City of Terila

Terila is the capital of the Empire of Falastur, and is commonly referred to as "the jewel in the crown of Falastur". Indeed, the centremost and most precious gem in the crown of the Falasturian Emperor is a stunning, flawless piece of red beryl named the "Terila Stone". Terila is a thriving and sprawling city, the capital of Falastur politically, commercially and culturally. In the heart of this bustling city can be found the Imperial Palace Complex, the Senatorial buildings and the ancient ports where first English military forces, then King Matthew I himself landed to establish their dominance over the land. Terila offers stunning views of the Bay of Velarie, in the South Atlantic Ocean, and at the last census was home to over 132 million citizens, making it the largest city (in terms of population) in the Falasturian Empire by almost 90 million people.

History of Terila

Founded by the English army when they colonised the island and fortified it in 1627, Terila served for almost 75 years as little more than a village for housing the garrisoned English unit on Falastur Island. Razed to the ground twice during colonial battles over the island, nevertheless the English rebuilt Terila every time it was destroyed. At its peak under English ownership, the village was home to a mere 5,000 citizens, however it's facilities were reasonably developed. When finally the English garrison left, and the island came under the Governorship of Matthew Terila, the village proved an apt and worthy home for the new settlers. It was as the first colonist ship, captained by Matthew Terila himself (later King Matthew I) landed at one of the small jettes of the village that Terila was given its name, in honour of the Captain who had led the colonists to their new home.

Important landmarks

As should be expected in its position as the supreme settlement of the entire Empire of Falastur, Terila is home to many of the most important, elegant and extravagant places and sights in all the lands of the Emperor. By looking at many of them, the changes in culture and style from the different periods of Falasturian are quite clear, and it is indeed many of these landmarks which account for an estimated 86.4% of tourism to Terila, from the Empire and beyond also.

The Imperial Palace Complex

A stunning view of the most prominent part of the Imperial Palace Complex

Perhaps the most recognisable, most well-loved and most spectacular, is the Imperial Palace Complex, also known as the Woburn Residential Palaces (named after Woburn Park, in King Matthew I's home county of Bedfordshire, England). Sprawling over one entire district of the City of Terila, and overlapping into several adjacent districts, the Palaces are truly one of the greatest displays of Falasturian architecture ever to grace this planet. Originating as the manor of the English Governors during Falastur Island's period of English military occupation in the 17th Century, the Imperial Palaces were subsequently expanded by successive generations of the Falasturian Monarchy, at first adding on wings and annexes for necessity or comfort, but eventually creating them for tradition. Indeed, by the early 19th Century, Monarchs were judged to a lesser extent not only by Falasturians, but also by people the world over, on the scale, grandeur and style of the extensions they built to the Palaces. Within more modern and enlightened times, the continuous extension of the Palaces has faded to a much lesser significance, although the tradition is still continued. How long this will last is heavily debated, however, by the rapidly diminishing land around the Complex which can be built upon. With the history of "construction for construction's sake", it may surprise those less informed to know that today, every single wing of the Palace - now numbering some 45 in total, and covering an area of around 3.6 sq. miles - is in common usage. It was part of the policy of the recently-abdicated King William II (a policy continued and completed by his son, the current Emperor), in publicly transforming the Falasturian Monarchy from an aloof cultural "super-elite" to a modern and down-to-earth part of Falasturian society, that the Imperial Palaces, as well as many other largely-defunct buildings under the Monarchy's personal control, should be made available for uses to suit their position. The Imperial Palaces in Terila are now widely used for state functions and high-society functions. Several wings have be given over for public tours and even are in regular usage as sets for fictional and factual television and film productions.

Of course, the Imperial Palaces serve more functions than these. As should be obvious, the Palace Complex is also the home to the Falasturian Royal Family, along with their quite expansive retinue. While the Privy Council has a more extensive facility entirely devoted to their own ventures, on the Eastern side of Terila, it is often more convenient for their meetings to be held inside the Palace, and as such, several rooms have been given over solely to the use of the Council. Peers of the Realm coming for audiences with the Emperor and his Privy Council also reside here with their own families and retinue, providing them with easy and continuous access to their Monarch for the duration of their stay, while at the same time, the Complex has a wing for guests of lesser stature. With such a wide-ranging Empire of so many citizens, and with Governmental policy of grandly favouring those who make uncommon and heroic acts of valour or servitude for their country, this wing is constantly teeming with life. The various "Heros of the Empire" invited to the Palaces are allowed to live in comfort over the space of a few days, in which time they are given free access to much of Terila, and are at the end of their stay honoured with a reknowned and nationally-broadcasted ceremony in their honour, after which they are invited to dine with the Emperor and talk to him at their leisure behind closed doors. It is recognised as an honour of the highest order to be so recognised as to be personally invited by the Emperor to the Palaces for such an event. While the honour is only bestowed on the most deserving of people, with an Empire of so many citizens, and with foreigners non disqualified from winning the order, it is rare for their to be less than 200 Falasturian and Imperial citizens to reside within the Palaces for just such an occasion, during the four-month "season" during which the order is officially granted.