While the Duke governs internal affairs and the Naxian Guard, the Demoarch and Despot Council oversee foreign matters and commerce. As such, they control the famed Naxian Navy, and the feared Naxian Marines.     The Naxian Navy is mostly comprised of small, fast ships-- typically sloops, which suits their strengths and purpose of anti-piracy. In home waters and allied ports, they will post enormous carracks as floating fortresses to defend, rarely to attack. The sloops tend to only come with modest deck gnus, while carracks are an entire battery.     The real weapon, though, are the marines. Naxian Marines specialize in boarding and ship-to-ship combat with extreme aggression, favoring close range or melee combat. Their secondary focus is fighting in rough terrain or urban settings, after nearly a century of lessons learned in Thrace.     The perception of the Navy and Marines is generally positive amongst the common people. They are se...

      Just as many civilizations in the world, crime and other dangers are a factor in Naxian life. In ages past, it was the duty of the Despots to enforce laws and preserve order. After the Collapse and through the Merchant Republics, these local guards and militias garnered a reputation for wild corruption and brutality.     When the Reclamation came and Basileus was crowned, he gained dominion over all internal affairs across the archipelago. One of the first things enacted was the creation of the Naxian Guard; a military force that would assume all law enforcement roles in Naxos, and act as a homeland defense army loyal to the Duke.     The Naxian Guard is famous, or infamous, for its nearly-fanatical loyalty to the Duchy, being as close as incorruptible as is seemingly possible. They undergo an entire year of arduous training to hone body and mind. Entire families have devoted themselves and their lines to the Guard, even goin as far as to promise...

      Until the Reclamation, Naxians worshipped an entire pantheon of gods and goddesses that rules domains that covered all aspects of their lives. But when the Synodic Church was created, and the worship of Poleon became the state religion, many Naxians turned to solely worship their founder.     Starting first in some of the smaller temples across Naxos, these disparate shrines combined into the Society of Astrologers were small temples dedicated to oracles who played integral parts of life since even before the life of Poleon. The oracles would divine futures and see in the past to answer questions posed by their petitioners.     Today, the Society of Astrologers fills a very similar role, albeit with a veneer of being a scholarly institution. However, this change has provoked ire from the College of Naxos, who views them as little more than charlatans and street-mystics, and the Synodic Church has no more love for institutions that would compete f...

      Another cornerstone of Naxos is the revered College of Naxos, which produce the feared and respected Sofos; wizards famous for their knowledge, might, and egos. Prospective pupils come from all over the world just for a chance of entry.     Those who are granted admittance look forward to 10 arduous years of intense study and servitude to their teachers. These students, called malachitis, assist in research and perform tasks for their sofos, who often have "better" things to do rather than be concerned with such petty concerns, like the safety of their students.     The ones who are rejected are often given a choice of joining the Arcane Corps, soldiers and guards of the College trained in both physical combat and some simple magic, or to join the Anazitites; agents of the College who explore dangerous places to retrieve items or information. While no where near as prestigious, such paths allow for their own training and educations.    ...

      Just as much as they love the arts, Naxians love competition and feats of physical ability. For over a thousand years, the Naxian Games are held to wreathe the best practitioners of their chosen sports.     The most famous sport, however, is Naxian Wrestling, which focuses heavily on grappling and pain, rather than on permanent damage. That said, Naxian wrestlers, called palaistis, also often train in traditional unarmed combat; over a hundred different schools produce these talented fighters to compete in games, or even to act as more traditional bodyguards and mercenaries.     Aside from martial arts, all manner of sports are played and practiced across the islands, with running and swimming being particular favorites. Some regions will conduct triathlons where athletes must race on foot, in water, then climbing a tall cliff or small mountain. Winners of such things are local celebrities, venerated by their communities as symbols of local pride...

