Tithen Trade City, Serra - The City of Endless Opportunity

    This post serves as an even closer look at the massive Tithen Trade City, from the country of Serra. As the largest city in the world, it serves as a social hub for many civilizations. Thousands of people come through Tithen every day looking for trade, work, rare goods, entertainment, big breaks; just about anything can be found, done, or bought here. It is not referred to as the City of Endless Opportunity for nothing.

This is a map available to tourists upon request from any of the Information booths located throughout Tithen. It shows the locations of many popular establishments. This map is current as of the present year of 303 AD.

-------------------------------------History and Origins:-------------------------------------

    Before Tithen Trade City became the largest market hub in the world it was a small fishing village in the country of Hinveld. When Dol invaded, Tithen was small and rather insignificant. It was a fairly non-essential village that held no strategic value during the brief war against Hinveld. The citizens were frightened by Dol but not foolish enough to engage themselves too much with the war. The Hinveld monarchy never sent the village a request for soldiers; they were defeated faster than they could fully mobilize. The villagers of Tithen kept to themselves and continued on as if there were no war. They hardly saw any of the goings on outside of their boundaries. At least, not until several years after the collapse of Dol.

    In about 15 AD (After Dol) the village was approached by some messengers from the Serra Royal City. They were informed that the country of Hinveld was no longer standing and that Serra promises to help its neighbors rebuild and recover from Dol's invasion. The messenger also said that the monarchy was looking to invest in a port village in order to bring more money through imports and exports. Serra offered incentives for citizens to move and help expand Tithen. Over the next several years Tithen grew in population and size drastically. It was soon a busy port city.

    King Edrin Velix was the monarch who was ruling at this time; he was the man responsible for proposing this investment plan. He continued to support Tithen's expansion for many years, despite the initial hesitation from his closest advisors. He took many trips to other countries to convince them them to use Serra as a trading hub. It took several years but eventually other countries also came to Tithen to export and import with nations across the world. Shortly after, Tithen was considered a huge success and King Edrin was regarded a hero.

    Tithen grew beyond anyone's expectations. It quickly became the largest trading center in the world. Businesses and trading companies began to form and prosper. They organized Tithen into a properly managed city. As the most lucrative city in Canascus; these major companies wanted to make sure that Tithen was appropriately taken care of and it's businesses properly managed. It was now 215 AD, and King Edrin Velix has long since passed. The current king of Serra has grown comfortable and has been increasing taxes in Tithen. Meanwhile, the businesses of Tithen had grown tired of being taken for granted. In secret the largest companies met and conspired to form their own government to manage Tithen themselves.

    At this point in time the newest appointed Lord of Tithen was Erinor Blenn. He was considered a very pompous and greedy man and universally disliked by the Tithen business owners. Lord Blenn was the main force and inspiration to the increase in taxes. He was the one that proposed the idea to the current King.

    The newly formed Market Government did not suffer Lord Blenn for long. The royal guard was largely payed by Tithen and at this time was basically owned by Tithen's businesses. The Market Government didn't have to try hard to convince them to arrest Lord Blenn. He was promptly escorted to Serra Royal City in a wagon and dumped on the steps of the royal castle. The Market Government sent a representative along with the soldiers to relay their demands to the king. They declared themselves as the sole rulers of Tithen Trade City. They refused to pay taxes any further and that they be left to manage themselves without interference from the monarchy. If the king refused then the Market Government threatened to deny any exports and imports that came from the other cities of Serra.

    It did not take long for the king to agree to the terms set by the Market Government. Serra's economy was too dependent on the business from Tithen. In order to keep some good faith, the royal guard's command was returned to the king. However, the soldiers were given the offer to be privately employed by Tithen Trade City. About half of all of Serra's military signed with the Market Government and the Red Gauntlet Security was formed.

    This marked the beginning of Tithen Trade City as it is presently known. Its relationship with the monarchy of Serra is intact and mutually beneficial. The Royal City and the other cities are still allowed to use Tithen as a trading port so long as they leave the businesses to govern the city. On the surface Tithen's relationship to the rest of Serra remains the same, save for some unresolved resentment. Despite this tension Tithen Trade City and Serra continued to prosper for the next 100 years.

    In the current year of 303 AD; Tithen Trade City still holds the title for the most lucrative city in the world and the largest population, at roughly 500,000 residents.

-------------------------------------The Districts:-------------------------------------

     Tithen Trade City was not made in a single day. It was built over the last 300 years. Before the monarchy invested in expanding Tithen it was a mere fishing village. As Tithen grew and buildings were constructed Tithen began to be seperated into newer districts and neighborhoods. Today, Tithen is split into 6 districts that are essentially smaller cities in themselves.

Otter District:

    When most people think of the postcard view of Tithen Trade City, they usually envision large bustling markets with hundreds of shoppers and tourists of all races and nationalities passing through. The Otter District and the Diamond Plaza is the embodiment of this image. This district is comprised almost completely by businesses, shops, and inns; almost no residential buildings. The Diamond Plaza is a huge exotic market and the most popular tourist spot; it is the largest open market in the world. Hundreds of vendors park their shops and carts in the plaza to sell their goods to people. Here you can find almost any sorts of goods, trinkets, and foods. The Otter District has the most foot traffic out of all of the districts. Most visitors only stick to this area while they stay in Tithen. It is also the most heavily monitored area by Red Gauntlet Security.

