The Republic of Ithos, once a proud but fractured nation on the southwestern corner of the Veldora continent, was bordered to the north by the Emerald Collective and to the east by the Principality of Teosia. Ithos was a complex republic, renowned for its Ithosian Talons, an elite and disciplined fighting force that embodied the nation’s military tradition. However, despite their martial prowess, the republic was plagued by internal strife that ultimately led to its downfall.
Political Structure
Ithos was a republic in name, but its internal structure was far from unified. The upper classes, including senators and equestrians (knights), held significant sway over the direction of the republic. The Senate, composed of influential aristocrats, governed from the capital and administered major decisions, though many provinces enjoyed a degree of autonomy.
Rather than a centralized nation-state, the Republic of Ithos functioned as a network of semi-independent city-states and provinces, each governed by its own local council or military commander. These regions ranged from fiercely independent towns with their own laws and militias to territories directly under the Senate's control. This decentralized nature, coupled with frequent power struggles among senators and military leaders, weakened Ithos' ability to respond to external threats.
The Decline
The downfall of Ithos began with the fall of the Principality of Teosia to the east, which sent a flood of Teosian refugees into Ithos. Already politically fractured, the republic struggled to absorb the sudden influx of displaced people, leading to internal instability. The various city-states and provinces within Ithos, each with their own priorities and leadership, could barely maintain order as the refugees overwhelmed their infrastructure. The government, paralyzed by xenophobia and deep-rooted distrust of outsiders, failed to unify behind a single course of action.
When the zombie hordes appeared on the open plains, Ithos was woefully unprepared. Instead of mounting a cohesive defense, the republic fractured further, with local governors and commanders making decisions in isolation. The Ithosian Talons, though formidable, were forced into a retreating defense, attempting to protect as much of the population as they could as the republic’s lands were overrun. The Senate’s political squabbling and inability to form a unified front doomed Ithos.
The Flight North
As the situation became untenable, the Ithosian Talons orchestrated a mass evacuation by sea, with every ship in Ithos fleeing from the shores. Those who couldn’t reach the ships were driven north into the Emerald Collective, where the Talons mounted an organized withdrawal. Despite their heroic efforts, the Ithosian Talons could not save the republic, and the once-thriving land fell to the undead.
The survivors of Ithos established refugee camps in the Emerald Collective, which soon evolved into bustling, chaotic new cities. Their presence in the Collective, however, has created severe tension with the native population, whose own resources are strained by the ongoing civil unrest. The Collective, once known for its progressive society, now finds itself at the brink of collapse as it tries to integrate the Ithosians while maintaining stability.
A Republic That Never Conquered
The Republic of Ithos was never an expansionist power. Its xenophobic tendencies and focus on internal matters kept it from conquering its neighbors. Yet, as the world around them changed, there were signs that Ithos was beginning to reconsider its isolationist stance. Had they been given more time, perhaps the militaristic elite and the Ithosian Talons would have led the republic down a different path—one of expansion and dominance over the Veldora continent. But the plague of undead brought that potential to a tragic end.
Today, Ithosian refugees live in scattered pockets of civilization, with many still clinging to the military traditions and civic pride that once defined their homeland. However, their presence is a double-edged sword for the Emerald Collective, as the strength of the Ithosian Talons threatens to destabilize the Collective even further.