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"Freedom is as essential to people as fire. You ought not to separate a man from his freedom. You must only guard it and ensure he respects the freedom of others."
Leo ‘Pacificus’ Cornelius
Porthosian Philosopher
The Republic of Porthos is a nation of culture, and new systems. It stands as one of the most fundamental nations of Selyria, and remains to be a key influence in trade, governance, and the military. Although it is not as ‘glorious’ as it was before, it is still one of the nations that is usually highly regarded in its History.
The Ancient Genecian tribes were known as the ‘precursor’ civilization to the modern Porthosian civilization. Not much is known about them, but it is said that they lived on the southern portions of Porthos, and always avoided the orcs of the north. They were also said to have had a very interesting way of governance known as the Ceritolau system where each tribe elects their leader by popular vote. This leader would be known as the ‘Ceritolau’, or the chief of the tribes, and would lead his tribe until his death.
Many of these Ceritolaus would fight and battle with each other for land and resources. This would culminate into a period of different skirmishes, until each tribe grew bigger and bigger, thus creating a united Genecian Civilization that stretched throughout southern Porthos.
The Sau'lari Empire was a very powerful Ibernian civilization that stretched from Northern Ibernus, to Northern Selyria. It was known for its military prowess, and brutal nature.
The Genecian tribes simply weren’t prepared to fight the Solian warriors, and they ended up being conquered almost instantly at around 3900-3800 BFS.
The Sau'lari Empire gave a lot of new technologies to the Genecians, and they named the region ‘Paertus’, meaning ‘Port City’ in Ancient Caedian, as it was a city that usually housed boats and ships that the Sau'lari Empire used for its navy. Soon, this city grew very big, even so far as developing regional dialects of what would be known as High Porthosian, and Coastal Porthosian.
As time went on, Paertus became a powerful city that housed many great thinkers, builders, and soldiers. The Sau'lari Empire saw this as an opportunity to use them as a stronghold for a lot of their ideas, even making them the home of one of the emperors of Sau'lari, named Murab II. Historians believe that this is the reason why Selyria is called as it is, as Murab became so close to Selyria that his center of attention focused on the continent instead of the Ibernian cities. This, according to SUV Historian Johannes Sitia, would be the reason for the internal strife that the Sau'lari Empire would endure for the next couple of centuries.
Resources were focused on keeping the continent of Selyria in check, as well as making sure that conquests were effective in the North. At the height of the Sau'lari Empire, their territory stretched from Caedia, Sulhari, and all of Selyria.
Contrary to popular belief, the fall of The Sau'lari Empire didn’t immediately result in battles and bloodshed. Instead, it was a signed contract by all the regional leaders of the Draseki Elves, The Trostian Giants, the Humans and Minotaurs of Paertus, and the remaining leaders of The Sau'lari Empire. Empress Neptali was the person who oversaw the contract being done, which stated that the states shall not attack the Empire of Sau'lari. This however, resulted in the Selyrian Nations fighting each other instead, which would later be known as The Centurion Wars. For Sau'lari, this would only be a step closer to their eventual downfall, which resulted in the great Ibernian Split, which likely happened sometime around 3100 BFS.
Main Page: Porthos during the First Porthosian Empire
The First Porthosian Empire lasted from 3100 BFS to and survived until 178 FS. During this time, The Porthosian Empire would expand rapidly, even reaching present day Sentora and the Arcane North. The First Empire Started after the fall of the Sau'lari Empire, where a treaty to share the territories of Selyria would lead to many misinterpretations and disagreements. This resulted into what is known as The Centurion Wars.
The Centurion Wars eventually led to Porthos's biggest extent of its territory, but its overextention, partnered with threats from the inside, and The First Sun, led to its eventual downfall.
Main Page: Porthos during the First Republic
As the last remnants of the Empire came, The Republic of Porthos was soon created to create a sense of collective stake with its people. As time went on, the political system, trade, and military evolved into one of the most powerful nations in the world, even rivaling Hreinngar at times.
This was due to one of its most influential founding fathers, Leo "Pacificus" Cornelius.
As his life came to an end, Porthos further evolved its Democracy to make the state more stable and inclusive. All of this will end however once Martius Maximiun held power, forming the 2nd Empire.
