Capital: Sionjhäe
Total Population: 210,000 (79% Eloysian, 11% Verassi, 7% Hakeen, 3% other)
City Population: 187,000 (living within the walls)
Current Leader: Padishah Vhaagos Kasai
Coat of Arms: A silver sword surrounded in red and yellow flames on a black field.
Exports: Gems, mercenaries, gold, spices, slaves, fragrances, timber,
Located along the Bronze Coast of Azoria, the City-State of Sionjhäe is the largest known city on the world of Oris and the most prosperous of the legendary Seven Cities of Bronze.
Of the seven city-states, this huge city is situated the furthest north along the Bronze Coast, at the mouth of Enchanted River. Its closest southern neighbor is the city-state of Al'Nhoor.
The city was once part of the great Eloysian Empire, but is now a powerful and fully independent city-state. As the largest and wealthiest of the seven coastal city-states, Sionjhäe dominates all its neighbors on the Bronze Coast in trade. Its largest competitor is the city of Quelaara, located on the adjoining Eloysian Sea.
For defense, the city-state has a powerful navy of 21 warships and a standing army of 5,000 highly-trained mercenaries from the Saffron Legion, but the Padishah can call up an additional 20,000 conscripts in time of war.
Sionjhäe derives its wealth largely from its gem-cutting, spice, gold, and mercenary-export trades along the Bronze Coast. The City's famous gem-cutting, spice, and gold markets are the largest on the Continent of Azoria. Sionjhäe also has a large, thriving slave trade, especially in light of the fact that her western neighbor; Quelaara has outlawed the practice. So for those unscrupulous Quelaari merchants who wish to buy human flesh, they must travel to the slave markets here.
Local History
In a ten year period between 359 and 369/4 (AR -64 to AR -54), King Axilar Sanborn of Ralas sailed all the way around the continent of Azoria, stopping at all of the Seven Cities along the Bronze Coast and befriending the Eloysians who dwelt there.
The seven visits were recorded in his journal, and tell of the wonders of Eloysian culture and magic Axilar encountered on his journey,and the deep friendships he made with the various rulers of the seven city-states. His last visit was with Caliph Ez'Dhar; who was then the Ruler of Sionjhäe. The two rulers became great friends and a treaty was signed with mutually beneficial terms for trade between the two nations.
When the Kingdom of Eloysia began growing in power and influence, its kings began to demand tribute from all Seven Cities. After the death of King Tilvanos, the various rulers of the seven cities refused to pay these tributes, and openly defied Queen Lorica. One of these foolish rulers was Caliph Fareed of the Caliphate of Sionjhäe.
Once Al'Dur assumed the Jade Throne and declared himself Emperor, everything changed. He began a brilliant series of military campaigns to defeat the seven cities; appropriately named the Seven Glorious Conquests.
The City-State of Sionjhäe was the target of Al'Dur's first campaign. The Eloysian armies invaded its territory in the year AR 12 and annihilated its army at the disastrous battle of Zhared. Soon after, a group of officers from the Saffron Legion assassinated Fareed in an effort to save the city from total destruction. After Fareed's death, the city wisely surrendered and opened its gates to the Eloysians.
For this act of gallant surrender, Emperor Al'Dur took the Saffron Legion into his own service and agreed to spare their city.
For nearly two millennia afterward, the city was harshly ruled by Hamanids sent from Sanjakar, and only became fully independent again when the empire collapsed in AR 2079.
