Oteslia, also known as the City of Growth, is one of the Walled Cities of Izril.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Oteslia is famous for having the best agricultural products in Izril's south.[1][2] They have excellent animal breeds, rich harvests, the best [Gardeners] and a great knowledge when it comes to growing plants, even plants from all around the world.[3] This fame also extends to Oteslian [Chefs] and their cooking.[4]
Oteslia is also host to one of the biggest [Druid] Circle in Izril.[5] Their chosen representative is called the Earthspeaker.[6]
Many parts of Oteslia's culture involve gardening and agriculture. The city doesn't use coffins for burials, letting the bodies decompose in soil to grow plants from Noelictus in their graveyards.[7]
Oteslia is known for being "soft" and having more care for its residents. It is one of the only Walled Cities with Salazsar with a formal institution for taking care of its senior citizens, where they form communes that garden and helped care for animals.[8] It is one of the only Drake cities that allows its convicts to go outside, instead of keeping them in a cell for the duration of their sentence. Prisoners can tend to gardens in the prisons, though they are not allowed gardening tools they might use as weapons.[7]
Only in comparison with the other five Walled Cities who are even richer, Oteslia is considered to be lacking financial resources.
Oteslia has the highest Gnoll-to-Drake ratio of all the Walled Cities. The city is governed by a "Grand Gardener", or First Gardener.
One of the biggest crime organizations in Southern Izril, the Earthtenders, operates from Oteslia.
By law, every child in Oteslia attends school until they are thirteen.[9]
History[edit | edit source]
At one time Oteslia fought off 6 Adult-Stage Crelers. Manus’ reported on the battle claiming that if two Elder Crelers had attacked the city, it might have fallen.[10]
Two centuries ago, General Ironscales from Oteslia lost the Heartflame Breastplate in a battle against Humans.[11]
In the time of the storylines of books 5 and 6, Oteslia fights in a dispute with Zeres. Supported by the Liscorian Army, Oteslia was besieging the other Walled City.[12] That "defense contract" was concluded as the Election in Liscor happened.[13]
Oteslia and Salazsar were the staunchest supporters of Liscor in the dispute of the Walled Cities whether or not to answer Liscor's call for help against the human/goblin invasion of Tyrion Veltras/Reiss.[14] Oteslia then committed its Winged Raiders, which didn't arrive in Liscor in a state ready to fight,[15] after forced marching of six days.
The First Gardener saw fit to declare war on Belchan in Chandrar after several Gnoll Tribes had been slaughtered there. As both nations are landlocked on their respective continents, that declaration of war is symbolic.[16]
A conference was convened in Oteslia, that involved important Drake figures such as Navine Gemscale,[17] and later Ilvriss Gemscale, and Rafaema. Magnolia Reinhart was invited, and Lyonette also attended.[18]
Military[edit | edit source]
Oteslia is known to be the weakest of all Walled Cities when it comes to pure military strength. Word from Manus is that Oteslia is waiting to be burnt, even.[19] The military is also strong enough to fight off six Adult-Stage Crelers simultaneously, and is supposedly capable of taking on an Elder-Stage Creler as well. Still, they might lose against two or more Elder-Stage Crelers.[10]
However, they have elite groups, and they are known to use various animals in warfare, such as summoning swarms of insects.[8] Known elite groups include the Winged Riders, an Oldblood Batallion who can lift their horses mid-run into the air. At least one of the riders in each company also rides a Pegasus, which are incredibly rare animals and currently only bred in Oteslia on Izril.[20] The city's Named Adventurer, Mivifa the Oldblood of Feathers, is also known for riding a Pegasus. Another elite group, the veteran scouting group called Wildfriend Scouts, can use birds as eyes, letting them react quickly and in a unified manner.[21]
Oteslia's Peacekeepers are the city's covert agents, and are made up of [Druids].[22]
Another military unit is Oteslia’s Second Infantry.[23]
The Oteslian battle standard shows a view of the Walled City, and a huge tree in the background. Their colors are white and bright green.[20]
Residents[edit | edit source]
- Baiss - famous Oteslian Drake courier[24]
- Cirediel Anvi’dualln Olicuemerdn - Dragon
- Ecleeif - Earthtender Face
- Eforte - Druid[25]
- Ironscales - General (Deceased)
- Mivifa Selifscale - Named Adventurer
- Nerverwhine - Earthtender Face
- Poruniv - Second Gardener, leader of the Earthtenders
- Rickel - Earther, [Trickster of Fortunes]
- Shaerrha Brasswing - First Gardener
- Shassa Weaverweb - [Spiderweb Druid]
- Zanzeil - Earthtender Face
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Oteslia has a supply of small beans that make you alert when chewing them - an import from Baleros which has been cultivated by the [Gardeners].[26]
- One of the Students of Niers Astoragon comes from Oteslia[27]
- Oteslia rarely purchases secret information,[28] but however, they share information with Magnolia Reinhart.[19]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Impression of Oteslia, city of growth
by mg
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Chapter 6.11
- ↑ Chapter 6.17 S
- ↑ Chapter 6.30, Chapter 6.38
- ↑ Chapter 6.32
- ↑ Interlude – A Meeting of [Druids]
- ↑ Chapter 8.21 L
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 9.28
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 9.51 Z
- ↑ Chapter 9.25
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Chapter 6.67
- ↑ Chapter 5.17 S
- ↑ Chapter 5.13
- ↑ Chapter 6.49
- ↑ Chapter 5.54 (Canon version)
- ↑ Chapter 5.61
- ↑ Chapter 7.11
- ↑ Chapter 6.50 I
- ↑ Chapter 6.58
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Chapter 6.33 E
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Chapter 5.60
- ↑ Interlude - Hectval (Pt. 2)
- ↑ Chapter 9.65
- ↑ Chapter 5.44
- ↑ Chapter 5.33 B
- ↑ Chapter 9.21
- ↑ Interlude - Embria
- ↑ Chapter 6.22 D
- ↑ Chapter 5.29