The Great Orc War had a huge impact in most Selyrian nations. When the orcs first attacked Porthos, they were stopped by The Drusus-Achaeus wall. However, after repeated attacks, and some logistical errors, the Sicarians managed to penetrate The Porthosian border and invaded most of Northern Pacificus.
During the invasion, humans and shifters were detained, poisoned, and gassed using toximancy by Sicarian dark elves. Many were put into labor camps, and were used as slaves to work in their mines. This was then followed by The Culling of Carselius.
The Culling of Carselius is a grand systematic genocide of 15,000 humans, elves, and dwarves. Shifters were also victims of this, but most escaped due to their abilities. The idea of this mass killing was to ‘purge the soft’, and ‘harden the strong’. Many SUV Historians also believe that this was a vendetta killing from the centuries of human oppression of Sicarius. This genocide was immediately stopped after The Selyria Alliance was formed, and united to take on the Ril’ith regime, but the scars of the Pureblood’s crimes are still felt today. For this, the Sicarian government regularly compensates the victims of the families from this purge, and it is illegal to deny what happened during this time.
After years of fighting, a Porthosian legion of soldiers, known as Legio IV, managed to mount a counter-offensive to fight back against the orcs. They pushed the Sicarians out of Porthos, and took back the Drusus-Achaeus wall.
The Contemporary Age of the Porthosian Republic is characterized by peace, prosperity, stability, and historical significance. Tales of heroes, revolutions, battles, and wars are sung, talked, and always remembered. Different scholars of Porthos were crucial in the formation of the Sovereign University of Vendeaux, such as Brutus Effectivus, who was known as ‘The Father of Selyrian History’.
Today, Porthos is a socio-economic hub for the east and the Ibernian nations. They have a very healthy trading sector in the Atresian Region, and are well known to be a bridge for Shinyans and Ibernians when it comes to immigration to Selyria.
Emperor Martius Maximiun, while he was the First Consul of Porthos, ruled with great strength. But, after his crowning as emperor, he broke The Corazon Accords - a peace treaty which was made to ensure that a war will not happen again. Led by Martius, this has led to conflicts between Porthos and Sicarius, as well as economical conflict between West Arkasios and Porthos.
The New Imperial Era started at Vendemiaire 3 1584 after the threat of Vonturian expansion reached the Republic. Martius Maximiun crowned himself emperor along with his wife Celeste Maximiun. The Empire of Porthos soon became known as a conquering nation, taking Southern Sicarius and the Doshgolobi Region. Because of this, the Corazon Accords were destroyed, making Sicarius and West Arkasios stay neutral. Recently, they have struck a deal with The Republic of Vontur to supply them in the conflict, and this has pushed the empire to create military posts in Castra Doshgolobi, enveloping them in a state of guerilla warfare against the Doshgolobi orcs.
WIP
The Porthosian Culture has evolved for centuries. From the Sau'lari Empire, to the Selyrian Age, it has influenced and has been influenced by many things.
Porthosian Citizens often pride themselves on having to be born of Porthosian blood. Although regional cultures may vary, the aesthetic of the nation is what separates them from the nations of Selyria.
Porthosians value their history. So many plays and literature tend to speak of legends and myths about heroes of the past. Many such tales include ‘The Fate of Martinus Triventius’, ‘Tales of The 3 kings’, and many more. These stories are often rehearsed and done in theaters, which also tend to be filled with people every month. Storytelling and Poetry is also a key entertainment for the people of the republic, so much so that many prefer oral ways of teaching and learning history rather than simply reading them. This has led to a slight decline of written historical documents. Although this has not raised any issue yet, many SUV Scholars worry that this could be a potential for a lack of historical data for the nation.
Besides theatrical arts, gladiatorial fights are also a staple of entertainment for the Porthosians. Mostly, these fights often are staged to narrate a historical event, or to tell a story that many people love to hear. An example of this is the practice of putting 100 untrained teenage orc slaves against 70 fully adult Porthosian Legionaries to retell the story of the Great Orc War. Other than this, simple fights also occur, with the usual winners and celebrities being gladiators from Familiarus Maximiun.
