The Theocracy of Toroia

Separated from its neighbors by a vast expanse of snow-capped peaks and lush forests, Toroia is arguably the most beautiful land in all the Earth. Despite the inherent dangers of traveling, many people make the trek from all across the Earth to visit the incredible natural beauty of Toroia. Unlike the other nations of the world, Toroia has no portage on the ocean, and exists independently with very little trade passing in or out of the region. But perhaps most unique about this nation is its rule by a group of powerful women known only as the Clerics of Toroia. Rumors abound that it is through the wisdom and mystical powers of these eight clerics that gives the region its stunning beauty. Finally, although men are not treated as secondary citizens, no man is allowed to hold any form of political leadership within Toroia.

1. The City of Toroia

Size: City (26,000)

Government: Theocracy

Affiliation: Theocracy of Toroia

Trade & Industries: Agriculture, Chocobo Breeding, Tourism

Crime Level: Moderate

The city of Toroia is a thriving city gently embracing the eastern shores of the Emerald Lake, a large body of water in the far northeast of the large central continent. The city sits just north of the Winding River, which flows generally east and serves as a major avenue for those traveling to the city on either business or pleasure. Almost everyone who first sets site upon the city remarks about the incredible natural beauty of the area, and the manner in which the city seems to enhance its surroundings rather than detracting from them. Even the farmsteads, which are so vital to the continued existence of the city, seem to blend elegantly with the surrounding forests. In the same way, the citizens of this remarkable city seem blessed with the same grace as the nature around them, a fact repeated often by the young men who come to the city for no other reason than to see first- hand the renowned loveliness of Toroian women.

History

Unlike the pattern followed in much of the world, the earliest records of the peoples in this region indicate that they did not follow a nomadic lifestyle, but formed isolated villages throughout the region, living off the land and protecting the pristine beauty of the wilderness from any who would bring harm to it. It would also seem that these early peoples avoided the conflict that seemed to grip much of the world during the years when most of the world's kingdoms were emerging. Once again, it is believed that this lack of conflict was the direct result of these people's love for the natural world around them. Interestingly enough, it would also appear that these small villages were matriarchal in character, with the most important figure in each community the Wise Woman who served as leader and spiritual advisor.

Around the early part of the seventh century, disputes began to arise over the regions surrounding both the Winding River and the Emerald River, which were naturally the most suitable for agriculture and livestock. Although the leaders of the scattered villages tried to resolve the matter, it soon became evident that some sort of central leadership would be needed to permanently oversee the situation. After much discussion, it was decided that the leaders from each of the eight largest villages would serve as the leadership for the entire region, leaving behind their identity with a particular village and instead pursuing the interests of all the peoples living along the riverbanks of the Green Forest. To accomplish this task, it was eventually decided that a new community would be built whose primary task was to house and care for their newly elected leadership. They named the community Toroia, a name that apparently was taken from a popular folktale concerning a mythical kingdom of beautiful women.

As the community of Toroia was built, more and more people from the surrounding region decided to relocate and settle in the fledgling city. For, it became widely believed that to live in the vicinity of eight Wise Women was to bring great luck and fortune upon that family. Thus, rather than simply establishing a small village, the sheer number of families suggested that the community of Toroia might soon become larger than any other settlement in the entire region. Thus, the community continued to grow over the next two hundred years, serving as a home for the reigning eight Wise Women and the ever-increasing population.

Early in the ninth century, explorers from Fabul first made contact with the villages in the region as they traveled along the Winding River. Recognizing the great benefits of trade to improve the lives of those living in the Green Forest, the leaders were quick to establish trade with the kingdom of Fabul, bringing a wealth of new goods and wares into the region as well as a broader perspective on the world around them. Although protected from their neighbors by the Misty Mountains to the south and the ocean to the east, the eight Wise Women decided to formally declare the entire northeastern region of the central continent as the nation of Toroia, to be ruled from its existing capital city.

By the end of the ninth century, continued growth in the city of Toroia had exceeded all expectations, causing concern that the swell in population would have an adverse effect on the city's surroundings. The Wise Women decided to carefully control and monitor the growth of the city, and actively discouraging those who wished to move into the city limits. About this same time, it was also decided that an elegant structure would be constructed in the center of the city as a testament to the loveliness and wonder of their kingdom. To this end, plans for the Castle Toroia were quickly developed, and construction began within a months. Although the entire project took well over fifteen years to complete, the result was a spectacular castle keep whose design lent itself more to aesthetic beauty than defense.

