Eretrebus

Kingdom of Eretrebus
Capital	Iareios
Ruler	Grand Treasurer (de facto); Herme IV (de jure)
Government	Merchant autocracy (de facto); absolute monarchy (de jure)
Demonym	Eretreban
Adjective	Eretreban
Languages	Hellean, Common
Religions	Midanism; Hellean pantheon, especially Khalkeus

Eretrebus (pronounced air-ah-TREE-bus), formally the Kingdom of Eretrebus, is one of the major mercantile naval powers of the Chaska Sea. Eretrebus has become fabulously wealthy since the Midan Transformation.

Geography, flora, and fauna

Eretrebus spans a number of islands in the Chaska and Ersas seas, but most of the landmass of the kingdom is split between the two islands of Eretrebus Major and Eretrebus Minor. These islands hold most of the population of the nation, joined by many other small islands and islets nearby.

Eretrebus Major and Minor both have highly mountainous interiors, which by and large limits agriculture and large scale settlements to the coasts. The mountains are not particularly tall, but they are very rocky and unsuitable for most purposes.

The island kingdom enjoys a very pleasant climate. Temperatures are mild throughout the year, with some minor seasonality. It very rarely drops below freezing, except in the higher mountain peaks. Cool breezes off the sea are typical along the coasts and are greatly appreciated by dockworkers on warmer summer days. Weather in Eretrebus is likewise quite mild - major storms are rare, though enough rain falls to support the plant and animal life as well as fill the mountain reservoirs.

Much of Eretrebus once again grows wild, left to restore itself after centuries of mining and logging brought dramatic changes to the mountainsides. A large percentage of the inland mountains are covered by forests, including oak, cedar, tamarisk, and cypress. Closer to the water, and on some of the minor islands, small palm forests thrive. The open spaces are filled with wildflowers in the spring, including poppies, chamomile, and lilies.

Eretreban land animals tend to be fairly small, both in size and number. A variety of birds make their nests in the trees and rocky mountains, including both sea birds and those that remain near land. The Eretreban wildcat is one of the last remaining predators on the island, though it is rather diminutive and not much of a threat to people or farm animals, aside from young goats or sheep. The goats kept by Eretreban farmers are descendants of a unique species native to the island, known for their long, corkscrew horns - small numbers of these goats still live wild.

In the waters around Eretrebus live a wide variety of fish, squid, molluscs, and oceanic mammals. Seals frequently sun themselves on the docks of Eretreban ports, often to the consternation of the workers who must then find ways around the massive creatures.

Rumors of scylla continue to be passed around, particularly reports of their sighting on the southern coast of Eretrebus Minor. Little concrete proof has ever been presented of their existence, but merchant crews do occasionally go missing in this area, and this has proved enough for many sailors to be highly skeptical of voyages that travel along this route.

A number of volcanoes can be found in the Sea of Ersas, with Mount Odarta on the island of Theumea being one of the largest. While there is clear evidence that the volcano erupted in ancient times, it has been dormant for thousands of years. Evidence of past eruptions includes a layer of ash in the soil of the main islands of Eretrebus and other islands in the Sea of Ersas. Today it is known as a pilgrimage site for certain sects of monks and ascetics, who meditate near the peak and gaze over the seas.

History

The tenets of Midanism took root in Eretrebus around Y9200^*, quickly finding devout followers in a process known as the Midan Transformation.

Demographics

The population of Eretrebus is mostly human with significant minorities of undine, sylph, half-elves, and tengu. There exists a notable class divide in demographics. The Midanites, the wealthy merchants of Eretrebus, are almost entirely human or half-elven. Meanwhile, the common laborers are disproportionately tengu (though still largely human). A very small number of cyclops continue to live in Eretrebus, though most have departed for Alyma since the Midan Transformation.

Culture

See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.

Religion

While followers of multiple faiths live in Eretrebus, the dominant "religion" of the state is the philosophy known as Midanism. A unique set of beliefs to the region, Midanism is a secular mystery cult with a codified set of tenets and a structured hierarchy. Rather than worshiping a deity, Midanism holds amassing great personal wealth to be the true calling of life.

A fairly stark class divide exists in Eretreban religion. While Midanism is the most immediately distinguishing aspect of Eretreban religious life, the lower classes do not follow it to nearly the same degree as do the merchants, bureaucrats, or aristocrats. Laborers and craftspeople tend to suffer the brunt of the Midanites' drive for wealth, and as a result often look unfavorably upon it. That is not to say the philosophy has found no followers in the lower classes, but it is not emphasized to such a great degree as it is by the wealthy. Instead, Triteia, Lycia, and Khalkeus are often worshiped.

Except for the centuries or millennia old structures still used for their original purpose, there are not a great number of physical temples or churches on Eretrebus. The Midans largely do not see a need for these, except for the Bank-Temples that serve as important social institutions, and the lower classes usually pray at small shrines in their own homes.

