Anthusis

Anthusis

(City)

NG

City

Nation

Vidrian

Level

8

Size

Small city

Population

4721 AR: 10,548

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4710 AR: 8,900

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Demographics

4721 AR: 82% humans, 4% halflings, 3% elves, 2% dwarves, 9% other

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4710 AR: 8,000 humans (3,000 colonists, 5,000 Mwangi), 500 halflings, 200 dwarves, 100 elves, 100 others

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Government

Representative council

Alignment

4717 AR—: Neutral good

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ca. 4710–4717 AR: Lawful neutral

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Adjective

Anthusian

Ruler

4717 AR—: Vidric Council

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ca. 4710–4717 AR: Baron Utilinus

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Images of Anthusis

Source: Sargava, The Lost Colony, pg(s). 13f. (1E)
The Mwangi Expanse, pg(s). 283–284 (2E)

Anthusis, formerly called Eleder, is the capital of Vidrian and the country's only deepwater port.

History

As a Chelaxian territory

Chelaxian troops founded the port under the imperialistic expansion efforts of mad Prince Haliad I at the place of their first landing in Desperation Bay. The colonists named the city "Eleder" after Eleder, a young daughter of one of the first colonists, whose diplomacy and efforts to learn Polyglot enabled the colonists to live in peace with the locals. By 4138 AR, Eleder was granted official status as a Chelaxian colony.

The site of the settlement was selected by the original founders of the city because it was a natural harbor and in addition to the shelter of the cove, a series of cascading freshwater springs welling up from rocks near the shore, provided the fresh water the settlers needed. The initial stockaded encampment gradually expanded to the walled city of Eleder.

The upgrade of Eleder's harbor into a fully equipped shipyard was one of the initial developments. The first several decades there saw many violent misunderstandings between Chelaxians and natives. Large numbers of Chelaxian troops were brought in to bring the natives under control and convince them to assist the colonists in bringing "order" and industry to their "savage" land.

As Sargava's capital

Eleder's government remained stable, and Eleder's military was capable of policing the city. Its incredibly wealthy trading companies contributed to Eleder's political value by protecting their own investments. The Aspis Consortium held little power in Eleder due to the power of Eleder's trading companies.

Eleder had only three-fourths as many inhabitants as Kalabuto. The overland route between the two cities broke down completely when Kalabuto's trading companies began shipping goods down the Korir River. Despite Kalabuto's growing exports trade, Eleder remained a stronghold for Sargava's political structure.

Eleder's economy was divided between its shipping industry, and the trafficking and processing of gemstones, gold, silver, and salt brought in from miners in the Bandu Hills.

The city showed signs of decay caused by the country's perilous financial position. This decay did not extend to the docks, however, which claimed to employ some of Garund's best shipwrights. Merchants and Free Captains alike used the facilities, and their maintenance was given top priority.

At one time the city hosted the extravagant Grallus Ball, but as of 4711 AR all such celebrations had been canceled due to lack of funds.

Vidric revolution

Vidrians pull down Sargavan-era statues during the nation's revolution.

Since the beginning of the Age of Lost Omens, Sargava faced many hardships, from isolation from Cheliax to racketeering by the Free Captains of the Shackles. In 4715 AR, the native Mwangi decided that change was needed and enacted a revolt against their colonial overlords. They were joined by some colonists who no longer felt any loyalty to Cheliax and disdained how their fellow colonists were running Sargava into the ground. The rebels soon took over the capital of Eleder (now renamed Anthusis) and overthrew Baron Utilinus, named their new country Vidrian, and returned it to local rule. Residents defaced statues of Utilinus and the girl Eleder in defiance to these symbols of their colonization, beheading the baron's statue and gagging the child's.

One of the first acts of the new Vidric government was to stop paying protection money to the Free Captains. Unwilling to lose an easy source of income, the Free Captains invaded Vidrian. After signing a quick alliance with Senghor, Vidrian drove away the Free Captains and established itself as a new nation in 4717 AR.

