Crithornian City-States

The Crithornian City-States are a collection of independent cities on the southern tip of the Atsynian continent. Isolated largely by the semi-impassable Moruu mountain range to the north, and a tumultuous ocean to the south, the city-states region is an area rich in competitive Art and culture, military prowess, and political intrigue.

Crithornian Region
The Crithornian Region which bestows its name to the collection of city-states is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful terrains in Monde. The Moruu mountain range acts as a buffer zone to the North of this small geographic region, offering mild protective qualities to the area in both military and cultural respects. On one hand, the Moruu makes it impossible for infantry and cavalry to easily access the region, and on the other it makes for outside trade and culture arduously difficult.

To the South lies the formidable ocean which swells vigorously and provides rather astute defenses against sea-bound travellers. Large spires sink slightly below the surface of the water along the near coast, making ships with deep displacement a risky operation. There exists a small bay on the western side of the southern coast which is home to the harbour of the southernmost city-state in the Crithornian region.

Nevertheless, these geographical restrictions have contributed to a very vibrant and unadulterated development of culture and politics.

The Three City-States
The Crithornian Region is home to three city-states which reside in various subregions of the Atsynian microcosm. High on a mid-mountain plateau and surrounded by great walls of stone hewn from the Moruu itself lies the smallest of the three city-states, Maltama. To the south, nestled along the shores of a quiet bastion of calm bay water among the otherwise tumultuous swells of the great ocean, is the location of the city which could be called the middle-sister; Carona. In the midst of the region, carved into the earth under the sweeping plains, lies the expansive underground city-state of Itinara. Together these three city-states, largely isolated from the chaos of the world which surrounds them, have carved out an existence that is devoted to the pursuit and perfection of politics, the arts, and the sciences.