Anchovia

Between Drunigzar and the remnants of the Merfolk Empire one can find a small, impoverished people, nicknamed the "Anchovy folk" for their large numbers and interest in fishing and dockworking. 
== History ==
Anchovia has been inhabited for atleast 3500 years, making it one of the oldest, if not the oldest cities in the eastern coast of Giantstep. Anchovia - or Ellesis, as it was known millenia ago - assumed increased importance because of its three deep-water harbours. 
The people of Anchovia were always a seafaring folk, and even 2 millenia ago their thalassocracy was the most dominant eastern sea nation of the time, founding many settlements in what are now the nations Luden, Kokaine, Seagard and the eastern coast of Elanxa.
However, Anchovia's status gradually lessened over the centuries. This was due to the appearance of several seafaring nations such as the Merfolk Empire, Luden, Elanxa and especially Drunigzar. These realms provided fierce competition to Anchovia, and their fishing activities were restricted to their own waters. After many wars with their neighbors, Anchovia lost control of most of their coastal settlements, reducing themselves to a rump state.
Despite the eventual shattering of the Merfolk Empire and Greater Elanxa, Anchovia had been left too far behind of their rivals in order to make a recovery. Their people were poor, their exports were limited and most of the wealth had been accumulated to a few merchant families.
Even more centuries passed, and a worse problem surfaced. The waters around the port of Anchovia became poorer and poorer in fish. Their ships had to travel longer distances in order to provide the citizens with food, and the fish they brought back were of worse quality and tainted by the waters of the rising rat nation of Luden. As Luden's industry grew, their waters got even more polluted. Even though the ratfolk of Luden were somewhat immune to the waste, the humans of Anchovia were not.
As a consequence, these poor people gradually developed an unnatural appearance, with bulging, unblinking, watery eyes, features that haunt them to this day, earning them the nickname "Anchovy Folk".
The name of Ellesis was quickly forgotten, and the neighboring nations started referring to the city as "Anchovy", over time being adopted by the anchovy folk themselves.
Nowadays, Anchovia is no more wealthy than they were a thousand years ago, their people wallowing in their misery as they go on about their everyday lives.
== Government ==
Anchovia is a republic that's being governed by an Archon. The Archon is elected every two years by an assembly which consists of the city's merchant elite. The current Archon is Arnes Karri, a merchant that imports oils from Seagard and Luden.
However, the true power behind Anchovia lies on a singular man, Noorwan Engel. Noorwan is a morbidly obese merchant with a thick beard who hails from the richest family of Anchovia. The majority of the country's merchant fleet belongs to him, and he owns many enterprises in Luden, Elanxa, Seagard and Leng.
Noorwan Engel's most profitable business ventures are to be found in the narcotics market. He was the first one to bring the "White Death", which originates from Moreelse, to the eastern nations through a route in the northern seas. He also trades in the "Devil's Poppy", an opioid that's exclusively found in the Elyrian Marshes. This opioid is then refined into a substance that's extremely deadly - but also very addicting. The network he control extends into Luden, Elanxa, Grobianismus and even the domain of the Blind Bastard. 
The immense amounts of wealth he has amassed has helped Noorwan buy off almost every official and nobleman in Anchovia and even beyond the borders of the country. He is the de facto ruler of Anchovia, and the action of every Archon for the past 12 years passes through his judgement first.
The poor folk of Anchovia are known as "Anchovy" or "Fish folk" by foreigners, thanks to their deformed and malnourished features. They are a miserable and xenophobic bunch, often blaming the people of Drunigzar, Leng and Seagard for their misfortunes, a mentality that has grown firmer by the passage of time. The Anchovies hold an impervious love for Lord Engel, since a large amount of the city's men are under his employment. Not only that, but his charities have helped set up many schools for orphaned children, as well as feeding the poor and the homeless.
What the people of Anchovia fail to realise is that by buying out most of the competition, Lord Noorwan Engel can afford to pay his workers next to nothing for their services, turning them into voluntary serfs, but still managing to keep them content.
The Anchovies have been dockworkers, shipbuilders and fishermen for as long as the city has existed, with even their women indulging in these professions from time to time. Apart from that, some Anchovies work in the mines, fields or vineyards further inland. These people are called "green men" by the people of the city, who make up around 80% of the total population. 
== City ==
Anchovia - or Ellesis, as it was known in the past - was once a beautiful, coastal city where even in the bleakest of hours one could find many merchants and stands scattered around the harbors. Even though most of its ancient, decorated buildings still stand to this day, the streets are littered with dirt, the houses are slowly collapsing and every corner smells of fish. Not only that, but the White Death has found its way to the underworld of Anchovia, where it has grown sturdy roots. The sight of addicts aimlessly roaming the streets in search of more powder is not uncommon.
The City Watch and the coastal guard are corrupt, and are under the command and the payroll of Declan Engel, son of Noorwan Engel.
The only other settlements that can be found in Anchovia are small villages which specialize in farming or mining. The city of Othen used to be the second biggest town in Anchovia back in Antiquity, being the birthplace of many important architects and artists in the country's history. However, it was conquered by the Merfolk Empire many ages ago, and its now a tale that's all but forgotten by the Anchovies.
