Regions of Enelis
Republic of Hopesdawn
Grand Democratic Metropolis of Tolerance
Banner: A silver bridge and gate below a golden crown on a sky-blue flag.
Capital: Hopesdawn (252,840)
Notable Settlements: Wittenberg (14,560), Eloree (10,390), Onton (8,230), Hopedale (6,100), and 10 smaller market towns.
Ruler: Grand Magistrate Ulren Aganor
Government: Representative Democracy
Military: Strong. Especially strong navy. Holds 57 defensive fortifications.
Languages: Nomen (Common), many others.
Religion: Eastern Pantheon
Primary Exports: Complex Goods, Crafts, Art, Knowledge, Trade (largest importer).
Detailed Map of the Northlands
Detailed Map of the Eastern Coasts
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History
The early expansion of the Nomen Empire pushed against the Noradrie of the north, eventually overtaking the lands north of Goldwall to the Dulerrun River. The Nomen town of Auroravotum (Dawnhope) was established where the Dulerrun River and Thalmira Channel meet. Additional Nomen settlements were established on Cancer Island, where fishing was quite profitable. Over the years, this region would be overtaken by the Noradrie and then eventually liberated again by the Nomen. After the collapse of the Empire, this region was left to its own devices and fell into disarray as a collection of dwindling fishing villages that still traded with Goldwall. The town of Auroravotum became a nearly forgotten port town and defensive keep. However, during the Last War, when the Dohkan destroyed Goldwall and marched northward, many refugees were forced to flee the onslaught. The remaining armies gathered at the remnants of Auroravotum. The keep, called Hopekeep, and its bridge protected the rest of the island of Pelerast from the invaders, allowing the refugees safety from the Dohkan armies.
After the fall of the Dohkan, the victory of the defenders was short-lived. The survivors struggled to survive in the harsh winter that followed. The refugees banded together as a community and managed to secure their survival. The town would be renamed Hopesdawn and established itself as a democracy devoted to unity and social good. Over the centuries since, Hopesdawn has grown to an enormous metropolis, a jewel of the east, as word spread far and wide of its glory and principles. It was said that no matter one’s background and social status, any person would be treated as equal and important in the city of Hopesdawn.
The city itself sprawls across three islands at the delta of the Dulerrun River. The largest island is Pelerast, which has most of the main districts of the city and features Hopekeep at the entrance of the grand Fortis Bridge that enters the city. The island of Agora contains most of the naval, fishing, and shipping ports on one end. At the other end is the Government district and the large rolling Stardome Hill, which contains the Noble district of the city. Many of the great founding noble families have large estates squeezed around the hillside. At the top is Aurora Hall, the home of the currently elected Grand Magistrate. The smallest island is Nesseril, which is almost entirely covered with thick forests. The island contains the Elven district, the city gardens and orchards, and Silverdale Park. Many great bridges connect the islands together.
Government
Hopesdawn is a true representative democracy. Each neighborhood within each district of the city and each outlying region and town send representatives to serve in the People’s Parliament, a legislative body comprising over 300 individuals. The Parliament meets in the Chambers of Aurum, a grand stone hall in the Government district of the city. This legislative congress creates laws and bureaucratic agencies to carry out those laws. Members of the Parliament can serve a total of 20 years, with elections held every 4 years. The elections of various neighborhoods and regions are staggered, such that every year about a quarter of the Parliament is up for re-election. There are no specific requirements, besides age and residency, to qualify for being a representative. Unlike Astonia, patrician or noble-born status is not required. However, wealthy and influential people are more likely to advertise and draw attention to their political campaigns. But in many of the poorer districts of the city, regular citizens and even criminal leaders are often able to persuade the populace for their vote.
The Parliament also votes among themselves to appoint the Grand Magistrate, the enforcer and formal leader of the government. The Grand Magistrate is the diplomatic ruler of the nation as well as the chief commander of the army and navy. Grand Magistrates serve a 5-year term, and can only serve in this role for up to two terms. The role of Grand Magistrate often goes to the representative of one of the more affluent and wealthy neighborhoods, who often have the political pull to garner support from the Parliament. But many times public opinion has pushed a more populist leader into the role.
Military
The military of Hopesdawn is a paid volunteer opportunity for citizens. It is not conscripted or required. Many choose to take up arms to as a solid career choice or because they feel duty bound to protect and defend their civilization. The army is broken into three main groups: the Silver Guard, the Vigilant Watch, and the Golden Riders. The Silver Guard are in charge of the defense of the city of Hopesdawn itself and maintaining the garrison of Hopekeep. They are comprised mostly of archers, light, and heavy infantry. The Vigilant Watch man the garrisons at the many fortresses in the region and watch the trade roads through Angmar. They share this duty near the ruins of Goldwall with Astonia. The Golden Riders are light and heavy calvary that scout the edges of the wilderness and are deployed quickly when problems are found. The Hopesdawn Navy is the largest military structure of the city, with over 300 ships that patrol and guard the trade routes along the eastern coasts.
Economy
The markets of Hopesdawn are the best on Ularin. As the saying goes, “One who shops in Hopesdawn, shops nowhere else.” If there was ever an item one sought to purchase, they could find it in the many sprawling market districts of the city. The vast number of craftsmen and artists, combined with the multicultural aesthetic of the city, creates a plethora of exquisite goods that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Want an Elven cloak embroidered with Dwarven runes? Want an Orcish sword with an Arathian-style hilt and a Dwarven-cut gemstone pommel? Hopesdawn has it all. The city has trade networks that connect to every city on Ularin. But, perhaps the greatest export of Hopesdawn is knowledge. As the city boasts the best guildhalls, trade-schools, and academies in the known world. For this reason, Hopesdawn is often called the ‘City of Dreams’, as many who have heard of the grand city often dream to leave behind their former life and start anew.
Culture
The culture of Hopesdawn is anything but monolithic. It is a cosmopolitan collection of numerous cultures from throughout the known world. Multiculturalism is the culture of Hopesdawn. It is a place where differences are celebrated and encouraged, where expressive curiosity overrides one’s natural fear of otherness. The city does, however, often have cultural issues between its citizens, and sometimes these disagreements result in violence. But in a city where orcs and goblins are tolerated, dwarves and elves live side by side, and Noradrie and Amarie share drinking halls, it has far less problems than one might expect.
Fashion and art in Hopesdawn are extremely varied and eclectic. Many people of Hopesdawn combine elements from multiple cultures, creating new mixtures of colors, shapes, and styles. Fashion in Hopesdawn is constantly changing and evolving. One week, Orcish bone necklaces engraved with Elven runes might be in style, the next week people are wearing Migaran capes embroidered with Toldan slang.
Hopedawn citizens are devoted to multiculturalism and democracy. Almost every Hopesdawn citizen agrees that everyone’s voice matters and that everyone has an equal opportunity in society. People from Hopesdawn are more likely to give strangers the benefit of the doubt and take people at their word until proven otherwise. To outsiders, it makes them seem naive, but people from Hopesdawn believe that initial trust and earnest listening are important cornerstones of any relationship.
Adventure
While most of the region around Hopesdawn is settled, there are still wild, unknown places nearby. The Hopeshadow Woods on Cancer Island is largely unexplored and is believed to contains numerous ancient ruins from the Nomen Empire and the ancient Stelmar. In the hills north of Eloree, great barrows of former Noradrie leaders are scattered across the hills and many believe these hills to be haunted by the dead. The foothills of the Kalavar Mountains are known to contain hidden lairs of dragons, giants, and other nefarious creatures. Outside the comforts of the city, danger lurks for those who search for it.