List Pages
Tilea
This kingdom, of the unmistakable shape, is the ancient homeland of Pax Romana, the empire of dust which ruled long, harshly, and well, and crumbled with the coming of the tribes to power in Spain, France, and Portugal. Pax Romana once extended across all of Europa, and indeed were the ones to first encounter and record the isles of Britain, although what records live on make no mention of the things that all now know of those western isles. Roma also owned all of Carthage, and great tracts of Araby in its heyday. Just as much of life and history is a cycle, Pax Romana modeled themselves after the long-gone statesmen of another empire, that of Greece. And now the influence of Pax Romana’s organization, hierarchy, and even art can be seen and felt in France’s roadways, Espana’s steel, and the Empire’s government.
Tilea is primarily self-sufficient, owing to temperate climates and a wealth of coastline. They grow wheat, but specialize in grape and olive, and are the wine-makers of choice on the continent.
Tilea is a place of artisans and artists. Tilea maintains the advances of Roma’s old culture: the universities, the learning, the merchant houses, the sport, textile and alcohol mastery, even as time has eroded their military and political machines. Still independent, Tilea is a creature of alliances, not of huge standing armies. With France so fully dedicated to war, and the Empire on its religious focus, the arts have found a home in the temperate and pastoral lands of Tilea. The nobles houses live on, and each serves as patron to dozens if not hundreds of scholars, performers, and artists. Beauty is first and foremost in Tilea, and much of Europa’s styles in fashion and architecture have their foundations in the cities of the old Roma empire.
Tilea finds itself diametrically opposed to Carthage, both geographically and historically. The other nations of the continent see Tilea as secondary in importance, and as a nation of lack-wants, living off the excesses of the past. Tilea’s navy is incredibly advanced and strong, but of the non-combatant variety in the main. Some of the ruling families maintain standing armies and might label them as ‘legions’ but it has been a thousand years since the last true Roman legion walked on the paved roads of the peninsula. Tilea rivals the Estalians as traders, at least in the Mediterran sea. They seem content to remain bounded within that confine, to this point.
Advances in medicine, manling architecture, fashion, manling stonework, and art are usually founded here, and such things hold higher value here than everywhere else. The rulers of all nations travel to the hospitable confines of Tilea regularly, and it is oft a seat for summits and treaty-meetings. Courts emulate what their rulers return home wearing and bearing. One important thing to note is that Pax Romana was a terribly insular and xenophobic culture, and so no other races but man have lived on the peninsula since their time. It is wholly of the race of man, something the current people hold some quiet pride in. As Tilea fares, so do some think mankind would fare, if it were ever spared the incursions of all other folk. There are trading enclaves on the port isles of Sardinia and Sicilia, and they dot the mountains that comprise Tilea’s northern border, but barring those, there is little truck with outsiders of the other races.
Ruling Families:
Medici’s:
Anton de’Medici, Viscount of Venezia and Prince of North Tilea
Michael de’Medici, Viscount of Milano, “the Weaver”, keeper of all accounts
Vinci’s:
Roman da’Vinci, Viscount of Rome, “Wolf Brother”
Fiona (de)Vinci, Viscountess of Firenze, “The Patterned Moth”
Georgioni’s:
Vincenzo Georgioni, Viscount of Bari “Hot Blooded”, Counter of ships
Esmeralda Georgioni, Viscountess of Taranto.
Tappino’s:
Victor Tappino “The Father” Viscount of Messina
Cities of note:
Roma “the Ancient”, – former imperial capital, “the Seven Hills” , “the Everlasting”, hub of travel and opulence
Venezia “the Beautiful”, – city of art and sculpture, city of canals
Milano “the Clothier” – fashion houses and wealth
Firenze (Florence) “the Vineyard” – home to legendary vineyards and orchards
Bari “the Harbor” Home to shipwrights for two thousand years
Taranto “the Wise” where philosophy and study rule
Messina “the Able” the busiest city on the sea, trade, information, everything occurs within its walls