The People of the Otter District:

    The people of the Otter District are the most diverse in all the world. You can find vendors of every race and nationality here. Many people of various races have claimed their stakes and now call Tithen their home. A lot of them leave their homelands in order to take advantage of Tithen Trade City's financial fame. Most of the local shops are owned by humans of Canascan decent, however. The popular clothing styles are whatever is currently trending by Lissa's Proper Fashions. Usullay that is bright clothes for men and pastels for women.

    Most people are overly friendly and willing to do anything in he hopes that they can earn a little coin. Money drives Tithen, if you are willing to pay, chances are you can get anyone to do something for you with a smile.

Marlin District:

    This district is considered a buffer between the touristy districts and the rest of Tithen. There are still very many shops in the Marlin district but residential areas become more frequent here. You are more likely to run into citizens of Tithen than just tourists. This is where some people claim you need to go if you want an authentic Tithen experience. The reason for this is because, while the Otter District has shops and food from all over the world, Marlin has more local establishments. Some exotic shops appear but they mostly are near the border of the Otter District or along the major streets. The market rules are a little less monitored in this district so you are more likely to run into street peddlers as well as smaller shops.

The People of the Marlin District:

    The Marlin district is where you start to see more of the local residents of Tithen. In the Otter District, less than half of the shops and businesses are owned by local Tithen residents. But that number starts to skew more the other way in Marlin. The local Tithen crowds usually stay away from the Otter tourists and stick to shops in this area.

    The racial makeup for this district is still very diverse. Though not quite as much as the Otter district.

    The people here are still friendly enough, but they don't bend over backwards for tourists like they do in the Diamond Plaza.

    Clothing-wise, some residents loosely follow Lissa's current trends. Many people still shop to have at least one or two sets of clothes made by Lissa's Proper Fashions for special occasions.

Pearl District:

    This district is where all of Tithen's rich district. Only the wealthiest patrons can stay at the inns here; and all of the richest residents have mansions here. The common tourists usually like to walk through and see the posh and rich establishments, but quickly learn that most of the goods and services here are out of their price range. The Velix Museum is free however and a popular attraction for many tourists. It is a glimpse at how Tithen was established and houses many historical artifacts. It is probably the most heavily guarded public sights in Tithen. The Red Gauntlet usually has several patrols around most establishments and in every neighborhood; the residents of the Pearl District are the people that keep Tithen running and pay a large part of the R.I.G.'s income.

The People of the Pearl District:

    The Pearl District is probably the least diverse area in Tithen. It is primarily consisted of the wealthiest residents in Tithen, whi are often humans of Canascan decent. However, everyone's money is welcome in Tithen and that still holds true in the Pearl District.

    Usually the fashion in The Pearl District is heavily dictated by Lissa's Proper Fashions. Having in fashion custom made clothing is often a sort of status symbol. For men, the popular style is bright tunics with white pants and buckled shoes. For women, the current trend is elaborate pastel dresses.

Corporate District:

    This is probably the only area that is generally not seen by tourists. It is mostly comprised of warehouses, factories, and storage facilities. Most of the large business have buildings in this area. It serves as the business sector for Tithen's biggest companies. Smooth Sailing Shipping has it's main office near the docks here. Lissa's Proper Fashions makes its clothing lines in factories located in C.D. and so on. The Corporate District also holds the Red Gauntlet Prison. There are no shops in this district and the majority of Tithen's residents work at the various factories in the Corporate District.

The People of the Corporate District:

    This district is where most of the hard work happens. Fashion is not as high a priority and people have little tolerance for slackers and distractions. Everyone seems busy and has little time for idle chit chat.

    Many of the workers don't have uniforms but their work clothes are often designed and provided by one of Lissa's Proper Fashions' side divisions.

Sea Bass District:

    Here is where you really start to see the underbelly of Tithen. A whole different breed of tourist visits the Sea Bass District. Here you find seedier forms of entertainments. People say that you can find anything in Tithen. This district is where you can find the darker side of "anything". There are many underground organizations that provide services like gambling, prostitution, illegal fighting, drugs, slave trading, and more. Most of the common tourists stick to the Otter District but the shadier travelers call the Sea Bass District their home.

The People of the Sea Bass District:

    The residents of of the Sea Bass district are very different than most of the other Tithen districts. The underground gangs and organizations are less concerned with welcoming tourists and providing a safe and clean environment.

    The people of Sea Bass are more likely to act nice to get you indebted to them. The overall feel from the establishments here is much seedier. Tourists are more likely to be robbed and pick-pocketed.

    The sense of style here is no set by Lissa's Fashion trends. It depends more on the organization that the person belongs to.

Old District:

    Old District is appropriately named so because it is the oldest and poorest area of Tithen. A lot of the buildings are remnants of older times before Tithen became the bustling metropolis it is today. It is filled with small homes, dirt roads, and old warehouses and factories. This area is almost exclusively local residents of Tithen. There are many gangs and almost no Red Gauntlet Security presence. Presently there is a precedent to try to update and breath new life into the Old District; there is a construction zone near the docks in order to rebuild Tithen's "ugly side". This is a very controversial issue as many of the Tithen commoners are against this measure as it would raise the living costs of the current residents.

