The glorious capital city of the Eunesian Isles is located in the lower reaches of the Eunesian Sea. Ieffreon is known as the premier source of academic studies, the City of White, and Pearl of the North. This tropical haven is nothing short of paradise on Telath with its sandy beaches, temperate climates, and tropical foliage. It is a popular tourist destination for those who can afford to get away from their lives for a cycle or two and many a business has popped up in support of this booming trade. There is no shortage of intrigue on this island, be it political, adventure, or of a more academic nature.
As an island Ieffreon boasts more than just one docking area for the ships that come to port along her shores. There is, however, only one that allows mainlanders and fellow Eunesians to dock: White Harbor. Port Chum has long since been closed to ships seeking long harbor.
In the center of the city, where-to many of the geometric roads of Ieffreon lead, is a circle. With its northern half in the Chamillos District and its southern half in the Evgenis District, the circle is a mix of shops and governmental facilities with a dazzling garden in its heart.
Just north of the circle, nestled between the Ieffreous arthro Domicillus [West], Evgenis [South], Tapeinos [East], and the Ledelre [North] Districts, the Chamillos District is the heart of Ieffreon's politics. Here is where the important decisions of the city and province are made.
The Evgenis District rests up against the main gates leading to the White Harbor and the Seaside Market. This district is the home to those of the middle working class and boasts a variety of homes and shops. Evgenis also boasts Port Chum along its north-eastern most section. Evgenis shares the circle with its northern bordering district Chamillos. Other districts that touch its edges are Ieffreous arthro Domicillus [West], Spiti [West and South], and Tapeinos [North-East].
Ieffreous Arthro Domicillus District - Wealthy Estates
The heart of the island boasts a swell of a mountain that cuts a majestic curve. The western portion of the city decorates the mountain's eastern slopes and it is here that the wealthy had claimed their estates, digging deep into their pockets for the perfect view of tropical forests and sparkling blue waters. These homes end just below the beautiful Aqueduct and its lake at the flattened top of Mount Ieffreous. Ieffreous arthro Domicillus borders districts Ledelre [North], Chamillos [East] and Evgenis [South and East].
The whole of the Ledelre District curves along the northern wall of Ieffreon, boasting the northern gate that leads out to the Aetherial Tropics Resort and the Temple of Ioannes. Here can be found a small assortment of shops, inns, and cafes, but the focus of the district remains its three academies. Ledelre District touches the borders of Ieffreous arthro Domicillus [South-West], Chamillos [South], and Tapeinos [South-East].
Much of the Spiti District was cleared out when the council opted to close the islands to the mainlanders and poor folk, for Spiti remains one of the more run-down districts with its terracotta red and aged buildings. There are a small number of shops, boisterious taverns, and brothels in this quarter, but it serves by and large as the housing quarter for those with little money. The Spiti District touches the Evgenis District [North and East].
The Tapeinos District houses those with a fighting spirit, boasting the grand buildings of the Armada, Military, and the City Guard. There is little in the way of housing in this district save for barracks, albeit each force has quartered off their areas to better separate their recruits. The Tapeinos District opens a set of gates to a cluster of docks that are home to the Armada's fleet. This district touches the borders of the Ledelre [North], Chamillos [West], and Evgenis [South] districts.
Ieukos Epakrides - The White Hills, Outside Ieffreon
Ieffreon is a varied landscape, with tropical woodlands in the north-western portion of the island, white sandy beaches along the majority of its coasts, and a rocky out-cropping of islands speckling the northern waters. Farms of varying natures dapple the rolling hills of grass from the west down to the south, with few trees save for the olive and fig trees cultured by the farmers. There are a small number of facilities smattered over the island, but the most dominating of them all is the lighthouse fixed on the south-western hook of the island, maintaining its vigile over the Eunesian waters. [See the Ieukos Epakrides subforum for a more detailed link map.]
City Nicknames: Pearl of the North; The White City
Population: 30,000
Population Breakdown:
Note: It is possible for other races to be living on Ieffreon, these just happen to be the most prevalent.
50% Human
20% Lin Feanii
20% Medonian
10% Vagaran
35% Elven
10% Nimalni
15% Medonian
10% Thelyri
5% Fae-Folk
3% Faeries
2% Pixie
10% Other
4% Lutran
1.5% Saurid
3% Merfolk
1.5% Halfling
Political Affiliation: Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia
Publications: Ieffreon Ledger
Background and History
One group which resisted membership in the Hesparian Confederation primarily consisted of the Eunesians, northern humans which had landed in a small island chain in the middle of an open gulf. Consisting of mostly fisher-folk and light shipping, each Eunesian isle was also strongly autonomous and weary of centralized control. The Nesocratic Assembly on Olympia governed the federation, and was extremely pacifistic - so that it allowed the Hesparian Confederation to plunder the fishing villages it held on the mainland in 8399, maintaining naval superiority to counteract further Hesperian aggression.
