Chapter 43: The Iconi Empire II
The next city was Ferfast. It was close to the east coast of the Iconi Empire. Northeast of Abiotiya.
"Ferfast is a city of the sea," Gustav said, his eyes distant as if he could see the horizon from their table. "Their ships are the fastest and most feared. They've got a navy that could make even the gods envious. The city's wealth comes from trade and piracy."
He took a deep breath, his eyes refocusing on Aldwyn. "But let me tell you about their ruler, Queen Alarice. She's a clever one, that queen. Rules with an iron fist, but she's got the love of her people. She keeps the city prosperous and the elves at bay. A true monarch, not just a figurehead."
„So the city of the sea... Sounds interesting, this is also the first time I've heard of piracy. It must be a fascinating life..." Aldwyn thought, his eyes still fixed on the map.
"Senthsilver," Aldwyn murmured to himself. The city was relatively close to the capital Garanom. In the eastern part of the Iconi Empire, relatively centrally located.
"Ah, Senthsilver," Gustav said with a nod. "The gleaming jewel of the Iconi. It's a city of artisans and traders. The Senthsilver Exchange is said to be the heart of the empire's economy. It's where the most skilled craftsmen and the most shrewd merchants come to make their fortunes."
Gustav leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But don't let its beauty fool you. Beneath its gleaming spires and grand bazaars, Senthsilver is a bastion of defense. It has to be, with the wild lands of the east so close." He tapped the map with a calloused finger. "They've got walls that would make a dragon think twice before attacking, and an army that's as disciplined as it is fierce."
Gustav's expression grew serious. "Senthsilver is a strategic city. It controls the flow of goods from the east, and that makes it vital to the empire's prosperity," he said, his finger tracing the map's edge. "The pact with Vellaris and Garanom ensures that their caravans are protected, and in return, they get the support of the empire's military might. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement, but like all things in this world, it's built on a foundation of self-interest."
He took a deep breath before speaking again. "Now, let's talk about their government," Gustav leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Senthsilver operates like a republic system of the government, where power is exercised by elected representatives of the people. There are several districts in Senthsilver that all follow their own rules under the elected representatives of the people. It's a rare breed in the Iconi Empire, but it works for them."
Aldwyn's eyes flicked to the map, his thoughts racing. A city of wealth and power, but with a government that seemed more equitable than others he'd heard of. It was intriguing, to say the least.
Next he looked at the city of Kentidel, which was located in the northwest of the Empire. It was located on a river that came from the western ocean.
Gustav's expression grew grim as he spoke of Kentidel. "That's a city that's seen its fair share of hardship," he said, his voice tight. "They've got their own ways, the people of Kentidel. They're insular, and for good reason. The river brings them trade, but it also brings danger. They're always wary of outsiders, especially after the last war."
Aldwyn's hand stilled on the map. "War? What war?"
Gustav's gaze grew distant. "Ah, you're too young to remember the War of the Fractured Tides," he said, his voice tinged with melancholy.
„I wish that was the case... I generally have no memory of my past life..." Aldwyn mocked to himself.
"It was a brutal conflict between the western cities of Iconi and the merfolk of the western sea. They say the water ran red for weeks." Gustav added.
„There is a merfolk? Fascinating." Aldwyn thought, raising an eyebrow. His curiosity was piqued. He had never heard of such creatures before.
Gustav took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "But enough of the past. Back to the present. Kentidel is now an autocracy, ruled by a single leader with absolute power. It's a system that keeps the city unified, but it can also be its downfall if the ruler is not just and fair."
Aldwyn's curiosity grew. "And who is this leader?"
Gustav leaned back, his eyes shining with a mix of admiration and caution. "The current ruler is Queen Anara. She's a force to be reckoned with, a leader who takes no prisoners. She's brought peace to the city, but her reign is as cold and unforgiving as the river that runs through it."
Aldwyn's gaze wandered back to the map and to the next city. Namely to the city of Sicater, which lies exactly between Kentidel and the capital Garanom.
"Sicater," Gustav said with a hint of respect. "The city of the scholars. It's where the Empire's most elite minds gather to study the arcane and divine."
"Their academy is the largest and most esteemed in the Empire," Gustav continued, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "It's like a treasure trove of knowledge. You've got mages, clerics, and all sorts of scholars studying under one roof. They say the halls are so packed with tomes, you could build a bridge to the moon with them."
Gustav leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Sicater is unique, my friend," he began. "It's not just any city. It's a federation, a collection of scholars and thinkers who've banded together to form their own little utopia of sorts."
He took a deep breath, his eyes shining with an excitement that was contagious. "They've got no king, no queen, no ruler. Just a council of wise individuals who are chosen for their intellect and their contributions to knowledge," Gustav explained. "They make decisions for the greater good of the city, not based on wealth or power."