The People of the Old District: 

    Old District is the poor side of Tithen. There is still some diversity. The attitudes of people also range in this district.

    Lissa's Fashions also holds little sway in the Old District. Most people can't afford the high end fashions and have little occasion to spend money on overpriced clothing.

-------------------------------------The Market Government:-------------------------------------

    Tithen Trade City was founded by the most powerful and lucrative companies in the city. They believed that the Serran monarchy was proving to be more of an obstruction at the time. The King and Lord Blenn were not business men and were only stifling the potential of Tithen. 

    Among the largest and most influential members of the Market Government are the owners of the following businesses: Smooth Sailing Shipping, Archaeis Construction, Mighty Fine Stables and Transports, Duric and Sons' Rare Goods, Lissa's Proper Fashions, and Red Gauntlet Security & Navy. 

Smooth Sailing Shipping:

    Nothing goes through the ports of Tithen without going through Smooth Sailing. With Tithen being a sea port, Smooth Sailing gets the most business in the whole city. It manages the flow of sea traffic coming in and out of the ports. They work with the Red Gauntlet Navy on policing and guiding sea traffic. The R.G.N. is a branch of Red Gauntlet Security that exclusively deals with docks.

    The sea around Tithen is patrolled by many navy and Smooth Sailing ships. They keep a tight perimeter and funnel incoming ships. Before entering the perimeter they meet with a port liaison. The ships are directed by the liaison to numbered docking ports across Tithen. There are several liaison ships that control a specific block of ports. There are currently 25 blocks with roughly 35 ports per block. 7 of those blocks are reserved for the Corporate District. There are around 875 ports along Tithen's shores.

    Private ships are not allowed to sail without a paid permit and registering with the company. If you do not own a ship; Smooth Sailing also sells and rents ships. A large percentage of Tithen residents work in the shipping yards of Smooth Sailing.

    Smooth Sailing was founded in 147 AD. The original founder was Oswald Berrins. He started as a ship contractor. Building and selling ships to the businesses that needed them. When the Market Government was formed in 215 AD; Smooth Sailing joined with Red Gauntlet Security to control the ports of the city. The other companies agreed in exchange for certain benefits. Smooth Sailings current president is Binten Spelder, the wealthiest man in Tithen. Spelder is married to the daughter of the owner of Lissa's Proper Fashions.

Archaeis Construction:

    When Tithen Trade City began its steady expansion, it needed someone to build all of the new roads and buildings. Archaeis construction was the most aggressive and successful contractor throughout Tithen's growth. It is now the exclusive contractor for all of Tithen's large constructions.

    Similar to Smooth Sailing, Archaeis holds a monopoly on the construction market. Residents are not allowed to make modifications, repairs, or expansions to property without an inspection and permit from Archaeis. This way even if they are not the ones doing the job, they still make some sort of profit. It helps them control their competition and also how Tithen develops visually. Most of the higher priority districts must maintain a certain level of visual appeal in order to attract tourists.

    Presently, Archaeis is in charge of renovating the Old District. The construction zone is being controlled and built exclusively by  Archaeis contractors. During the day the construction zone is abuzz with workers, but at night the construction zone is empty and becomes a hot spot very suspicious activity.

    Archaeis was founded in 103 AD. It is the oldest business in Tithen. The company is currently ran by President Serrol Veltianin. The original founder was Jenner Archaeis. Its main office is on the northwest of the Corporate District.

Mighty Fine Stables and Transports:

    If you need a ride or need to buy a horse, chances are you are going to deal with Mighty Fine Stables and Transports. They have two major posts. One in the Sea Bass District and one in Otter District. Both locations take up an entire block to give room for the horses and carriages. The company provides transportation all over Tithen city.

    Citizens of Tithen are allowed to own their own horses, but selling horses requires legal paperwork and transfer fees to be made through Mighty Fine Stables. Any horse that is sold without the proper paperwork is considered an illegal deal and the horse is subject to being confiscated and ownership goes to Mighty Fine Stables. Horses owned by the company are branded to show its origin. Horses brought from out of Tithen must be registered and the owner must have the proper paperwork at all times. Otherwise they risk getting fined or getting their horses confiscated.

    Despite these strict ownership rules, things are run fairly smoothly and just. No one really complains about these laws and it helps the horse trade business stay legitimate and fair.

    Mighty Fine Stables and Transports was founded when several horse traders banded together, thus it has several partner owners. Herr Ginterpen, Sil Arramelle, Melvovir Warren, and Orrick Bester are the current partners.

Duric and Sons' Rare Goods:

    Duric and Sons' is probably one of the newer members of the Market Government. It has made quite the name for itself in trading with foreigners for their rare artifacts and magical trinkets. It deals in almost any kind of sold goods. Weapons, armor, tools, toys, gadgets and anything else from all over the world can be found in this massive shop. They both buy and sell items. They are happy to buy trinkets of value from patrons and sell it for a higher price.

    Tithen's biggest collection of rare artifacts are located in Duric and Sons' Rare Goods. Thus it also the most heavily monitored shop in Tithen. Red Gauntlet has a very rigid contract with them and they also have some of the most advanced security in the world; consisting of various magical and technological security measures.

