Aquilea and Caprea

Two twin fortress cities lie at the edges of the Sodomia Breach, **Aquilea** and **Caprea**. Traditionally home of the fiercest demon hunters and elf haters of the continent, the "Iustus Valpana", they were the greatest thorn in the Witch Elves' side, often conducting raids in their lads and decorating their forts with their impaled heads on spikes.

   One night, however, the earth below the cities started to crumble, and thousands of hellspawned creatures rose to the skies, leaving large parts of Caprea in ruins. A bridge connecting the two cities was constructed, but after a long siege by the Witch Elves it was destroyed, and the city of Caprea is now only home to demons.

Aquilea, which resides to the side of the breach that's closer to the Republic of the Abbandoned Automata, is now a shadow of its former self. Rumours say that the Iustus Valpana have made their home somewhere else in the continent, vowing to kill every single necromancer and summoner alive, although that location is unknown.

## History

Aquilea and Caprea are twin fortress city-states that date back thousands of years to a time when human refugees fleeing the Bog Witch and Witch Elves founded them on opposite banks of the Taurus river. With fertile lands and abundant natural resources, the cities became self-sufficient and due to their people's past, developed a fierce hatred for all things magical, including demons. This led to the rise of vigilantes, witch, elven and demon hunters, with the "**Iustus Valpana**" being the most prominent of these groups. The Iustus Valpana, a syndicate of demon hunters, conducted regular raids on the lands of the Witch Elves and Bog Witch, and eventually gained so much power that they often acted as the governing authority in both cities, dispensing justice as they saw fit.

Several centuries ago, Aquilea and Caprea were at the peak of their power. Controlling vast territories including the Valley of the Fallen Giants, the plains now known as the Sodomia Breach, and some lands now under the control of the Witchelven Empire, the cities instilled fear in their enemies. Their large, impenetrable walls, formidable fortresses, and ruthless demon hunters were some of the reasons for their reputation, but nothing could match the brilliance of Anton Cornelius, one of the most renowned minds in Giantstep's history. Born in Aquilea, Cornelius spent most of his life studying ancient magic and advanced mathematics in Hithlone, Azan, and Arangea. Upon returning to his homeland, he cooperated with the government officials and the demon hunting brotherhoods of Aquilea and Caprea.

With the help of the brightest minds of the twin cities, Cornelius created a device that could neutralize all magic effects and users within its vicinity. The device, which was designed to look like a music box, used advanced mathematics to produce eldritch music that would cancel all magic effects, rendering witches and wizards unable to cast spells, send demons into a screeching frenzy, and breaking the spells that would render creatures under the command of the Bog Witch. This led to numerous successful large-scale raids in the Witch Elves' territories. However, just as the future seemed hopeful for Aquilea and Caprea, disaster struck as a huge fissure, the size of a mountain, opened up in the earth, splitting the two cities.

Terrible and horrific demons poured out of the breaches and quickly overwhelmed the rural holdings of Caprea. At this point, the major shortcomings of Cornelius' devices became evident:

* Their restricted range made them ineffective in open battlefields
* Their intricate design resulted in a long time to produce a single device, so by the time the demon breaches appeared, there were not enough to repel the invasion effectively.

During the demon invasion, the citizens of Caprea took refuge behind their city walls and prepared for a long siege. Meanwhile, Aquilea built a bridge over the Taurus river and the breach, connecting the two cities. The joint forces of both city-states fought tenaciously for a dozen years, slaying tens of thousands of demons and claiming numerous victories. Despite their bravery and valor, Caprea eventually fell under the relentless assault of this bottomless pit of hell. The demons then set their sights on Aquilea, but the city was better prepared, starting off by destroying the bridge that used to connect the two cities. Aquilea fended off attack after attack, never falling to the same fate as its sister city.

Still, the twin cities were far from victorious. While Caprea was completely destroyed, with most of its people either killed or taken as slaves, its twin city, Aquilea, also suffered. Many of its residents fled to the Urgoun Plateau, reducing its population to less than half than it used to be. Anton Cornelius and his team of scientists, responsible for creating the eldritch devices to fight the demons, perished during the siege of Caprea. The secret of the devices was lost among the crumbled ruins of the Caprean Library, making the creation of such a device impossible.

Even to this day, Aquilea remains a shadow of its former self, most of their citizens are living under the fear of demons and other hellspawn. The Iustus Valpana had disbanded after many of their leaders fell in Caprea, with their remnants regrouping and fleeing to somewhere else in Giantstep, dedicated in their goal to wipe out elves, demons and magic users from this earth. The surviving vigilantes and demon hunters of Aquilea, as mighty and valiant as they are, cannot match the strength and reputation that the Iustus Valpana once enjoyed.

