The Aeternum Republic

The **Aeternum Republic**, also known simply as the **Republic**, is a mixed diarchic constitutional republic. Formed by a group of human supremacists around one hundred years ago in 242 Third Age, this nation is a xenophobic and staunchly nationalistic nation located in the middle of the continent of Teriam. The Republic is led by two consuls, who are the co-leaders of the Republic, these consuls being elected by acclaim of the people and the Senate. The current Consuls are **Marconius Vilanto** and **Tiberius** **Cracchi**.

## **History**

### ***The Founding of Aeterna Republica: Circa 232 AFT of the Third Age***

Around one hundred years ago, the Republic's founders were a few settlements located near the coast of East Teriam. Their technology was relatively advanced, and coveted by the other nations, in particular the Aetiam Triarchy across the sea on the other side of the world. Due to this, the Triarchy sent an army to Teriam and attacked the humans living there. At the time, the human settlements, although technologically advanced, had a weak military at the time, their small population not conducive to a strong standing military. When the Triarchy sent their armies to attack them, the human settlements were soundly defeated and enslaved. Defeated but not broken, the enslaved humans bided their time and pretended to be completely subservient. They did as the Triarchy bid and when the Triarchy finally let their guard down, the humans struck. In 238 TA, the Triarchy withdraw most of their army and had them transported back to their homes. Sensing their opportunity, the humans rebelled. This time the enslaved humans had the number advantages and the Triarchy's garrison in Teriam were annihilated. Faced with their own civil strife, the Triarchy could not send an invading army to defeat the rebellion. This gave the humans the chance they needed as by the time the Triarchy were able to send an army back to Teriam, the Republic had already been founded and established.

The Republic had been founded on the day of their victory against the Triarchy Army at the start of the rebellion in 238 Third Age. By the time of the Triarchy's retaliation in 245 Third Age, the Republic had already established themselves and had a well trained and large army. The Triarchy sent their full forces but were narrowly defeated by the Republic and driven to the sea. Soundly defeated, the Triarchy were forced to abandon their plans in Teriam for the time being.

Victorious, the Republic were finally free to chose their own destiny. However their experiences as triarchy slaves forever scarred the humans of the Republic. They swore to never trust another race and since then, they have been distinctly distrustful of non-humans. Similar races like gnomes and halflings are tolerated but races like goliaths and orks are distrusted whilst any type of elf are overwhelmingly hated. Humans born outside the Republic are welcomed and given the chance to join but these humans don't have full rights like Republic born humans are given.

### ***Republic Expansion: Circa 238 AFT to 300 AFT Third Age***

Free to choose their own destiny, the Republic flourished. Starting with one small city near the **Tebethium Coast**, the Republic expanded rapidly. They expanded west, towards the western coast of Teriam. There were several villages near Aeterna and the Republic absorbed them. With some villages, it was easy. With others, it was difficult. Some of these villages were of mixed race, containing elves. Whilst the Republic could tolerate races like gnomes, and halflings, they absolutely hated elves of any kind. They razed those villages to the ground.

By 250 AFT Third Age, the city of **Helvetium** was founded. A skyport was established there. In later years, it would be the main skyport for the Republic's skyfleet. Founded on the river flowing through Par Valley, it was the first Republic city built in the Par Valley.

By 267 AFT Third Age, the third Republic city was founded. **Medvlea** was built on an incredibly rich mineral deposit. Seeking to take advantage of this, Medvlea was built initially as a mining town. It had been built on the ruins of **Medelevia**, a city of the **Dernian League**. The riches brought from the deposit helped its growth and in later years, become a bustling city.

By 300 AFT Third Age, the fourth Republic city was founded. Built near the western coast, **Solume** was built to the second port city, designed so the Republic had control of both sides of the continent. In later years, it would become a large and powerful military port, with half of the Republic's sea based fleet stationed here.

### ***War for the Par Valley: Circa 260 AFT to 264 AFT Third Age***

By the year 260 TA, the Republic had grown significantly since its birth in 238 TA. With two large settlements under its belt, the Republic had expanded greatly since its foundation. It now sought to expand even more. With south leading to the great desert and the north leading to parts unknown, the Republic started expanding westwards. One of the main goals of the western expansion was to reach the western coast of the continent, so that the Republic could establish a foothold on both sides of the continent. Unfortunately for the Republic, there was a large roadblock in the form of the **Dernian League**, an alliance of powerful city states that had been established all along the Par Valley leading up to the western coast. There were five city states that had long established a foothold each in various parts of the Par Valley. The five cities were called **Medelevia**, **Campagnia**, **Lede**, **Kastia** and **Dernion**. These cities, With expansion on their mind, the Republic was not interested in diplomacy or peace. They had conquest on their mind. They promptly gave the Dernian League an ultimatum: submit to the Republic or be destroyed.