Devout followers of Shai may find themselves treated in an unfriendly or even hostile manner on Eretrebus. Midanites and the faithful of Shai have a reciprocal strong dislike of each other, mostly as a consequence of the Midanite "burial" process.

Traditions

While the Midanites have been influential in shaping the cultural practices of modern Eretrebus, quite a few old traditions remain. One of these is the Day of the Lily. This holiday, in mid-autumn, celebrates the return of the cool season. Though this celebration used to involve the giving of alms, this has long since been discontinued, but the gathering of bouquets for loved ones and the planting of more lilies to grow wild both remain widely practiced on this occasion.

Society

The laws of Eretrebus strongly emphasize neutrality. Just as doing evil will lead to punishment, as is common elsewhere, many actions that in other places would be considered charitable are looked down upon or even criminalized. Eretreban high society holds strong stigmas against charity, viewing anyone in need of help as having personal failings they must deal with themselves. While begging itself is looked upon with distaste, the act of giving money to a panhandler is illegal in much of the kingdom. Non-Midanites often strongly disagree with these laws and sometimes go out of their way to help the needy even at risk to themselves.

While Midanism prioritizes little above wealth acquisition, doing so by nefarious means is an anathema and treated harshly. Theft, including petty theft, is frequently punished with the removal of a hand, and if one is caught engaging in non-codified bribery they are likely to be exiled.

Similarly, Eretrebus does as much as possible to halt pirates - in fact, it is one of the primary concerns of the state. Eretrebus both has a relatively large navy to deal with issues themselves and also frequently contracts privateers for operations that would stretch beyond its normal reach.

Eretreban society has a strong emphasis on conservation, largely as a response to the historical over-extraction that has stripped large parts of their island. Natural resources are managed using strict quotas, and recently some tension has arisen with city-states in the Ersas over their fishermen over-fishing waters near the island of Abythrae. Despite the large population of the kingdom, many of its islands are left largely untouched, and some are set aside entirely for animal sanctuaries. Even the Midanites generally hold to these practices.

Eretreban society is generally matriarchal. This is not a newer Midanite introduction but rather an ancient aspect of society on the islands. Families are usually led by an older woman who family members look to for wisdom and advice. Midanites break this tradition somewhat, but it is still respected by most of the population of Eretrebus. The monarchy itself is enatic-cognatic, with male heirs only ascending to the throne if there are no possible female heirs.

Fashion

Devoted Midanites wear layers of blue and gold silk robes, intricately crafted and sewn by the skilled tailors of the island. Some choose to wear full face masks of precious metal when in public or when receiving visitors. These masks are usually thin, so as to not overburden the wearer, but shaped into an idealized image of the wearer’s face. They are also commonly enchanted with effects to help the wearer gain an edge in personal interactions. Individuals within the lower and artisan classes usually wear the simpler clothes that are otherwise characteristic of Hellea.

Languages

The native language of Eretrebus is Hellean, but due to all the international trade that passes through the ports of the island realm a great variety of tongues can be heard. Common is spoken by most of the population, and there are also many who are fluent in Telan, Thadrian, and various ancestral languages.

Food and cuisine

Eretreban cuisine focuses around the ingredients that are native to the island and do well there. Among others, this includes olives, grapes, dates, figs, chickpeas, legumes, wheat, rice, pomegranates, seaweed, sheep, goats, and seafood (including fish, clams, mussels, and squid). However, Eretrebus relies heavily on food imports, as its farmers and fishers cannot provide enough for the entire population, at least in part due to the conservation quotas. The food markets of the islands contain delicious products from across the world, though the nicer goods are often priced out of reach of the lower classes.

Architecture and urbanization

Most buildings in Eretrebus have flat, tiled roofs, plaster or flagstone floors, stone or clay brick walls, and are two or three stories tall. The neatly ordered streets of cities are kept tidy by crews that sweep and wash away detritus - visitors to the kingdom have remarked on how clean Eretreban cities are. One cause of this observation is that most Eretreban cities have central plumbing and water. These systems are driven in part by gravity, in part by complicated waterworks, and in part by magic. Reservoirs high in the mountains on Eretrebus Major and Minor provide most of the clean water, which is then carried down to the cities in large aqueducts. Clay or lead pipes transport water and waste where it needs to go. Bathhouses are common and serve as popular gathering places in the cities of Eretrebus, their water fed via the aqueducts then heated to create saunas.

Some buildings in Eretrebus even have cooling systems. Some of these are mundane in nature, while others work by magical means. Mundane systems usually rely on hand-cranked or wind-driven fans that blow air over blocks of ice, harvested from the mountain heights.

