Otesia

Otesia is a major Sevician city located at the southermost point of the Empire of Sevicia, on the coast of the Lothor Sea and within the geographical region known as the Claw. It is the seat of both the House of Ohstalt and the House of Nemelota, two of Sevicia's largest and most storied ruling houses, and has been one of the Empire's most important settlements for hundreds of years. It is currently governed by Erica Nemelota, who has served as the governor of Otesia since 704 A.S.
== History ==
Otesia was founded more than 1500 years ago by settlers from further inland, almost a thousand years before the founding of Sevicia. A location of great strategic importance and a natural harbour, Otesia soon grew from a small settled village into a much larger settlement. By the founding of the Sevician Empire following the death of the Sun King and Separation of the Realms, Otesia had a population well in excess of 100,000 people, making it at the time one of the largest cities anywhere on the continent.
Otesia allied itself with Anaeaus the Redeemer during the war against the Tamerian Empire, and when Anaeaus was victorious and formed the Empire of Sevicia, Otesia was naturally assimilated. For the next two centuries it served intermittently as a second capital - after Morosea - due to its importance as a centre of commerce and trade. Though its influence has waned slightly over the years, it remains one of the Empire's crown jewels, and still enjoys a great level of trade and investment from far-off lands, including from the exotic southern reaches of the continent of Masand.
The city is ruled by a governor, who oversees a central governing council, and has been ruled nominally by the houses of Ohstalt and Nemelota for more than 500 years.
== Plague of 614 ==
Early in the year 614, a number of cases were reported of people around the harbour area of Otesia falling ill with an affliction. First thought to be an outbreak of the weeping terror, several other cases began to pop up. By Mandera of that year more than 5000 people had fallen seriously ill and more than half had died. A month later, the city was quarantined, with no commerce allowed in or out of the harbour unless specifically authorised by the governing council.
In what would later be confirmed as a severe outbreak of the white plague, more than 15,000 were killed and the city was quarantined for almost half a year before trade was allowed to resume early in the year 615. Commerce recovered to pre-outbreak levels within two or three years.
== Sacking of Otesia ==
During the Anaean Wars of the 660s - Sevicia's largest ever civil conflict - Otesia remained loyal to the Empire. When the rebel Anaean League won two major military victories in southern Sevicia in early 664, at the battles of Aeath and Fort Saturn, the mercenary company the Iron Sons marched south, invaded the city, and massacred more than 30,000 of its inhabitants. Included in the three-day slaughter were extended family members of both the Ohstalt and Nemelota clans.
It was the single worst incident to occur to the city of Otesia since its founding, and left a lasting impact on its populace. After the war a memorial was erected in honour of those who were killed - a large cenotaph called the Hall of the Fallen - located in the eastern half of the city.
== Geography ==
Situated at the mouth of the Lothor Sea and at the southernmost point of the Empire, Otesia is of vital strategic importance. It is protected on its south and western sides by the sea and by walls on its other two sides. Its proximity to the sea and its location on the southern coast make Otesia one of the more humid places in the Empire, and in the hot Mandera months temperatures swell to the mid to high 30s celsius. Unlike much of the milder, more temperate Sevicia, Otesia ranges from one extreme to another; in the late Saturna months, snowfall can reach up to three or four feet deep, and the first month of Tullena (and thus the first month of every new year) is known in and around Otesia as monsoon season, for its high levels of precipitation.
Its location also makes it a target of strategic importance for military matters. The Sevician navy, which was strengthened during the Second Duscadorian-Sevician War, was primarily assembled and trained in Otesia's great naval shipyards, which are the largest of anywhere in the Empire.
== Population ==
Otesia is home to more than 500,000 permanent residents, making it one of the largest cities anywhere in Sevicia and therefore on the continent. It also plays host to a large quantity of temporary travellers, and its popularity as a hub of commerce means that it is one of the most diverse cities in Sevicia, boasting significant numbers of Itrusics, Jastians, Estans, Duscadorians, Manosi, and Erenneese, and a number from further south, across the Lothor Sea. Apart from Morosea, Sevicia's capital further north, Otesia sees more daily commerce than any other city in the Empire.
== Notable Inhabitants ==
* Anessa of Otesia, a general during the Anaean Wars
* Oren Kristiaccus, a Sevician naval officer and admiral, and the recipient of the Grand Eagle of Sevicia.
== See also ==
Empire of Sevicia
Morosea
Category:Cities and towns
Category:Locations