Portus Cayle

*"Avennio had been a nice, boring little town on the coast. The roads, a whitish, cobbled stone, were framed by the twisting forms of olive trees, groves of which stretched over the horizon. The aroma of the trees mingled with the distant brine of the ocean, creating a perfume that numbed the mind and tired the body. The sleepy town was trapped under an almost unmoving sun. The tiled red roofs were half baked by it, and the ground was hard and sandy. The sun persisted, glaring down upon the little town until twilight came to steal away the day’s warmth, replacing it with a cricket’s song and moonlight twinkling on the sea. The inky forms of the olive trees looked like gnarled, root-like claws bursting from the earth in tidy rows. It had been a nice, boring little town, and it reeked of torpor. I was glad that I wouldn’t be returning. The wet, sandy loam clinging to the sides of my boots wasn’t something I’d willingly get used to. The air, thick and redolent, made me sick. I found it hard to breathe." - Admissions of a nameless malefactor*

Ceacleth's largest agricultural producer, as well as most literarily foreward, Portus Cayle is pretty cool.

The capital city of Portus Cayle is Ratiara.

#### **Location and Climate**

Portus Cale is one of the centermost territories on Ceacleth. The climate is temperate most of the year round, although the spring months are notably rainier. The climate in this region heavily contributes to the success of its farming industry.

#### **Races**

Aside from Humans, Elves, and Dwarves, there is a notable density of Sheedori refugees currently living in Portus Cale

#### **Industries and Exports**

Lumber and farming are lucrative industries for Portus Cayle. Lumber, especially, considering how successful the province’s paper and book industry is. Also, Portus Cayle exports a considerable quantity of olive oil, thanks to its consistently temperate climate.

#### **Imports**

Portus Cayle mainly imports cotton and other fabric implements. Their mining industry is sufficient, but they also spend a considerable amount importing high quality metals.

#### **History and culture**

While Troyce is considered to be the hub for arcane dealings on Ceacleth, Portus Cayle is widely regarded as the literary capital. Ratiara is widely believed to have been built around the Grand Librarium, a massive archive that stretches for miles underground and is the most well known archive on Ceacleth, as well as the largest. It was built by Empress Eponita Salotepelus eleven centuries ago in honor of her wife, Empress Antovera Salotepelus, who was an avid reader. Since then, the Grand Librarium has been attended by the Anima, an order of scholars who have dedicated their lives to the study and protection of the items contained within.

The different styles of fashion found across Portus Cayle are incredibly variable. For example, the fashion worn in the Melite District of Ratiara, often consisting of chitons, tunics, pallas, himations, and sandals, is vastly different from the simple, form fitting, yet modest dress of the more western cities and towns which draw Azotian influence. To go even further, the Aquae District of Ratiara is home to the exquisite embroidery styles and flowing skirts of Proydor.

Scholars flock to Portus Cayle, and the province is not without its military strength. It is widely regarded as one of the safest, most lawful provinces. People consider it a good place to raise a family, and a good place to retire.

#### **Holidays**

The Honey Moon festival is also celebrated here, although the celebration originated in Azos.

#### **Government**

Sundicus Attis is the current Caylish Emperor. He’s done work to further the future protections surrounding the Grand Librarium. He’s known for his distaste for Hallume and borderline fanatical idolization of Dwesik Silverbeard, the former king of Nen Tharim. As a leader, he is completely functional and reasonable, leagues better than some of Portus Cayle’s former Emperors, the likes of which are shrouded in infamy. However, many fear that should a war with Hallume arise, the Emperor would overextend himself and his forces, to the downfall of the Caylish people.

#### **Antovera-Cypress Institute**

The Antovera-Cypress Institute is a college based out of the Grand Librarium. While it is not as famous and Prestigious as the Adrosonia Institute of the Arcane located in Troyce, or the Odrisse College of Erudition located in Cazdux, it is an especially good college for those seeking knowledge in incredibly specific areas.

#### **Guilds**

The two most prominent guilds in Portus Cayle are the White Wardens, a combined fighting force of Azotian and Caylish nationality, and the Anima, the wardens of the Grand Librarium.

#### **Religion**

Oghma, the God of Knowledge, and Chauntea, the Goddess of Agriculture, are the two most worshipped deities in Portus Cayle.

#### **Weapons and Armor**

The style of weapons and armaments used by the Caylish military are the same as depicted in the crest.