Post by Chris on Dec 10, 2009 10:49:59 GMT -5
Capital | Illian |
Public Happiness | 80/100 |
Military power | Perhaps somewhere in the order of 45,000 men, majority light cavalry, with some infantry support |
Details | Illian lies in the south of the Westlands where the Manetherendrelle flows into the Sea of Storms. The city of Illian boasts the largest port in the known world -- a giant circular harbor. To the west sprawls forests and olive groves. The far north is quite mountainous, bulwarked by castles and hillforts. To the east is a vast marshland finally opening up to the Plains of Maredo. The city's immediate surroundings is made up of these swamps and therefore does not need any protecting wall. The nation of Illian was formed after the capture of the city of Illian by Lord Nicoli Merseneos den Ballin near the end of the War of the Hundred Years, becoming its first king. His family continued to rule Illian for the next three hundred years. Illian is also famous for its endless wars with Tear as they argue over oil trading rights. Illian has three governing bodies: the Crown, the Council of Nine, and the Assembly. In theory, the king, the lords of the Council, and the representatives of the Assembly share power. In practice, little gets done but squabbling, leaving Illianers freer than most - especially Tairens, one reason Tear is held in such scorn. The seal of Illian bears nine golden bees. Whenever a Great Hunt (for the Horn of Valere) is called, its participants, who are called Hunters, are commissioned in the Great Square of Tammuz in the city of Illian. Illian's elite formation is known as the Companions. The Companions enlist and promote on the basis of merit without regard for national origin; foreigners can even become Captain-General. They are placed wherever fighting is heaviest, and follow the king into danger. The dialect of Illian is distinct in that Illianers use the emphatic tense of nearly every verb, shun the progressive tense, and use "no" in place of "not." Thus, "He had not made sure every stick of bread went to the army" becomes "He did no make sure every stick of bread did go to the army." Illianer men typically wear beards, but with shaven moustaches, creating a face-framing, circular effect. Swearing and benedictions both invoke Fortune in Illian, e.g. "Fortune prick me" or "Fortune favor you." |