City geography

The city is located between the Laughing Jungle and the Bandu Hills. It is comprised of five districts: Northcoast, Portside, New Haliad, Lower Harbor, and Outerwall, also known as the Zenj Slums. Northcoast, Portside, and New Haliad surround Anthusis Harbor and were settled by colonials. The Diomar Wall divides these wards from the other two. Lower Harbor is located along the coast just south of the main harbor, naturally separated by the cliff face; it is populated by working-class fishermen, both colonials and Mwangi. Two-thirds of Anthusis's population live in Outerwall.

The city has an unusual blend of architecture. The Chelaxian, stoic gothic stonework has adapted to Sargava's far warmer climate. The buildings are wide and low, and usually include a spacious inner courtyard.

Society

As Sargava's capital

Eleder suffered from extreme racial and class division, with the colonists dominating the far larger Zenj population. Colonial law provided very few rights to the Zenj, and colonials lived in relative luxury while the native workers dwelled in poverty outside the city walls. Though born in Sargava, and despite the colony's 500 years of existence, most colonials at heart considered themselves Chelaxians and adopted Chelaxian religion, culture, and fashions.

As Vidrian's capital

With Cheliax's influence gone, Anthusis now attracts foreign adventurers and explorers, who are mostly shunned by locals and considered a new form of exploitation. Some of the city's colonial residents remain in their homes and retain wealth and privilege, also raising tensions with locals who supported independence.

Anthusis hosted the fourth Vaunter's Carnival of the Firebrands in 4720 AR.

Trade

Anthusis became the southernmost port of the Varisian Run, a trading route that stretches from its land terminus of Umnyango to sea, then along the western coasts of Garund and Avistan to Varisia. Anthusis is also the export point for goods from the Mwangi Expanse's interior via the rivers of the Diamond Webway. The Varisian Run trade of ivory with Kalsgard in the distant Lands of the Linnorm Kings earned the two ports the nickname of the "Ivory Sisters". The city is also a terminus of the Antarkos Sweep route, which circumnavigates southern Garund through the Antarkos Ocean on its way to Katapesh.

Government and politics

As Sargava's capital

The Grand Custodian Baron Utilinus maintained a personal court of eight barristers as a legal counsel. A large number of clerks handled the mundane responsibilities. The Grand Custodian held little political power in Eleder, and the responsibility of city politics fell to the upper classes.

The aristocracy operated under a parliamentary high council, whose final decisions were determined by the most influential and powerful families of Eleder. They claimed no official titles but held most of the city's wealth. Council seats were allotted by heredity. The matriarch of the Daugustana family, Lady Madrona Daugustana, was the city's unofficial leader. She was the oldest living colonial and upheld the ideals and customs of her ancestors.

As Vidrian's capital

Anthusis elects representatives to Vidrian's democratic Vidric Council, and the city is both central to the fledgling nation's foreign policy and a focal point for espionage and counter-espionage.

The Salt Breakers, an affiliate of the Firebrands who acted as revolutionary sea raiders during the revolution and assisted in driving out the Free Captains, continue to serve Vidrian as its navy and dock in Anthusis at least twice each year.

Trading companies

As Sargava's capital

Over the centuries, trading companies have had a profound influence upon Eleder's development. Among the first settlers there were many who worked for trading companies that came to the new colony to expand their business. In the southern continent, trading companies discovered vast, untapped sources of valuable goods, mainly salt, gold, lumber, and slaves. Moreover, the climate provided the ability to grow valuable crops such as sugar cane, hemp, and a variety of fruits. Also, the ample plains were good for raising cattle and the waters of the Desperation Bay provided fish and molluscs.

The Chelaxian government drafted the South Arcadian Charter to encourage expansion. Operating under the South Arcadian Charter, trading companies soon formed the backbone of a new economy. They provided Cheliax with new resources and in parallel became importers of northern goods such as steel, weapons, tools, books, wheat, and cotton. Their political influence grew as their wealth grew.

In the wake of House Davian's fall, Baron Grallus asked trading companies for aid. He offered to protect their interests, provided that the companies joined Sargava in its secession from Chelaxian rule.

• Nine Forts Collective
• Portside Purveying

As Vidrian's capital

The Combined Mercantile Interests coalition represents several commercial guilds in Anthusis and is responsible for negotiating trade with Mzali through the Anthusis Traveling Merchant Guild, which is led by M'Bele Numbe.