    D&S is located in the Pearl District and the shop takes up an entire block; it is usually very busy. The building itself is several stories high and even has a few floors below ground. If you can't find something specific in the store they also have a catalog of items that are stored in a heavily guarded warehouse in the Corporate District. It is probably the most visited establishment in Tithen.

    Duric and Sons' was founded in 233 AD by Harold Duric and his sons, Bosley and Finn. To this day the Duric family still owns the store. Currently, it is owned by Andoneir Duric and his wife, Emile.

Lissa's Proper Fashions:

    Almost all of Tithen's high end fashion and accessory designs are made exclusively by Lissa's Proper Fashions. They have two major locations; one in the Pearl District and one near the Diamond Plaza. The Pearl location is considered to be the true headquarters of Lissa's and the other location is to mainly satisfy the tourists.

    Lissa's sets the standard of all modern fashion trends in Tithen. All of the richer residents of Tithen get their fanciest clothes custom made by Lissa's Proper Fashions. If it was not made by Lissa's then it is considered second rate at best. All of their clothes are made inhouse by the best tailors they can hire. They also make the uniforms for most of the other companies in Tithen.

    Lissa's Proper Fashions was founded in 259 AD. It is the newest member of the Market Government. The original founder is Lissa Anneya. She is currently still alive and remains the head off the company along with her two daughters, Lissa Anneya-Spelder II and Olivia Anneya.

Red Gauntlet Security and Navy:

    Red Gauntlet Security was formed in 215 AD; when the Market Government was formed and the Serra Royal Guard that had remained in Tithen was bought off. The General at the time was Mikael Arragosta. General Arragosta was well compensated at his post in Tithen. The large companies made sure the Royal Guard was well payed to protect their businesses, this made the decision to secede from the Serra Royal Guard very easy to those working in Tithen. Red Guantlet Security was formed and is one of the most well payed protective services in the world.

    Red Gauntlet Security has two main branches; Security and Navy. The navy branch exclusively handles the ports and incoming ships. They work primarily with Smooth Sailing Shipping to ensure that the docks are organized and secure. The Navy half of Red Gauntlet is very busy as they get hundreds of ships every day that must pass inspections.

    Getting work in the Security sector is considered very prestigious and is very sought after. The RGS is very well respected by the businesses and the market Government, however they are less popular in certain neighborhoods of the Old and Sea Bass Districts.

    Citizens of Tithen often reach out to Red Gauntlet Security for specific jobs and needs. Any jobs that do not seem worth their time the RGS often outsources these jobs to any mercenaries or adventurers through the various Precincts located throughout Tithen.

    General Byron Oveille and Admiral Elliot Farrpike are the current heads of the Red Gauntlet Security and Navy.

    Red Gauntlet uses a red fist as their insignia. They usually wear scale and plate mail accented by red cloth and paint. Guards that work the prison wear black armor with red accents and cloth.

-------------------------------------Other Noteworthy Groups and Locations:-------------------------------------

The Diamond Plaza:

    The Diamond Plaza is the most popular tourist spot in Tithen. Thousands gather here to shop and sell their exotic goods. You can find food and trinket vendors of all shapes and sizes. The area is heavily patrolled by Red Gauntlet Security in order to keep the area safe and free of any riffraff that would drive away tourists. Street performers are permitted, but no beggars. Even then, sometimes street performers are kicked out of the districts if they do not look presentable.

The Ocean's Breeze Tavern:

    There are many taverns and pubs in Tithen, but none are as popular and prestigious as The Ocean's Breeze. Despite its location in the Otter District, it is often very popular with Pearl District residents. The most popular performers often play shows here and the richest patrons often get seats on the second floor balconies in their own private booths. Reservations are the only way to get these luxurious seats.

    The ground floor is where the commoner patrons can find seats. Usually the seats have to be paid for, on top of any drinks and meals. The prices for the seats also change depend on the entertainment. Big performers often make seat prices skyrocket. The more affordable seats appear during the slow hours or when there aren't popular performances.

    Because the seats are hard to get or afford. A lot of people like to hang out near enough where they could hear the performances from outside. Usually there will be Tithen citizens hanging out in the alleys behind the Ocean's Breeze in order to catch the good shows.

    The owner of the tavern is a half-elf woman named Rileya Frost.

Didra's Smithy:

    While Lissa's Proper Fashions owns the clothing market, Didra's Smithy owns the armor market. Didra's Smithy is the main provider of Red Gauntlet Security's chain and plate mail uniforms. There is no bigger armory in all of Canascus. It is also one of the few large companies that is owned by a dwarf named Arzhuud Drohma.

    Despite Didra's deals with Red Gauntlet they are not considered a member of the Market Government yet.

Tithen City Hall:

    Tithen City Hall is where all of the Market Government business is held. Here they gather and make all decisions and laws to help further Tithen's progress. The building is heavily guarded when the Market Government meets.

Commercial Trade Center:

    While the Diamond Plaza is more of a spectacle and a source of entertainment, the CTC is the spot for some organized shopping. This is a large building with permanent booths that are available for rent by by shop owners. It is like an organized flea market. There are pamphlets that list what shops are available and their location within the CTC.