Familiarus Maximiun is the 2nd most well-known house in Porthos due to their fame in fighting in the gladiatorial arenas of the republic. Their strict and steadfast demeanor gives them their feared reputation as one of the strongest families of Porthos. Some citizens believe that they descended from Gods, and some even suggested that they have a connection to the bloodline of Ekaj himself, but these stories often morph and change due to the fearsome reputation of Familiarus Maximiun.
Other Gladiatorial Celebrities include ‘The Brute of Sicarius’, who uses his strength to outpower his opponents, ‘The Blaze of Stratis’, who is a mage gladiator using pyromancy for as his fighting style, and ‘Tatsuki Katsumoto’, a ronin from Kononagari who is a favorite among the Atresians due to his unique fighting style.
In terms of social norms, Porthosians tend to have a more egalitarian point of view when it comes to gender roles in society compared to their northern counterparts. Women often join the military, and they also participate greatly in the political side of Porthos. It is not uncommon for women to be merchants in the provincial center, and it is also not uncommon for men to be in the house taking care of children.
Not only does Porthos have an equal view on men and women, but they also tend to have an equal view on relationships as well. Compared to more traditional nations such as Sicarius, Hreinngar, and Sentora, Porthosians do not create a large problem for men who like other men, as well as women to like other women as well. In fact, this practice is more common in the military, as men-men relationships tend to form there after years of not being in towns and cities. Other genders are also celebrated in this nation, giving a very progressive stance on gender and sex.
Sub-cultures are also present within the 3 provinces. Distinct magical arts in Stratis-Sicilli are often found there, which are not replicated in the other provinces. Orealis tends to have rigid stone architecture for their buildings and infrastructure, as well as having a lot of wells, aqueducts, and baths, while also home to so many of the entertainment hubs such as arenas and theaters. Eosia however is the home of trade and visual arts. Many paintings and from other cultures can be found there, and many historical artifacts tend to be archived here. The Alexandrian Museum hosts many of the historical works that Porthos has had from different nations and other institutions. With Stratisians and Eosians however, there is a problem of discrimination for orcs. Many citizens justify this as due to the Great Orc War, but even non-military orcs tended to be discriminated against by many citizens from these provinces.
Porthosian Culture generally is very laid back. A culture of arts and history tends to lean towards this structure. It is reflected on their schedule, as most Porthosians do a well known resting and relaxing period, called a ‘siesta’ which usually occurs in the middle of the 14th to the 15th hour of the day. This laid back culture is also reflected in their fashion, where unlike their other Selyrian counterparts, they do not wear the traditional tunic garments, and only wear long sheets of cloth to cover their body. This serves as a garment that is easy to wear, and easy to take off, as well as serving as a more breathable garment for everyday use. While some may argue that this type of clothing usually creates impractical applications, such as less mobility and the risk of it being taken off from the person, Porthosians would argue that one such person would not need to be agile in a city of merchants and senators. People from the outskirts however, tend to wear such clothes that fit closely with their Selyrian counterparts. This is due to them being at more risk of facing animals and other wild beasts.
The most Prominent Religions in Porthos are Solevism, and Traditional Reedianism
Traditional Reedianism is the belief that The High Priestess is the one who was sent by Solev, to save and cleanse the world of sin. The difference with them and that of the Sentoran Reedianites, is that they believe that St. Elizabeth and The High Priestess, is the same person.
Solevism is the idea that Solev (which is commonly referred to as The Sun) is the one true God of The World. They believe that The High Priestess is not a messiah, but a prophet to help the people prepare for what is known to Solevists as ‘The First Sun’.
Politics in The Republic of Porthos was described as a Representative Democracy. Most people elect senators who are in the Senatus, or The Senate - people who represent certain districts from each major province, then after 4 years, they would elect the justices in the Judicial Council called the Dominus. These senators and justices would then elect a consul who would then rule for 8 years. Porthosian Scholars argue that this method is useful to promote stability and to ensure that there is cooperation within the political structure, and to ensure that there is a balance of power within the institution.