The towns and hamlets in the Valley of the Fallen Giants grew in size and population by taking in refugees from both Aquilea and Caprea. Aquilea remains standing because it found a way to amplify the music of Cornelius' devices over a larger radius, making the city immune to magic attacks and demons. However, exposure to the soundwaves over a long period of time can cause headaches and migraines, making Aquilea an unpopular place for settlers.

It is rumored that the surviving members of the Iustus Valpana took the knowledge of Cornelius' devices with them, but their whereabouts and any potential understanding of creating such devices is currently unknown.

## The Twin Cities

Aquilea and Caprea were known for their magnificent architecture, each with their own unique styles and characteristics. Aquilea is adorned with grand spires of Azanese style, while its walls are decorated with intricate carvings and mosaics that reflect the inhabitant's history and culture. The city is dotted with lush gardens, providing a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its buildings are made of grey stone, with red lanterns illuminating the cobblestone streets below at night.

Caprea, on the other hand, boasted of a more rustic charm, with its buildings made of wood and brick. Its walls were lined with sturdy towers, providing protection from any invaders. A grand, fortified citadel used to stand in the middle of the city, overlooking the plains to the west. Both cities are surrounded by large, imposing walls.

This constrast is perhaps due to Caprea's closer proximity to the Witch Elves, and it's something that's also reflected in both city's cultures. It is perhaps no coincidence that most of the demon hunters and other vigilante syndicates were founded and operated in Caprea. The Capreans developed a more martial mindset, while the people of Aquilea were more likely to indulge themselves in the pleasures that life offered. Still, the two cities worked in close cooperation throughout their history, their citizens seeing each other as brothers and sisters.

## Government

The Twin Principalities of Aquilea and Caprea, as the name indicates, used to be ruled by two Princes, one from each city, ruling in unison. Those Princes did not withhold a hereditary title, and were instead voted by a ruling council of nobles from each city. Now that Caprea is in ruins, Aquilea's Prince rules by himself.

## Economy

Aquilea (and Caprea in the past) is self sufficient when it comes to food and obtaining other resources, such as wood, marble, stone and more. Even during the height of their power, the only nation that they really traded with was the cities of Ghülam and Bashur. Ever since both nations isolated themselves even further from the outside world, trade has become even more scarce. Common professions in Aquilea include farmers (mostly in the Valley of the Fallen Giants), miners, fishermen and masons. Even though many demon hunter guilds of old still remain in the city or in the countryside, most of them left shortly after the demon invasion, considering Aquilea a lost cause and either offering themselves as mercenaries elsewhere, or taking up arms in the war against the demons and the Witch Elves, entering into a rogue state. The Iustus Valpana is the most evident example of this.

## Geography

The area around Aquilea and Caprea is known for its rolling hills, fertile farmlands, and abundant forests, although the countryside around Caprea is now swarming with demons. The Taurus river, which runs through its heart, provides a source of water for irrigation and fishing.

The Valley of the Fallen Giants, sitting on the outskirts of Aquilea's territory, is known for its rugged and wild terrain, with steep cliffs and deep canyons, making it a challenging and dangerous place to explore. Despite its dangers, it is also a place of great beauty, with verdant forests, rushing streams, and breathtaking vistas. Many of its settlements have grown in size in the last couple of decades, taking in refugees who want to get away from the city.

## Society and Culture

During their height of their power, Aquilea and Caprea had made a name of being places of technological innovation and great craftmanship, traces of which can still be seen to this day in Aquilea. Blacksmiths and weaponsmiths from these cities were seen as particularly genius, with many of their inventions and innovations studied to this day in parts of western Giantstep.

The twin cities were not only masters when it came to working steel and bending it to their will. It was a place where art, music and flourished, even under the constant threat of the Bog Witch and the Witch Elves.

### Magic

Any kind of magic or witchcraft had always been prohibited in the twin cities. Anyone suspected of using witchcraft or having any sort of natural affinity towards magic, regardless of intentions, was sentenced to death, sometimes following excruciating torture. Not only that, but Elves and other non humans had also always been barred from entering any of the cities, under the penalty of death.

The faction responsible for rooting out anyone suspected of using magic were (and still are) the Mageseekers, a branch of the Abbey, the main religious authority of the Twin Cities. The Mageseekers became the most influential paramilitary faction after many of the most prominent demon hunting guilds disbanded.

Nowaday, they are led by Silas Rougeborne, an extremely powerful man, said to be the second most influential person in the city, after the Prince himself. Rougeborne has made a name for himself as the most ruthless and efficient Mageseeker to have ever existed. There are many dark things whispered about him in Aquilea, such as him being an extremely powerful mage himself, using his powers in order to seek out and extreminate his brethren.