The Green Greaves:

    The Green Greaves is an underground group that runs a large part of the illegal activities in the Sea Bass District. The Greaves are run by man named Bolin Pillars. The Green Greaves name is a jab at the Red Gauntlet Security. 

    There are several warehouses that serve as fronts for their illegal activities. The shop Quality Textiles acts as the main offices for Bolin Pillars. He owns the store and bought some of the warehouse under that company name.

The Greaves mainly deal with illegal bets and gambling. They run illegal fights in one of their warehouses and run gambling in the basement of Quality Textiles.

    Members of the Green Greaves don't really where a uniform. But some of the younger thugs think it's appropriate to wear green shoes as a sign of their allegiance. Pillars detests this fad and does not encourage his underlings to do so. The gang mostly consists of Canascans, though they do not exclude the other races intentionally.

    Despite Pillars's dislike for the Red Gauntlet, they usually on good terms with them and hide their business pretty well. Their businesses may be illegal but they are usually fair and do not hustle people out of their money; at least not that they know of.

The Crooked Blades:

    This organization is one of the most dangerous in all of Tithen. The group takes pride in seeming as intimidating as possible, hence the chosen name. Despite their grisly appearance they are surprisingly organized and run a lot of smuggling and involve themselves in selling illegal goods. They help smuggle a lot of wares out of the Corporate District and sell drugs, slaves, soul magic scrolls, and more.

    The Crooked Blades mainly operate out of old warehouses in the Old District but they sell their wares in the seedy areas of the Sea Bass District. The leader of the Crooked Blades is an elf man named Rylek Arbanylan. Rylek also runs a brothel out of the Prickly Rose Pub in the Sea Bass District.

    Most of the member of the Crooked Blade wear black clothing and also paint the blades of their swords and daggers black. The gang is comprised of members of many races. There is no dominant race. Though about half of the gang is humans.

    The Crooked Blades and the Green Greaves do not get along but they have a basic understanding. They know each others' territories and try to stay out of each other's business. But that doesn't mean that the younger members don't occasionally bump heads.

The Rabid Wolves:

    The Rabid Wolves is one of the least organized gangs of Tithen. It is mostly a bunch of kids causing trouble and trying to prove that they are the toughest sons-of-bitches in Tithen. They usually try to rob, hustle, and mug tourists. Their base of operations changes often from various abandoned buildings in the Old District.

    The leader of the gang is an ogre named Krahd Du'Meft. Krahd was the reigning champion in The Green Greaves' fighting rings. After winning countless fights he was banned from entering again. He was too strong and too difficult to find even matches for. He formed this gang so that he can still get money. Now he runs his own illegal fights, often to the death. And he still stands victor. 

    The Wolves accept almost anyone into their gang. The only thing you have to do is prove your worth in some way or another. You either need to be strong or be able to offer some skills to help con tourists out of their money for the gang. Once someone is accepted into the Rabid Wolves then they must recieve a wolf tattoo somewhere on their body.

    The relationship between the Rabid Wolves and the other gangs can be quite strained at most times, especially with the Crooked Blades. The Wolves usually don't keep any particular territory. They try to cover as much territory as possible. They often try to sign up as fighters in the Green Greaves' fights for money. Or they try sometimes try to steal drugs and other goods from the Crooked Blades. The biggest problem they cause is often driving away tourists by hustling and mugging them.

Serra, Canascus - An In Depth Look

 History and Lore:

      Serra is a unique country in Canascus. It's the only country with two separate governments. It has a capitalistic government and a monarchy. Originally Serra was a much smaller country. It was about a third of it's current size. When the Dol Empire expanded across Canascus many countries were given the option to accept Dol rule or be crushed. The King of Serra was one of the few that accepted Dol's dominion. As a reward Serra was left unharmed; but Dol built military outposts as insurance and to further its conquest.

      When Dol collapsed, Serra helped rebuild it's neighboring countries. Their gratitude and poor state forced them to accept Serra's monarchy as their own and were annexed. With Serra's newly gained land, it now had access to the sea. Serra turned the small fishing village of Tithen into a bustling city in which it could export goods and trade with other nations easily. Serra made friends with many nations to trade with. Large companies and businesses began to form as Tithen grew larger and larger.

      With the Royal City on the other side of the country it was hard for the monarchy to keep tabs on Tithen. The King appointed Erinor Blenn as Lord to govern over Tithen and started increasing taxes. But the many companies and businesses were large and powerful; they ignored Erinor and the tax bills. They instead established a new government that is run by the owners of the biggest businesses and became it's own kind of city-state. Lord Erinor Blenn tried to arrest the the new government officials, but the market government paid off the soldiers and had Lord Blenn arrested instead.

      Lord Blenn was returned to the Royal City and banned from Tithen. They sent a representative with the soldiers to declare the new ruling government of Tithen. Any cities that pledged allegiance to the "Market Government" were considered under their protection, all others may continue to follow the King and Queen but may not export goods by sea or set up shop in Tithen's plazas. At this point Serra was completely reliant on trading and exporting, so this ultimatum put them in quite the dilemma. With the army on the side of the Market Government, the monarchy had no choice but to yield to Tithen. Tithen allowed a compromise with the King. They returned command to the Royal Army but gave the soldiers in Tithen the choice to remain under the employ of the Market Government. Many soldiers remained and formed Red Gauntlet Security.

