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Historians recount the virtual explosion of the rebellion against the Sorcerer King Ceta Tha of Roland led by Lord Drake Rush in 388 C.T. as an event unprecedented in the history of the realm. If Lord Drake had only repelled the armies of the sorcerer king a single time his name would have been assured a place in history, but by withstanding the onslaught of vastly superior forces for over a decade and establishing the most powerful trade center in the northern hemisphere in a single lifetime, Lord Drake carved himself a place in legend and the tales of bards for eternity. On the first day of the High Winter festival, Tinco 16, 399 C.T., the Empire of Roland grudgingly signed a peace agreement with Lord Drake and recognized the territory bound by the two major channels of the mouth of the Spinewater River as the independent City State of Rush.
Various skirmishes and small wars between the city state and the Empire of Roland have plagued Rush's history. Most notably, in 687 C.T., soon after Ceta Tha's decree against demi-humans, the Battle of Shemdale placed the city-state at odds with the empire over a small principality of halflings who begged aid from Rush. The battle resulted in the complete destruction of one of the empire's most elite military units, the Iron Vice, and the routing or death of over 40,000 other imperial troops. This decisive defeat soured the emperor's taste for the small bit of territory called Rush, and aside from minor border disputes, no real conflict has taken place between the two powers in over three centuries. The expert soldiers and sailors of Rush's army and navy, strengthened by mercenary forces and mutual defense treaties with the Republic of Cylene and the Kingdom of Tartony serve as a reminder to the sorceror king, however bitter, to attack Rush at his own peril.
Rush's military forces consist of seven legions (6,000 men) of infantry (heavy foot), three legions of heavy cavalry and one legion of light cavalry. This force can be bolstered significantly (triple in size) with mercenary, merchant house, guild, temple and noble forces. The city-state frequentely uses mercenary forces and therefore several mercenary groups have based themselves within the city-state.
The city-state's navy is unmatched by any save the Republic of Cylene. It consists of 2,500 warships and 5,849 galleys and support ships. The city state also supports five legions of marines (light foot).
Lord Drake far exceeded the dreams of his grandfather, Lord Sinel Rush, who built a small keep to protect the inhabitants of the insignificant fishing village located where Rush now sprawls around the bay. For not only did he achieve his grandfather's dream of freedom from the oppresive rule of the empire, he achieved many cultural victories as well.
Sages throughout the land know Rush as a mecca of learning and philosophy. The great historian and archaelogist Donaed of Thytocia came to Rush at the invitation of Lord Drake. Donaed, who is often spoken of as the father of modern archaelogy, is perhaps best known for his historical work The Crowning Star: A History of the People of Talish tani Mirinarti. Donaed's preeminance as a scholar and his popularity with the common folk as an orator soon attracted the sons and daughters of nobles and wealthy merchants whose sires wished for them to become educated. His precense also attracted other scholars with whom he corresponded and who were interested in the noted genorosity of his new patron.
In the insuing decades the community of sages within the city-state grew at an astounding rate; so quickly that by Donaed's 90th birthday his colleagues had named him the first dean of the new University of Rush. Since Donaed's day the university has become unequaled in all the human lands and only the library of the High Temple of Lilnana contains more volumes than that of the university1.
The people of Rush have always had a keen eye for jewelry and finery of all sorts. This trait has exemplified itself in tastes of its rulers who for generations have recruited jewelers, gold and silver smiths, jade carvers and makers of fine crystal to work on their behalf. The taste for this fair has created an environment that can be very profitable for a talented jeweler. The people expect artristry in the baubles they wear and the craftsmen have risen to their call. The best of the best have opened the doors of their gold and jewel shops in the city-state. The trade is brisk and the customers demanding. Perhaps this is why so many dwarves have settled in the city.
The citizens of the city prefer dark colored clothing and are typically armed with a weapon of some sort at all times, usually a dagger or short sword. Men of the upper classes often don ornate capes and both men and women wear jewlery. Women prefer long loose fitting dresses and a dagger or stilleto as a weapon. Men prefer to wear their hair in a tight braid pulled to the side of their heads a clasped with a metal braid holder or loose hanging to their shoulders. Women wear their hair loose or in a tight french braid. Hats are seldom worn. Tatoos (including facial images) are common among both sexes.
Few cities become major trading centers without access to water. At the mouth of the Spinewater River and facing the Turatic Ocean, shipping keeps the city's economy sailing. The building of ships has also become a trade for which the city-state is well known. Good ships can be purchased and built quickly in Rush. There are few better places to buy a ship, and even fewer which offer better protection and more liberal trade incentives to captains that make Rush their home port.
The citizens that call Rush "home" are principally humans of Arrakian descent. Although, large populations of dwarves, Oldanquasti elves, halflings, and gnomes also make their homes within the city-state's boundries.
The social structure of the city-state is not typical of many of the realms of Fälgorna. Merchants and the middle class comprise nearly half the citzenry. Journeymen, farmers and the lower class about a third of the population, about two percent are nobles, clergy and the upper class, while the remaining population consists of slaves.
Slaves are generally well treated in the city-state, but have few real rights. Most slaves come from the cities court system which often decrees slavery (temporary or permanent) as punishment for a crime. In some cases an indebted individual may sell himself into slavery to assure his family's prosperity or in exchange for a son's or daughter's advancement in a guild, military service or some other honor.
City-state law prohibits the execution of a slave, except in self defense, without a special court order. There are also laws governing the types of punishment a master can dole out to his slave for misconduct. Slaves have other rights as well including the right to marry who they choose and not to be sold, without permission, away from their families2. Children born to slaves do not become slaves themselves and bare no social stigma. They are often known to buy their parents out of slavery.
Rush's king theoretically rules by virtue of his divine right to lead the people. The king's word is law and must be obeyed. In reality, the king's power of absolute rule is seldom used. An advisory council of the state's leading nobles offers a vote on all important matters brought before the king. Traditionally the king abides by his councils decisions on state matters, but reserves the right to absolutely veto any action recommended by the council. For political and practical reasons, such as his dependence on noble lords for troops in times of trouble, this power has seldom been used.
The king has assigned his power to deal with criminals to the well organized bureacracy of royal courts. The courts are made up of a three person permanent jury, one of which is the sentencing judge. Cases are decided by majority vote and sentencing is decreed by the judge. Of course, the king has complete power to pardon.
Those accused before a judge are considered guilty until proven innocent. An accused will be imprisoned until a court date has been set which can take many weeks or years depending upon the present case load of the court. However, at the court's descretion, an accused criminal may be allowed to go free after posting bail commensorate with the accused crime. An accused criminal may defend himself or hire a lawyer for his defense. However, the accused has no right to a lawyer and the court may decree that the accused must defend himself. Typical punishments for crimes range from simple fines to imprisonment, slavery or even execution.
The courts are open every day except public holidays.
1It is well known that the private libraries of the sages and the public holdings of the university in combination are at least double the size of the temple's collection. However many of the universities professors and scholars are clerics of Lilnana, and the library staff consist almost exclusively of clerics of the deity of knowledge.
2A slave owner may, however, sell an entire family of slaves without the consent of the slaves as long as the family unit is not divided in the sale.
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Rulers: King Drake Rush IV, highest citizen of the state (Wizard/15,
Fighter/14); Duke Thorin Guiscarz Rush (Figher-Cavalier/12); Count
Emil Dawnfire (Ranger/17); Duke Richard Karlmore (Fighter/19);
Duke Drexel Havant (Fighter/15); Count Ret "Lord of the Wolf"
(Priest/15); Count Redrick Blackhelm (Fighter/18); Lord Jaron
Kirk (Fighter 15) 
