The Free Cities

The Free Cities
Description	The fragments of empire.
Government	Various
Real World Inspiration	Italy
Other Names	Amany
Geography
Location	West of Kashalad, on the coast of the Western Sea.
Largest City	Vasto
Relative Distance From the Basin	Moderate
Demography
Demonym
Population	3.5 million
Languages	Common, Elvish
Races and Ethnicities	Amanian Humans, Half-Elves, Elves
Religion	Sfairan Pantheon
Currency	Ternins

Nation Overview

Society

Culture

The history and culture of the Free Cities is far too rich and complex to do justice in a short segment, and there are far too many to list here. Some value commerce, other are bellicose, and there is a rare breed that simply wishes to be left alone. Suffice to say, there are dozens of them, each trying their best to rise from the ashes of the Renazzan Empire following its collapse at the hands of the Dath hordes. There are, however, a few which are culturally and historically significant enough to warrant further detail.

Renazzo is by far the most famous of the Free Cities thanks to its legacy as the birthplace of the Renazzan Empire, which once controlled the entirety of the coast of the Western Sea. The Renazzans of today hold no territory outside some farmland near their walls, but they still pick fights with their neighbors to try to relive the glory days. Their currency is also commonly used among the other Free Cities, though the larger ones like Terni and Vasto mint their own coins.

The wealthiest of the Free Cities is Terni, located on and island of the same name. It is well-situated as a resupply for ships travelling across the Western Sea rather than along its coast, and they have take full advantage of this geographical edge to become a mercantile powerhouse. Much trade between the far-flung nations on either side of the sea flows through Terni, and even a small slice of that is enough to make Terni one of the wealthiest cities on this strip of the Roll.

The city of Vasto is the largest of the Free Cities, and is most noted for its large slave class. Every slave ship in the Western Sea makes a stop in Vasto, and slavers trek across the great desert of Kashalad to deliver new blood to the city. Virtually every citizen of Vasto owns at least one slave to do chores, and much of their merchants own large numbers to work fields and perform other menial labor.

Government

As with their culture, it is impossible to briefly describe the many governments of the Free Cities. Some are feudal holdings, others serene republics, and a few have more obscure forms of government.

Renazzo is ruled by a line of nobles who style themselves as Dukes and Duchesses, though they do not dare to claim that their governance is in any way descended from the fallen empire lest they be put back in their place.

Terni is serene republic headed by a mayor who is elected by the wealthiest merchants in the city. Each mayor serves a life term, though a few have died under mysterious circumstances when they started working toward their own good rather than the good of their electors.

Vasto is another serene republic, though it is one of the most widely franchised of the Free Cities (if only Vastan citizens are taken into account). From the richest to the poorest, the head of each citizen household is given a vote in determining the city's governance.

Inhabitants

You will find all sorts of people in the Free Cities with all manner of dispositions and beliefs. Thanks to the diverse climate and terrain, as well as their interconnectedness with other nations, all manner of dress and style are found there. Almanians tend to have olive skin and smooth dark hair.

Geography

Climate

There are as many climates as there are Free Cities. Some are closer to the coast and are thus more temperate and receive more precipitation, while others are further inland and receive more extreme but drier weather. It is colder further North, and warmer further South.

Ecology

Thanks to the vast wealth poured into the region during the height of the Renazzan Empire, much of the land the Free Cities occupy is highly developed. There is a great deal of farmland and pasture, and what woodlands still exist are well-managed.

Landscape

As with the climate, the landscape of the Free Cities is quite diverse. There are plains, hills, and mountains. The most prominent of the Free Cities tend to be on the coast, but there are also plenty further inland situated on rivers.

History

To be discovered

Religion

Deities and Philosophies

Areda

The queen of the Sfairan pantheon, who rules over them with a gentle hand. She was once considered subordinate to her husband Kresh, but after growing fed up with his constant abdication of his responsibilities to go on journeys, she took over and has been running things since. She values harmony and love in familial relations in particular, and community relations as a whole.

Kresh

The former king of the Sfairan pantheon, who is the master of the skies. He is the mightiest of the Sfairan deities, but he lacks the drive to manage a group and often abdicated his post to pursue whatever took his interest. When he returned from one of his outings to find Areda in charge, he seemed relieved and didn't make any attempt to take his throne back. His temper is legendary, and his mood can change as quickly as the weather. Praying to Kresh is often considered a bad idea, since it's impossible to know what his attention might lead to.

Lortel

Lortel embodies the natural world, and she is rough and hardy like the Sfairan terrain. She values perseverence and grit, much like the crops and livestock that grow in the rough mountains. She is much more prominent in the Free Cities thanks to their lowland agriculture, and there she is regarded as a much more cultivated goddess. She is something of a homebody in either tradition.

Tannus

Tannus is the sovereign of everything that dwells below the earth, whether it be riches or the dead. He is morose and slow to act, making him a good pair with his wife Lortel who also likes to take things slow. He values loyalty and steadfastness, and will go to great lengths to protect his followers. He despises necromancers for taking what belongs to him.

Mallurei

Mallurei is considered the cornerstone of Sfairan culture, bestowing her blessing upon artists and philosophers thanks to her love of the creation of great works. Her temples collect donations to sponsor creatives, which has started the career of many who went on to become legendary in their fields. She shuns tradition and is always looking for the next new thing. Her love of beauty can lead to ill-advised decisions, however, such as her marriage to Randin.

Randin

Randin is a wrathful god who lords over the oceans. He demands tribute from those who would sail the coasts of the Western Sea, not hesitating to capsize ships that refuse to pay him homage. He values the art of barter, and his shrewd calculations have made him into something of a role model for the worst sort of merchant. He managed to secure marriage with Mallurei by offering her all of the beauty of his oceans, considering it a worthy trade for the most vibrant of the goddesses. He treats her more like a trophy than a wife.