      In the end this didn't really change much. All it did was make it so that the King left Tithen and all the other port cities alone to manage themselves. The Market Government left the monarchy alone and intact and in overall control of the royal army. The King also continues to tax cities and villages near the Royal City, those of which that export many goods through Tithen. The monarchy continues to profit and Tithen gets to rule itself. The two essentially leave each other alone and continue about their own businesses.

Major Cities:

      -Tithen Trade City-

       Tithen is the largest city in all of Canascus. It is comprised of many districts that vary greatly. From slums to rich neighborhoods, you can find all sorts of areas there. The districts vary in appearance and in population, Tithen is a true melting pot. Travelers and traders from all parts of the world come to sell and shop.

      Tithen was originally a small fishing village that belonged to the country of Hinveld. However, the country of Hinveld was dissolved when it was invaded by Dol. After Dol's collapse, what was left of Hinveld joined with Serra. Over the next 300 years Tithen would grow from a tiny village to the largest city on the continent. It is often called the "city of endless opportunities". You can find almost anything and anyone here.

      The main governing body is the Market Government. It is comprised of several of the largest companies in Tithen. Some of the major companies include: Smooth Sailing Shipping, Archaeis Construction, Red Gauntlet Security, Mighty Fine Stables and Transports, Duric and Sons Rare Goods, Lissa's Proper Fashions and others. These companies helped shape Tithen and were responsible in helping it prosper and expand.

      Smooth Sailing Shipping is the largest company in Tithen it is responsible for all of the exported goods and ships that come in and out of Tithen. No ship docks in Tithen without going through them. The current owner, Binten Spelder, is the richest man in Tithen.

      Red Gauntlet Security originally started as a large number of Royal Guards that were payed off by the market government. The Captain that was in charge of Tithen was the man who re-branded the defecting guards as the R.G.S. They became Tithen's private police force. Their responsibility is to keep Tithen and it's companies safe from criminals. They are usually very disciplined and respectable. R.G.S. has been expanding and even has started to protect other cities, often establishing new branches in those cities. From time-to-time they hire mercenaries to perform simple jobs if they are short on manpower. They often pay residents for any tips about stopping potential crimes.

      Tithen is comprised of many styles of buildings, it usually depends on the district. Most buildings were made or renovated by Archaeis Construction. Some of the middle class sections have identical looking buildings, made quickly but efficiently. Those are primarily made from Tithen Forest trees. In the richer districts, the buildings vary much more. Those houses are made to custom specifications; some are made of Golden Forest wood, others are brick or stone. They are usually very elaborate and spacious. Any construction that is done in Tithen is controlled by Archaeis Construction. Even if the work is on private property, they require a permit from Archaeis or they will be fined.

      -Serra Royal City-
      When Dol began it's conquest 320 years ago, many countries were afraid and sided with Dol; others resisted to the best of their abilities but most were trampled. The Serran monarchy was one of the few that folded to Dol's dominion. For their loyalty, Dol's emperor left the country intact. At the time, some considered Serra to be cowardly, especially by the newly unified Bolstat. But after Dol collapsed, the citizens of Serra were grateful to the King and say he saved the kingdom. Many pledged loyalty to the king after that. Especially once Serra started to help build the surrounding areas up again.

       When the king invested in renovating Tithen, it was considered an ambitious project. It wasn't a popular decision with many nobles to spend so much money and resources on a small fishing village. But once they started seeing the income from the project they quickly retracted their stances. King Edrin Velix was the monarch responsible for Tithen's growth project. He is a highly respected idol in Tithen.

      Nowadays, King Rickten Hindrell and Queen Candriss are the current monarchy. The monarchy now has a bitter-sweet relationship with Tithen. They understand how much Tithen is helping Serra thrive as a country; but they detest how the Market Government has become the ruling force of Serra. The monarchy are essentially figureheads and any power they hold can be overruled by the Market Government. The King proudly holds on to the fact that it was the monarchy that saved them from Dol's empire, and it was the monarchy that funded Tithen in the first place.

      The King and Queen are very respectable people. They desperately try to gain the favor of their public. They still need to collect their taxes but they try to keep the peace and play nice with the villagers and Tithen.

      The Royal City is mostly made of stone; including the castle. They export and import a lot of goods from Tithen.

      -Songwater-
      When people talk of Serra, they usually are going to talk about Tithen. Sometimes they talk about the Royal City and the monarchy. But every once in a while people will talk about Songwater and the Song Lakes. The Song Lakes got their name because their natural beauty is so inspiring that you will want to write a song about it. Songwater is surrounded by a gorgeous landscape, the Song Lakes, the lush Neithe Forest, and the breathtaking Mount Ulgen.

      Songwater was a small village, but it was renown for it's beauty. After Tithen began attracting traders; word spread about Songwater's vistas. Eventually people began to visit Songwater to view the sites. As Songwater began to attract visitors it began to grow. Now it is a large city with many inns and taverns. There are many tour guides and recreational services. Songwater became a huge vacation spot. To this day it attracts people from all over the world and has developed it's own famous market as well.

      Mount Ulgen is considered a sacred landmark. There is a religious monastery at it's base. The monastery worships the goddesses of nature; Geinel, Errotha, Tierrin.

