Deputis (Capital)

Description & History
The capital city of Deputis sits on the north-western tip of the continent of Catalia, through the Catalian Mountain passes. Whilst what was once the city itself is home to around 25,000 people, it has always stood un-walled, and now the metropolis sprawls throughout the surrounding valley. Around fifty miles from the western coastline, the Captial (the city of Deputis) is built atop what was a large city before the Catastrophe. The occasional steel structure remains, and many of these have been repurposed into defensible forts, but the Capital has been unchallenged - for the most part - since the beginning of the New Age. The majority of the buildings are built with stone, many of which are draped with tended greenery; though some of the newer houses in the outer suburbs (built in times of war, lower man power and resource availability) are made from timber, from the forests cultivated at the foot of the mountains.

With the expansion of Deputan influence throughout the continent, the southern city of Mare - established just a century after the Catastrophe, following the Wars of the Passes - was brought back under the Capital's sphere. And with the discovery of significant resources on the island of Kerim, many of the continent's most prominent tradesmen and merchants relocated to the town, which is now a bustling trading-post connected closely to Deputis itself.

During the reign of the late-King Leodus, the Capital expanded its sphere into the continent of Medi-um, an island peninsula made up of six independent small states. This established the Deputan Empire, annexing notably the site of the Twelve Temples in Metia, on the island of Primam.

Traditions & Customs
Despite the Twelve Temples (the home of the Faith) being found on the island of Primam and only recently brought under Deputis' direct sphere of influence, the Capital follows the Faith. Some follow the teachings more literally than others - there is a noticeable education gap, which may be somewhat to blame in this respect - though the city itself and the surrounding territories celebrate all of the appropriate holidays and follow the traditional customs (see the Faith tab). The wealthier common people may take pilgrimages to the Twelve Temples, though in many cases this is as much a reason to see the peripheries of Alia, as it is to visit the religious site.

The Capital has been a monarchy since the beginning of the New Age, and transfers of power have happened - for the most part - peacefully. Where one dynasty passes to the next, this has been through either the ending of a line (through both the male and female sides) or complete abdication. Female rulers are not uncommon, with the crown passing to the monarch's oldest living descendent, and many of the city's most successful rulers have been women.

Every thirty-seven years, the Capital and Mare commemorate the ending of the Wars of the Passes. Competition, races, games  and feasts are held in the countryside between the cities, south of the Catalian Mountains where peace was once hard-won. This event is highly regarded, and whole generations prepare for the event - training in all manner of skills to ensure each new celebration is grander than the last.