Ieffreon was established in Eight-Thousand, Three-Hundred, and Forty-One (8341) by Lord Ieffreus Polytropos Panthoretes. The city of which is now Ieffreon did not always go by this name. It seems the original name of Ieffreon has long been forgotten, or is the topic of scholarly debates. Such an issue is merely water around the Isle, as we say here in Ieffreon.
1 - The Circle
2 - Chamillos District
3 - Evgenis District
4 - Ieffreous Peri Domicillus
5 - Spiti District
6 - Tapeinos District
7 - Ledelre District
8 - White Harbor
9 - Port Chum
10 - Kirkendall's Maritime
11 - Driftwood Shipyard
12 - Armada Docks
13 - Great Lighthouse
14 - Ieffreous Forest
15 - Ieffreous Lake & Aqueduct
16 - Temple of Ioannes
Architecture
Many mainlanders will note the architecture of the city, most of which is constructed of white of marble. All buildings have been built by, or from the support of the Ieffreon City Council. It is illegal within Ieffreon to build anything without proper certificates and the City Council is reluctant to permit more growth. It was a hard-fought battle to allow the construction of ‘Arthro Domicillius Ieffreon,‘ a multi-story building, specifically used to house the citizens of Ieffreon.
Ieffreon is mathematically parallel and perpendicular in lieu of the city-layout. Every street is the same size, and shape, paved with the very same material used to construct all the buildings. Such redundancy would seem dull, but instead it achieves a pristine and nearly undescribable beauty.
The typical and basic houses within the city of Ieffreon are made up of two or three rooms, built around an open air courtyard. They are built of marble, at least within the inner domains of the city, or of deep terracotta clay bricks in the outskirts and rural areas. Larger homes might also have a kitchen, a room for bathing, a dining room, and perhaps a sitting area. Yet the most important and centralized aspect of the Ieffreon home is the courtyard, offering the open air, privacy, and an area where most Eunesian family life can be centered.
Weather in and around Ieffreon
The islands of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia are a paradox among the lands in the north. It can be warm and bright in the islands of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia and yet just a few miles east, and blizzard snow of the Sodality of Carmelyn can be seen. All these can be put down to the fact that a warm current swirls around the islands, and that the cold northern winds of the Great Sea is not able to reach the islands. Instead, warm winds arise from the Eunesian Sea. Climate of the islands is subtropical, with a marked seasonal temperature variation, ranging from laze-inducing warmth to blistering humid warmth. Rain is also a constant feature in the climate of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia. On the average, rain will fall in three brightenings in a cycle. During the monsoon season, which is the raining season, this can increased to almost every brightening in a cycle. In some cases on the outer islands, typhoon may happen in summer.
Last edited by Nimh; November 9, 2008 at 11:16 AM.
Ieffreon's local city government does not match that of the rest of the Alyssan Civitate. It has a Lady Thane, who has served largely as a figurehead and nothing more. The power of governance in Ieffreon is held by the City Councils who are elected by the people, for the people. This concept is known to Eunesia as Demokratia. The concept of Demokratia has long held that officials must be accountable to the will of the governed and the rule of the people is expressed in Ieffreon through the powerful City Council and the Council President, who often tends to be the appointed thane.
Ieffreon City Council
The City Council of Ieffreon is composed up of six Councilors who are, naturally, elected by the general population of Ieffreon. The City Council holds considerable influence over the city of Ieffreon. They are largely responsible for seeing that the legislation set forth by the Council of Ieffreon is executed within their domain of influence. It is also the primary job of the Council of Ieffreon to work closely with the city of Ieffreon and the citizens therein. The Council of Ieffreon is responsible for the brightening-to-brightening administration of the city.
There are six members upon the Council of Ieffreon and one City Council President. Each member is elected from a certain district. The city of Ieffreon is sectioned off into six distinct districts. Each district is determined by population and then made as close to equal as the others.
Council meetings are held twice a month, one of which is open to the public wherein matters can be brought to the Council's attention for discussion. The closed meeting is generally reserved to vote and further talk about the matters brought forward without influence pushed by the crowd.
City Council members serve their term for one era.