      Songwater is mostly comprised of log houses and cabins made from the trees of Neithe Forest.

      -Fenglinn-
      Fenglinn is one of the few cities that is still completely loyal to the crown. This is mainly in the fact that it is still run by noble families whom are still loyal to the crown. While they would never defy Tithen, they still believe that one day the monarchy will regain control of Tithen and regain their power. So they still play favorites with the King and Queen and try to gain their honor. It is run by a Count and several advisory noble families.

      It is home to one the most famous libraries in all of Serra. It salvaged books and stories from all of the fallen kingdoms that were annexed by Serra. Many historians visit The Fenglinn Historical Library to learn the histories and legends of the surrounding areas.

      -Tanora-
      Tanora is another one of the few countries still faithful to the throne. This city is one of the few that stick to the old traditions as closely as possible.

      -Sandedge-
      The city of Sandedge was founded as a gateway to trade with Harka. There is actually a fair percentage of Harkan residents in Sandedge. The city's culture is a nice blend of both countries. It's a nice transition from Serran to Harkan culture that usually gives traveller's a sample of the proceeding towns.

      Buildings in Sandedge range from wooden or stone cottages to the clay houses of Harkan culture.

      -Reenah-
      Tithen is not the only trade city in Serra. Reenah is another city that is trying to follow in its footsteps. About 50 years ago, they began by trading and exporting goods to Tithen. After a while Reenah blossomed well enough for itself. However, unlike Tithen, Reenah had mixed successes. It managed to get large enough for itself. But without the protection of the Red Gauntlet Security, Reenah was not immune to the attraction of pirates.

      Pirates began attacking Reenah and it's ships and imports. Soon after, Reenah's officials appealed to the Red Gauntlet Security for protection. They accepted, as long as they get paid, they will offer their services to any Serran city.

      After R.G.S. began protecting Reenah, the pirate attacks lessened dramatically. But the R.G.S. only patrols the docks and the sea, they do not guard the city itself. That is still under the jurisdiction of the Royal Guard. But once it began to openly simulate Tithen, Reenah started to lose favor with the King and Queen. This resulted in the Royal Guard pulling out from Reenah.

      Soon after, the poorer districts began to see an increase in crime without either the Royal Guard or the R.G.S. to patrol the streets. A large criminal population began to take hold and 3 rival gangs formed and began claiming territories.

      Now, Reenah is comprised of many districts, such as Tithen. The districts under R.G.S. protection became very posh and safe, while the unguarded districts became poor neighborhoods with some being under gang control.

The People of Serra:

      Serra is home to a fairly wide variety of people. I'll try to cover the major groups. In general though, physical features of Serra's citizens are just as varied, especially since absorbing the smaller neighboring countries. You can find all variations of height, weight, and color of skin, eyes, and hair.

      Citizens of noble lineage often are very pampered and pompous, they think that Serra is theirs by birthright and often resent Tithen's capital boom. They love the money it brings in, but hate that the private companies have more wealth and power than they do. Usually they pride themselves on their noble family history and wear some sort of symbol that denotes their family ties. Most residents of monarchy controlled areas can easily identify each noble family by their insignia, but citizens of the market government cities usually don't notice or care. The monarch controlled townsfolk often adore there noble families but would never do anything to cross the large companies of Tithen. They understand that Serra's economy depends on Tithen's imports and exports.

      Tithen is a beautiful mix of cultures, especially in the business heavy districts. Almost every kind of culture can be found here. People can usually blend in with the crowds without drawing too much attention. People may be curious in others but they see interesting people almost every day and probably wouldn't think too much of it. You will see people of all sorts of cultures and styles. The shopkeepers are generally very active and friendly, they usually enjoy bright colors to attract customers. The poorer districts go with more earthy tones, as they cannot really afford to care for bright palettes. The personalities in the poorer districts can very in hospitality. Some people welcome outsiders, whether if it's out of curiosity or for gain depends on the person. Others tend to be tired of the strange people and keep to themselves for the most part. The middle-class city folk are very capitalistic. They would do almost anything for coin and are very materialistic. They love to wear the popular brands and designer clothes from the fancier clothes shops. 

      The rich citizens of Tithen are a very elite group. Tithen's most powerful individuals are practically royalty in Tithen. They enjoy the high-life. Often they have very fancy get-togethers that are extremely private and hard to get into. Many of them are very intrigued with expanding their businesses and contacts. The heads of the companies generally wear some sort of official identifier specific to their business. Usually they wear the best designer materials from Lissa's Proper Fashions.

      In Reenah, they often try to replicate Tithen culture, even down to the clothing styles. Many shops even try to mimic a lot of Lissa fashion designs. The gangs of the poorer districts usually wear specific colors to try to keep themselves easily identifiable.

      In the more wooded areas such as Songwater, the fashions of Lissa don't quite make it here. They usually make their own clothes and are usually quality furs and fancy tunics. The people in these areas are much more mellow and down-to-earth. 

      Sandedge is an interesting blend of cultures. Many Serran citizens mingle with Harkans here. Harkan people live quite comfortably among the Sandedge population. Usually the popular style is to wear light, breathable fabrics. Being near the desert calls for lighter dress. Usually the people have a tanner skin tone here from being in a hot, dry, and sunny environment. Citizens of Harkan decent have much darker skin and black hair.