== Economy ==
Most of Anchovia's exports include wine, silver, steel and wheat, mostly produced from the mines, fields and vineyards to the north. However, these products are considered as low quality, cheaper alternatives than its Seagardian and Lengi equivalents. The lands around Anchovia are rich in forests so lumber is also a good that Anchovia trades in, being in demand particularly by other seafaring nations of Giantstep. 
Since the waters around Anchovia are poor when it comes to fish, they often resort to either fishing in the seas near Luden, or trading in fish, walrus or whale meat with Seagard and Leng, although that's certainly not a budget option.
Most of the coin that flows through Anchovia does so through the narcotics network that Noorwan Engel has set up. Not only that, but many of the naval arsenals and shipyards in Port Laurel - traditionally the richest port of Anchovia - have been sold to businessmen from Drunigzar or Seagard. Despite all this seemingly newfound wealth, most of it ends up in the same pockets, and not in the common people's or the city's infastracture.
== Geography ==
The city proper of Anchovia is built on top of three natural harbors that overlook the Blue Gulf. In Ancient times, most of the land that the city was built on was actually an island in the form of a thin strip during high tides. The island would be connected to the mainland whenever the tide receded. 
Further inland, the land is more rocky, although some fields are found where wheat and other crops are being cultivated. The land near the border to the Khelek Frostlands are extremely cold and barren and very few people live there.
== Millitary ==
Two infantry legions are stationed along the borders with Drunigzar and the Merfolk Empire ruins, although no threat has come from either in a very, very long time, although it's a matter of superstition to the Anchovies. Ships of the Anchovian navy patrol the Blue Gulf in search of pirates and other hostile ships.
== Demographics ==
Most of the population in Anchovia are locals. The only residing foreigners are ambassadors from Leng, Seagard and Drunigzar, who can be distinguished easily thanks to their lack of the fish-like bulbous characteristics that the Anchovies are known for. There are virtually no non-humans in Anchovia. 
== Foreign Relations ==
=== Drunigzar ===
The Anchovies are bitter towards the Drunig thanks to the latter's rapid expansion and colonization efforts. The two nations had clashed centuries ago. Drunigzar mantains an embassy in Anchovia, and they have established many trade houses in courtesy of Lord Noorwan Engel, near the Laurel Port. 
=== Seagard ===
Seagard is another nation that the Anchovies hold contempt for, since alongside Drunigzar and Leng, it was Anchovia's main competitor after the Merfolk Empire collapsed. The Seagardians don't think much of the Anchovies, but they do let them fish in their tainted waters and hold leverage in trade between the two peoples.
=== Leng ===
Fairly common trading partner of Anchovia. The Lengi provide the Anchovies with whaling and walrus meat, furs, oils, and tusks. Interactions between Anchovia and Leng have led to the White Death spreading to the latter's ports.
=== Nogar ===
These two people had barely interacted throughout history, and those interactions came only after the exodus of the Nogarese to the east. The two nations did have a dispute over Nogarese fishing vessels in the Blue Gulf that eventually lead to the five days war. Nogar sent soldiers as a show of force as Drunig diplomats settled the dispute. 
=== Ruins of the Merfolk Empire ===
The Merfolk Empire at its peak used to be the main rival of the thriving city of what used to be Ellesis. Nowadays, most of the lands of the former Empire are in ruins and haunted by monsters, and most of the Anchovies are superstitious about the ruins. They consider them a cursed place and therefore almost never set foot in there.
=== Frostlands of Khelek ===
Trade between these nations was common in ancient times, back when Khelek was not a frozen wasteland. Nowadays, the Anchovies avoid these places as they are far colder than even the northern areas of Anchovia, and cold is something they despise. The few Anchovies that dared to venture in the Khelek Frostlands eventually became victims of the ice spirit Ulek-mol.
=== Elanxa, Avangar, Zemyland and beyond ===
Sometimes Anchovies in the employee of Lord Engel make these long voyages in order to partake in the perilous trade of the White Death and the Devil's Poppy, and some Anchovies that got to witness the beauty of these lands have managed to leave their misery behind and establish small coastal communities. 
== Religion and Culture ==
In the times where both the Ellesis Thalassocracy and the Merfolk Empire were at their peak, the Anchovians of the time used to worship the god of Uun. However, once disaster befell the Empire, the people of Ellesis were divided, with some still worshipping Uun out of fear, and the others striking down his idols. Eventually, this practice fell out with the Anchovians, and nowadays the only place where someone can see traces of the old Uun worship is in delapidated temples or old basements where shrines were used to be built.
Another deity that used to be worshipped by the Anchovies is Argon. His statues can be found in squares and temples around Anchovia. He is portrayed as a human-like figure with fish and draconic features, such as three heads of a hydra and webbed digits. Legend says that this peculiar god was brought to Anchovia by some merchant who ventured ot the far south of Giantstep.
Nowadays, the Anchovies are a godless folk, their own gods lying dormant in the pages of history books and religious texts. The few religious Anchovians only tend to worship elements of nature such as the sea, the stars, etc., with little room for theological interpretation.
Category:Nations
Category:Giantstep