The Twin Cities, despite their current state of ruin, have gained notoriety as the most skilled and relentless hunters of witches, demons, wizards and elves in the land of Giantstep. This reputation is partly due to the numerous demon and witch hunters that have arisen from the cities over time, fueled by the population's intense hatred of magic, particularly demomancy. However, there are also circulating rumors about the possible existence of a large deposit of Dimeritium in the mountains surrounding the Valley of the Fallen Giants, heavily guarded by their soldiers.

Dimeritium is a highly sought after and extremely rare mineral, known for its natural ability to suppress magic. Witch hunters across the world use it, but its scarcity gives it an almost mythical reputation. If the rumors are to be believed, then it could be the reason for the Aquilean's and Caprean's weapons to be so effective during their raids against the Witch Elves, even before the invention of Cornelius' device.

## Religion

The people of Aquilea adhere to the monotheistic faith of "the Abbey," which originated in the slave pits of the Witch Elven Empire. The Abbey's core idea is that demons and magic are corrupting forces that pose a threat to the natural order of the world. The followers of the Abbey maintain that these forces have the power to manipulate and enslave humans, leading them away from the righteous path. As such, the faith's most fundamental belief is that all magic practitioners are servants of the devil and must be eradicated at any cost. The Abbey also promotes a set of moral codes called "The Tenets."

The leader of the Abbey, known as the Abbot, is typically elected from among the clergy in Aquilea. The Abbot's seat is located in the Central Abbey in Aquilea. Prior to the destruction of Caprea, there were two Abbeys and Abbots.

Historically, the Abbey has never held much millitary strength, save for the Mageseekers who often serve as an extension of the Prince's authority. However, the majority of demon and witch hunting guilds in the Twin Cities have been devout followers of the Abbey and its tenets. Many of these guilds continue to espouse the Abbey's teachings, even after leaving Aquilea and Caprea behind.

## Demographics

The city of Aquilea is exclusively inhabited by humans, with its residents tracing their origins from all corners of Giantstep, including Waldemaria, Azan, Changrila, the Northern Swamps, and the central steppes. Over many centuries, these diverse groups have developed a shared language and culture, making them almost indistinguishable from each other.

The only non-human inhabitants of the Principality are some offshoot Goblin tribes, who live in caverns near the mountains of the Valley of the Fallen Giants.

## Foreign Relations

### Bog Witch Domain and Witchelven Empire

The people of the twin cities have always been hostile towards the Witch Elves and the Bog Witch's minions, even before those cities were built. Numerous raids and skirmishes have occured between them over many centuries. No attempt at establishing any kind of diplomatic relations with them has ever been established, and the Aquileans still guard their borders with great effort against their nemesis. No Aquilean raids in the territory of the Bog Witch and the Witch Elves happen anymore since the demon breaches appeared. The Aquileans worry more about demons crossing into their territory than potential Witch Elven attacks.

### Cursed Battlefield and Republic of the Abandoned Automata

The presence of the Cursed Battlefield and the Terracotta Wall had not allowed the twin cities to expand their holdings northwards. The presence of the former, even, was enough to repel people from even settling close to it, in the area that now makes up large part of the Sodomia Breach.

### Snoloths

The people of the twin cities very seldom interact with the Snoloths. The toxic environment of the Snoloth moors make their lands inhospitable and undesirable for the humans, and for that reason their relations are almost nonexistent.

## Millitary

Aquilea maintains an army whose primary task is to maintain order in the city, in the form of a city watch, and patrol the surrounding countryside and borders. Historically, the demon hunting guilds, especially the Iustus Valpana, held more power than the army, which was relatively weak. However, the decline of demon hunters has led to a rise in power for both the Mageseekers and the army. The army and the demon hunters only really differ in their organization, as their fighting style, weapons, and armor are quite similar.

The demon hunters of the Twin Cities are known for their preference for enhanced light armor, which is typically crafted from a combination of materials such as steel, leather, and various alloys, and often features a cross-shaped visor on the helmet. In terms of weapons, crossbow, halberds and glaives are a common choice.

The most feared warriors in the entirety of the Twin Cities are those known as "Bronze Beasts". They are covered from head to bottom in bronze, runic armor (some would say that's Dimeritium), their faces protected by a grotesque mask. The Bronze Beasts are warriors designated by either the city's army or the demon hunters with the task of carrying and using a Cornelius' device. Due to the scarcity of such devices, after the fall of Caprea, only the mightiest of soldiers get to be a Bronze Beast, and they usually get to patrol the areas around the Taurus River (where demons are likely to be encountered, in close proximity to the Sodomia Breach) and the borders with the Bog Witch.

It's said that the Bronze Beasts are the only humans alive that the Bog Witch actually fears.