Thilias

Thilias is a small harbor town near the southern Varathian coast, and is lovely in the summer.

Information
The city is walled and can be accessed through several gates: the eastern gate opens into the Beggar's district, the western gate is reserved for nobility, and the northern gate is popular among merchants.

Thilias is ruled by Golmyck, who was elected after the death of the previous, heirless monarch. He is in conflict against the nobility to dissolve the segregation between Thilias' social classes, including the practice of slavery. The city itself is separated into districts between the rich and the poor. Unlike some of the other Varathian cities, Thilias has a weak rebel force against the nobility.

With the recent death of the grand priest, the outbreak of Oildrip disease has spread rapidly, leaving a heavy toll on the city's poor, who have limited access to herbs and food. Many citizens have resorted to animal hunting, leading to a war between Thilias and the animals.

The Lessathi Empire and the Arenas
Before the lessathi empire fell 600 years ago, the city of Thilias was ruled by the ancients. During this time, the Thilias arenas were built, as well as many other arenas across the continent's cities, as a form of entertainment for its citizens. The arenas mainly served as a punishment for criminals, though anyone could freely enter to earn a living. Participants were separated into divisions, in which they would fight as a group against various beasts. It was against the rules for gladiators to harm those in their own division, and strictly forbidden to use magic, which was punishable by death. Gladiators guilty of minor infringements, however, were designated as 'undesirables', and obligated to participate in an extra round. Any surviving gladiators could volunteer to participate in this final round in a group battle against the 'undesirables'. The ones that killed them were granted riches and freedom.

One of the old traditions of the arenas was the underground sabotage of the events. In the gladiators' cells, a lessathi's aura signature could open a pit that led into underground corridors where the beasts for the events were caged. The arena owner could watch the saboteurs from seredium tunnels hidden from the main corridors.

In the current era, the arenas remain as the pride of Varathia. The Thilias arenas are owned by Venard, through inheritance from his father. While many of the original rules are still intact, the underground sabotage and the 'undesirable' traditions are no longer practiced.

The War with the Animals
After the death of the grand priest a few months ago, Thilias' citizens became desperate for food. The growing popularity of animal hunting inevitably led to a war between Thilias and the animals, costing many lives on both sides, including Elaria's husband.