Location: Isle of Serenn > Taengea > Greece
IC Date: Posidaios, 672 BC
Open To: All Players
Closing: 1st August 2021

The Dionysa is a single moment in the year when women are permitted the opportunity of liberation. From their households, from their duties and from the typical roles and responsibilities of their gender. Women of this era would not consider themselves restrained or caged by their sex; for they are as defined by their biology as their male counterparts are. Where women must tend the homes, the men must fight in war. Where women may not participate in Senatorial meets, men may not have a say in the education of their children. Each is a side of a coin that facilitates an effective and fruitful society. And yet, there is curiosity. There is forever interest in that which is not deemed for ourselves. In the Dionysa, a woman is given a single day and night to behave in a manner befitting men. For a short period, they can operate only as male members of their society would normally be allowed. Weaponry, drunkenness, leud behaviour... It is all accepted in the sun and moon cycle of the Dionysa.

During the day, it is expected that the women may dance wild, drink wine, shout like banshees and even eat the raw meat of animals hunted by their own hand. They may engage in the frenzy of the hunt, wear weapons and no longer care for their feminine appearance. By night, the habits of the body are semi-accepted. Sexual pleasure or simply the ability to be outside of the household after dark without question, reigns supreme, hidden beneath the dusky skies. At night, bonfires are set along the shoreline of the capital, where women uninterested in the company of naked bodies may dance and sing. Clothing is always optional during the Dionysa...

The Temple of the Gods is a sacred place for pray, reflection and offerings. The clergy templeman who look after the temple live in a small residential wing, each with their own private room consisting only of a bed, a nightstand and an epitaph of their preferred deity. The rest of the temple is open to the public, its impressive columns, halls and statues designed to be stared upon with awe and fear.

The Athenian capital's most impressive structure, barring the royal palace, and its oldest by several generations, the Naos of Athena is the grandest temple in the Athenian kingdom, paying homage to their patron goddess. In classic ancient Grecian style, the temple is a large square, comprised around its edges of towering columns. A triangular display above its front gates offers the story of the creation of Athena, from the head of the great Zeus. Inside, the building is a single open space, embodying the goddesses' belief in honesty, justice and the lack of deception or hidden secrets. Along the left and right hand walls are marble statues, the height of a man, and representative of each God of Olympus, paying tribute to them as Athena's counterparts, while the likeness of the Goddess of Wisdom herself stands twice as tall and in bronze at the far end. Ledges run the entire circumference of the temple, open to gifts and tributes to any and all Gods, while the far back wall, either side of the Athena statue, offers two such shelves - one at waist height and the other at shoulder, in order to support the additional gifts given to the Goddess' who claims possession of such a grand structure.

The Inner Circle is the rich central sphere of the city. In the center, is the royal palace, and around it are the homes of the wealthy and important members of Athenian society. This is likely to include, the other royal families (those who are not currently on the throne), the noble families, the families of the senators and courtiers, and anyone rich enough to own a property in the richest part of town.

The dikastírio is the Senate of Athenia. It includes the male monarch of each of the noble families (some of which have royal blood, and some of which do not) as well as the chief politicians of the realm. It is here that decisions in law, trade and war are discussed in an open forum between the senators and the royal monarchs.

The Athenian university is considered to be the best education system in the kingdom. With professors from all of the world and a large financial budget from the current king, it affords some of the greatest learning that you can receive in the ancient world. It holds the biggest library in the kingdom and offers education to any man, and any married noble woman, who can afford the tuition fees.

The central square is a public stage for events, announcements and open punishments or executions. When not in use for an important ceremony, the square functions as a place for the wealthy to congregate and gossip.

The homes of those who live in the Outer City range in size and smoothness of construction but nearly all of them are crafted from stone and square in shape. A few have second storeys, though most are on a single level and some of those in the poorest areas have constructed wooden extensions to bridge the gaps between each building, attempting to make the properties slightly larger to accommodate a growing population. These wooden constructs are also diverse in the quality of workmanship and are sometimes used as additional storage or rooms to the homes they are built onto the side of or are homes in their own right; two foot by four foot spaces in which the poorest souls live, away from the havoc or rain of the outside world...

