Thapoli

Inhabitants: | HumanWitchesWizardsVarious magical creatures

**Thapoli** (Greek: "Miracle City" or "Miracle Town"), also known as **Jarteignborg** (ON: "Miracle Town"), is a magical nation and city which neighbors Hoddmimi's Holt in *Little Witch Academia: Witches of Midgard*.

## Description & Characteristics

Mostly resembling real-life medieval Scandinavian civilizations yet remarkably advanced at the same time, Thapoli is an ancient kingdom whose history could be traced all the way back to the era of Nine Olde Witches. Legends said that the kingdom was founded through a collaboration between refugees from Norway led by Líf and Lífþrasir, Nine Olde Witches' trusted followers who facilitated the former group's journey to magic dimension in the light of the desolation of their former home at Norway due to Fimbulwinter, and Children of Svadilfari — six-legged cousins of Grecian centaurs — who lived in meadows surrounding the land where both Thapoli and its neighboring nation Hoddmimi's Hold would eventually stood at. Thapoli has a focus in preserving magical culture, archaeology, rediscovery of lost technology, and development of magical tools and other related equipment for the benefit of magic community as whole.

While admittedly not the central power of magic community, Thapoli nonetheless displayed considerable influence over it for its High King and/or High Queen being among most prominent members of Magic Council in Midgard alongside the Chairman. It's worth to mention the kingdom puts considerable effort in keeping tabs on the status of magical families across Midgard and even investigates their situation when an unfortunate event occurs. In fact, this kingdom assisted countless magic practitioners in eluding persecution throughout the Witch Hunts and contributed in the construction of current iteration of Luna Nova after it was originally destroyed during such dark times. Though there were instances Thapoli failed or worse, overlooked certain things while doing its part in preserving entire magic community, the kingdom remains persevere in upholding its altruistic ways.

As a research-minded community, the people of Thapoli are interested in learning new ideas from people of all walks of life. Throughout its history, the kingdom has surreptitiously sending its best scholars to study abroad and learn intriguing cultures from other countries across Midgard, including Japan. This, coupled with dedication in preserving and improving the art of magic in the face of changing times, consequently turning Thapoli into the most technologically advanced community in magical world.

The capital of Thapoli, which shared its name with the kingdom itself, is a series of longhouses, turf houses, rune houses, and at least one boathouse fortified by wooden and rock fortress. It was founded and made this way as a place to guard ancient knowledge related to magic. However, the kingdom harbors dark secrets as well; certain knowledge its inhabitants safeguarded proved potentially harmful to the point such knowledge can bring untold amount of disasters if disturbed. One such knowledge is the tome about means to harness death energies from Helheim itself.

Under most circumstances, Thapoli is open to everyone regardless of their background so long they pose no threat to the kingdom and its surroundings. Even so, magic community kept its existence a secret from mundanes up until Golden Magic Age in response of witch hunts and that the kingdom served as a sanctuary for magical families who sought to elude persecution throughout such dark times. It didn't help by the kingdom and its allies subsequently must tend to Naglfar threat in a century old conflict (approximately from 1818 to 1918) which remembered by many as Thapoli-Naglfar War. Not to mention about a coup attempt by a coalition of pure-blood elitists which saw two rivaling covens Valkyrie Corps. and Obsidian Dragons working together in stopping their common enemies and exposing traitors among themselves and in Thapoli along the way prior. Though nowadays mundanes are welcomed to the kingdom, only a few of them such as Hanbridges who aware of its existence.

### Warband of Thapoli

**Warband of Thapoli** is an organization that serves as both the kingdom's law enforcement and military force. In addition of aiding magic community upholding magical law throughout Midgard, Warband's purpose is to fight to protect Thapoli and the rest of Midgard from threats. Warband also involved in search-and-rescue missions, guarding high-profile targets, and damage control.

#### Ranks

* **Warriors**: Soldiers & workers who makes up the bulk of the Warband.
* **Chieftain**: Captains of a squadron of Warriors of Warband.
* **Thane**: Leader of a Warband branch.
* **Jarl**: The leader of the entire Warband.