Not long after the completion of Castle Toroia, the unexpected death of three of the Wise Women thrust the kingdom into turmoil. For the first time in generations, open dispute emerged as to who would assume the vacant leadership roles for Toroia. Many of the townsfolk argued that the original eight villages were no longer the prominent settlements they once had been, and thus their leaders were not necessarily qualified to assume the authority for the entire kingdom. Although the citizens of the city were divided in whom they thought should fill the vacancies, they nonetheless believed that change was needed to ensure a blessed future. Yet, the solution came instead from a group of young women who called themselves the Eight Sisters. Each of these eight women had, at one time or another, served as Wise Women, but had renounced their positions in order to pursue their spiritual devotion without outside distractions. But, in the face of the growing turmoil, they believed that they could provide the new leadership and direction until a more permanent solution was agreed upon.

Eventually, the Eight Sisters did indeed get their wishes. It also became increasingly clear that their combined wisdom and magical power far exceeded any who had previously served in their new role. As such, the issue of how the future leadership of the kingdom of Toroia would be decided gradually faded away, replaced with a fierce loyalty to the eight women who seemed poised to take the kingdom to greater prominence than ever before. And indeed, over the past twenty years the Eight Sisters have ruled Toroia with a firm yet gentle hand, and in that time the kingdom has indeed prospered.

Key Landmarks

Castle Toroia - Completed early in the tenth century, Castle Toroia is the crowning achievement of the city. Visitors to the city are seemingly inevitably drawn towards it, starring in awe of its elegance, grace, and remarkable design. The castle is primarily constructed of white marble quarried far to the south and transported at no little price to the city, and greatly contributes to its overall appearance. The interior of the castle is equally stunning, with expensive tapestries and carpets, elegant sculptures, and golden gilt highlights. In addition to housing the Eight Sisters, the castle contains personal quarters for the kingdom's limited armed forces, small private gardens, a carefully guarded treasury, a spacious audience chamber, and one of the world's only hospitals.

Secreted behind the audience chamber is a magnificent crystalline chamber, built by visitors to Toroia around the middle of the tenth century. These visitors entrusted the Eight Sisters with a dark secret, charging them to protect a rare gem known only as the Crystal of Earth. The existence of this precious treasure is a closely guarded secret.

The Silver Swan - These words are spoken almost in awe by many of the men in Toroia. On simple observation, the Silver Swan appears to be little more than a highly prosperous inn within one of the nicer districts of the city. The food and drink are delicious and plentiful, the service is prompt, and the furnishings are elegant and nearly luxurious. But, for those with the necessary wealth or prestige, the proper words spoken in the right ear admits one past a wary-looking guard into several chambers of a more intimate variety. Here, some of the most beautiful women anywhere await the desires of their privileged clientele. Not surprisingly, those who are able frequent the Silver Swan often, and indeed are recognized and greeted by name upon arrival. Security is carefully controlled within the restricted areas of the Silver Swan, and those who choose to harm the employees or steal from its clients are fined, roughly removed from the premises, and banned from ever returning.

Emerald Lake - Emerald Lake, a large fresh body of water that is nestled against the city of Toroia, gets its name from the crystal clear water that shines a brilliant green in the sunlight. The water is frequented by the local citizens, who frolic and relax throughout the year in its waters due to the warm springs that feed into the lake. Many of the wealthy citizens build their homes along the banks of the lake, with the wealthiest even incorporating the waters into the interior of their homes. The quality of the water is carefully monitored by the Eight Sisters, and polluting the waters in any way is considered a very serious crime indeed.

The Chocobo Farm - On the northern outskirts of the city, just outside the city walls, is a large farm marked off by high, stout fences and several large barns. The farm is also distinguished by the unusual, sharp aroma that locals immediately associate with the rare breed of chocobo raised at this farm. Although the yellow-plumed bird-like creatures are found throughout the world, a rare black-plumed variety of chocobo dwells only in the abundant Green Forest in Toroia. The Chocobo Farm is maintained by a committed group of naturalists, who carefully study and tend nearly a hundred domesticated black chocobos. Children from the city love to come and watch these beautiful creatures, marveling at their speed and interactions with one another. Unfortunately, in the process of domestication, these black chocobos lost their ability to fly that hallmarks the black-feathered variety of chocobo. This issue has been carefully studied at the Chocobo Farm, and it is hoped that this problem may be eliminated in the years ahead.

Important People

The Eight Sisters

Human female age 40 (approximately)

Job: Average level White Mage

Attributes: STR (Low), VIT (Low), AGI (Avg), SPD (Avg), MAG (High), SPR (High)

Skills: Healing (Trained), Lore: History (Trained), Lore: Arcana (Trained), Lore: Toroia (Talented), Negotiation (Trained), Staves (Low), Survival: Forest (Trained)

Equipment: Average

The Eight Sisters are the current rulers of the kingdom of Toroia. Each of them grew up in the scattered villages of the region, and each served as the spiritual leader for their hometown for a brief time before resigning the position in order to pursue their spiritual devotion without distraction. These eight young women corresponded extensively during these years, and more and more came to be regarded with great respect by those that knew them. When the question of the succession of the leadership of the kingdom came into question, the Eight Sisters joined together and presented themselves as an interim solution. However, the kingdom flourished under their combined wisdom, and their appointment as the reigning authority became permanent. Although these women are not in actuality related, their similar experiences, common devotion, and nearly identical appearance makes these eight women difficult to tell apart, and thus are simply known as the Eight Sisters to most within the kingdom.

