Iphoray

Iphoray (Iphora), officially the Iphoran Republic (Rēs Pūblica Iphorāna), is a sovereign state in the Sunbeam Ruins centered around its capital, the city of Iphoray (Urbs Iphorae), with territory in every region bordering the Sea of a Thousand Currents.
Founded after the abolition of the monarchy during the height of the Iphoran Revolution, the Iphoran Republic is known throughout Sornieth as a first-rate military and naval power: a position used by Iphoray to promote its republican and revolutionary ideals, as well as its commercial and economic interests, to the support and resentment of many both at home and abroad.
With that said, republican rule is a sensitive system, and like any other system, even the smallest shock can send it all into collapse.
==Geography==
Although almost all aspects of life in the Iphoran Republic are centered around the city of Iphoray, its influence extends far beyond that of its walls. Through its fleets, the Iphoran Republic controls most of the southwestern coast of the Sunbeam Ruins (Ruīnae Sōlāres) along with a vast network of colonies spread out across the Sea of a Thousand Currents. As such, its lands can be divided between those of the city proper, its mainland territories, and its maritime possessions.
===Urban Iphoray===
Founded on a triangular peninsula along the mouth of the Sulis river, the city of Iphoray, or Urban Iphoray (Iphora Urbāna), controls a key defensive position over the coast and its excellent natural harbors. Built atop a set of seven hills, the city possesses a commanding view of its surroundings, including any potential threats that might cross the horizon. Should that come to pass, the high elevation also provides its defenders with a wide field of fire, while the limestone cliffs along the coast protect Iphoray from amphibious assault. This natural geography, when combined with the city's extensive fortifications and sizable fleet to resupply it with provisions, makes Iphoray all but unconquerable by land and sea.
In addition to its defensibility, Iphoray is also one of the closest ports to the Sunglitter Falls (Cataracta Candēns), the mouth of the Sunbeam River (Flūmen Sōlāris), making the city one of the primary gateways between the Sea of a Thousand Currents and the Sunbeam Ruins. As the Republic has expanded, its control over maritime trade, as well as tax revenue, has only increased as other cities have been brought into the fold, reducing competition and cutting out intermediaries.
===Mainland Iphoray===
Mainland Iphoray (Iphora Continēns) is bordered by the Sunbeam to the north, the Sea of a Thousand Currents to the west, and various mountain chains to the south and east. An ancient landscape, the region is known for its rolling hills, steep ridges, and open valleys. A narrow band of plains runs along the coast of tidal flats and into the center of the region. Many of the forests that once dotted the countryside have been cut down to make way for urban development while its swamps and marshes have been drained to reclaim agricultural land.
Mainland Iphoray, similar to other regions of the Sunbeam Ruins, is located in an area of heightened geological activity responsible for forming the vast mountain chains and foothills that shape the face of the region, as well as the many valuable mineral deposits buried deep beneath its surface. Geothermal springs and lava flows bring up these volcanic minerals, enriching the soil with key nutrients that contribute to the fertility of region and the renown of its wine.
More importantly, geological activity acts as the catalyst for powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that pose a significant threat to the region and its inhabitants. This is especially true of the south, which is home to some of the last active volcanoes found in all the Sunbeam Ruins, with many more dormant ones. Although the city is too far away from any active faults to ever experience any widespread lasting damage, powerful tremors have been felt in Iphoray from time to time, while volcanic winters have led to crop failure.
The climate of Iphoray is relatively diverse and varies from area to area. Along the coast, it is predominantly Mediterranean, with hot summers and cool winters. The Sea of a Thousand Currents assists in moderating the temperature extremes from season to season while also providing the region with a source of moisture and precipitation. Although summers tend to be dry in comparison to winter, the region's numerous rivers, extensive irrigation systems, and naturally high insolation allows for a nearly year-round growing season.
===Overseas Iphoray===
Overseas Iphoray (Iphora Ultramarīna) consists of a vast network of cities, ports, factories, and fortresses built along important maritime shipping routes throughout the Sea of a Thousand Currents. Originally established as naval outposts and supply stations for Iphoray's merchant fleets, many have expanded and transformed into economic centers of their own, representing the furthest limits of Iphoran influence. Due to their distance from one another, the geography and climate tends to vary dramatically between them.
Although its colonies extend throughout the continent, Iphoran naval power is limited to the confines of the Sea of a Thousand Currents. Previous attempts to expand west of Reedcliff Ascent have been challenged by the treacherous, reversing currents of the region and the equally fierce, cunning merchant clans that control them. The same holds true for the other waterways that lead to the ocean, such as the Smoking Strait between the Windswept Plateau and the Stormlight Strait between the Shifting Expanse and Sunbeam Ruins.