Those who don't shop at the market may deal directly with traders they prefer. The shops and trader posts that are owned by the merchants and Athenia are all located down one main street. Here, the wealthier patron can look into shop windows and purchase on demand rather than battle the crowds at the local market.

The agorá is the market. Here, people of the lower classes or the servants of the noble families will trade and purchase goods from the countryside or those imported in from the other realms. A lot of local traders set up their stalls at the agorá most days of the week, but on a sunday the market is full to bursting with sellers and buyers, making it hot and sticky work just getting through the crowds. On quieter days, singers and dancers entertain the shoppers for a coin or two.

An old temple rarely used anymore, the temple dedicated to the Titaness Themis used to be the centre of the original city of Athenia. Her role as custodian of legal order and justice helped to form the basis of morals for the Athenian people.

The arena, set into the center of an entertainment colosseum is used for many purposes. Sometimes the sandy floor will be graced by performers and artisans, sometimes by gladiators and combatants. Sometimes chariots race up and down its length. The arcus is a place for entertainment of all sorts.

The public baths are open to both genders but have separate areas for men and women. Children generally bathe with their mother's until they are old enough to be considered women in the own right, or old enough to be thought of as men and told to switch to the male bathhouse area. Servants keep the bathhouse stocked with towels and soaking oils.

Home to the headquarters of the Athenian Guard, the Barracks is a building set atop and astride the city prison. It has a separate out-building as an armoury to the Guard and the entrance to the jail below ground is kept guarded at all hours of the day, despite its entrance being directly in the centre of the Guard House's courtyard. The barracks also holds the basic living quarters for all guards who do not have a personal home in the city. Part of their wages is deducted for bed and board if they decide to live at the Headquarters.

Athenia's capital city of the same name stands on the precipice of an impressive cliff face, overlooking the crescent ship harbour below. Post here if your topic does not belong to any of the following locations.

The land of Ire (as the territories of Athenia are collectively known) is a large piece of the mainland, that stretches out as three distinct fingers into the Aegean sea, creating the two main harbours of Athenia, plus the southern most coast. In land, Athenia stretches out into Europe, encapsulating its royal provincial lands.

The very origin of the city of Midas, the capital of Colchis was begun as a temple to the Gods. Carved deep into the mountain, the Naós Cavern has separated into specific temples for several of the major Olympian Gods. While other temples are situated around Greece, the ones held within the Hall of the Gods are always considered the most divine and the closest one can get to their preferred immortal.

The upper levels of the city are home to those who can afford it. As the weather is monsoon-like for nearly half the year and rain water runs downhill, the upper levels are often clean, crisp and full of beautiful architecture designed to keep the wind at bay.

The trade off for inhospitable weather and a city perched on the edge of a cliffside chasm are the hot springs to be found in the mid-levels of the city. Used by both the high and low classes (though they are privately closed when the king wishes it) the hot springs are a relaxing and effective means of cleanliness and many people travel to Midas in order to experience the reported beautifying qualities of the hot spring mud.

One of the few surfaces of Midas that is on a steady level, the plateía operates as both the central square and the city's marketplace. Official functions are always prepared and announced ahead of time, causing the market to close whenever an execution or ceremony is to be performed for the masses.

Colchians are skilled weapon makers and leather producers. The merchants are worldly-wise and are intelligent traders with foreign suppliers and shippers. There are many blacksmiths in Midas because of the wind current for steeping fires and it is common knowledge that nearly every official royal sword or armour in the nearby kingdoms was made in Colchis.

The lower levels of Midas are built sturdy and strong but almost on top of each other. A maze of homes, roads, alleys and walls, the lower city is a labyrinth when not familiar to the walker. This area is mostly home to the workers of the mines or holds slave and servant houses, owned by the noble families who own the people within.

