Teshub

Teshub
Capital	Teshub (city)
Ruler	Warden Arure-Dekal
Government	Democracy
Demonym	Teshubite
Adjective	Teshuban
Languages	Various; Aserdian and Common especially
Religions	Aserdian pantheon; Elven pantheon; animism

Teshub
Nation	Teshub
Demonym	Teshubite
Adjective	Teshuban
Population	~12,000
Demographics	Various ancestries

Teshub (pronounced TESH-ub) is a city-state in northern Brightmarch. Built around a remarkably intact ancient elven lightspire, Teshub is a major maritime city within the region. Though it no longer guides the now-defunct flying cities of the elves, on nights the lightspire is illuminated it can be seen by ships far away on the Gulf of Aserdus.

Geography, flora, and fauna

Teshub is situated at the northernmost point of Brightmarch on the coast of the Gulf of Aserdus. The lightspire is located on a rocky island about fifty feet from shore, connected to the rest of the city by an old bridge. Small farms and outlying villages surround Teshub. The rest of the peninsula is largely either forested or open grasslands. Most of the surrounding coastline is rough and rocky, although there are a handful of sheltered beaches nearby.

The area is warm year-round though with some minor seasonality. Weather in Teshub is highly influenced by the Gulf of Aserdus, and occasionally larger storms blow in from the sea.

Rarely found elsewhere in the broader region or indeed the entire world, many eopteryx make their nests along the coastline of the northern peninsula of Brightmarch. These predatory flying dinosaurs are generally avoided by all but the bravest of Teshubites.

History

Relics of the Eitan presence in Brightmarch can be found across the region. At the site of modern-day Teshub, many millennia ago the elves built one of their massive lightspires to help guide aeroliths flying over the Gulf of Aserdus. When Eita withdrew back to the Cradle the lightspire briefly went dark, but not for long. The other inhabitants of Brightmarch had taken to using the tower for their own purposes, primarily as as a beacon to get their bearings when far out at sea on the Gulf. When the elves of Eita left, new spire-keepers quickly learned how to work the lightspire.

The community of Teshub was established around the lightspire sometime around Y7200^*. For a millennium the community was little more than a small town built into the remains of the Eitan outpost near the spire. Teshub gradually grew into one of the larger cities of Brightmarch.

Demographics

Like most of the rest of Brightmarch, Teshub is demographically diverse. Half-elves, humans, and elves account for a majority of the city's population, joined by many gnomes, anadi, catfolk, and others.

Culture

Religion

Though just as religiously varied as Brightmarch in general, the goddess Anka'a is particularly widely worshiped in Teshub. The temple to the deity is the largest in the city, occupying a prominent position just outside the old city center. Clerics of the Spark of Imagination are highly influential in the city's governance.

Society

The lightspire is of central importance to Teshub. The people of the city take great care to maintain the tower, its mirrors, and the magical light, as they understand how important the spire is not only to themselves but also to all manner of vessels out at sea. In Teshub, it is considered one's civic duty to assist in the regular inspections and repairs of the structure. During festivals and other special occasions, fireworks, recently introduced to Brightmarch by merchant caravans along the trans-Sangora trade routes, are sometimes lit from atop the lightspire.

Besides the lightspire, Teshub is also particularly renowned for the works of its inventors. In addition to their efforts in improving the lightspire, some of which have been quite successful, their other particularly notable endeavor has been the ongoing experimentation with new forms of flight. Though refined over the last couple centuries, in recent years significant breakthroughs have been made regarding the flying dawnships, aerial screws aided by magical means. Other inventors in Teshub focus on mechanical clockworks and their applications, particularly possible uses in armor and other defensive items. Teshubite inventors have a level of prestige in the city, and many are supported directly by the city's government in order to allow them to continue their efforts unhindered by concerns about resources and funding. In exchange, the inventors provide regular demonstrations to the people of Teshub, which have proven to be highly popular public events.

Architecture and urbanization

The structures of the ancient elven outpost continue to be used in Teshub, now part of the old city center. These ansharite and stone buildings have weathered the millennia remarkably well, though they have been dutifully maintained by their successive inhabitants. Much of the rest of Teshub is built in the type of open, raised wooden designs that are common elsewhere in Brightmarch.

The city has a sizable dock, built to give ships some place to make port in the otherwise rocky and dangerous coastline. The dock is located a short distance southeast of the city, connected via a major road.

Languages

Most inhabitants of Teshub speak Aserdian as a first language. The use of Common is widespread as well, but to a lesser degree. Elven is understood by many, though other ancestral tongues usually only see use within their respective populations.

Government

Teshub is a a hybrid between a republic and direct democracy. Most affairs of the city are managed by the Assembly, a 20-person council elected by the inhabitants of Teshub. In everything other than minor everyday matters, however, the city relies on open referendums in which all Teshubites vote.

Though largely a symbolic figure, the nominal head of the Teshuban government is known as the Warden. In the past the Warden acted as the leader of the city's guard, but these responsibilities have been gradually shifted to the Assembly instead. Today the Warden is primarily a representative of the Assembly, tasked with hearing the concerns of the people of Teshub and ensuring the Assembly prioritizes the correct issues. Additionally, the Warden serves a second if equally symbolic role as the chief spire-keeper of Teshub.

Economy

Though Teshub is a destination for some merchants, in this sense it is greatly overshadowed by the city-state of Yarma to the east. Nevertheless, it has become an important port for ships on the Gulf of Aserdus, and many vessels bound for elsewhere stop in Teshub to rest and resupply.