The City States were founded by a collection of religious dissenters from the Papacy. They split from the mother church and attempted to found a new religion based on a tolerant view that all men were equal, except slaves, oh and of course women. Internal struggles soon divided the settlers and a series of infighting began as different groups claimed to be in charge. In the end the group had split into three main camps each of whom founded a city. These three cities now form the basis of the city states, and whilst occasional fighting breaks out between them they now can present a unified front to any invader, and all agree that the Papacy is the true threat anyway.
As time passed other smaller towns were founded nearby these cities. These towns were large enough to be considered cities in their own right. Acting as trading partners between Taeorn and the East they became rich and influential. Occasionally there was fighting between them and the barbarians of Darnk, or raiding Papacy units. This state of affairs, along with internal infighting, continued until the cataclysm twenty years ago.
The Cataclysm left the city states weakened. The earthquakes shook the region destroying many of the roads and much of the towns and cities. However being an enterprising people the city states decided that if they banded together quickly they could try and secure their region. Their quick action made sure that they were ready for the inevitable Papacy attack. They quickly repulsed the Papacy, although at loss of one of the towns - Yora. They then moved quickly to capitalise on the confusion and moved their standing army towards Taeorn. They captured Ranford, but halted there fearing another Papacy attack. Since then they have held their lands, and are regrowing slowly.
Given their long history of civil and religious freedom the city states have a remarkably free society. The cataclysm forced them to grant women full rights as they needed all the help they could get, well educated rich women that is. The Society is one based on slave labour, the rich are well educated and all are invited to the vote in the senate on matters of importance. They elect one spokesman each year to speak for them in the high council of the city states which occurs every six months, and all citizens are invited, although the spokesmen are required to organise the event. Citizens are afforded full rights and have a high standard of living, many of them devoting their lives to business or education of other citizens. Slaves perform many of the menial tasks, servants or builders. In between the two is the hazy world in which the semi-educated such as scribes. Shop keepers, and the army exist. Whilst not full citizens, and so cannot vote, they have some rights and protection.
Earth equivalent: A Cross between renaissance Florence and ancient Athens.
The City States are made of:One of the three great cities. They are the closest to Taeorn and as such were slightly less hit than the other city states. They were the first to rebuild and strongly supported the military actions of twenty years ago. They are currently the richest of the three cities and have been trading valuable rebuilding material with New Taeorn. The city now drips in luxury although some whisper that corruption is stopping it from being all it could be.
The second most powerful of the three Delam stands in the eastern most corner of the realm acting as the gate between the lands owned by the city states and the eastern reaches. Recent trouble has ensured that this cities fortunes have fallen slightly and it is now in a political war with Irridol for the effective position of the second city. The Darnkite raiders have weakened Delam's grip of the last two years disrupting many valuable trade caravans.
The most extreme of the three major cities. Irridol has access to many of the natural resources of the region and so has gained greatly, despite being the worst hit it was one of the fastest to rebuild. Irridol also has instituted a series of public exams and anyone who scores well on the exams, held on a child's tenth birthday, is promoted to the level of society deemed best for them. Of course the cost of entering the exams is very expensive and corruption ensures that not much has changed, yet.
Each great city has several smaller towns allied to them for protection. These are Ling / Pendi for Irridol, Melan / Youk / Ranford for Chute and Upek / Demar and Ikari for Delam.
Yora is still a burnt out ruin. It was under Irridol's wing before the cataclysm and Irridol has been the most vocal support of any actions against the Papacy.