A long entrenchment between multiple faces of rock, the harbour of the city of Midas is far below its capitol. Either a long winding road leads up to the city, or passages into the mines beneath the settlement can be found in the cliff face. Either way this harbour is a safe haven from the winds and rain of the Aegean and the biggest import and export location in the kingdom of Colchis.

Colchis's biggest export is metal and precious ore. In the mines, slaves and free men work side by side to remove the bronze, silver, gold and iron from the land. Skilled mathematicians and designers are on constant watch in the mines to ensure that no-one digs too far towards the sea or in a manner that would weaken the city above.

The Kirakles isles are rocky and occasionally unstable. With only small areas of open land suitable for arable farming, much of its livestock is lamb, mutton and goat, that can be easily farmed and reared on rocky hillsides. The provinces are small but densely and efficiently utilised.

Instead of a huge, stuffy hall in which to negotiate, the politicians of Vasiliádon prefer to practice their debate and bluster in an open arena forum. The structure sits in the centre of a long spiral pathway. The creator argued that his design was deliberate - in order to give the men plenty of time to consider their points and remove all emotion from their arguments, before arriving at the Arcus itself.

Home to the wealthier and more luxurious residences in Vasiliádon, the southern quarter of the inner circle of the city is home to the royal and noble families, close to the sea and in view of beautiful sunsets dipping below the horizon.

Music and the arts are incredibly important to the Taengeans and, as such, their capital holds the greatest music and arts school in the known realms. Located in the wealthier area of the capital city, the school is exclusive and only open to those who can pay a high tuition for the privilege of attending.

No one knows how to throw a party like a Taengean and in thanks for their vineyards and their sweet fruit, the Taengean's make a point to worship and celebrate the God of Wine. An annual festival is held in Vasiliádon for the express purpose of celebrating the God and the temple is decorated with vines of ivy every harvest.

One cannot live in Vasiliádon without worshipping the Goddess of Love and Beauty. The noble houses of Taengea seem, in recent generations to have a propensity for producing beautiful women and many believe this to be due to the blessing of the goddess.

Known for their love of music, the Taengeans are generous in their donations and gifts to the God of Apollo, including the creation of a large structure, deliberately built facing the east so that the rising sun might illuminate the jewels and crushed glass used to emphasise the sculptures and decor of the temple.

Open at all times of day for slave-trades, performances and musicians, the central square of the capital is more a central hub of gossip than anything else and operates as a place for courtiers and laymen to mingle and chatter outside of official constraints.

Home to the less wealthy of the city, the residences occupy the northern area of the city, further away from the pretty sea and closer to the fields in which most of the occupants work. The houses are pretty and robust but the amenities are something to be desired and it is a long daily walk to their workplaces out in the countryside.

The public baths are divided by gender but also have private rooms for the more wealthy who are interested in further privacy. The eunuchs and slaves who man the baths are also trained in massage and skin treatments to those who pay. All proceeds go to the owner of the baths - the Leventi family.

The Order are a private military group that are loyal only to the current monarch of Taengea. They cannot be bought or ordered by any other - no matter their status of nobility - and it is against the code of the Order to take on independent military work. The Order is a guild of men who believe in a brotherhood and unity in honour and serve with their lives.

The port of Vasiliádon is small compared to other nations in the Greek isles. Built as part of the capitol city the port operates efficiently and with high intensity intervals of ships docking and then being transferred back out to sea to be anchored off shore. The crew, dock workers and sailors who work in this area are all fast and efficient workers, making the most out of the limited docking space. The advantage to comes with such limits, however, is the close proximity to the immediate streets and stalls, allowing all transport and trade to happen quickly and cheaply.

On the outskirts of the city is the circus - the arena of champions. Chariot races are famous and the horses who win them even more so - if anyone wants to gamble or fight in the greatest race of their life - they come to the Vasiliádon Circus.

The Taengean lands are vast, green and fertile. Known to be incredibly beautiful - especially in the summer months - and always seen to be coated in arable crop growth or animal herds, the Taengean world is bright and vibrant. The provinces of Taengea are separated onto three main isles with turquoise waters between.