      Naxos has a long history, rich in many traditions carried on since even before Poleon. Both physical and performance arts are highly valued in Naxos, with a particular love of theater and sculpting.     Naxian theater is a timeless art, famous globally. Comedies that leave audiences unable to breathe, and tragedies that bring even the most stoic zilotis to tears, and legendary dramas that enthrall any who see. The undisputed masters of this are the ithopoiou; performers that train from a young age to master the stage, along with song and several instruments. A trained ithopoiou can find work anywhere in the world.     Just as much, Naxians adore physical art; statues, and murals commemorating ancient triumphs, elaborate fountains, and intricate facades across even the common buildings in cities. Painting has also taken off in the last few centuries-- centuries ago, an elven artist named La'Vin came to Naxos and fell in love with the city, and cr...

      The key instigator of the Reclamation, the Synodic Church has grown to reach every major city across the Duchy, and is the only officially recognized religion across the islands. It is led by the Kiryx, who oversees the organization out of the ornate temple-complex that is known as the Tomb of Poleon. Despite being officially a holding of the Basileus, the Church is allowed to house its bureaucracy and main shrine on its hallowed grounds.     The charter gives them the right to police their district within the City of Naxos, thereby making the Kiryx a baronet in all but name. In return, the Aspida, the militant wing of the church, must be incorporated into the Naxian Guard in times of emergency. For the most part, the Aspida are used to fight marauding pirates or rebel Ta Ktini, and with the aid of the secret police of the Church, the Mati, root out cells of Ansharian faithful.     In regular life, the Synodic Church is a ubiquitous part of the l...

      The smallest island in the Duchy, Ios was long ago promised to the Triton by Poleon himself as part of the peace struck long ago.     Today, a Triton serves as Baron of Ios, but as part of a long tradition, does not taking a voting role upon the Despot Council. Instead, they serve as a liaison between the Naxians and the Triton Kings beneath the waves.     Ios, itself is off-limits to any visitors, is vigorously patrolled and guarded by Triton warriors who only ever warn once before attacking any that attempt to land. No non-Triton knows why they protect Ios so fervently, but stories say that it is integral to the eldritch rites of the Triton priests. As far as what can be gleaned from ships passing perhaps too closely, Ios is covered by the same kind of jungles that can be found across the islands, and a small mountain protruding from the center.

      The smallest of the Baronies, the Donusians are actually a set of smaller islands in the extreme southeast of the Duchy, farthest from Naxos. Much of these islands are dominated by forests consisting of perhaps the greatest strategic material in all of Naxos; Naxian Oak. This wood is twice as sturdy as any other lumber, and does not rot in seawater once treated in a certain way, which is a closely guarded state secret. For this, by ancient Royal decree and modern Ducal orders, these trees may only be used to make Naxian warships for the Navy.     The only official permanent settlement, Makria, is dominated by vast lumber yards, smaller shipyards and drydocks, and the equipment needed to load large amounts of lumber onto ships headed to Avgi or Kythnos. The population in Makria is unique, in that it is one of two settlements in the Duchy that satyr make a majority of the population-- the other being Oneiro, a baronet on the Isle of Naxos. This has long led ...

      The second largest island in the Duchy, Ieraklea is perhaps the most specialized of any territory found across the islands in that a majority of the land is used for farming, as it has the only largescale portions of arable land found anywhere in the Duchy. Outside of Dino, the capitol, rice paddies and fields of barley stretch as far as the eye sees.     Agriculture is the dominant industry in Ieraklea, and a majority of harvests are sent directly to Poleons' City. There is a history of maltreatment on the island; with everything dedicated to farming, finding suitable workers has always been an issue. So, the former Despots, now Barons, have relied on slave labor in the forms of prisoners or indentured minorities to meet demands.     Farther away from Dino, similar to Mykonos, enormous fields roll on; some portions of the island are left intentionally un-farmed, as to provide an area of land to rotate to as to not completely exhaust the soil. Fu...

