, along with serving as a command center for the districts Civic Guard Captain, along with often serving as a center point for a district community. Once at the District House, one must simply fill out some paperwork, give an official statement of candidacy and pay the 200 Dollar Entrance Fee.
Besides the 20 elected posts, one seat in the chamber is reserved for the Hewitt Family, the single oldest and most prestigious merchant family in Tetford, the ones behind the original deal with Nuzun, and the formation of the Chamber of Commerce originally when the Knights still ruled the city. The Hewitt family also inherit the title of Magister, who is the honorary head of the Chamber, and officially keeps the records of all meetings and leads debate.
When holding a vote, the Chamber of Commerce in fact hold two votes on all matters. The First vote is completely anonymous and kept from the public, this is the true vote to decide the choice on what legislative matters the Free City will take. Upon completion of the Secret Vote, the Chamber of Commerce holds a second public vote in which all members are required to vote in favor of whatever was chosen in the secret vote. This is to demonstrate a united front by the Chamber for all decisions, with the unanimous voice of the powers of the Tetford united for all things.
The Civic Guard has a large variation of equipment and numbers, one District may have but a few dozen members armed with state-of-the-art equipment, acting as a police force. While a neighboring District will have several thousand soldiers and police armed with decades old guns and ammo that rarely works. This massive variance of equipment and manpower has created a logistical nightmare for the commander of the Guard, and heavily hampered the hoped-for effectiveness of the Guard in the chance of a crisis.
The Marines are, unlike the Civic Guard, an elite core kept well equipped and trained by the Free City, meaning they are never short on proper uniforms, weapons, gear or rations. The Marines remain perhaps the single most well equipped and trained force east of the River Vilev, their stories having been told for generations and a great deal of prestige and honor associated with their uniforms.
Legally speaking the Knights do not answer to the Chamber of Commerce, or the City of Tetford, but are recognized as a uniquely sovreign entity that has entered voluntary service with the city of Tetford for a mutually beneficial agreement. The Knight's provide their forces for the protection of the city, and use of the Castle Averdon in case of siege, and in return they are allowed to adminsiter the castle in peacetime and are provided a monthly allowance based on the total members in the Knights, which goes to provide for the individual knights and their needs.
History of Tetford
Founding of a City
The City of Tetford would be first settled some 1000 years ago by a large group of Nuzun Knights and their attendants, constructing a small stone keep surrounded by a ring fort made of wood and earth works on the western banks of the city. The exact reason why these knights settled where they did is unknow, with no known record existing of the event, besides a single, poorly written partially incomplete poem, which reads as follows....
Upon the banks of River Vilev
Settled the Knights of Kilev
Forgotten the streets of Home
They went to write a tome
...
Whatever the Poem was describing is hard to decipher, but the Poem indicates the Knights hailed from a place named Kilev, which at the time was a small fort located in the mountains of modern day Hornwhicia, but no known record exists of knights ever calling the fort home, or why Nuzun knights would be doing in the lands of Hornwhicia. Whatever the truth to this event, the supposed tome does not exist, and a city known as Tetford was born upon the banks of the River Vilev.
The Cities early days would be that as a fortress, from which the Nuzun Knights would launch raids west into the lands of Besk and face against the raids of the Thet and Rhar, the fortress would simply become known as the Keep of Silver, due to the Silver used in place of Iron in certain parts of the Keep.
Growth of a City
Over the Centuries, the City of Tetford grew from a small keep and fort into a large city, and it would get its name, with the people coming to name it Tetford after the ship built in its first harbor, with many people calling the city as "The Place where the Tetford lies", which eventually became "The Place of Tetford", and then simply Tetford. As the City grew, it was no longer isolated to the western banks of the Vilev River, bridges were built across the river and entire new city districts began to sprout up.
Eventually, the Growth of the City began to attract a great many would be conquerors, the constant raids launched by the Thet to the north prompted the construction of the Great Golden Tetford Walls, Rhar pirates sailing down Vilev prompted the construction of a great steel chain upon the river and a sizable river fleet, invasions by the Besk and overbearing taxes by the Nuzun prompted the formation of the Civic Guard to defy those who would end the cities prosperity and freedoms for the sake of power.
As the City Grew, the power and prestige of the ruling knights dwindled, with instead the merchants and artisans of the city growing in power, until eventually they formed the Chamber of Commerce, which became the Defacto ruling body for the city, while the knights were eventually relegated to an order of warriors defending the city alongside the Civic Guard.
The New Chamber of Commerce was formed by the House of Hewitt, the oldest and most powerful merchant family in Tetford, who designed and organized the Chamber as a method of expanding their influence and power, allowing them to without a drop of blood, seize control of the city and its vast trade connections, bringing about a new age of trade and economic growth.
