Lore:
The largest city in the Crossroads is Athens, sprawling over 20k square miles, it is a sight to behold. Founded when the Crossroads came into existence in 0 ACE, when the Primordials banished the Gods and Titans from Earth. Upon Arrival, the Primordials Gods decreed that no one pantheon or god would rule over the rest, and four divine kingdoms would come into existence. The 3 Olympian brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were selected as divine kings, and the 4th would be their father Kronous. This was to separate the brothers from being a single force in the realm, and to allow each to be equal. Athena was chose to mediate the will of each kingdom by the primordial gods and the divine rulers, and in return Athens would be the first city in the Crossroads. The first 500 years were dedicated the founding of each Divine Kingdom, and land was separated based on Domain and based on the center of Athens. No Divine Kingdom wanted to share the task of running Erebus and Tartarus, so Hades volunteered to continue his former role named his kingdom Erebus. Zeus and Kronus both prefer land so the Ocean was left to Poseidon, to which he name is territory Atlantia. Zeus and his father were left the land and sky to split, and thus Athens was to be the divider between the two kingdoms. Zeus would found The Patriarchy and Kronus would found the Divine Empire.Archons of Leadership:
After many 2 attempts to destroy Athens, Athena is was charged with upping the protection of her Patron City. Some rulers even viewed these moments as failure and a sign of weakness. Though it was not entirely her fault, as both the divine and mortals were responsible for the city being attacked. After the last one Athena came up with a strategy that would bolster both defense and diplomacy of Athens. Her idea was that each race of man and gods were going to help with the protection of the city, and in return were granted a city state near Athens. This was the founding of the Archon's of Leadership. The Archons of leadership were made up of Athena, Athens Council, trusted people of the races of man, and some of the leaders of the Factions located in the Crossroads. The main area has 3 seats made for Athena and her 2 main councils Phoibe and Asteria. There is a half-circle table that allows the other Archons to sit and see equally. They meet once a week regularly and in time of need, and each six is charged with protecting the City from attack. The six heads of the surrounding city states make up the rest of the Archons of Leadership. This idea was accepted by all the mortal kingdoms but one, The Athenian republic was required to give up more land to house these city states. Couple with the fact that the republic and no jurisdiction over the city states or the people entering sovereign territories.Relationships:
Athena is charged with keeping the peace of Divine Kingdoms and that of Crossroads itself, and doing so requires diplomacy with all the Divine Kingdom. This is to means that Athens is free of all rule, but all the kingdoms want the city available to their people and divine. The first thing required was that each divine ruler should have shrine/temple on the Acropolis, and that each divine ruler had a home in Athens. So each one was given a beautiful home and their own personal Grand Priest. Each kingdom has tried to sway Athena to make Athens align with their goals, and each have failed. The Patriarchy ran by Zeus, tries to it Paternal influence to guide Athena, but Zeus has failed to accomplish any sort of influence over the kingdoms. That relationship has caused Atlantia and The Divine Empire to constantly have their Grand Priest and Ambassadors in the city to keep an eye on her, and also try to convince her to work with them. Erebus does not push Athena for anything, and is in General always busy with its kingdom, and the sheer amount of souls being governed is quite daunting. Hades has made efforts to make these acts of influence punishable, but always gets out voted by the other three kingdoms. The most complicated and cautious relationship that Athens is with the Athenian Republic, the mortal kingdom has been running a campaign to convince the people of Athens that the city belongs to Pericles. The main arguments are that Athens was their capital on primal earth, and that divine law states that gods can not force mortals to do their bidding. Under this auspice the idea that Athena controls Athens, violates divine law in the eyes of Athenians. The Athena Polias has been charged with monitoring this situation, and has not ruled out forcibly removing the kingdom from Athens, but would prefer diplomacy.City Information:
Divine Kingdom: None Leader Athena Goddess of Wisdom Mortal Kingdom: Population: 675,000 (65% Human, 10% Titan-Born, 5% Elven, 5% Nereid, 5% Satyr, and 10% other races. Government: The Government of Athens is considered Monarchy, but the counselors, known as Archons, have immense power as well. Athena is the final say on any matter related to the protection of the Crossroads and mediation of the Gods, but she does use her council to aid her protecting the city and monitoring the day to day operations. They Archons vote ideas that benefit Athens and the Crossroads and bring it to Athena for approval.- Archon of Belbrooke: Calisto Daughter of Calypso
- Archon of Ourea: Onomacritus Oathtaker
- Archon of Neptria: Arya Daughter of Achilles
- Archon of Shadowborough: Grave of the justice Bringers.
- Archon of Imperium: Enilyin "The Hope"
- Archon of Titania: Yohie Son of Helios
- Archon of the Order: Reyna the Athena Polias