Similarly, Iphoran control over their colonies in the Scarred Wasteland and Tangled Wood is tenuous at best. This is due in part to the distance of these colonies from Iphoray proper, as well as their local culture and geography, which are not conducive to foreign trade or governance. As such, they mainly serve as bases to combat piracy, as well as securing the overland trade from Dragonhome and the Starfall Isles.
With that said, Iphoray still exerts a significant amount of influence over the flow of goods within the Sea of a Thousand Currents. While its power is not absolute or beyond the reach of others, it has been a combination of military might and diplomatic finesse that has seen Iphoray endure and prosper throughout the centuries over the countless rivals and threats that have arisen to challenge its position as a naval and trade power. 
As of late, the Iphoran Republic has found itself adjusting to the sea change, both literal and figurative, that was the Great Maelstrom. The maelstrom uniformly devastated coastal and insular settlements across all of the Sea of a Thousand Currents, as well as destroying and damaging large portions of the Republic's fleet. At the same time, the formation of new landmasses, most notably the Churnscar Peninsula, has cut off Iphoray from many of its colonies which have now found themselves landlocked.
===Administrative Divisions===
====Prefectures====
The thirty prefectures (prefectūrae, sg. praefectūra) are the primary administrative divisions of Mainland Iphoray. Each prefecture is governed by its own unicameral legislature, known as a curia (pl. curiae), and overseen by a prefect (praefectus, pl. praefecti) appointed by the Consulate. Due to the concentration of power in the central government, the legislative authority of the curiae is limited to a select few areas of law, mainly concerning land usage, public welfare, and the right to levy certain taxes.
====Colonies====
In addition to the thirty prefectures of Mainland Iphoray, the Republic is divided into twelve colonies (colōniae, sg. colōnia) in Overseas Iphoray. Although the colonies do not receive the same rights and representation as the prefectures, they do have the right to set their own domestic policy and send non-voting delegates to represent them in the Tribunate.
==Government==
Founded after the abolition of the monarchy, the Iphoran Republic represents the culmination of the political legacy and ideals of the Iphoran Revolution: that of a government whose power and authority to rule is derived from the consent of the governed, not divine right. The state exists to serve the people as part of the social contract between the two, protecting and upholding the rights and responsibilities entrusted to it by the people in exchange for their support.
To prevent conflicts of interest and ensure effective governance, the powers of government are separated between three independent executive, legislative, and judicative branches, maintained by an intricate system of checks and balances as outlined by the articles of the Iphoran Constitution (Cōnstitūtio Iphorāna) and the Declaration of Civil Rights (Dēclārātiō Iūrum Cīvīlium), the two founding documents of the Republic.
===Executive Branch===
The Iphoran Consulate (Cōnsulātus Iphorānus) is a seven-member executive council that acts as the collective head of state and government of Iphoray. The Consulate is responsible for administering the affairs of state, setting executive policies for the magistries, and submitting legislation to the Curia. The Consulate functions based on the principle of collegiality, with all decisions publicly made by the Consulate as a whole, despite any private reservations held by its members. To this end, all meetings of the Consulate, and the outcomes of its votes, are kept strictly private.
====Election====
Each consul is elected for a four-year term by a joint session of both houses of the Curia. Consular elections are held under an exhaustive ballot, ensuring that the candidate with the greatest overall consensus is elected to office. As there are no term limits for the position, a consul may serve for an indefinite number of terms until they resign, a tradition that has been upheld by the Curia in consular elections.
To limit excessive interference from the other branches of government, each consul has absolute legal immunity for the length of their term and cannot be impeached or voted out of office. However, a consul can have their immunity waived by the Censorate and can be suspended from office by the Curia.
====Princeps====
The Consulate is chaired by the Princeps Cōnsulātūs, who presides over meetings as first among equals. In this supervisory role, the Princeps has the deciding vote in case of a tie. In case of an emergency where the Consulate cannot meet and come to a decision in time, the Princeps is empowered to act on its behalf. When the Princeps is not present, their power is delegated to the Vicārius Principis.
The Princeps and Vicarius are elected separately for one-year terms by a simple majority of the Consulate. By tradition, the office rotates every year between all seven members in order of seniority, with the Vicarius set as the next in line for the office of Princeps.
====Magistries====
In addition to serving on the Consulate, each consul is also the head of one of the seven magistries (magisterium, pl. magisteriī) that form the central administration of Iphoray. As magister, they carry out and oversee the executive policies set by the Consulate. Each magistry consists of several administrative offices (officium, pl. officiī) that handle the individual responsibilities of their magistry.
