Background[]
Ethenias was once the capital of Ouranos and the home city of the Kollossae people. It was built as a proof of their might and prowess in ruling the land. The city got its name after the Kollossae patron goddess - Ethene.
The city was built atop the peaks of Jentilak in an attempt of the Kollossae people to be as close to their Gods as possible.
Description[]
The city was apparently divided into at least four districts: the highest hills were occupied by the Kollossae, the lower levels by their Jottun allies who helped construct the city, and the city walls by all other races allowed to dwell in the city.
There was also a port district where the naval forces of Ouranos were docked and later used for the Kollossae exodus.
History[]
Rise of Ethenias[]
The city was built as testament to the Kollossae prowess in ruling the lands of Ouranos after they wrestled control over the region from their Ettin cousins.
The construction of the great city was carried out by the Kollossae themselves and their Jottus allies who later settled the lower level of the grand city. The Ettin refused to help building the city, still holding a grudge against the Kollossae for taking Ouranos from them.
The Kollossae wanted to reform Ouranos into a proper kingdom or empire to facilitate trade and diplomacy with other races, and Ethenias would have been the capital of that state. Unfortunately not all viewed diplomacy as a step forward.
Ettin and Deinir, distant kin to the Kollossae, saw this as a sign of weakness and decided to overthrow their cousins in a bloody revolt. Knowing full well that they would not take the city by force alone, they recruited various troll clans, promising to share the spoils of war after it was over.
Fall of Ethenias[]
The revolution started in the middle of the harvesting season, some time in 1131 BE. Outnumbered, the Kollossae and Jottun were quickly pushed back behind high and sturdy walls of Ethenias. To add to this disaster, a group of Jottun, wishing to go back to their primal ways, splintered and joined the rebels.
By winter, heavy snowfalls halted the war, but the city was still besieged. With winter coming to its end, the priests knowing that spring will reignite the war, started praying to their Goddess in hopes that her wisdom would help them. Ethene showed the High Priest a promised land where they would prosper once again, and so the Kollossae prepared to flee.
Once the fighting resumed, the Deinir and Ettin found only empty streets as the citizens of Ethenias fled to the harbor in an attempt to reach the fleets and escape to the promised land.
To give the fleeing Kollossae some more time, a group of volunteers, known as "The Stand of the Blessed" to the Kollossae and "Craben's Folly" to the rebels stayed behind to hold the enemy horde, while the ships departed.
Seeing their cousins flee on their ships, the Deinir and Ettin returned to the city, sacking it. What became of the once proud capital remains unknown.
Notes[]
- The city appears to be loosely based on the real-life Greek city of Athens. Both cities were built as a tribute to the patron Goddesses (Athens after the goddess Athena and Ethennias after the goddess Ethene), as well as bearing the names derived from that Goddesses own names.