Fiction:Cosmos of Nahiarus/Tuaben/Teosciavian

"Entering the White City is perhaps something I would recommend to every traveller I come across. There is nothing like Teosciavian's north gate at the height of spring; the smell of citrus orchards in full bloom; the streets and buildings clad in polished marble. There are shrouds of blue that provide shade to the streets, and there is always the scent of incense in the air that comes from the temple at its centre. I would only visit there; anything less than a rich mercenary would find it hard pressed to pay for the privileges."

- A merchant from Tuaben

Teosciavian, also known as the White City is the capital and largest city of the country of Tuaben. Teosciavian is one of Nahiarus' centres of culture and is known all over the world for possessing some of the world's most beautiful architecture. Alongside that, Teosciavian possesses lengthy ports which makes it one of the centres of naval trade on the southern coast of Aurelia.

History
Though there is no architectural remnants of the old city, Teosciavian was established in the late 19th century of the First Era by the Aurelians. There is little record of the history of the original settlement, but it is thought that the cult of Nalashtannylor was established in Teosciavian during this time. The city has been destroyed and rebuilt countless times over the ages; sacked during the fall of the Aurelian Empire at the end of the First Era and numerous times since. The foundations of the present Teosciavian were laid in the beginning of the Third Era as part of the Terusian Empire.

As the Terusian Empire eventually fell by 484 AC, Teosciavian was once again destroyed during the Empire's civil war. The result of the war was that the empire was fractured into two smaller kingdoms, Ontrea in the north and Tuaben in the south. Teosciavian was established as the capital of Tuaben and was rebuilt with the assistance of Gemmaushia, who traded marble to decorate the city. Only a small number of the buildings in Teosciavian are over five centuries old.

Characteristics
As a bustling metropolis of 1.2 million civilians, Teosciavian is one of the largest extant cities on Nahiarus. The city is built at the mouth of the Terus and Aren rivers, and bridges both rivers on either side. Teosciavian is known for being a warm city, reaching heights of 32°C in the middle of summer and as low as 7°C in mid-winter. Springs are mild and temperate, and rainfall is infrequent. As the region is prone to flooding in the autumn, Teosciavian's central regions possess deep canals that divert floodwater. The city is home to several monuments and architectural wonders that make it famous over the world.

As a cultural and religious centre, Teosciavian is host to a number of colleges, universities and amphitheatres. The Teosciavian Amphitheatre is a 65,000-capacity arena that is host to several annual events, such as horse racing and dramatic theatre. The Amphitheatre once housed gladiatorial combat, but was outlawed 200 years ago. The city is also house to one of the more stately centres of magical education, the Magisterial College of Tuaben. The college has existed since the years of the Terusian Empire and is over 1,800 years old.

The Great Temple of Nalashtannylor is the largest structure in the city, seated near its centre. The temple retains its original Aurelian architecture and is pyramidal in layout, stretching nearly 140 metres (450 feet) high and 335 metres (1,100 feet) at its base. As such, it is the oldest building in Teosciavian, and its foundations are over five thousand years old. Each end of the city is connected by ornate bridges that span over the Terus and Aren rivers, each one being roughly 600 metres (1,970 feet) long. The bridges have been destroyed a number of times throughout history.