      Once the site of the first human habitation in the islands, Keros was blasted into a craggy wasteland at the start of the Tauromachy. Today, the only people who live here all year is the garrison and staff of Alasiofos, the training fortress and headquarters of the Naxian Marines & Navy.     Alasiofos' main citadel lies atop the seaward cliffs, fortified with magic to prevent collapse. The citadel itself is divided between the two forces, and both have been tailored to the needs of each. The complex itself is labyrinthian in size and complexity of navigation.     Beyond the walls, Keros supports next to nothing that would be called life. Indeed, the terrain is so unforgiving that as part of final testing, Naxian marines must survive a fortnight as a unit out in the wastes, living being the only standard of success.     The "Baron" of Keros is the title given to who ever is assigned as the master of Alasiofos, and does not have ...

      The ancestral homelands of the Leoi, the island of Mykonos is a dramatic landscape of expansive rolling grasslands, lush jungle, and sharp grey peaks overlooking the sea.     The only permanent settlement, O Protos, lies on the north shore, where the plains meet the sea. This "city" exists as a complex to house the Baron of Mykonos, and to host the visiting bands when they visit, or at the annual meeting when the various leaina decide matters for all Leoi.     The plains of Mykonos, ironically, are some of the most fertile farmland anywhere in the Duchy, which for strict carnivores such as the Leoi who subsist off of hunting, fishing, and very limited herding, does little good. As such, these rich grasslands remain largely undisturbed.      To the western portions of the island is a track of jungle; unlike other islands, these trees hold religious significance to the Leoi, as only leaina may enter as part of their coming-of-age rit...

      South of Naxos lies the Island of Thera; a ring of land that surrounds a large deep-water lagoon. Like Kythnos, the island is divided into grassy hills and jungle. Unlike Kythnos, both sections are thoroughly populated by Naxians.      The northern parts are entirely consumed by the town of Ormos, but that does not mean it is a hive of activity. Ormos is a well-spread out town, with entire fields between single houses in some areas. Closer to the lagoon shore, it becomes tighter, but still nowhere near as hectic and crowded as other Naxian cities.     The southern jungle is also well settled, with well-worn foot paths connecting various homes and villas.     The major place of interest in Thera is the lagoon, which is the nearest deep-water port to Naxos, and is often the first or second stop for foreign traders, who often seek to unload and sell whatever did not sell in Poleons' City. Other than economics, the deep lagoo...

      The island immediately to the east of Naxos, Kythnos is separated by a narrow, shallow channel that can sometimes be entirely exposed during extreme tidal events.  The island itself is divided into two distinct regions; the rolling grassland of the north, and the dense jungle of the lower.     Most of the population, like in its counterpart of Poleons' own city, reside in the major city of Avgi, on its northernmost shore. Most of the people here are directly tied to the vast shipyards there, which is where a large portion of Naxian vessels are built, as well as a major port for the Naxian Navy.      Outside of Avgi, the grasslands are unsettled, with the exception of a small number of goat-herding families that claim historical rights to roam the plains in their nomadic life. Like most of the Duchy, the soil here is largely unsuitable for farming.     To the south, the jungle claims much of the land. Unlike Naxo...

      Separate from its namesake, the Isle of Naxos is the largest across the archipelago that makes up the Duchy, with a majority of non-urban Naxians living upon it.      The northern section of Naxos is dry and craggy, baked under the hot dry air that flows south. Few towns can be found here, with all of them on the coast. What is prominent here are the legendary  vineyards that grow the grapes for fine and potent Naxian Wine.     The southern portion of Naxos is dominated by dense jungles, covering the land from the Talos Mountains to the gentle sandy shores. Lumber is a key industry here, but you won't find the famous Naxian Oak, which only grows in The Donusians, but you will find a variety of robust hardwood used in construction across the islands. There are a fair number of fishing villages, which like in the north part of the island, are depended upon for providing the basis of Naxian diet.     Lastly, in the...

