Colectria

As the town of Colectria and the Greater Colectria province are similar things, all information regarding both and settlements within the province is archived on this one wiki page.

Origins & Fouding
The founding of Colectria is closely tied to the background story of its botan, Its_Creepe. Upon the arrival of Its_Creepe on eldham in march 2021, he founded the city of Colectria. Being a young creeper new to the world of eldham, one thing motivated him: collecting items. And so he named the city after its purpose. Later on, he constructed some of the community and mayoral buildings found on the west bank of Colecto, the river passing through Colectria.

Incorporation into Varn Torum
The city of Colectria appearing at first as a city-nation on torumite territory, diplomacy happened very quickly and efficiently to incorporate Colectria as a new province, separating itself from the province of GloomShroom, becoming Greater colectria and naming Its_Creepe as its Botan. Since then, talks with neighbouring botans have happened to create roads between the different provinces, as well as bridges and notably a 9 meter wide and 6 meter high tunnel between Colectria and Gloomshroom.

Expansion Project
After a redraw of the province's borders of Varn Torum, Colectria obtained some eastern land to the coast, and to the southwest taking the old province of Vexa. This new acquiring of land and towns lead the province government to rename it to Greater Colectria. Because of this, the fifth of February 2022, an expansion project took place, bringing together the botan, all ministers, and two diarchs to decide upon the construction of three new forts throughout the province, a Tokoran cathedral on the western bank of the Colecto river, a new and improved Town Hall and Community storage combined building, and a school.

Town Laws and Justice system
Until now, all cases of outlaws have been dealt with individually by the botan and Colectrian Guard. However, a constitution is in the writing to provide a more precise and effective way to bring justice to the citizens.

Demographics
Greater Colectria, being a province that was later acquired by Varn Torum rather than one created by toumite dwarves, presents varied species of sentient inhabitants, whether it be in its government or among its citizens. Colectria as a province or as a town doesn't have any form of advertising and recruitment system, its main source of new players being tourists visiting the region, travellers getting lost, golems waking up from slumber in a nearby cave and immigrants from various regions of Eldham. Because of its accessible and effective housing system, its high protection offered by the local Colectria military and its location in the mainland of Varn Torum with a river giving access to the seas west and south of Varn Torum, Colectria attracts many different types of people in its walls. This includes but is not limited to:

Note: Surprisingly, Axo, assistant Botan, is not an axolotl and was surprised to find out about man-like axolotls. Axo is a golemeni, having named themself after a unique underground creature they saw once and talked about with Colectrians.
 * Varnian Golemenis
 * Long-forgotten races such as Arj's
 * Varnian Creepers having "evolved" from the typical creepers found elsewhere in eldham
 * Torumite Dwarves
 * Anthropomorphic Axolotls

Local Architecture
As mentioned above, Colectria has a very simple and effective housing system. This is because of its community-oriented population and large housing area within its walls. The architecture and building style is as varied as the province's population, though mainly using locally sourced ressources, like spruce, dark oak and birch wood, along with sandstone from the nearby deserts and some clay found in Colectria's river, Colecto. The environment in which Colectria was founded has also a heavy influence on its buildings, giving the town a somewhat sense of unity. With Colecto passing through, having carved the earth for a few centuries, Colectria has a few small hills dotting its terrain, meaning most buildings are duplexes, with at least two entry points, one on ground level by the river, and another on the other side of the house, at a higher level. The local climate also forces most houses to have inclined rooftops, due to the seasonal snow.

Food and local Catering
Locals, though all having their own cultural heritage from different lands, like sourcing their nutrition in local products, namely legumes planted in the communal fields, such as wheat, potatoes, carrots, beetroots and others. This would also include plants found in the wild, such as pumpkins and wild berries in the forest, glow berries in the caves, and some watermelon brought from the southern province of Ertos. Colectrians like growing different plants and flowers in the safety of their home, protected from the cold that comes with living in a spruce forest. All of this accumulates to a very diverse palette of local dishes, notably:


 * Colectrian Winter Stew:

Composed of mainly carrots and chicken, locals enjoy adding their own spice of flavor. The stew is often slowly cooked in a cauldron, mixing the different ingredients for a few hours. After being served, this simple meal is usually accompanied by a loaf of bread, which some enjoy dipping in the stew, claiming "it's tasty, stop being a wuss ".


 * Sugar Cane Juice:

Also known as "tame mead", Sugar Cane Juice is a seasonal dish as well, only being available in spring and summer, when the river banks are warm enough to grow sugar cane. Colectrians are known to have a tendency for alcoholic beverages, however, it is sometimes preferable for them to not be drunk, since not all have a high alcoholic tolerance like dwarves. This brought Sugar Cane Juice to life, being a simpler and sweet version of mead.


 * Colectrian Toast:

The Colectrian Toast is the perfect example of the town's diversity, bringing together different ingredients not usually associated to create a new flavour. Often used as breakfast or afternoon lunch, it consists of a slice of local bread, topped with berry jam and the current season's cheese. Depending on the colectrian, the bread can be toasted and the cheese can be melting and warm.

Religions
When Colectria joined Varn Torum as a province, creating an influx of torumite dwarves along with their culture, the Tokoran Faith was accepted as the main religion of Greater Colectria.

