Pereui

In central Preica lies the city of Pereui, one of the great cities of this land. It stands at the mouth of a modest river, nestled deep in a small bay. These natural features, together with the surrounding hills and steep cliffs, have always offered protection, but above all, the city was guarded by the Great Statue of Pereos, a mighty sentinel visible from miles away. It is said that when the city is in peril, the statue will come to life and smite its enemies. Yet even Pereos cannot shield the city from every threat.   Pereui was founded in the age of the early Preic city-states, and even then it rose as one of the foremost among them. It earned the moniker Pereui the Radiant, named for the divine light that shimmered upon the bronze statue that towered over the city. The statue stood astride the river, one foot planted on either bank, gazing out across the bay, spear and shield in hand, rising higher than any hill or tower.   Pereos, the hero for whom the statue was named, was a mighty figure of myth. In the tales of Pereui’s founding, it is said that Pereos could be king only if he proved able to defend the chosen site against any and all foes. To test him, the gods unleashed beasts, monsters, and abominations upon the hill, each attempting to overcome him through trickery, treachery, or sheer might. But Pereos stood fast and prevailed. At last the gods granted him kingship, but they bound him in stone, so that he would forever watch over the ground where he had built his city.   In ages past, Pereui was far greater than it is today. The remnants of its old walls still wander through the hills, crumbling and broken, as though still straining to defend the ruins within. The footprints of ancient temples, palaces, and markets can yet be traced, mute witnesses to the city’s former glory.   When the rival city of Pifor the Great expanded its power, many Preic cities resisted. Pifor was relentless in conquest, and those who defied it were crushed and made into examples. So it would have been for Pereui, yet its fate took another turn.   When the armies of Pifor laid siege, the priests called upon the protection of Pereos. For the first time in countless generations, the miracle came to pass: the statue stirred. At first its motions were stiff and jagged, but soon they grew swift and terrible. Pereos strode through the streets of Pereui, out toward the invaders, and shattered them with spear, fist, and crushing step. None could withstand his fury. But in his wrath, he did not distinguish friend from foe, and much of the city was laid to ruin beneath his hand.   Now Pereui is ruled by priests and seers, who hold the highest stations in the city. They preside over celebrations, ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices in the name of Pereos, striving to remind the great hero that his people endure, and that they have not forgotten him. They pray for his protection through the ages, and more than that, they pray that when the day of need returns, he will at last know friend from foe.