Aldwyn couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. "A city ruled by wisdom," he murmured, the concept foreign to his experience.
"Indeed," Gustav nodded. "Sicater is a bastion of knowledge and innovation. It's said that if you want to learn anything, you go to Sicater." His eyes took on a faraway look. "They've got inventions that would make a gnome's workshop look like a child's playpen."
The thought of such a place thrilled Aldwyn. He had always valued knowledge, even if he didn't quite understand the human fascination with hoarding it. In his mind, information was a tool, a weapon to be wielded with precision. "And how do they maintain order in such a city of scholars?"
Gustav chuckled, slapping the table with the palm of his hand. "Ah, now that's the clever part," he said, his eyes glinting. "They've got a special force, the Sagacitate Guard. They're not just soldiers; they're scholars in their own right. They keep the peace using both their brains and their brawn. They're like walking, talking libraries with swords."
Aldwyn couldn't help but smile at the image Gustav painted. "Sounds like a place I could spend some time," he said, his thoughts drifting to the endless possibilities of knowledge at his fingertips.
"And it is," Gustav agreed, his voice filled with admiration. "Sicater's population is over 300,000 souls, making it one of the largest cities in the Iconi Empire. It's a sprawling metropolis of towers and libraries, where the scent of parchment and ink fills the air. The streets are alive with the hum of intellectual debate and the clatter of quills scribbling furiously."
Aldwyn was intrigued, he looked back to the map at the next city. It was the city of Porule, which lies to the north-east of Iconi.
To the east of the city lies the border with the Scabla Empire. This is the second largest empire in Nyrmoria and is centrally located to the other empires. It is basically the center of the world.
And in the north lies the Empire of Tanou, which is the second smallest. Half of it consists on the mainland and the other half is an island that is slightly removed from the mainland.
"Porule," Gustav began with a furrowed brow, "Now there's a place with a story. It's a monarchy, like many others, but they've got a pact with Garanom that keeps them in the Emperor's good graces." He paused to take a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the map as if he could see the city's grandeur from their table.
"King Thalosian rules with a firm hand, but he's not a tyrant," Gustav elaborated. "He's got a council of advisors, and they've got a knack for diplomacy. That's why Porule's managed to keep its independence and its wealth."
"But the real secret to Porule's success is its people," Gustav leaned in closer, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "They're a curious bunch, always questioning the old ways. They've built their city around the pursuit of knowledge and innovation, not just the worship of the gods."
„I didn't expect all the cities to be so diverse..." Aldwyn thought to himself as he turned his gaze to the last city.
It was the capital Garanom, which is very centrally located in the northern part of the empire.
"Ah, Garanom," Gustav's voice took on a solemn tone as he spoke of the capital. "The heart of the Iconi Empire, where the emperor sits on his gleaming throne, watching over his subjects with an iron fist."
Gustav's eyes grew dark as he spoke of Garanom. "Fascism, my friend, is what you'll find in the heart of the Iconi Empire," he said, his voice taking on a grave tone. "It's a political beast that feeds on fear and obedience. The Emperor rules with absolute power, and the people obey, or they face the consequences."
Aldwyn leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "Who is this emperor?" he asked, his voice low.
Gustav's eyes grew cold as he spoke of the current ruler. "Emperor Valerian the Vindictive," he said, spitting the name as if it left a foul taste in his mouth. "He's a man who's seen too much of the world's cruelty and decided to embody it. His reign is one of fear and oppression."
With a sigh, Gustav took a sip of his beer, seemingly reluctant to dwell on the darker aspects of the empire. "But let's not focus on that," he said, waving a hand. "There's more to the world than despots and their games."
His gaze drifted to the map again, and he pointed to a series of thin black lines that crisscrossed the empire. "Take a look at this," he said, his expression brightening. "This here is the Iron Road, the grand artery connecting the capitals of all empires. It's a marvel of engineering and a testament to human ambition."
Aldwyn's eyes widened as Gustav described the colossal steam engines that pumped life into the iron beasts, pulling carriages laden with goods and people across vast distances. "It's a sight to behold, the way they cut through the landscape, belching smoke and fire," Gustav said, his eyes lighting up. "The Iron Road is the lifeblood of trade and communication in the world. Without it, we'd be a bunch of isolated fiefdoms, squabbling over the scraps of knowledge and resources."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And every capital city has its own miniature version of the Iron Road, a network of gears and cogs that connects the elite and the powerful." His finger traced the map's intricate web of lines, each representing a smaller, more localized version of the grand transportation system. "They call it the 'City's Lifeblood' in each capital."
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