Nuzun Overlordship
While Tetford would pass from one master to another within the Nuzun realms, none could ever officially incorporate the City into their Realm, instead having to rely on working with the Chamber of Commerce, less they seal the cities gate's and bring out their fleet in force to keep river trade open and simply wait out whatever lord attempted to make them kneel.This would eventually change when King Richard I, the first King of a united Nuzun Kingdom, arrived at the city not with an army of warriors, but with diplomatic offers. The city would officially proclaim their loyalty to the king, agree to pay the king's taxes and send segments of the Tetford Knights and the Civic Guard to fight in his army. In return, the king could never enter the city without an official statement of permission, he could not levy taxes on the trade that flowed into the city, and he granted vast swaths of farmland to the city, stretching its territory to the Bay of Gold, named so for the vast amount of gold mines along its shore. So was born the Free City, though not as free as it once was.
Under the Kingdom of Nuzun, the wealth of the city would reach an unprecedented level, it would expand at a rapid pace and would become a center of innovation and culture, it would be within it's great walls that the Industrial Revolution would be born, the first factories were born and from its trade routes spread the product and knowledge of these factories. It would be this revolution that would help restore the cities independence.
In the Year 1145, the Free City began a grand construction project that would transform its economic influence forever, removing any reliance on the river of Vilev when traveling to the Bay of Gold. From where the River Turns Northeast to the lands of the Thet, the Free City built a Grand Canal, it became known as the Horstow Canal do to the work being run by the Horstow engineering company, which gained great prestige and influence from the construction of the Canal. The Canal ran from the River Northwest towards the Bay of Gold, making use of a series of dikes and Locks for the varying height to allow ship transport from the River to the Bay of Gold and back again.
During the Nuzun Revolution of 816-817, the city simply closed its eastern gates and deployed it navy, content to watch the kingdom fall apart and continue its existence under whatever government prevailed. When the Republican forces came out on top in 817, the city of Tetford congratulated the Republic and made it clear that they were content to continue the previous enragement with the monarchy, which the republic accepted, not wanting any more conflict and risk the collapse of their republic.
The Spring of Nations
In the Year 1342, the Nuzun Republic was overthrown by the Nuzun National Front, who began to institute oppressive policies against the ethnic minorities of Nuzun, in response the Thet, Barqa, and Hornwich rose in revolt, beginning the spring of nations. While Nation tore itself apart in Civil Wat, Tetford once again closed its gates, deployed its fleet in force, rose its great chains, and waited for the war to end. But by the time the war ended, Tetford had made its choice.During the Course of the War, despite showing a face of neutrality to the conflict, the Free City would discreetly supply the anti Nuzun Rebels with arms and intelligence, hoping that the rebels would be able to cut off the Eastern Highway of Rourhie, but the Thet left the war after securing their core lands and the Hornwich were forced to sue for peace by their Barqa allies, who sought an end to the war before the Nuzun manage to turn things around. With the end of the War, and the highway still under Nuzun control, the Free City would be forced to make a choice.
The Republic was gone, in its place a one-party totalitarian state, and Tetford was not willing to risk any form of deal with the leaders of this new state, so on the 8th of October, 840, the Chamber of Commerce unanimously declared a declaration of Independence from Nuzun, and the State could do nothing. Many would call this a move of greed, others of ideological passion, but the people of Tetford would say it was pure pragmatism.
The Current Situation
The Independent Tetford state is, despite the unified declaration by the CoC, was deeply divided from the shockwaves of the Spring of Nations. The National Republican Party in Exile, a coalition of Liberals, Conservatives, Progressives, and other republican factions that were forced from Nuzun after the victory of Nationalist forces, has established itself within the walls of the city, advocating Tetford become the springboard from which it can liberate the rest of the Nation from the Nationalists.The National Group, formerly the regional branch of the National Republican Reconstruction Party, later rebranded as the True National Republican Party in Nuzun, and often called the Goldshirts due to the color of their uniforms, is a Far-Right Paramilitary with connections to the Nuzun National State, advocating the end of an independent Tetford and the integration of the city into the Greater State.
The Blacklist are a Far-Left Paramilitary force made up of Left-Wing radicals who were blacklisted by the TNRP when they seized power in Nuzun, forced into exile, and now act as an aggressive paramilitary force, often engaged in street battles with both the Goldshirts and Civic Guard. Much like the republicans, they advocate the end of the status quo in Tetford and the city becoming a base to liberate the rest of Nuzun.
Finally, the Harrow Union, the undisputed Ruler of the Tetford Criminal Underworld, has recently been sent spiraling with the death of Sam 'Chopper' Davison, the Union's founder and leader, and the current succession crisis over who will sit the Harrow throne, and the growing forces.