Elf Culture: The Dolsan, Dunyl and Keldavan

Here is a short look at some of the elven cultures and religions in Eirda. As more info is developed I will expand on this.
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            The Dolsan and Keldavan originate from the landmass called Elvedayn; the Dolsan reside on the northern half, Dolsantyral, and the Keldavan in the south, Keldavazh.

The Dolsan 

            The Dolsan are generally a very reasonable and logical people. They follow the teachings of Dolsa and Aslod. The gods of inner balance. Dolsa and Aslod are two halves to a whole; like Solren and Lunara, and Dysia and Zanos from the Order of Harmonia. Dolsa represents the light and everything good in the world; Aslod represents the darkness and chaos of everything. But rather than only worshipping one, the Dolsan know that neither god can exist without the other; and this is also true in life. Peace cannot exist without chaos. Everyone has inner light and darkness within them. The trick to life is to learn to balance the two.

             Dolsan love life and everything that comes with it, the good and the bad. They live for the bright days and learn from the bad. Learn to be at peace with one another and with those that have conflict with them. They understand that people have negative and chaotic urges from time to time. But rather than destructively acting upon them, they learn to meditate and harness those urges towards positive activities. While the Dolsan may not truly give in to their chaotic urges they believe that without the darkness the light wouldn't be as bright.

            The Dolsan live in a communal society, they have no kings or emperors. Their communes promote equality and caring for one another. Their central government is run by locally elected representatives that promote the betterment of all of Dolsan society. Representatives must be just and trusted by his or her community.

The Keldavan

            In Keldavazh; their philosophies differ quite a bit. The Keldavan happily give in to the chaos that Aslod thrives from and are more savage in nature. They are happy to act their primal urges and instincts. They live in clans of that fight for power, the chief is usually the strongest Keldavan, or one with the most kills. The few times they band together is when the share the hatred for the Dolsan. Keldavan hate that the Dolsan also worship their god but refuse to give in to their primal instincts. They believe the Dolsan are heretics and disrespecting the ways of Aslod. The Keldavan are constantly at war with the Dolsan and vigilantly attack their communities.

            However, this does not mean that all Keldavan are evil and attack all Dolsan. There a few Keldavan clans that keep to themselves in Dolsantyral and in some remote areas of Keldavazh itself. 

The Dunyl

            The elves of Andunyl originally were Dolsan that were tired of the constant attacks from the Keldavan. They were given land in between Illibasca and Jahr'ghuul by the halflings. Now they have a different society that is much more varied than Dolsantyral. Here there are lordships, small kingdoms, democracies, dictatorships, and more. There are even a few Keldavan villages that also fled the wars. It is just as varied as Canascas. A very few number still follow the old ways of the Dolsan. Many follow other religions as well now. Given the nature of the land's acquisition their communities are also often shared with Halflings.

Solren, Lunara, and the Way of Cosmic Light

This post is a brief look at one of the many religions in Canascus. The disciples of the Way of Cosmic Light worships the Sun and Moon and believes their "cosmic light" blesses them.

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             Solren and Lunara are the gods of the Sun and Moon, day and night. Other than The Order of Harmonia; The Way of the Light is one of the bigger religions in Canascus. The religions of Eirda are different than the religions of our Earth; rather than people trying to put faith in entities they cannot provide actual proof for. The deities of Eirda have often interfered and

            These two gods are seen as siblings; two parts of the whole. Solren is the embodiment of the Sun and power. Lunara is the Moon and tranquility. Many gods come in pairs, it helps keep a cosmic balance. It keeps most gods from getting out of control; if one should ever go rogue, it is usually the "other half's" job to keep them in check.

            Solren controls the Sun and the days. He is the spirit of power and energy. He is powerful and wise. He provides the world with warmth and energy. Canascans worship him for this reason, they pray the he bless them with warmth and power; to have the energy to prosper during the day. Often soldiers and warriors would pray for his power and energy to protect them. Solren had many war clerics and paladins following his cause. Solren favored adventure and positivity. The Sun provides growth and Solren adores those that strive for personal advancement.

            Lunara controls the Moon and the night. She is Solren's other half. Whereas the Day is the time for people to go out and adventure; the night is time for recovery and rest. It is a time for peace and tranquility. Before going to bed people would often pray for Lunara to bless them with a good night's rest so that their next day be full of energy. Most followers know that a good night leads to a good day. This is the connection between Solren and Lunara. Lunara soothes the weary with a good rest so that they be strong enough to put Solren's energy to good use.

            As the more subtle of the two, Lunara often gets ignored by some followers of Solren. Sometimes people forget that Solren and Lunara are siblings. Often they are misinterpreted and people often worship one or the other. This is a major issue in Renalia. Renalians are often devout followers of Solren, nowadays; but they often are misguided about what Solren represents and they ignore Lunara. The current emperor, Jaryl Orgose, is using Solren as his symbol for conquest. He put a symbol of the Sun on his banners and says that the Sun gives his troops the power and energy to defeat his enemies. That the Sun is the symbol of growth and he must grow his empire.

            There are few groups that also misread what Lunara represents. Some mistake here as the guardian of those that travel by night. Many rogues think that Lunara will guide their night raids and heists.