The seven magistries are the:
*Magistry of External Affairs (Magisterium Externum)
*Magistry of Internal Affairs (Magisterium Internum)
*Magistry of Justice (Magisterium Iūstitiae)
*Magistry of Defense (Magisterium Dēfēnsiōnis)
*Magistry of Commerce (Magisterium Commerciī)
*Magistry of Finance (Magisterium Fīnantiae)
*Magistry of Transport (Magisterium Transportī)
===Legislative Branch===
The Iphoran Curia (Cūria Iphorāna) is a 300-member legislative body that serves as the bicameral legislature of Iphoray. The Curia consists of the 60-seat Senate (Senātus) as its upper house and the 240-seat Tribunate (Tribunātus) as its lower house. Both houses are equal in terms of power and status, and only differing by their number of seats and their apportionment.
The Curia meets for four legislative sessions throughout the year. Legislation can be introduced to the Curia by the Consulate, by a member of the Curia, or by a committee. Either house can lead the legislative process, as determined by the principēs, but the approval of both houses is required for a bill to pass into law.
After a bill is approved by both houses of the Curia, the two must come to an agreement on which version of the bill to pass. If they cannot reconcile the two, then both houses must sit together as one legislative body until all differences are resolved. Both houses of the Curia also sit together in order to decide on important issues such as the election of consuls, censors, and judges, as well as the issuance of pardons.
====Election====
In terms of representation, each of the thirty prefectures of Mainland Iphoray is guaranteed at least three seats in the Curia: two in the Senate and one in the Tribunate, with the remaining seats in the Tribunate assigned based on population. While both senators and tribunes are elected for four-year terms by plurality vote, senators are elected by the prefectural curiae while tribunes are popularly elected.
====Principes====
The Senate and Tribunate are both chaired by a princeps (pl. principēs), known as the Princeps Senātūs and Princeps Tribūnātūs, respectively. The principēs preside over meetings of their house and are responsible for leading legislative proceedings, moderating debate, and maintaining order, in accordance with parliamentary procedure. As the office of princeps is impartial, the principēs cannot participate in regular voting or debates, with any tie-breaking votes cast in favor of continued deliberation. When they are not present, their power is delegated to their vicārius principis.
The principēs and vicārii principium are elected separately for a one-year term by a majority vote of their respective houses. By tradition, the vicāriī are set as the next in line for the office of the principēs.
===Judicative Branch===
Following the Iphoran Revolution, the legal system of Iphoray was reformed from a common law jurisdiction to a civil one, rationalizing centuries of disparate, uncodified law with the explicit aim of making the law accessible and available to all. To this end, the law is arranged as a set of legal codes (codices, sg. codex).
The five main codes are the: 
*Civil Code (Cōdex Cīvīlis)
*Code of Civil Procedure (Cōdex Prōcessi Cīvīlis)
*Criminal Code (Cōdex Criminālis)
* Code of Criminal Procedure (Cōdex Prōcessi Criminālis)
*Commercial Code (Cōdex Commerciālis)
==History ==
The earliest days of Iphoran history, from the first draconic settlements in the region to the founding of the city, are intimately intertwined with both truth and myth. Many of these events, even in the earliest extant accounts, were recorded centuries, if not millennia, after when they were said to have occurred, predating the widespread adoption of the written word by draconic society. While efforts have been made in the fields of archeology and historiography to separate Iphoran history from myth, for the time being, the two are still often one and the same.
===Precursors===
Prior to the Draconic Migrations and the appearance of the beastfolk, the first inhabitants of Iphoray were the Precursors (Praecūrsōrēs, sg. Praecursor). Believed to have lived in the Second Age, little is known of them or their civilization, although studies suggest that they were a technologically advanced and sophisticated society with an urban lifestyle similar to the region's current draconic inhabitants, but with a morphology more similar to their direct beastfolk successors.
Traces of the Precursors' existence can be found throughout Sornieth in the form of ruins and artifacts, most notably in the Sunbeam Ruins (where they are the namesake of the region), but also in the Tangled Wood, and Starfall Isles, with each of their elemental deities taking up residence at a Precursorial monument within their borders (the Beacon of the Radiant Eye, Forum of the Obscured Crescent, and Observatory, respectively). A connection to the Shifting Expanse has even been proposed as the machines of the Lightning Flight bear a striking resemblance to those of the Precursors, however this has yet to be proven.
At the height of their power and prosperity, the Precursors would mysteriously disappear in an event known as the Second Age Collapse (Collāpsiō Aetātis Secundae), marking the end of the Second Age and the start of the Third Age. The cause of the collapse is unknown, but it is likely connected to a widespread extinction event that occurred around the same time. While various theories have been proposed to explain these events, the most widely accepted one is that they were caused by a rare magical or stellar phenomenon with the power to wipe out nearly all life on the continent, as proposed by Arcane scholars.
