Tebean Oligarchy (Teh-Bee-Ah)

Introduction

  The Tebean Oligarchy, or Tebea for short, rules from the lush isle of Cyzica, a cornerstone of the Lamporian League. Once the head of the Corkosian League, Tebea has since lost its dominance due to shifting alliances, but remains a respected power known for its agricultural abundance, resilient warriors, and unique military traditions. Its current leader, Epaminondas, is both a capable general and statesman, remembered for guiding Tebea through turbulent times with skill and foresight.  

Key Characteristics

Tebea thrives as an agricultural powerhouse, its fertile fields yielding enough grain to feed much of the surrounding archipelago. The Tebeans maintain a close bond with their land, practicing careful stewardship to avoid overexploitation, ensuring Cyzica remains both bountiful and beautiful.   The city-state is renowned for its martial excellence, with warriors who are resilient, disciplined, and skilled in reading the battlefield. Tebean soldiers are especially adept with blunt weapons and sling warfare, both of which are considered cultural hallmarks of their fighting style.   At the heart of their military tradition stands the Sacred Band of Tebea, an elite unit of one hundred and fifty pairs of male lovers. Led by the statesman-general Pelopidas, these warriors are legendary for their skill with slings, considered the finest in the world. Their presence inspires loyalty among Tebeans and fear among enemies.   Uniquely, Tebea incorporates war-beasts into its armies. Lions and leopards, raised and trained from cubhood, fight alongside soldiers in battle. These beasts are treated with reverence, their presence a living embodiment of Tebea’s untamed power and their deep bond with nature.   Religiously, the Tebeans focus on the gods of farming and the hunt, with particular devotion to their patron deity, Artemiza. Worship is woven into daily life, with festivals and sacrifices ensuring divine favor for the harvests and success on the battlefield.  

Regional Dynamics

Diplomatically, Tebea has a history of opportunism. They’ve allied with both the Muab and the Sephs when expedient, which strained relations with their neighbors and cost them leadership of the Corkosian League. Their sworn rivals are the Santeans, whom they view as decadent and estranged from mankind’s natural roots, leading to frequent skirmishes.   Despite this rivalry, Tebea set aside grievances to stand united with the Varsemian Isles Confederative League against the rising Cretian Empire, proving themselves steadfast allies when faced with existential threats. Today, Tebea remains a somewhat unpredictable partner in regional politics — admired for their strength but distrusted for their shifting loyalties.  

Main Hub

Tebea

  The city of Tebea is nestled on the fertile slopes of Cyzica, rising in stone tiers from golden fields to thick emerald forests. Its architecture blends stone fortifications with green terraces, and the Great Temple of Artemiza crowns the city, a monumental structure wreathed in vines and carvings of animals. The temple serves as both spiritual heart and political symbol, reminding all that Tebea’s strength is rooted in its reverence for nature and divine guidance.   Life in the capital is shaped by both agriculture and military discipline. Market squares bustle with grain, fruits, and wild game, while nearby training fields resound with the whistle of slingstones and the clash of sparring weapons. The sight of lions or leopards being paraded or trained is not uncommon, a fearsome reminder of the beasts that march alongside Tebea’s soldiers. Festivals tied to the cycles of farming combine feasts, sacrifices, athletic contests, and martial games, blending civic pride with religious devotion.   The Council Hall of Tebea, a marble and cedar structure at the city’s heart, houses the oligarchs who govern the city-state. Here, Epaminondas presides with his peers, while nearby stand the barracks of the Sacred Band, doubling as a training ground for Tebea’s future warriors. For visitors, Tebea is both breathtaking and intimidating — a place where fertile fields and roaring beasts mix with the stone discipline of soldiers and the divine presence of Artemiza. Between the isles that form the Corkosian League lies the isle of Cyzica, where the Tebean Oligarchic City State, or Tebea for short, is established. Their current ruler, Epaminondas, is an efficient general and statesman.