### Social Structure

The social structure of Thapoli resembles that of Scandinavian kingdoms during Viking Age. The major difference is that the kingdom no longer practices slavery.

* **High King/Queen**: A High King and/or High Queen had the total power over the lands they owned as rulers.
* **The Jarls**: The Jarls are nobles who in charge of smaller communities (be it villages or towns) that make up the bulk of Thapolian society. This rank is shared by the leader of Thapoli's Warband and Sword of Laeradr.
* **The Karls**: Karls are, simply put, commoners of Thapoli, being farmers, fishermen, blacksmiths, carpenters, ship builders, etc.

### Notable Landmarks

#### Viveka's Orchard

The famous apple farm Viveka grown following her retirement from active Warband of Thapoli service and the conclusion of Thapoli-Naglfar War. It has since inherited by her granddaughter.

#### Horgsholt Ruins

Once one of Naglfar's largest fortresses during Thapoli-Naglfar War, Horgsholt Fortress had since become as with other regions devastated by the same conflict. It was here the cult built a Gate of Helheim to aid one of their patron Jötnar, Hel, in summoning the army of dishonorable dead straight from Helheim itself. The Gate itself was closed thanks to Thrasla's heroic sacrifice, resulting an explosion that consumed most of the area and vanquished the former ruler of Helheim herself.

#### Mimirsbrunn Camp

*Main article: Mimirsbrunn Camp*
A magical summer camp for young witches and wizards that doubles as the training ground for members of both Valkyrie Corps. and Obsidian Dragons as well as where the former's headquarters, Skjaldarhall, situated at.

#### Valhalla Academy

*Main article: Valhalla Academy*
    Valhalla Academy is a magic school located near Thapoli which predates Luna Nova Magical Academy itself, though it technically started off as an unnamed coven founded by Rig the Wise. In stark contrast of Luna Nova and some other magical schools, Valhalla Academy tolerates the use of hi-tech devices in school grounds and even encourages techno-magic experiments as Thapoli has long adapted modern technology into their community while maintaining and improving their tradition at the same time since Industrial Revolution. Despite being a longtime ally to Luna Nova owing to Nine Olde Witches' role in their foundation, there are constant disagreement over means to preserve magic; older witch generations from Luna Nova, particularly Finnelan, strongly disagree with Valhalla Academy's methods in integrating modern technology into magic whereas Valhalla Academy believed Luna Nova is too focused on tradition to the point of losing sight over the meaning of magic itself.

Notable students of Valhalla Academy are Eitria Ulgrimsdottir and Havi Hrafnkelsson.

#### Hrafnkel's Dragon Sanctuary

A wildlife preserve for dragons owned by House of Hrafnkels.

## Magic Items and Magic-Mechanical Equipment Developed

* Confinement Staff of Hoddmimi
* Construct Ribbon
	+ Raider Armor
* Construct Ribbon Gun
* Construct Ribbon Ballista
* Flying Longship
	+ Alioth
	+ Wyvernstorm
* Solais Metal
	+ Valkyrie Armor
	+ Valkyrie Blade
* Support Bots
* Sorcerer's Stone (not to be confused with Philosopher's Stone which developed by Great Inventor with aid of Nicholas Flamel)

## Notes & Trivia

* The kingdom's curiously Grecian name was coined by elders of Children of Svadilfari who involved in its foundation, which no surprising as they and their brethren descended from Grecian centaurs who adopted some elements of Greek culture into their own.
* The paining of Thapoli used in this article was made by an Instagram user named kattheindigowolf as per the request of the author of *Little Witch Academia: Witches of Midgard* series back in April 2020.
* The kingdom was inspired by Strand, one of trade cities from *The Banner Saga* series and Ferre Salé Dessimo from *GARO: Vanishing Line*.

## Articles & References

1. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B-9\_jVmp1gr/