Octavian X
is not a pipe.
Welcome, my friend, to the Republic of Doughnutia. I am Octavian the Tenth, Prince of Doughnutia, Duke of Augusta, Count of St. Mark's Point, Baron of St. John's Land, Knight of the Cedar
A History of Doughnutia (abbreviated edition)
The Doughnutian Republic has it's roots in the House of Octavian. My ancestors settled on land given to them in return for service in Fanatika's justice system. That parcel of land is St. Mark's Point, the highest mountain in Fanatika.
A few hundred years later, Justinian XIX purchased Mt. Doughnut, another tall peak near Mt. Victory. Then, through a few backroom deals from various feuding barons of the area, he aquried a parcel that was considered large at the time. With this land, the the support of the barons, he established the Kingdom of Doughnutia.
The Kingdom was not to last, though. A king was throned in Bavaria but a century later, and out of repect for the new king, the Doughnutian Kingdom became a Principality.
Soon after the dissolution of the Kingdom, the various houses of Fanatika began raising private armies for conflict with the others. Augustine XXVII, sharing the peaceful nature of all Doughnutians, signed treaties with the various houses preparing for armed conflict ensuring the principality's neutrality. From that point, until the day when all forces held by the the private houses were nationalized, Doughnutia has remained a shining example of peacefulness.
Eventually, the expansion of Doughnutia was halted by the growth of her friends and neighbors, of Vanir and Manitou to the North, and Lancre to the South. Then, years later, when new territories were up for purchase in the South, Octavian IX agressively purchased new territory around Leningrado and Padmativa. There, the land is neighbored by Kultis, and the hostile French, Americans, and English. Even the evil Babylonians have pillaged the homes of peasents in the area. An uneasy peace has returned to that area, but none know how long it will last.
Today, the very existance of the Doughnutian Republic is unique in the Fanatikan world. Of all the Houses of Fanatika, it is the only one with a true republic governing it. Though I am the Prince, my role in government is more ceremonial than anything. I may own the land, but I have left it upon the citizens of those areas to govern themselves. With it's republican form of government, an abstince of war, and respect for the civil liberties, Doughnutia is truly a shining example for all the world.
The Buildings of Doughnutia
The Augusta Palace
The Palace was originally established as the Octavia Manor, a castle built by Octavian I when he first aquired St. Mark's Point. A major upgrade was planned later by Octavian III, but it was so large it was decided to completely rename the structure.
Octavian III expanded Octavia Manor to the size we today would consider a small palace. Though, back then, this was extremely large, and was only rivaled in size by the Marillion of Vanir.
When Alexander IV came to power, though, the Augusta Palace was no long as grand as she once was. Everywhere, bigger palaces were being built. He could not even stand seeing the considerably then-larger Marillion Palace across Seabrake. That is why he spent thousands of g to more than triple the size (and beauty) of the palace. Today, the Augusta stands as the largest palace of Fanatika, equal only to the Marillion and the Presidential Palace of Bavaria.
As for the actual usuage of the Palace, today it is the seat of government for Doughnutian Republic. Also on the Palace grounds is the Cathedral of St. Mark, an important destination for pilgrims.
The Hall of Cedar
(An artist's rendition)
This stucture began as a small house for an old hermit who was revered by the peasentry as a holy prophet of the Great Doughnut God.
When he died, the house continued to be visited by the hundreds of faithful each day. A small village grew up on that mountain that centered around this holy shrine.
It was I, Octavian X, who built the Hall of Cedar, a magnificent caslte, around the house revered as a shrine. It serves three primary purposes. First, it guards the shrine from would-be theifs and vandals. Second, it is the administrative and spiritual center of the Church of the Great Doughnut God. St the center is the Basilica of Mt. Doughnut. Third, it serves as a meeting place for the order of knights in service to Doughnutia and the Great Doughnut God, the Knights of the Cedar.
Ivory Mansion
Artist's Concept (Kudos to those who where the graphic comes from)
This recently built Mansion center of administration in St. John's is the Ivory Mansion in Leningrado. This mansion, at the center of Leningrado, serves as not only a administrative center, but a trading post for American, French, and Persian traders who are passing through the area into Fanatika. Each day, except Sunday, the people of the town, as well as many others, come to the grounds of the Mansion to form an outdoor marketplace. At these meetings, various items, like fine Leningrado ivory, from all over the world may be found and purchased. Also, for the faithful, a small shrine to St. John is open inside.
The Lands of Doughnutia
St. Mark's Point
St. Mark's Point's geographical size may make it seem more of a colony than anything else. This area consists of a single mountain on the coast of the Great Ocean, St. Mark's Point. This mountain is the tallest of Fanatika, and possibly the world. On it's side, the Augusta Palace stands. The mountain is near Bavaria, and a small bay seperates it from Seabrake and the Marillion.
Doughnutia
Doughnutia is the namesake and center of the Republic. The majority of our population lives here, particuarly in the Bremershaven area. It consists of six tiles, and spans from Mt. Doughnut (just south of Bavaria), to Bremershaven.
St. John's Land
St. John's is the newest, and fastest growing (geographically) area. It is centered around the city of Leningrado, and is an important for it's ivory, and has an economy reliant on trade.