However, the locals have started gathering around a colectrian-native cult religion, Theonosism. Landing to colectria around end-october 2021, it is based around the ancient, almost extinct, race of Arj's, and bases its beliefs and rituals around a tale of creation of the universe by an entity known as "The Creator", described as an axolotl with on eye. Upon the creation of our world, spirits emerged and are the main entities aroud which Arj's, "batpised" believers and members of the race alike, conduct their rituals. Members of the faith also believe there exists a higher plane of existence, only accesible through rituals during which Arj's inflict pain on themselves through various means. Though its members have been very secretive, hiding the exit of the temple during the first few months of it existing for example, they are planning to invite people from all over the worldwith events very soon.

With the addition of Draxsilvaria as a town of Greater Colectria, its citizens brought their own culture, folklore and religion, Draxiana. Currently a work in progress, it is a belief centered around a dragon deity, Draceona.

Folklore
Colectrian folklore is connected with the myths of Theonosism. The religion has "fed" colectrian folklore and vice versa. The stories are partially events happened in Colectria and stories from theonosists and colectrians themselves. The colectrian folklore is usually passed forward in the form of general discussions. Colectrian folklore mainly consist of creatures lurking in the wilds. Examples of these are the pilos and kilps.

Pilo
Pilos are long and extremely thin creatures with one big eye. Their known for their two jointed neck and one eye. They lurk behind cities walls in groups of three or so. They climb to trees to use as a hiding spot. They prefer big oak trees. If you try to cut down a tree where a pilo is hiding, you might get hit by an apple or a sharp stick. During the night pilos climb down from their trees and see if any gates are left open to get into the city. If they find any way in they start causing havoc.

Pilos are usually the spirits of arj´s that were outcasted from their cities and did not respect other spirits. They find enjoyment causing trouble specially to town leaders. Pilos like to frustrate people and hide their valuables.

Notable Buildings
 Underground Arena 

Though mainly used by the Colectrian Guard and V.T.L.A. for training, its mural is also a piece of art. It represents the Elsewhere War, an endless battle between Royal wolves and Cave Trolls, both varnian creatures that are documented in the varnian beastiary, as well as Tokad, Flame-Father of the Tokoran Faith, watching over the battlefield.

Note: Due to the artistic nature and cultural heritage of the arena and its background mural, the author, Axo, decided to write about it twice, here in the notable buildings section and in the military infrastructure section.

 Colectria Tavern and Hotel 

On the west bank of the Colecto is situated the local, one of its kind, Tavern and Hotel of Colectria. Selling the finest products of local artisans, from cheese to vodka (a local favorite!) passing by jam, all savours can be found, for the pleasure of its diverse clientele.

 Theonosist Shrines  Among the legumes produced in the free-of-access fields situated in the western section of Colectria, can be found a theonosist shrine built for the glory of Gaia, Goddess of the Earth. Right next to it happens to be where the theonosists decided to build their main temple, which contains multiple rooms, such as a small arena, a library, and an all-purpose central room.

 Tokoran Faith Cathedral 

Under construction with the supervision of Suey, Tokoran Faith prophet.

Military Organisation
Colectria's military is an independent organisation from Varn Torum's Land Army. More information about that can be found here.

Ranks
To join the Colectrian Guard at any rank, citizens must receive a specialised education before swearing an oath in a colectrian ceremony.

 Guardians 

The Colectrian Military is commonly referred to as the "Colectrian Guard". Being apart of it earns you the title of "Guardian". Guardians can either be Constables, Soldiers, or both.

 Constables 

Constables are tasked with enforcing the law on colectrian territory, and require a certain education to investigate crimes and hunt down outlaws.

 Soldiers 

Soldiers must first be apart of the V.T.L.A., and have received training there. The Soldiers in military service have to defend the province, patrol borders and must be usable for the V.T.L.A. at any time.

Infrastructures
In Colectria, the Colectrian Guard has a Fort surrounded by walls of cobble and spruce towering over the city walls, in which can be found different spruce buildings and facilities, namely:


 * [REDACTED]
 * [REDACTED]
 * [REDACTED]
 * An underground Training Site, commonly known as the "Underground Arena"

Colectria Port
In october 2021, Its_Creepe alongside with the colectrian Soreama founded the small outpost of Colectria Port, on the land separating Colecto and its western river sister from the southern sea near Aristios. With the main intent of developing Colectria's outsourcing and economic exchange with the rest of Eldham, it is currently housing a few shops.

Kulrum
Being the old market outpost of Vexa, Kulrum is now a small settlement with a few villagers and farmers. Its current mayor is Rag.

Old Ertos or Koozos
Ertos was the old capital of Vexa, but after being abandoned, it became a ghost-town, leading to the removal of Vexa from the Varn Torum map during a redrawing of the provinces. Cbkooz, stumbled upon its ruins and has been since then rebuilding it, managing to gather new villagers.

Draxsilvaria
After LordOrionStorm, a wandering merchant, stumbled upon a coastal plot of land, he decided to found Draxsilvaria, a settlement meant to provide him with wealth. Within Draxsilvaria can be found the Wizard Tower Of Draceona, and a nether mushroom laboratory, home to a local mad scientist.

Economy
Currently, without the constitution being in place yet, the local economy has no rules or taxes, however, the community within Colectria presents no interest in creating a black market and abusing of the lack of rules.

Local shops
Within Colectria:


 * Colectria Tavern and Hotel, as described above

 Within Colectria Port: 


 * The Greenest shop on Colectria, a moss-covered shop where can be bought a few 1.17 lush-cave related items
 * Axo's Artisan Shop, a quite large building with a small greenhouse, selling very diverse items, as cheese and jam for example