Founded: Unknown
Government Type: Despotism
Leader(s): The Queen Mother
Population: Unknown
Area: The Wastelands
Official Language(s): Kree’ar, Common
Currency: Astarte Marks
Overview
A beacon in The Wastelands, the beautiful Astarte Ruk is a formidable city-state ruled by the unrelenting Queen Mother Astarte. While the population comprises a diverse mix of races, Peri travelers often find Astarte Ruk particularly inviting.
The city was originally founded by ancient Peri convoys during the Age of Abundance. Its allure lies in the strong sense of convoy among its citizens and the enormous central tower symbolizing the Queen Mother’s power. Tarisians from all walks of life find themselves drawn to a unique blend of strength and diversity. Despite this, all of her citizenry live under the oppressive shadow of Astarte’s warmongering rule.
The city’s architecture is a reflection of its might, with towers that serve as both watchtowers and ingenious wind-catchers, providing relief from the relentless desert heat. These tall spires dominate the skyline, a reflection of Astarte’s presence as an overseer set on control and supremacy. Beneath its towers, among the winding streets, whispers of discontent are silenced by the Queen Mother’s ruthless Archons. To further placate the masses, Astarte hosts grand gladiatorial matches and extravagant festivals for the public. The colossal central arena roars with the clash of combatants from various ancestries, vying for glory and the meager promise of fortune. Festivals bring the city’s diverse inhabitants together in a whirlwind of colors, music, and celebration, momentarily forgetting the heavy yoke of their ruler and the seemingly endless wars. Astarte’s ambitions extend beyond her city’s borders, setting her eyes on unifying all of Tarisia under her banner. She relentlessly pushes the boundaries of her dominion, leaving neighboring territories scorched and in turmoil, so that she can rebuild them under her Convoy.
Astarte Ruk, once a beacon of unity and diversity, now stands as a grim monument to the oppressive nature of the world exemplified by the rule of Queen Mother Astarte. Its streets may be filled with the laughter of festival-goers and the roar of the arena, but beneath the surface hides a city imprisoned by the ambition of its expansion hungry ruler.
The Queen’s Mark
All subjects of the Queen Mother must bear her sigil, which is burned into the flesh on the forehead in a ritual branding ceremony.
For subjects born under her rule, the mark is often neat and well healed over by the passage of time. For those forced into her legion, or branded as adults, the sigil is often sloppy or poorly healed. Considerable care is taken when branding children of the social or military elite, and thus may indicate ones status in society.