The architecture of temples and important government buildings varies based on age. Eretrebus has many very old structures, which tend to be sprawling complexes using the above architecture but usually walled and located in elevated positions. These were originally designed to contain residential, religious, and bureaucratic sections, reflecting the close ties between religion and government that has always been the case in Eretrebus. Many of these old structures are built to larger scales than required for humans - though not the case now, Eretrebus once had a sizable cyclops population. While some old temples are still used for their original purpose, others have been converted into residential buildings for the wealthy or government buildings. New, Midanite buildings of importance tend to be circular and ringed with inverted columns. Wealthy families usually live in villas, often located a short distance from major population centers.

Mausoleums from the ancient past are located in higher elevations in the mountains. These are generally left alone and are slowly decaying with time. Details about their inhabitants are not generally known, but many tombs are larger than they would need to be to hold a human.

Arts

Eretreban art has changed since the Midan Transformation but remains largely intact. This includes intricate designs on pottery, frescoes, and mosaics, among other forms. Art is not a special aspect of culture, limited to high society, but rather an everyday thing, with even the floors or walls of the houses of the lower classes frequently decorated in detail. Art typically depicts landscapes, naval scenes, or animals - people are less common subjects, but still there. Figures are usually depicted in profile and in a naturalistic style. Some rich families commission statues of past ancestors, which are often inlaid or covered with precious metals, and sometimes enchanted to give the facsimile of life.

The jewelers of Eretrebus were world renowned even before the rise of Midanism, and their fame has certainly not lessened. Their wares include earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, hair ornaments for both men and women, circlets, and small items affixed to clothing like brooches. Wearing great amounts of jewelry at once is a status symbol for Midanites.

Though looked down upon by the Midanites as unclean and a pursuit for the lower classes, bull leaping is an ancient tradition in Eretrebus that remains popular. While this sport can be dangerous to both participants and onlookers, this only discourages some; a few have even adopted the sport professionally, traveling between cities to perform and risking their lives in front of audiences.

Occupations

Despite the kingdom’s vast wealth, most people in Eretreban society live and work as they would elsewhere. Farmers, fishers, dockworkers, sailors, and all forms of manual labor are the occupations of most. Eretrebus also has many skilled craftspeople, including jewelers, metalworkers, lapidaries, and tailors.

Magic

Befitting their society, Eretreban casters tend to prefer exotic familiars like parrots, toucans, dwarf caimans, ioun wyrds, calligraphy wyrms, xiaos, and other magical creatures - the farther away it came from, the better. Gem crabs are especially popular, as they can not only serve as familiars but also are as interested in gaining wealth as the Midanites. Eretreban casters are disproportionally psychics, but arcane and primal mages can be found in the islands as well.

Government

In the modern day Eretrebus is functionally no longer a kingdom; the monarchy remains, but only in a vestigial form. The real power instead rests with the wealthy merchants and particularly with the Grand Treasurer. The exact identity of the Grand Treasurer is a closely guarded secret, but it is known that the role is a lifetime position appointed by the Midanite Tellers. While the Grand Treasurer is officially only in charge of the kingdom's finances, through bankrolling the state and manipulating a complex web of agreements and contracts they are able to direct the affairs of the islands as they see fit.

The current queen of Eretrebus is Herme IV, sometimes referred to as Herme the Restorer. Still quite young, since taking the throne in Y9965^* she has attempted many reforms to curb the power of the Midanites, though largely unsuccessfully so far. Nevertheless, he has earned a reputation as being able to outwit even the most shrewd Midanites in twisting arrangements towards her own interests.

Economy

The merchants of Eretrebus have made themselves almost absurdly wealthy through their dominance of trade in the Chaska Sea and beyond. Unlike Tamkaranu, the other major merchant maritime power of the Chaska, Eretrebus does not rely on raw resource extraction as the basis for its trade, and in fact does not produce a great amount itself at all. Most Eretreban commerce is instead a matter of creating shrewd trade deals with producers and buyers elsewhere, finding the cheapest goods and those that will purchase them for the highest prices. This often leads to Eretreban merchant vessels being found in far flung waters. Midanites value information about trade nearly as much as their contracts and deals, as they can gain a definite edge in their arrangements by knowing about the state of commerce in foreign lands first.

The wares of skilled Eretreban craftspeople, especially that of its jewelers, metalworkers, and lapidaries, are also widely known to be of high quality and are sought after elsewhere. Some craftspeople work entirely under export arrangements, sending their finished goods to foreign shores for a high profit.

Relations

Eretreban and Tamkaranu merchants fiercely compete with each other for control of Chaskan trade, and the two states often have strained diplomatic relations as a result.

Eretrebus remains neutral in the ongoing conflicts between the Halakran League and Iaramnae for control of the Sea of Ersas and the Hellean peninsula as a whole. It is strong enough to resist the diplomatic overtures of both, while simultaneously it is more profitable for both of the Hellean regional powers to trade with Eretrebus than to conquer it.