The Free City finds itself entering a new age, the power and complete control of its trade empire has long since began to wane, no longer can its chains keep ships at bay, the Golden Walls cannot hold back artillery and planes, and its fleet remains formidable on the river, but the sea has nothing but a few small patrol craft. This is a new Age for Tetford, an age where their old tricks may no longer be able to save them, the Free City must either adapt, or die.
The Free City Government
Chamber of Commerce
As it has been for centuries, the Free City of Tetford has been ruled by the Chamber of Commerce, the 21-seat council that holds absolute control over the affairs of the free city, from negotiations to legislative acts. The Chamber holds the sole power to overrule, appoint and dismiss the Commander of the Civic Guard and Admiral of the Marines, along with defining the rules and regulations of its own legislative process and voting rules for the common populace and size of the Chamber itself.The Chamber itself is an elected body, but the rules and guidelines prevent the majority of the cities' citizens from voting, with only owners of a business deemed stable in the long term allowed to vote in a chamber election, the only definition of what constitutes a stable business is what the Chamber of Commerce Design it, currently permitting just about 1 in 6 citizens the ability to vote. The only way which allows for a non-business owning citizen to vote, is to be a veteran of the Civic Guard or Marines of Tetford, but even then, their votes can only be counted in the Steel District, keeping their voting power limited in scale and scope, preventing a populist movement from which the veterans can change the system.
The Chamber constitutes 20 elected seats within the walls of Tetford, each seat corresponding to one of the 20 districts of the city. The exact method for running for election is fairly simple, someone must arrive in person at a Districts House of Common Interests, which serve as the office for a district's Councilor, along with serving as a command center for the districts Civic Guard Captain, along with often serving as a center point for a district community. Once at the District House, one must simply fill out some paperwork, give an official statement of candidacy and pay the 200 Dollar Entrance Fee.
Besides the 20 elected posts, one seat in the chamber is reserved for the Hewitt Family, the single oldest and most prestigious merchant family in Tetford, the ones behind the original deal with Nuzun, and the formation of the Chamber of Commerce originally when the Knights still ruled the city. The Hewitt family also inherit the title of Magister, who is the honorary head of the Chamber, and officially keeps the records of all meetings and leads debate.
When holding a vote, the Chamber of Commerce in fact hold two votes on all matters. The First vote is completely anonymous and kept from the public, this is the true vote to decide the choice on what legislative matters the Free City will take. Upon completion of the Secret Vote, the Chamber of Commerce holds a second public vote in which all members are required to vote in favor of whatever was chosen in the secret vote. This is to demonstrate a united front by the Chamber for all decisions, with the unanimous voice of the powers of the Tetford united for all things.
The Tetford Military
Civic Guard
The Civic Guard is the Militia and Police Force of the Free City, comprised of a fully volunteer force of Citizens, the Civic Guard's structure has changed little over the centuries. The Guard is led by a Commander, whose office is located in the House of Steel in the Western Section of the City, Under the Commander is exactly 20 Captains, each captain running the Guard's effort in whatever district they are assigned from the Districts House of Common Interest.The Civic Guard has a large variation of equipment and numbers, one District may have but a few dozen members armed with state-of-the-art equipment, acting as a police force. While a neighboring District will have several thousand soldiers and police armed with decades old guns and ammo that rarely works. This massive variance of equipment and manpower has created a logistical nightmare for the commander of the Guard, and heavily hampered the hoped-for effectiveness of the Guard in the chance of a crisis.
The Marines
The Marines of Tetford have been for centuries, the Naval force of Tetford, forcing any attempt to close river trade to fail, as the merchants thrived off trade along the river of Vilev. The Marines are headed by an Admiral, who runs things from the flagship of the Tetford fleet, the Cruiser Tetford VI. The Structure of the Marines are far closer in line with a normal navy, with its own marine core along with its naval forces.The Marines are, unlike the Civic Guard, an elite core kept well equipped and trained by the Free City, meaning they are never short on proper uniforms, weapons, gear or rations. The Marines remain perhaps the single most well equipped and trained force east of the River Vilev, their stories having been told for generations and a great deal of prestige and honor associated with their uniforms.
The Knights
The Knights of Tetford have not ruled the city for centuries, instead they have acted as an elite core of warriors and soldiers outside of the Civic Guard. While they are no longer knights in the sense of shiny armor and swords, they remain elite special forces, maintaining their chivalry and titles, often seen on horseback patrolling the streets.Legally speaking the Knights do not answer to the Chamber of Commerce, or the City of Tetford, but are recognized as a uniquely sovreign entity that has entered voluntary service with the city of Tetford for a mutually beneficial agreement. The Knight's provide their forces for the protection of the city, and use of the Castle Averdon in case of siege, and in return they are allowed to adminsiter the castle in peacetime and are provided a monthly allowance based on the total members in the Knights, which goes to provide for the individual knights and their needs.
