Laurelian
The city of Laurelian was founded by the few surviving refugees of the war-torn city of Modaora.
The Modaorans, who came from a distant time and galaxy, survived in peace and prosperity for what seemed like an instant and a lifetime all at once. The strength and resilience of the first generations of the Modaorans seemed to diminish with every new generation. Once an entire race of brilliant scientists, the Modaorans were mere shadows of their ancestors. No longer having the radical ingenuity they were once known for, the Modaorans began to suffer greatly and fall to familiar plagues of humanity; plagues of greed, power lust and apathy. Countless failed attempts to grow crops and raise animals in the barren ice region where their city stood resulted in famine and then civil war. One never knows how a people will turn when faced with certain death. The greedy and corrupt (undoubtedly influenced by their friends in Fulfwotz) first turned on the less fortunate citizens and then on each other - sealing a self-fulfilling prophecy of defeat. A small band of brave Modaorans who pledged loyalty to the Modaoran code of "peace, love and prosperity" managed to rescue just 500 citizens of the 9,000 who called Modaora "home." The ice region now sits quietly, soulless and with the scars of its past winding through empty valleys and chilly mountain tops. Their beloved city was transported piece-by-piece to the middle of the ocean where it now sits eerily empty as a cautionary tale for those who doubt that what can be given in abundance can also be taken away in an instant.
As the refugees set off on their sojourn to new lands, something very small caught the attention of a little girl no older than 8. She knelt down and moved a piece of debris to reveal the petals of a single flower. This flower, a Mountain Laurel, had grown in a crack in the ice and refused to wither even during famine; even the war. This flower would forever become the symbol of hope for the refugees.... a symbol of survival. Survival - a Great Spaghetti Overloard given right. A right that these survivors vowed not to die for, but to LIVE for. And not only would they survive, but they would thrive beyond any aspirations of the past. These brave refugees found a new home across great masses of water and through treacherous lands. They took turns caring for the flower that they carefully picked and potted in an old boot. They vowed to leave Modaora behind in every way - even in name.
The Laurelian Nation named for the single Mountain Laurel who stood strong as they did, found their new home and as their first order of business, built a great temple in its honor - in their honor. Plans for their great new nation soon followed and thus began the journey of prosperity for the Laurelians; a journey that would renew the bravery of their ancestors and utilize lessons learned from their troubled past.
Laurelian is a very young nation and grows every day. There are ten districts within Laurelian.
- Annapolis - Capitol district
- Portsmouth - Port and International Trade district
- Blood Moon Bay - Laurelian Temple district
- Queen's Crown - Water district
- Riverbend - Mansion district
- Siren's Song - Range district
- Carpe Nocturne - Spirit Forest district
- Devil's Cane - Spirit Forest district
- Lake Sirena - Shopping and Trade district
- West Gray - Lower district
Read more about the heritage of the Laurelian Nation and how their ancestors, the people of Modaora found their way to the Shire.