Prime Mistress Floria Starlet

Human female age 68

Job: none

Attributes: STR (Low), VIT (Avg), AGI (Avg), SPD (Avg), MAG (High), SPR (Avg)

Skills: Etiquette (Trained), Lore: History (Trained), Lore: Toroia (Trained), Negotiation

(Talented), Survival: Forest (Trained)

Equipment: Average

Floria Starlet was a friend and mentor for two of the Eight Sisters, and upon their ascension as the spiritual leaders of Toroia, Floria was chosen as the Prime Mistress of the kingdom of Toroia. She directly serves under the Eight, and is responsible for many of the smaller, day-to-day tasks that are deemed too insignificant to bring to the attention of the sisters. She also must approve anyone who wishes to speak to the Eight Sisters, often denying the supplicant such a privilege and handling the matter herself. She is a wise and competent leader, and is well respected in the kingdom and invaluable to the Eight Sisters, freeing them to spend more of their time on their spiritual devotions and less on the routine affairs of the administering Toroia. Floia tends to be a somewhat gruff woman, and seems to have little patience for young men, whom she deems too immature and emotional to be worth her time.

Lissa Leon

Human female age 25

Job: Low level Dancer

Attributes: STR (Avg), VIT (Low), AGI (High), SPD (Avg), MAG (Avg), SPR (Avg)

Skills: Acrobatics (Trained), Dancing (Talented), Etiquette (Trained), Negotiation

(Trained), Seduction (Trained)

Equipment: Good

Lissa Leon is the Head Matron of the Silver Swan, serving as not only the proprietor of the prosperous inn but also as a mentor and a surrogate mother for the other young women who work within the establishment. Although her beauty is admired by many of the patrons on the Silver Swan, she is quick to flourish her golden wedding band, and does not offer her services to any of the inn's clients. She is greatly admired by most of the young women who work at the inn, and is quick to intervene in any situation where she feels one of her employees is in distress or danger. Not surprisingly, Lissa is also almost revered by many of the men in Toroia, who are quite willing to do almost anything to avoid upsetting her, knowing that earning her wrath would virtually close the doors of the Silver Swan to them. Lissa is generally a kind, gracious young lady, always ready with a smile on her face, and well qualified to run one of the most successful businesses in the region.

2. The Green Forest

The Green Forest is the largest forest in all of the known world, occupying most of the northwest of the greater central continent. The forest is quite diverse in the abundance of fauna and flora that can be found within its borders, and is carefully protected by most of the intelligent peoples that live in and around it. In addition to the humans which occupy the many villages of the kingdom of Toroia, the Green Forest is rumored to be the only known home of the reclusive elves, who are whispered to hide themselves within the deepest and wildest parts of the forest. In addition, the forest is home to a wide variety of species found nowhere else in the world, including the famous Black Chocobos, who tend to favor the more northern reaches of the forest. Despite the fact that some of the forest's other denizens pose some threat to travelers through the region, attacks upon humans are only infrequent, although these have increased mysteriously as of late.

3. Cave Magnes

To the north and east of the city of Toroia, across a small bay of water, is an island of rugged mountains and sparse evergreen trees. Although no settlements have ever been established upon the isle, it was discovered in the early tenth century that these mountains were geologically rich with precious ores and minerals. Thus, this isle has attracted several small mining expeditions, most of whom have returned with a wealth of gold, silver, and gems. However, the richest deposits have been found within a seemingly natural cavern known as Cave Magnes for the strange magnetic field that hangs heavy over the entire cavern. For some reason, metallic objects are attracted to this magnetic field, making them difficult to move or use properly. To make matters worse, this strange cavern seems to house an unusually high number of monsters, which continually prey upon the miners in the region. Thus, after repeated attacks and deaths, most of the mining operations on the island have been abandoned.

Unbeknownst to any still living upon the Earth, a crystalline chamber was forged at great cost in the mid tenth century, and a rare gem known as the Crystal of Moon was hidden deep within this cavern.

4. The Tower of Zot

Although the origin of its name is unknown, the Tower of Zot is a large orbital station constructed by the Lunarians to monitor human activity in the large central continent and the other small continents to the northeast, northwest, and southeast. It is a marvel of Lunarian construction and ingenuity, utilizing technology to keep the station suspended high above the Earth that most likely will never be fully understood. It was built by Klu Yah, along with the assistance of several other Lunarians, late in the ninth century, but was virtually abandon following his death at the hands of Zemus' minions. Due to its location high above the Earth over a remote region of the Green Forest, its existence is completely unknown by anyone upon the Earth.

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