The Board of Elections
The Board of Elections is a non-profit organization ran primarily by volunteers. The Board of Elections is responsible for making up the ballots and organizing the public elections. It is also within the job description for them to keep all candidates informed of any changes and all citizens of times of speeches, elections, etc.
The Board of Elections office is within the Ieffreon City Hall. The board of elections has but one full-time employee, a man by the name of Ernan de Cotius. After a series of elections takes place the board of elections counts the votes and reports to the Ieffreon Ledger the results. The BoE takes great strides for accuracy; and counts the ballots nearly ten times before reporting any findings.
Local Elections
In order to run for a position on the City Council the candidate must register with the Board of Elections. After this is done, it is largely up to the candidate of how he/she gets the appropriate votes. The normal routine is several public forums and much door-to-door knocking. Votes for City Council are held once an era in the first month of the era.
The Isles have always been noted for their fierce independence, and rightfully so. There are many customs that the mainlanders and islanders share, but by the same token, there are many mainland customs that are looked on askance by Eunesians.
A large difference is the overall mentality of those who have lived in Ieffreon for several eras or even their entire lives. Compared to those who live on the mainland, Ieffreonians are not so hasty in getting things done. By and large, mainlanders seem always in a rush, and for what? One of the great Ieffreon philosophers Arein Leslies once wrote: “Why are the masses in such a rush? Do they think they can possibly hurry the wills of the Gods? It is folly to rush; it bares neither meaning nor purpose…”
The Ieffreon Cycle
The mainland has always taken the cycle and given way to a two brightenings of rest: Srennia and Lunaria. Ieffreon often celebrates the patterns closing with a brightening of festivities. The beginning of the cycle, being of course Solaria, is started by rolling out of bed and going to work. Such is the story until Srennia, the 7th brightening of the cycle, a brightening on which many o sleep late. Srennia is a brightening of rest and nothing more. On Orodisia and Kuras, the near end of the cycle, the Seaside Agora opens up, and nearly everyone flocks there. Orodisia and Kuras are often considered the days of which people spend their money.
The end of the cycle, the brightening of Lunaria is full of festivities of one sort or another. Many families and friends get together to spend the brightening at the beaches, packing their meals with them. Many congregate to the taverns and hostels.
Food
Along the coastline of the island the soil is not very fertile. It is laced with clay and sand and allows for little growth, even with the large amounts of rainfall. Yet the Ieffreon farmers use systems of irrigation from fresh water streams that have more fertile run off silt from the inner lands, and crop rotation to help solve the problem of infertility. Olives, grapes, and figs are grown on the terraced hills around the white marble city, offering fine choices of oils and wines. They also keep goats for milk and cheese, adding to the rich and flavorsome diet of the people of this island. Yet fish and seafood are the most abundant choice of food found on the islands and in the hot summer months these are complimented with a wide choice of tropical fruits such as mango, avocado and papaya. Meat is rarely eaten in the city.
Cubotri: The mainlanders break their meals into two categories, which is sometimes found alarming by islanders. On Ieffreon, the islanders eat when their bellies require it, snacking or eating in the brightening and darkening when needing sustenance.. I assure you, if it is it in the middle of the work-brightening, and I hear a rumble from that area. The words pracenda or rosyun are rarely uttered on the white beaches of Ieffreon.
Clothing
Ieffreon clothing has always been very simple. Men and women wear linen in the summer and wool in the winter on the off chance it gets cold enough that it is needed – which is a rarity. Silk is a favorite, but used mainly by those who can afford it. Before the islands were closed, people would buy more extravagant cloth, such as silk and velvet, from the mainlanders, and pre-made clothes in the marketplace of the city. Such expensive pieces have dwindled since the island's clothing, appearing only in the instance where people have managed to procure their belongings by unmentionable means.
Most families make their own clothes, which are simple, flowing tunics and warm cloaks, dyed a bright, vivid color or bleached white. Men tend to wear loose trousers, and loose shirts. Women tend to favor blouses and skirts, nothing too heavy. Clothing is worn loose. To keep the tunics upon the body, cord or ribbon is used and nothing is typically heavy or extravagant. Clothing is sometimes decorated to represent the city-state of Ieffreon, adorning the symbol of the silver pearl within the golden shell that is Ieffreon's prized emblem. Now and then, they might buy jewelry from a traveling peddler, hairpins, rings, and earrings, but only the rich can afford much jewelry. As for shoes, both genders prefer sandals, versus stuffy boots.