Although the Precursors are the first known inhabitants of Iphoray, their number of settlements in the region is relatively low when compared to other areas in the Sunbeam Ruins. The majority of settlements appear to be agricultural centers, stone quarries, and ore mines whose goods would be destined for either the nearby Hewn City or the port towns along the coast to be shipped across the Sea of a Thousand Currents.
===Aborigines===
Far more diverse and widespread than the Precursors were the Aborigines (Aborīginēs, sg. Aborīgō), the ancestors of the modern beastfolk that still inhabit parts of Iphoray today. The Aborigines first appeared sometime during the Third Age, taking the place of the Precursors as the native population of Iphoray up to the Draconic Migrations.
While their population, territory, and influence would fluctuate over time, the main beastclans of the Aborigines were Centaurs throughout the plains, Longnecks in the hills and mountains, Harpies along the cliffs and coasts, and Maren in their river estuaries. Meanwhile, smaller beastclans, such as the Dryads, Fauns, and Miths, took up residence in the forests and woodlands that once dominated the region.
The lifestyle of the Aborigines varied wildly between each beastclan, ranging from nomadic hunter-gatherers to sedentary agriculturalists. Despite these differences, their societies appear to have been fairly interconnected, as trade goods from other beastclans, even those from distant regions, are relatively common finds in beastfolk settlements. Additionally, sites with mixed beastclan populations have been also discovered and seem to become more common toward the end of the period.
===Draconic Migrations===
The Fourth Age brought about a new period in the history of Sornieth: the Draconic Migrations (Migratiōnēs Dracōnicae). Also known as the Draconic Incursions (Incursiōnēs Dracōnicae) or Draconic Invasions (Invāsiōnēs Dracōnicae) to the beastfolk, the period is defined by several successive migrations by dragonkind into former beastclan territory. Later migrations would also see conflicts between migrating dragons and those settled from from previous waves, often belonging to a separate culture, breed, or flight.
As to be expected, the nature of the migrations has been fiercely debated by draconic and beastfolk scholars, even using separate terms to describe the same events ('migration' vs. 'invasion,' 'settlement' vs. 'conquest,' etc.) What is agreed upon is that the period was a time of intense conflict, social upheaval, and political unrest precipitated by the destruction of the World Pillar, the appearance of dragonkind, and their subsequent spread throughout Sornieth, displacing the native beastfolk population and leading to the decline of their civilization.
====Ramnes====
The first draconic settlers of Iphoray were the Ramnes (Ramnēs, sg. Ramnis). Hailing from the Sea of a Thousand Currents, the Ramnes were among the first of the Tidelord's brood to venture out and conquer new territory for their god and the fledgling Water Flight. The Ramnes were led by the twins Ramnuna, a fierce warrior, and Rasenna, a powerful sorceress, who shared the throne between themselves.
At first, the Ramnes clashed with the Maren, the native inhabitants of the region's coasts and river deltas who formed a confederation to fend off the invaders, due in part to their frightful appearance to the beastfolk. However, when the Ramnes demonstrated the full might of their magics to the Maren, specifically by Rasenna, the Maren were so astonished that their leader, Tyrus, made peace with the Ramnes by inviting them to join their confederation.
In exchange for their aid in battle and their knowledge of magic, the Maren would allow the Ramnes to settle in their lands and share with them the fruits of their labor. Now, it was the Ramnes' turn to marvel at the works of the Maren, works such as tools, textiles, agriculture, and architecture, works that require the finesse of dexterous fingers, not fins. Ramnuna and Rasenna saw the value in this proposal and accepted, forming the Tyrian League.
The Ramnes found their home in the muddy swamps, marshes, and tidal flats that made up the southern coast of Iphoray, a region thereafter known as Ramnia. While Ramnuna would lend his name to his people and their homeland, Rasenna would lend hers to the first Ramnian city, Rasinia, built with the assistance of the Maren. Eventually, the Ramnes would expand beyond the habitable territory of their Maren allies, settling the region's numerous rivers and lakes, allying and trading with the beastclans that lived along their shores.
====Lavini====
Although most of the Lightweaver's focus at the time was on her sister and the struggle for control over their shared border, the Twilight Marches, the presence of the Tidelord's forces on her southwestern flank could not be overlooked forever. 
To counter this rising threat, the Lightweaver would sent forth her own children to press her claim to the region. The first wave of migrations from the Sunbeam Ruins to Iphoray were led by the Lavini (Lāvīnī, sg. Lāvīnus) under their king, Lavinius, who sought to establish the region as a homeland for themselves, much like the Ramnes who came before them.
Category:Clans
Category:Light