Nataeros

Nataeros has a population of almost 80,000. It is the capital city of Ravenna and known especially for its Institute of Philosophicall Studies. Nataeros has long drawn people from the other areas of Ravenna who wanted to better themselves or become something other than a farmer or laborer. Though mostly known for the Institute for Philosophical studies, Nataeros also hosts a rather large population of artisans and craftsmen.   Months ago, perhaps even over a year ago, rumors trickled in to the Insitute and to the people in power that there was trouble in the south. It seemed to have something to do with the weather. There was a lot of talk of frost and ice. With the rumors, came an influx of people who had been forced from their lands. The population of Naeteros began to swell. The city had always been most welcoming to newcomers but the burgeoning population was beginning to cause problems in the city.   The council held meetings to address the issues that were affecting the city. The forward thinking tolerant citizens of Naeteros liked to think of themselves as an egalitarian people and in fact, they had been. Each year, the population elected council members to represent each district. The twelve council members represented the twelve districts of Nataeros. The districts were loosely formed areas of artists, craftsmen, philosphers, inventors, service people, importers, teachers, and students. Each district represented an area and each area's population had overlap as Nataeros had always encouraged the blurring of lines between its population.   An area where many philosophers lived also represented artists, service people, students and others. Each segment of society believed it could improve by learning from others. It had been an ideal set forth from its earliest days. Philosophers had decreed that all people were born equal.   Before the rumors came to the council, the importers had complained of burgeoning prices of grains and other goods. When the rumors had come to the attention of leaders that there was some sort of trouble in the south that seemed to be related to the weather, assumed it was a temporary situation that would improve over the seasons. It wasn't until the influx of weary newcomers became large enough to cause problems with housing and other resources that the council finally held a meeting. By then, a smaller city comprised of people living in tents had grown up almost overnight on the southern side of Naeteros.   At the meeting, builders told the leaders that they would be happy to build more accommodations for the burgeoning population but they were facing a dwindling supply of building materials. Generous citizens offered to take an extra person in temporarily until the weather got better. A lot of remedies were proposed and there was at least some action that was agreed upon to take to improve conditions. The council itself was encouraged by the generosity of the people they represented. They selected a group of people from each district to serve as watchers. The watchers were assigned to the southern district to merely observe what was taking place and report back at the next meeting.   Some of the highest ranking philosophers at the Institute found themselves thinking less about abstract matters and more about practical matters. Most of the proclamations that had been issued from that great Institution had been accepted as truths but practical matters were putting question marks to the studies the philosophers had pursued. What good was it to pronounce that all humans were created equally when there was a sudden influx of people who had lost everything, people who perhaps had been created equally but were now starving and living in worsening conditions in a city of tents?   The council sent their best scientists to investigate what was happening in the south. It was hoped that there would be a way to fight the encroaching frost or learn how to grow crops that could withstand cooler temperatures.