 Authors Note: Welcome to part one of the Naxian Geography module! We'll be doing this as a sort of weekly primer, with each entry covering a specific island/area.     Before the Tauromachy, the island of Aegos was the center of Minotaur civilization, and was heavily cultivated. It was said that the whole island was a patchwork of beautiful gardens, filling in spaces between pre-historic temples and shrines with lush verdant life. After the war, however, the plant life had became darkened and warped; alien flora had replaced the native plant life. When Poleon took Aegos, he ordered the whole of the island salted and burned.     Even over a thousand years later, the island that modern Naxos sits upon has not recovered. The soil is dry, sandy, and often flies away when a strong breeze blows. Absolutely nothing will grow naturally on the island. Any garden in the city will have to rely on imported soil, intense management, and absolutely avoiding contact with ...

      After nearly a century of rule, the Merchant Republic was more or less stable, but largely only concerned with its own power and internal conflicts, leaving most Naxians to fend for themselves.     In the City of Naxos, however, the once minor Cult of Poleon had been steadily growing since the fall of the Empire, with many wanting something to latch onto in uncertain times. The militant wing of the Cult, called the Aspida, began acting as a guard for areas around Cult-held districts, angering merchant and nobles alike. But when they attempted to repudiate these fanatics, they found themselves either being boycotted or attacked by the angry mobs in the streets. When they backed off, the cult just expanded more as many began flocking to it in cities across the islands.     When it became clear that the Cult of Poleon could not be ignored or defeated ,a Forum was called to meet with the Kiryx, the leader of the Cult, to reach an agreement. But the K...

      After the collapse of the Old Empire, an immense power vacuum was left in Naxos. Various noble families still claimed the throne, but needed coin to finance their ambitions. These houses began to patronize mercantile groups and families for support, and they did oblige. Over time, however, power shifted from the nobles to the merchants; they could continue without the nobles, but the nobles could not without the merchants.     While the nobles continued their infighting, the merchants consolidated themselves into the Naxian Commerce Union, who would decide on mattes of trade and finance. This outraged the nobility, but without support or coordination, they could never mount an effective resistance. After years of instability, many commoners chose the Commerce Union. Over time, the nobility eventually fell in line as well.     With the long running civil war effectively over, the merchants somewhat unwittingly won the generations-long conflic...

      With the basic mold of Naxos established, successive Tyrants went to great lengths to attempt to build on the successes of their forbearers; the Roads of Cassander that linked the towns and villages of the Island of Naxos to the great city and standardized sea routes; the Dromoi Nerou of Demetrios, that solved drinking water for the City of Naxos.     The biggest act came under Tyrant Antigonos, who ordered the first great war fleets north to Thrace, where once the mythical homeland of their people was said to lay. Under the pretense of protecting and expanding trade, the Naxians began seizing ports and establishing them as colonies. When other nearby Thracian Kingdoms retaliated, Naxian forces would attack, and then annex their territories. With this great expansion of lands, the Naxian population exploded, and many Thracians who were conquered were assimilated by either relocation, or conscription. Over time, and as their fleets and armies expanded,...

      After the fall of Aegos, Poleon instructed his people, who had been vagabonds since the razing of Keros, and the destruction of their mythical homeland before that, take over the lands formally ruled directly by the Minotaur; the isle where Aegos once stood, and the larger surrounding island. They used the rubble to construct the city that would give the people their name; Naxos. The first buildings were built with whatever was on hand, but over time, where replaced by the iconic white marble and grey granite that defines Naxian construction.     With city construction in full swing, Poleon sought to reward his allies. Despots, the lords of whole islands, were named-- including the Leoi, who were named as Despots of Mykonos. For the Satyr and Centaur, however, less favorable terms were given. As they had initially been allies of the Minotaur, and fought against his people, they were both offered amnesty, but nothing more. Many satyr accepted this, but...