A staunch refusal was the Republic's answer. The Republic marshalled its forces and by the middle of 260 TA, the Republic had amassed two legions, a force of twenty thousand professional soldiers. The League in turn had amassed an overwhelming force of fifty thousand soldiers. Both sides had magicians fighting on their side. What the League had was an abundance of magical creatures and constructs fighting for them. The city had **Medelevia** had tamed lightning wyverns fighting for them, the famed Thunder Wings. The city of **Kastia** were famed for their magical stone golems, each fifteen feet tall and rumoured to be indestructible. **Dernion**, the city to which the League got its name, had managed to tame a greater basilisk. Through witchcraft and wizardry, they had brought the greater basilisk under their control after it had rampaged through the Par Valley. The cities of **Campagnia** and **Lede** had no magical creatures or constructs but were the most populated and formed the bulk of the League army, mustering some thirty thousand soldiers. They were also both located on both sides of the Par Valley and were the closest to Helvetium, acting as the gateway into the Par Valley.

Under normal circumstances, any other nation would balk at the odds. The Republic, however, took the circumstances as a challenge. They marched their forces near the fields of Campagnia, egging the League forces into a confrontation. The League marched their forces to Campagnia and engaged the Republic there on the 5th of July 260 TA. Outnumbered 2:1, the League had assumed victory was assured. They were wrong. The Republic forces met the League's armies for the first time. This first encounter would set the tone for the rest of the war. Despite having the numbers advantage and fighting on their home turf, the League's armies were utterly routed, for despite having superior numbers and magical creatures, the League was unprepared for the Republic's overwhelming firepower. Each Republic soldier was armed with new firearms, more advanced than the standard firearms seen in Terra. Alongside these new firearms were a smattering of artillery, such as cannons, and mortars. The League's forces were torn apart by the overwhelming firepower. If this wasn't enough, the Republic also fielded a prototype skyship. Although it would pale in comparison to the skyships of the present, the League had no answer for the flying ship and could not retaliate. The skyship could fire upon the League forces with impunity. The Greater Basilisk was killed in a terrifying barrage from the skyship. The League was defeated and left Helvetium to its fate. Within a week of the battle of Campagnia Fields, Helvetium fell and with its fall, the League lost its first member to the Republic.

For the next three years thereafter, the League fought a desperate and difficult war against the Republic. Although they massively outnumbered the Republic, they had no answer for the sheer might of the Republic's technology. Although they won minor victories, such as the skirmish at River Thiems in 261 TA or the Ambush near Arretium in 262 TA, they were never able to defeat the Republic on the field decisively. For all their power, they could not withstand Aeterna's war machine. Eventually, in 264 Solume stood alone, with every other city conquered and subdued. They withstood the siege for months but were eventually forced to capitulate. With their victory at hand, the Republic at last had full control of the entire Par Valley and stretched from one side of the continent to the other.

## Geography

### *Par Valley*

The Par Valley is a massive low area of land that contains most of the Republic's territory and settlements. To its north lays the Ferox mountains that surround the jungles of Ferox. To its south lays the huge southern mountain range that separates the Republic from the Free Cities.

* **Helvetium**: City located in the middle of the Republic. The river Tiber runs through it and the Par Valley proper. It is the second largest city in the Republic, with the majority of the military's skyfleet resting there. This city has a population of four hundred and fifty thousand people.
* **Medvlea**: City located in the western part of the Par Valley. The river Tiber runs near it. It is the fourth largest city in the Republic. A large portion of the Republic's mineral production comes from this city. This city has a population of two hundred thousand people.
* **Solume**: City located in the western coast of Teriam. It is the third largest city in the Republic. It is one of two port cities in the Republic, the other being the capital city itself, Aeterna. Half of the Republic's military sea fleet rests here. A large portion of its sea based trade runs through this city. This city has a population of three hundred thousand people.

### *Tebethium Coast*

The Tebethium coast is the eastern coast of Teriam. It takes its name from the God **Tebeth**, who died in the Godly War and whose crash landing descent into Terra is said to have carved into the earth and created the massive sea in between the two continents of Teriam and Helion.

* **Aeterna**: The capital city. It is the largest and oldest city in the Republic. It is located on the eastern coast of Teriam. A portion of the skyfleet rests here, alongside half of the military sea fleet. It is one of two port cities in the Republic, the other being Solume. The Main Government is located here, with both Consuls and the Senate residing here at all times. This city has a population of eight hundred thousand people.

## Politics

### *The Senate*

The nobility are the ones who run the Government of the Republic. One hundred elite nobles make up the Senate itself. The common folk also have their low-born senators to represent them in the Senate. Every five years, the Senate elects two senators to act as the de-facto leaders of the Republic. This position is called the Consul.

### *Consul*

The consul is the highest position in the Republic. They are elected every five years by acclaim of the people and the Senate. There are two consuls at all times. Both will run the Government and will share duties but during times of war, one will stay in Aeterna whilst the other leads the army on campaign. Thus in times of war, consuls will adopt different titles. One is called Consul of War, the other is called Consul of Peace.

### *Magistrates*

The magistrates are the elected officials of the Republic. They are elected into office like the Consuls and help run the Government. There are several types of magistrates.

* *Greater Magistrates*: These magistrates run settlements. The most important among them are the ones who run the cities of the Republic.
* *Lesser Magistrates*: They help the Greater magistrates run the settlements such as overlooking taxation, food distribution and other important details.

## Military

### *Law enforcement*

#### **City guards: Civic Caestus**

In each major settlement, the Republic stations a garrison called the Civic Caestus. They are lightly armed with chain mail, swords and shields and light firearms.

### *Military*

#### **Republic Legions**

The Republic's military forces are generally raised as legions. Each legion is made of one hundred companies of soldiers, each one hundred strong.