Astoria

The Human Meritocracy Citystate of Sylvothra is a small city of 336 people, known best for being a pirate-haven. Sylvothra exists on the isle of Eragon the size of which is 57,600 square feet (1.32 acres). The nation was formed by pirates following a mass exodus of criminals. The current ruler of the CityState is Earl Sir Alan Whiteheart, chosen because of his skill on the battlefield, and his skills with diplomacy, and Earl Albert Mothkin, the ruler of the Meritocracy's Navy.

The Citystate of Sylvothra was formed 58 years ago, from a mass exodus of criminals from another nation. The criminals had used three ships in their escape, the Panther, the Saint, and the Roseborn. The Saint and the Roseborn were dismantled to create the needed facilities, such as housing and a storage facility, while the Panther was kept around, to act as defense and a raiding vessel.

In the weeks following the initial landfall, the island was fully mapped out, and the main town area, which was built along the water and the first docks where landfall was first made, was built up, stone having been mined out from the north. more rocky, shore, and wood having been gotten from the ships and the trees of the island.

3 months after first landfall, the question of a leader was put forward. Among those recommended were Earl Rend Carter, who had been the captain of the ship, Ryder Grayson, a former pirate, and Francine Geralds, the heiress of a shipping company who murdered her father, her husband, and her servant. Each leader held a sizable portion of the island dwellers, with only 5 or 6 who abstained from any side. This lead to fighting, and it got so bad Ryder's home was burned down by some of Francine's supporters.

The burning led to Francine being exiled, along with most of her supporters. They were forced to a nearby, and even smaller, rocky island. Back on the main island, Ryder and Earl Rend reached an agreement that Ryder would have control over the island, while Rend would take control of the waters, due to their different skills.

Ryder oversaw the creation of a wall around the island, as well as a jette. He also authorized expansion over the whole island, and created a tower-keep in the center of the island, that looked out over the walls and the water. Earl Rend oversaw the creation of another ship, the Render, and led several raids out on other islands from the deck of the Panther. He also oversaw the creation of a fishing force, and created 3 patrol vessels, collectively known as the Guppies.

Meanwhile, Francine and her crew were doing their best, and created a ramshackle series of huts on the tiny island. However, a month later, Francine would die, slipping a cracking her head on the floor. Her crew decided to surrender to the Earl, and rejoined the main settlement, while the small island was named Gerald Isle, and transformed into a watchtower island.

Over the years, the town was built up, and eventually kids were being had. Ryder and Earl Rend made certain the town was kept clean, all the waste taken beyond the isle and dumped outside their territory. As such, disease is not rampent. Over the years, the population grew from the measly 20 to around 45.

Over the next 10 years, the island only grew better, the population increasing to 122. A few small conflicts took place in the early years, but the island became unified quickly. A small conflict was taken with a group of pirates, though it led to a decisive victory, with 5 of the pirates joining the 'navy'. During the years, another two ships were constructed, the Francine, as an honor to Francine, and the Eragon, bringing the navy up to 4 main ships, and 7 patrol vessels.

Year 11 and 12 was a little difficult. A food shortage, and a massive storm rocked the forming nation. The food shortage led to the creation of rooftop farms on the stronger buildings, and the procuring of a few micro islands for farming and expansion. The storm led to increasing the strength of the buildings, the majority of which on the main island were 4 stories tall.

Year 13 saw the death of Earl Rend, but Ryder did not take the navy under his direct control. Instead, he appointed the best commander and sailor into the position, birthing the Meritocracy known today. The new Earl, as the title was decided on, was named Stella Crashington. She created another ship, and the last new combat ship for the next 60 years and christened it the Carter.

Over the next 21 years, nothing much happened. The population grew to a stable population of 223, where it would remain for 14 years. The citystate finally named itself Sylvothra. The nation also grew in size, procuring another island around the size of Eragon but with a large, stony, hill taking up the majority and naming it Stonehurst, bringing the total of islands controlled up to 7, with 3 main islands (Eragon, Stonehurst, and Gerald), and 4 smaller islands mostly as farming and defense. Durning this time, Ryder stepped down, and named a man by the name of Hunter Merket his successor.

35 years after landfall, the nation was as developed as could be expected. Nothing much happened up until the present day, except the procuring of another 3 farming isles, and the creation of the ship Stella, in honor of Stella. The last Island Earl chosen was Sir Alan Whiteheart, a knight who had immigrated after a scandal. The last Earl of the navy named was Albert Mothkin.