Maremonta

## Maremonta: Jewel of The South

Maremonta is a metropolis located in the south-east founded on the 29th of January, 2022. Maremonta was founded by Orbexus and is the Capitol of the Maremontan Empire.

## History

Maremonta was founded by Marcus Volcovius, the first Dictator of the Republic. Originally an entrepreneur from the north-west, his travels found him in a plains area in between a sea and a mountain, noting the area down as Maremonta. As he set up a small trade outpost, the local tribesman fascinated by the foreigners exchanged goods with Volcovius, and slowly started creating shanty towns around the outpost. However all was not well, barbarians who had been terrorizing the local tribes found the now very wealthy outpost and launched a series of raids. The people began looking to Volcovius to run them off which lead to Volcovius standing on the soap box in the middle of the city, unsheathed his sword, and proclaimed: "This sword shall remain submerged in blood until the order of the Republic has been restored." With this declaration, he announced the outpost would now become a sovereign state, and true to his promise, commanded the first Maremontan Legion into battle with the barbarians and permanently ended their reign of terror. With the threats from barbarians gone, Volcovius began expanding and improving the city developing public works, and raising walls around the city. It is around this time a young man arrived in Maremonta claiming to be a son of a god called Sanguinis, the god of war. The Dictator outraged by this heretical preaching ran the prophet out of the city order Equites (legionary cavalry) to find and execute him. An hour later, the Equites returned with the prophets head. However as the peace was restored, the legionaries on the gate made a report to the Dictator of a headless man who was walking and knocking on the gate door. Out of curiosity, the Dictator ordered the guards to let him in and as the headless body walked into the Dictators home, a Praetorian guard presented the body the head of the prophet, in which both the body and head turned to ashes, and from the ashes, the prophet, Claudius Messala, returned. Volcovius in that moment cursed the false god he believed in, and kissed the prophet's feet. Claudius Messala became the first Pontifus Maximus, the highest religious title in Maremonta and was adopted by Volcovius himself earning him the nickname Pater Terrenus or Earthly Father. Decades of prosperity and peace under Volcovius went on, but soon the Dictator faced his mortality. On his deathbed, a Legatus asked him who would be his heir, in which he declared: "The holiest!" before dying. Everyone looked to Messala, all but that Legatus. Antonius Maximus a disgruntled veteran wished to see more representation in government, openly mocking the city calling itself a republic. Not respecting Messala as a worthy leader, he raised an army to meet Messala in battle, as Messala got word of this rebellion, he ordered his legionaries to meet Maximus. As the armies met, Messala walked into the middle of the field, and addressed the soldiers of Maximus as his legionaries. The soldiers of Maximus refused to attack Messala despite orders to do so. Messala reminded them of the old glory of Maremonta under Volcovius adding the glory could not be extended if restricted by civil war, he also promised the creation of the senate agreeing with Maximus on the false Republic statement. The soldiers of Maximus cheered and fled to his side. As Maximus offered his sword in surrender, Messala picked it up and handed it back to him stating: "You damn fool. How shall you defend your Republic without this." Messala would make Maximus the first Consul of the Republic and willing imposed power restrictions on himself. During his reign, he extended the rights of man, and the quality of life improved. A harbor was built bringing a distinct merchant class to Maremonta and increasing economic prosperity, but died before he could see it completed. His last wish was for the Senate to elect an Dictator as he had no children due to his vow of chastity. The Senate elected not a Dictator but an Emperor as per the new Emperor's wish. Titus Aquilius Fucius had many of his own family members in the Senate controlling over half of it, allowing him to have almost complete control over the Empire, yet notably still respects the power restrictions imposed by Messala. As the new Emperor takes power, it is unclear where the history of Maremonta shall lead.

## Culture

A popular majority of Maremontans practice Messalianism , However a small minority of heretics praise "false gods". Such Heretics are generally shunned by the Maremontan populace.

## Geography

Maremonta sits on a hill outside the Canaverii valley. To its west is Mt. Mercator, a dormant volcano believed to once be the entrance to the hell itself. To the south is the Maiorana Sea, a sea that has supplied the city with riches and food for centuries. To the east is the Apian Forest and the island of Consus. Named after the first prince of Maremonta, Consus Corvinus, which is his suspected birth place. To the north is the aforementioned Canverii valley. A valley that has allowed easy access into and out of Maremonta, making is easy for caravanners to trade.