Thamarya (City)

In the southwest of the continent of Eluan lies the great port city of Thamarya, a place of wealth, intrigue and mystery, and ruled by the House of Velön for the past two centuries.

### History

The city was founded a millennium ago, mostly used by the many peoples for its strategic location as port, a place fit for naval exploration and fishing. This is the reason it has always had a cosmopolitan character to it. People come and go, leaving behind knowledge, technology, culture or becoming another citizen. As it grew in importance, it attracted the envy of surrounding cities or coveting neighbours. The citizens decided to change from a community to a proper state, and the Harboumaster Agrippa Thlen became the first Prince. To this day, the rulers of Thamarya still carry the title of Harbormaster—such is the port’s importance, and the Velöns are known as the Sail Princes. The prominent merchants founded the first noble houses, and the city became an oligarchic merchant republic, selecting a ruler called a Prince or Kundu (elvish). This position was selective, and was renewed every 20 years or until the Prince perished. It all changed when Pethrax Vardar, an elven merchant, and artificer, managed to “cancel” the other major families and guarantee his daughter’s succession as the new Prince.

#### Present

Thamarya is entering a new epoch. Queen Laria has just become the ruler after her father’s sudden death. The new queen and council have not disclosed information about the former ruler's fate to the population, as it could endanger the queen’s position and motivate the city's enemies to make a move.

King Archibald Velön was murdered by a powerful criminal syndicate knowns as The Verdant Company. This syndicate landed in the city a decade ago and gradually began building their power. At first, they eliminated all other criminal rivals who refused to submit to their control. Those who acquiesced to becoming vassals were allowed by the Verdant Company to continue their operations.

Years after, the syndicate infiltrated the nobility, and soon obtained an audition with the king. During that meeting, the Verdant Company’s leader in Thamarya, Hukumu Panthus, hypnotised the king and put him under his control. After that, their power grew, and they controlled many of the city’s activities from the shadows.

It was only thanks to the intervention of outside adventurers that the syndicate was exposed and partially defeated. However, the king perished when the adventurers tried to save him from Panthus’ control.

### Geography

Thamarya is situated at the south of the Lyrian Empire. Bordered to the south by the gulf which the city gives its name and the mighty river Vyr to the west, the city is blessed with a moderate climate, avoiding scorching summers and freezing winters that befall other parts of the empire. The city is divided by the river into left bank and right. The main plaza and the palace are located on the right while the Grand Port on the left.

### Governance

The city of Thamarya has a complicated structure because a royal family rules it as a free city along with an elected assembly, making it is the most democratic entity of the Lyrian Empire.

Queen Laria is the current ruler of Thamarya, inheriting the throne after the death of her father King Archibald Velön.

The admirable port city is a constitutional monarchy, with the Assembly having the power and obligation to make the laws and administration of the city. However, there are three crucial activities which depend solely on the ruler’s authority and which the Assembly has no say over: The first is the waging of war, the second is the city’s security, and the final one is the election of the Harbormaster.

The first two go hand in hand since the Blue Capes are not only the city’s major fighting force, but they are also in charge of patrolling and maintaining the peace. When crimes are committed in Thamarya, the Blue Capes investigate and apprehend suspects, delivering them to the Tribunal, a body selected by the Assembly that imparts justice. Selection of the Harbormaster gives the ruler tremendous influence in the Assembly’s council, since the port is the key to the city’s vast wealth. Historically, the ruler was the Harbormaster, but a compromise was reached between the Royal House and the Assembly two centuries ago.

#### The Assembly

Each estate votes for their 15 representatives, making it 45 in total: 15 nobles, 15 guild representatives, and 15 commoners. These 45 individuals then elect four out of five members to the council, which is the body that leads the assembly.

The council comprises: the President (Veto and assembly leader), Treasurer (City Coffers), Overseer (Implements social policy), **High Judge** (Handles the Tribunal) and the Harbormaster (Who controls the ports and selected by the ruler).

The Estates gather twice a year and decide to call an election or not, depending on the city’s situation and the state of the coffers. These two meetings occur in the main plaza for all inhabitants to see and participate in if they wish.

On those occasions, commerce is not permitted in the plaza. That’s how important their free status is for them.

#### The Royal Bureauchracy

The Queen has her own retinue that acts as her political body carrying out policy. It is made up of nobles, members of his family and a high-ranking wizard from the Tower of Mages outside the city.

The main positions are: **Grand Chamberlain** (Runs the palace), Captain General (Commander of the Blue Capes), Master of Ceremonies (In charge of royal events, and the ones in the city), the Grand Advisor (usually the wizard) and the Blue Ambassador (The King’s representative to the Empress’ Court and Imperial Diet, he is a distant member of the royal family chosen by the Queen but approved by the Council).

#### The Three Estates

##### Nobility

The port city of Thamarya is home to numerous noble houses, all desiring the increasing powers of other estates, while devising plans to enhance their houses’ own. The three most powerful are Gimot, Manov, and Pech.

##### Guilds

Two types of guilds exist: merchant and craft. Each guild has a distinct role, but both groups unite to safeguard their interests from power-hungry nobles who constantly seek to strip them of their hard-earned authority and rights.

Merchant Guilds. The city doesn’t produce many products because of its geography, however, because of it, it has the largest merchant fleet in all the continent, capable of reaching the furthest shores, be it up the river Tyr or the waters beyond the Gulf of Thamarya. They predominantly trade fish, spices, magic items, metals, and commodities from all the lands where they have operations.

Craft Guilds. Thamarya produces few products; their strength lies in trade, but the ones they do are highly sought after. These guilds are: shipwrights, chandlers, rope makers, jewelers -although no jewels are found natively, “Nobody works a jewel like a Thamaryan”, ink makers and bakers. It must be noted that the jewelers and ink makers get their materials thanks to the merchant guilds.

##### **Commoners**

Made up of independent traders, crafters, farmers, sailors, fishermen, hostelers, and lumberjacks (who sell most of their merchandise to the shipwrights). The most numerous are the farmers, sailors, and fishermen. They are very well organised, and usually ally themselves with the guilds against any encroachment by the nobles.

### Important Locations

Thamarya boasts various important places. Below is a list of some of them:

The Dungeon

Main Plaza

Royal Palace

The Blue Hall

The Grand Port

### Important Individuals

In its long history, many heroes and legends have passed through the city of Thamarya or called it home. Noted here are some of them:

Queen Laria

Harbourmaster Njord

Midnights

King Archibald Vëlon

Undur Le Chef

Zarat the Vagabond

Vik Vargrimst

Mansol

Hukumu Panthus

Blue Capes

### Important Events

The city has been the scenario of many remarkable events throughout its founding. Some are celebrated, some left scars. Some of them are:

The Sea Queen Festival