Abri (Ah-Bree)

Introduction:

The southernmost city in the Federation. Initially built as a border fortress to repel Leonin from the south, Abri has become a sprawling city. Although relations with the Leonin have improved, the Odion remain watchful of their southern neighbors. Due to its original purpose as a military outpost, Abri is the only Odion city not to be ruled by a priest or priestess of Ilmater.

History:

Abri began as a military outpost along the southern border of the Abbas Wastes in the Green Dune. The fortress was built after the first interaction between the Leonin of the Anthera Grasslands and the Odion. The Odion had only seen Leonin within the Helena Legions that drove them to the Wastes generations prior. It was immediately assumed by the Odion that the Antherans remained aligned with Helena and that they intended to conquer the Odion.
After Abri was built and garrisoned, the Odion went on the offensive. They began conducting raids into northern Anthera and even burned entire towns for fear that those would be used as forward posts in a future invasion. The preemptive strikes from the Odion became a self-fulfilling prophecy and resulted in generations of war between the Antherans and Odion. Peace talks were unproductive as the Antherans felt like they were unjustly attacked and the Odion refused to trust that Anthera had no imperial intentions.
The conflict eventually subsided when religious orders from the Odion and Anthera began to interact. The Odion learned that the Antherans held Ilmater in high regard just as they did. This shared view paved the way for peace. Soon the High Priests and Priestesses met with the Pride King Degnethur Sunward and a truce was brokered. As part of the truce, the Odion Federation agreed to empty Abri and no longer maintain it as a military post. This resulted in Abri being vacant for many generations.
Abri was resettled in 995 ME as a refugee haven. These years marked the apex of the first Centaur Horde to hold control over southern Utican. Many people from Anthera, including Leonin, Humans, Halflings, Elves, and Dwarves fled to the protection of Abri and the Abbas Wastes, seeking to avoid the Horde. The Odion welcomed these refugees in Abri, but would not allow them to move further into the Abbas Wastes. Out of necessity Abri was rebuilt, refortified, and once again garrisoned by a mix of refugees, Odion Sentinels, and adventurers looking to make their name fighting the Centaurs.
Following the fall of the Centaur Horde Abri once again becamunnecessaryessary and costly military fixture. It found use again during the Red Years while the Priests of Ilmater engaged in petty civil wars within the Odion Federation. But Abri otherwise served as an unimportant village on the edge of the Federation. Over time Abri gained prominence as a trade city and in the modern day it primarily operates as a destination for those looking to move goods in and out of the Odion Federation. Abri has once again seen an increase in military activity as rumors of undead stir in the east and the threat of raiders from Exgilios continues to be an issue. Abri is also gripped in a political conflict as the Priests of Ilmater look to wrestle control of the city from the Sentinels.

Demographics:

Abri is predominantly inhabited by Odion Humans. There are minority communities of Antheran Leonin, Carthan Humans, Kumul Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes, and Wood-Elves.

Notable Locations:

• Anube Keep: Anube Keep is the original fortification built in what is now Abri. The Keep is named after its first commander, Sentinel Anube. The Keep has been renovated many times over the years.
• The Glassworks: Since Abri has expanded beyond its original military purpose a number of glass blowers have come to the city. These artists gather in the glassworks to demonstrate their crafts and sell their wares. Abri glass is considered a luxury item across Utican.
• The Chain Yard: An open yard in the city where criminals are kept. Rather than being placed in a dungeon, criminals in Abri are chained to a post in an open yard. People are allowed to approach and provide food, water, and clothing to these individuals. However, many believe that suffering is part of the path to redemption and thus many prisoners are left to weather the hot sun. Due to the nature of the punishment criminal sentences in Abri are usually days or weeks long. Crimes that would dictate a more severe punishment often result in execution.

Notable People:

• High Sentinel Tarik Bata: High Sentinel Bata is the governor of Abri and military commander of the Sentinels within. High Sentinel Bata is the only city ruler in the Odion Federation that does not come from the priesthood dedicated to Ilmater. Since tensions have eased between the Odion and the Antherans High Sentinel Bata has focused efforts aiding other Odion cities.
• Ambassador Krios Fiercehold: Ambassador Fiercehold is the Leonin representative from the Antherans to the south. Despite his name, Ambassador Fiercehold is known to be a reasonable and even handed person.
• High Priestess Ketet Amense: High Priestess Amense is the highest member of the priesthood dedicated to Ilmater in Abri. She openly advocates for an end to the military rule of Abri, arguing that the time of war between Anthera and Odion is long past. She believes the city would prosper more under the guidance of the priesthood, like all other cities in the Federation. This would likely install the High Priestess as the ruler of Abri. High Priestess Amense also is outspoken about the punitive system in Abri, particularly the use of the Chain Yard.

Factions:

• The Sentinels: The Sentinels are the professional military force of the Odion Federation. These soldiers train endlessly to fight anyone who would threaten the Odion independence or way of life. The High Sentinel Tarik Bata is the ruler of Abri by virtue of being the highest-ranked Sentinel. The Sentinels are concerned with growing rumors of undead to the east and raids from the pirates and mountain tribes of Exgilios.
• The Order of Enduring Faith: An order dedicated to the worship of Ilmater. The Order is led by High Priestess Amense. The Order was originally founded in Nebbu but left the capital in an effort to gain more prominence in another city. The Order desires for Abri to be ruled by a Priest of Ilmater like the other cities in the Odion Federation.

Law:

Abri still operates as if it were a military post. As such the laws in Abri differ from those in the rest of the Odion Federation. The most prominent difference is that people are tried by a military tribunal made up of the three highest-ranking officers in Abri. There is no means of appealing the Tribunal's decisions and the punishments are often quite severe, albeit brief. Additionally, Abri does not maintain the same limitations upon arcane magic as the rest of the Odion Federation. This decision was a practical one aimed at providing another weapon for the garrison to use in the event of a war.

General Features of Abri

• Government: Military Theocracy
• Current Ruler: High Sentinel Tarik Bata
• Important Personage: Ambassador Krios Fiercehold, High Priestess Ketet Amense, High Sentinel Tarik Bata,
• Notable Places: Anube Keep, The Chain Yard, The Glassworks
• Climate: Arid
• Religion: Ilmater and associated Dieties
• Trade Goods: Art, Glass, and Pottery

Founding Date

94 AoI (5336th year of recorded history)

Type

City

Population

~11,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Abrians

Location under

Abbas Wastes

Owner/Ruler

Tarik Bata

Ruling/Owning Rank

High Sentinel