Art
Most of the art itself was down in the form of sculpture, glass, and tapestry. The people of Ieffreon are fascinated with beauty and bright colors and will often go out of their way to find beautiful specimens to transfer onto their selected canvas (be it sculpture, glass, or other). The sea is a favorite source of inspiration for many, but many a beautiful face, man and woman alike, have had their visages immortalized in art. Ieffreon artists are on a constant search for perfection.
Entertainment & Holidays
Ieffreonians love to celebrate, but do not partake in all the celebrations familiar to the rest of the province of Eunesia or the empire itself. It is but another way that Ieffreon shows its independence from the rest of the civilizations around it.
The following holidays are celebrated on Ieffreon:
Mera de Afaimasso, Brightening of Blood (Kalendryas 2)
A brightening of mourning. Every era the citizens of Ieffreon make a trip to the Panthoretes Stream. On any other brightening the stream is a light blue. It’s purity is uncanny. It is rumored that this water is by some means magical and has the ability to rejuvenate the body. But on Mera de Afaimasso the water turns red, many believing it to be real blood. Mera De Afaimasso is held to honor the Eunesians who lost their lives, so it is written history books, the epic of Eunesia and Arium war.
Corinalia (Melora 14)
A festival celebrating Candace, the Enchantress of Love, who now reigns and lives in Aetheria; typified by balls and religious observances.
Creana Festival (Optia 16)
This holiday has become quite popular among the higher classes within the land of Aelyria. Finding its roots within the cultures of Aelyria, which were organized as matriarchal societies, it has now become an excuse to hold another festival or ball. It is celebrated by women actively seeking the hands men to accompany them to such events.
Anthesteria [or Selhaim] (Junctior 31 - 33)
While the rest of the Empire celebrates Selhaim over the span of one darkening, the Ieffreonians take three whole brightenings to celebrate this festival. While honoring their dead, the Ieffreonians likewise celebrate this as the opening of new wine. The brightenings are celebrated as follows:
Pithoigia - Brightening 1 - Households open their wine at nightfall, their homes decorated with flowers, along with children over three ordinances of age. Drinking and dancing take up most of the night, usually celebrated in individual homes, but sometimes spilling out into the streets. Wine casks are usually brought to the seashore and dumped into the ocean, a tribute to the deep to keep their sailors and merchants safe.
Choes - Brightening 2 - A brightening of merry-making. People dress in bright, festive clothing, usually in the image of the gods or as mythical creatures. Drinking competitions are popular on this brightening.
Chytroi - Brightening 3 - On this brightening, tribute is given to the dead. Small cakes are left out on doorsteps or on windowsills to feed wandering spirits. Tar is smeared over the tops of doorframes to ward off evil spirits. This is a somber brightening (perhaps because most are suffering hangovers at this point.
Religion
Religion is not such a big on Ieffreon. That is, of course, in comparison to the mainland. Ieffreonians consider religion a casual affair. Giving praise and worship to Ioannes is done whenever a person feels compelled to do so. As aforementioned Ioannes is the god of which most Ieffreonians worship. Only in recent eras has another deity been given praise from Ieffreonians: Rak, or the Planetar of Power.
The Church of Faith is not a recognized organization in Ieffreon, nor in most of Eunesia. Most Eunesians have the hardest of times trying to understand the Church of Faith and their, so Ieffreonians believe, radical faith in Diana.
Education
With three prominent academies located on Ieffreon, there are few individuals on the island who do not aspire to be educated in one or more of these schools. Most, if not all, children on Ieffreon undergo Grammaticus tutelage, which are held in buildings speckled throughout the city in each residential district. This is not unlike the education that mainlander children receive and during the six eras of this learning period students focus on reading, writing, simple arithmetic, and two languages (often Ancient Aelyrian, Charismean, or Jaedaxienne).
Once the Grammaticus schooling is completed, those students who show promise or those who are driven by their parents are urged to undertake Schola and are granted teachers of a better quality and background to expand on their previous learnings. The five eras spent in Schola focus on literature, grammar, Aelyrian history, geography, and culture. Most Ieffreonian children pursue this line of education unless they simply do not have the means to pay for such an education.
It is after these six eras of education in Grammaticus and Schola that the students then begin to pursue being accepted into one of the academies on the island. Acceptance to one of these schools is important in the lives of the Ieffreonians and it is not uncommon to find friends and family celebrating a loved one's recent admittance.
![[Guide] Ieffreon Link Map & Information](http://www.playbypost.com/forums/iconimages/ieffreon/guide-ieffreon-link-map-information_ltr.gif)