The Porthosian political doctrine has evolved due to constant political reforms, and new laws being passed. Not to mention, there is a huge level of political participation within the populace of the republic. It is uncommon for a citizen of Porthos to be unwilling to vote, or care about politics. This is usually the reason as to why Political Scholars from The Kingdom of Karthus often visit this nation as a way to study and research about Democracy and its advantages and disadvantages.
Even though the Porthosian Government consists of parties, it is usually dominated by powerful families that have reigned over several decades and centuries in their respective regions. A good example of this is the Triventiuses who have been dominant representatives of Stratis-Sicilii, and have been for centuries, due to their large influence over the province’s defense and agriculture.
Before, there were 3 branches of government in the Republic of Porthos: The Senatus, The Concilium, and The Dominus.
The Senatus was the main legislative branch of the republic. They were usually the ones who would debate and pass laws by submitting papers. Debates for such policies would usually go on for weeks, and even months depending on the controversy of the issue being held. The quickest debate in the Senatus was the law to declare war on the Sicarians, where the debate reportedly lasted for about 60 minutes.
The Concilium was the main Executive Council of the republic. Composed of handpicked individuals by the First Consul, they were the ones responsible for declaring orders to the different sectors they are in charge with. Some are in charge of the Agricultural Sector, some in the Infrastructure Sector, and so on. They were also the ones responsible for giving some advice to the First Consul, and some of them may also become a temporary consul, or a ‘Consul Temporalis’ if the Consul is away for foreign diplomacy or other reasons.
The Dominus was the main Judicial Branch of the Republic. They had the power to oversee whoever is in charge of the government, and ensure that everyone, no matter the branch, was doing their role, and not breaking any laws. They were also in charge of taking care of very notable crimes of individuals. One such incident is ‘The Trial of The 5 Skulls’ where 5 Orc Commanders were trialed for their crimes in the Great Orc War.
The Republic of Porthos has a very healthy trade economy, acting as a bridge between Selyria, Ibernus, and Shiniya. They host a lot of spices, artifacts, weapons, and more to trade with other nations such as Kononagari, Caedia, Sulhari, and Xin’Jang. Although many foreign merchants complain about the high taxes in the region, some also state that they are willing to compensate for it.
“Trade here is plentiful and safe. I do not [have] my own bodyguards or mercenaries, so this place is perfect for simple merchants like [me].”
Abdul Ibn-Salaat
Sulhari Merchant
The military of Porthos hosts very great discipline and power. Although conscription has stopped, and most soldiers are now career soldiers, they are known to be very disciplined in terms of fighting rebels in the Arkasian region.
The average soldier of the Republican Army is armed with a pilum - a well-engineered javelin which is used for throwing, a spiculum - a longer spear used for thrusting, a gladius - a sword used for slashing and thrusting, a pugio - a dagger serving as a secondary weapon used for close quarters, and a scutum - a large shield used to protect the body and the lower areas.
Republic soldiers are usually equipped with segmented armor made out of steel sheets, and are equipped with some sort of leg protection. Higher ranked legionaries often wear more armor to signify both their rank, and importance of mission.
The PRA is usually in charge of protecting towns and cities. Equipment and weapons may vary, as city-focused legionaries are less equipped than soldiers who patrol the north.
The Royal Atresian Guard are the main protectors of the last remnants of the Empire. They are known to be the most disciplined, most devoted, and strictest of all the soldiers of Porthos. They are mostly devoted veterans who are loyal to the Royal Family, and are often associated with strength, discipline, and incredible prowess in combat.
They are armed with The Dory - an 8 foot long spear which they train to use with only 1 hand. Made from the strongest wood found in Porthos, and the strongest steel in the republic, it is one of the most valued weapons of all. The other weapon that they use is The Xiphos - an arming sword that is crafted to fit both for thrusting and cutting. Finally, they are armed with their most prized possession, The Atresian Hoplon. The Atresian Hoplon is considered as a legendary item for each Atresian Guard. They value it with their life, and believe that their hoplon is worth dying for. This is because they believe that the hoplon is the main protector of the Atresian Royal Family. If it gets lost, then a part of the royal family dies with it. Some SUV scholars also believe that this idea is more inclined towards a more utilitarian side, believing that this tradition became popular due to the battle tactics and formations that the Royal Atresian Guard would usually do when preparing for an assault.