Mare Draconum
The settting is the southwestern coast of the Mare Draconum, the small inland sea. The reason most of the area around it has never been absorbed into either Rolgulka or Iconium is that it is a traditional hunting/breeding spot for a number of dragon species. Actual draconic appearances are uncommon, but they have a tendency to make a big impression. There are any number of failed settlements and strongholds in the area, both Iconian and Rolgulkan, a few enclaves of folks desperate enough to try living in the area (especially escaped slaves), and rumors of a Dragon-worshipping cult abound.
The one dragon known to actually lair in the area in an ancient gold dragon. Several years ago, an Iconian priest set out to find the dragon's lair and speak to it of Logos. He has not been seen since.
Since Politania is the first Iconian city caravans from the east encounter, a major effort is being made to make as powerful an impression as possible with its wealth and strength. A new "temporary" tax is being levied upon the other Themes to help fund the expansion of the city, along with a substantial contribution from the emperor's own treasury. Resentment is growing among the other governors, some are even subtly hindering the project.
The city at the southern end of the Mare Draconum is Politania (formerly Poltava).
Notable NPCs
Cezar Brassfingers: Also known as the Mayor of Faetown. An orcish ex-gladiator who runs the seediest tavern in town and has his hands in most of the significant criminal activities in the city. His right hand is an extremely clever gnomish construct which, though it lacks fime motor control, ist said to be quite adequate for crushing the occasional skull.
Paros Chandrenos Psellos: 50ish local head of clan Chandrenos. Overseeing the acquisition of as many themes in the region as possible and attempting to leverage a monopoly on the Akhadian trade.
Clan Chandrenos has one of the fastest-growing fortunes in the empire, as they were amongst the first and most effective at acquiring individidual themes and combining them into great plantations. Although the official clanhead still holds the traditional (and rather modest) Old Country estates, the Psellos branch has risen greatly in recent years.
Valerius Koresses Aranites: Comes (general) of the Politanian legions. Valerius is obsessed with the idea of carving out new themes from the rich lands around the Mare Draconum. He has personally offered a bounty on dragon heads.
Zemarchus Machoneos Tornikes: Bishop of Politania. Bishop Zemarchus is watching greedily as the new cathedral is being constructed. He is extremely ambitious and is aggresively dispatching missionaries amongst the various easterners in hopes of being credited with a major conversion.
Brother Gilos: A Valerian monastic who has been collecting information on the various Faerie gods and creation stories in an attempt to reconcile their existence with the nature of Logos as the one true god. He was "exiled" to the backwater of Politania years ago, and forgotten about. As more of the empire's attention becomes focused on Politania, his controversial ideas will begin to emerge and spread... (more on Gilos' Discourses on the Origins of the Fae and their Deities soon.)
Athos Nikolaides Pleustes: Paladin of Logos. Sir Athos is both the pride and the black sheep of clan Nikolaides, one of the oldest and most respectable of the great families of Iconium. Athos abandoned an extremely promising career in the Imperial Army when he was called by Logos immediately after his crushing defeat of the Florian Slave Revolt. Athos has become an outspoken opponent of slavery, claiming that the laws of Logos and those of the Empire are in conflict as the enslavement of men and fae is a violation of the Seventh Law. It is believed by many that his posting to Politania was a form of exile similar to that of Brother Gilos.
