Thymiamata

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Note: Thymiamata was detailed in some Challenge Magazine articles, but I do not have them, cannot find them and have never read them. As such, this is my take on the city.

History

Statistics

Thymiamata is a trading city that connects the Tossian Empire to the Chryse, Cydonian, and Eden steppes. It acts as a gateway through which large amount of liftwood from mountains flows into the Tossian Empire (and other lowland area) and through which food and agricultural products flow North to the Steppes. Thymiamata has always had a reputation for being a neutral ground where people of all of the three Martian species could meet to trade their wares.

Not suprisingly, the true power in the city is the large Merchant's Guild, the Kaalaantar. This group is organized more like a senate then a union. Each group of merchants is seperated by the types of wares they sell. The amount of profit each group makes is accounted for every three Martian years. This determines the number of representatives that each group is allowed in the Kaalaantar (with a minimum of one per group). The idea is that the most profitable groups bring in the most money for the city, and therefore should have the greatest say in how the city should be run. The largest groups are consistantly the liftwood dealers (5 reps), the agriculture markets (6 reps), and the transportation bureau (3 reps). Other notable groups include the meat group, liquor-spirits-opates group, slave traders, arts and antiquities, clothiers, and jewelry group (which deals with jewels and all metal).

The military of Thymiamata is mainly concerned with protecting the trade that enables the city to exist. The infantry is primarily used as a police force within the city's borders, wheras the cavalry is concerned with protecting caravans heading to and from Thymiamata from farther into the high desert. The city's cloudships are mainly used to protect important merchant convoys that move through the city. It is an open secret that due to relations between the city and the nearby kraags, the high martians will not attack a convoy escorted by a cloudship from the Thymiamata aerial navy.

Location: East of the Chryse mountains
Primary Language: Na-Gaaryani, although most everyone speaks Koline as well.
Population:

Prince: Prince Gaartanyi
Controlling Force: Merchant guilds
Corruption: Honest
Attitude toward humans: Friendly

Economy: Mercantile
Vitality: Prosperous

Army Quality: Fair
Mercenary Quality: Poor
Army Size: 9
Army Units:

Fleet Quality: Trained
Fleet Size: 10
Fleet Value: 300,000 pounds

USAF Ranger
USAF FarRanger

A recent addition to the armed forces of Tymiamata is the inclusion of American military might. Originally, this consisted of a single company of Marines to guard the legation compound, but as the American population has grown, so has the military. It now boasts Army infantry, cavalry, engineers, and two aerial gunboats of the Army Air Corps. The primary duty of these forces is to safeguard the human population (and as such, they are not commanded by the city's military commanders), but they would be mobilized to defend the city if it were threatened.

In 1880, the Prince of the City (and the Kaalaantar) was contacted by a delegation from the United States of America. They wished to set up a legation and embassy in Thymiamata, as well as settle some citizens there. They assured the natives that their motives revolved around trade, not conquest (like the British). Although wary at first, the Kaalaantar was swayed, largely through the efforts of Representative Oortosh of the arts and antiquities group. He argued that the more humans inhabited the city, the easier the flow of goods to and from Earth. It was known the humans wanted all manner of Martian products, and that Mars needed human metal and technology. A large human presence in Thymiamata could establish that city as a star-port of sorts.

Relations with Mars' other sapient species have been about the same. Thymiamata has had relatively peaceful relations with the three nearby High Martian kraags. An understanding that if High Martians cause trouble within the city limits, they will not be allowed to trade there has kept problems near the city to a minimum. This is further enforced by the understanding that if a martian from one kraag ruins the welcome for the other two, retribution can be assured. Interestingly enough, with the arrival of the men from Earth, the peace between the kraags and the city has become even more important as humans on Mars guarantee a high price for liftwood (the High Martians primary export).

The nearby Hill Martians are basically indifferent to the city of Thymiamata. As they do not have a large market for trade, they have nothing to gain or loose at the city.

Although an aura of tolerance exists inside the city limits, outside of the city limits is another story. The denziens of the kraags do still occasionally raid aerial transports heading to and from the city, especially if they pass through the Chryse mountains. Some Hill Martian tribes may raid desert caravans if times are hard (although they are equally likely to join the mercenary cavalry patrols to fend off such raids).

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Map and Locations of Interest

1. American Quarter
2. Royal Palace
3. Guild Hall
4. Docks
5. Shipyard / cloudship field
6. Bazzaar
7. Cavalry Barracks
8. Infantry Barracks
9. Southern Park

The American quarter is a human town within a Martian city. Close to three thousand humans call it home. It contains not just the living areas for the city's human inhabitants, but the embassy and legation compound, a small marine barracks (with an aerial field for the USAF Ranger), a small school, and a Lutheran church (St. Paul's of Mars).

The upper half of the central island (above Trade Street) contains the Royal Palace, the Guild Hall, and the nicer homes of the city. Although the Royal Palace is not the true seat of power for the city, the Prince at least acts as a figure-head. The Palace is used for most of the city's greatest parties - the most popular of which is the yearly Feast of the Flow in which the city's populace is invited onto the royal grounds for a day of food and entertainment.

The Guild Hall is the true seat of power for the city. This is where the representatives of the Kaalaantar meet. The Guild Hall is a massive structure, obviously renovated from one of the ancient buildings. It boasts two great spires. One is closed off to the public, and is where the Guild meets to discuss important matters of the city. The other provides a commanding view of the bazzaar and American quarters across the canal.

The docks to the South of Trade Street are where the majority of goods from the Tossian Empire arrive. Barges from Hyoraotes and Aram are an omni-present site here.

Thymiamata boasts a large cloudship field. It contains the hangars for the city's cloudship fleet, as well as numerous accomodations for merchant vessels. A section of the field is set aside for American ether flyers to land and process cargo and passengers. It is not a mistake that humans arriving in Thymiamata from Earth must pass by the Royal Palace and Guild Hall before making it to their section of the city. The aerial fields also boast a modest shipyard for the construction and repair of cloudships (mainly merchant vessels).

The Thymiamata bazzaar is as varied and wild as any on Mars. Truly any item can be had here. Martians of all kinds peddle wares from the Chryse mountains, the Eden deserts, and the Tossian basin.

The Southern Park is a welcome and tranquil respite in the manic storm that is Thymiamata. Trees, brush, and flower beds are fed by ancient underground aquifiers fed by the canals. It is believed the city used to have two more parks like this, but they have long since died off as the Northern most canals dried up.

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