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Tantorin looks like this:
A political map. This map shows the provincies, their capitals and all other major cities. A physical map. On this map the hieght of the various Tantorin regions are shown. Clicking on the towns (on the full map) will reveal the landscape near that town. A road map. On this map al major roads, railroads and ferrylines are shown. The world 'map'. This is a rotating image of the world Choyova. It is quite heavy, with lots of javascripts and images, and it will appear in a new window.

That are the maps. Below you can find a description of the various provinces:

Fonin | Ilio | Indiono | Ioniskona | Porau | Rolan | Sandittin | Sildittin | Toreno
Vallona | Vildittin | Xyunova | Zeli | Zentaigo | Zentovo | Zinecon | Zortevo

Fonin

Capital: Fonin (750,000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: Wanzin (25,000 inh.)

Fonin is a quite flat province in the south west corner of Tantorin. Its capital has the same name: Fonin. The city Fonin was founded by Tiosinosian colonists, a long time ago, on the mouth of the river Dié. At first, the people mostly lived from fishing and agriculture on the fertile borders of the rivers, but soon the town evolved into an important city, especially as a transit port for other colonies upstream the river. This harbor still plays an important role in Fonin: most goods for Tantorin from the south arrive here, and freight and passengers for Tiosinoso depart here. Down town Fonin is known for its large artistic buildings, old (like the warehouse of Ilkaran) and new (e.g. the "Waterhouse", the main office of a large ownership, that looks like a water droplet). Another object of interest is the defence wall along the coast, with parts from several era's: in every big war, Fonin was mostly one of the first Targets. Against a force of an enemy this wall has never hold out very long, but it had been very efficient against pirates and other scum. In spite of its age, Fonin is spacy and open city, with lots of parks and green zones.

The other parts of the province are mainly agricultural. There's much cattle on the meadows on the river banks. The rivers itself are very busy.

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Vildittin

Capital: Alsanovil (420,000 inh.)
Other cities: Kovovil (90,000 inh.)
Other important towns: Filgatovil (7,300 inh.)

The moor-like delta of the rivers Xeras, Senan and Xeran, that makes up Vildittin, has had a scarce population over a long period of time. Even now there aren't many people living outside the cities of Alsanovil and Kovovil. Most of these people on the country side make their living with some cattle breeding, or some light industry along the Xeras. In the east of the province is one of the most beautiful national parks of Tantorin, the Xeran valley. This valley continues further into the province Zeli. Because of the difficult accessibility the Xeran valley is scarcely inhabited (except for the twon of Filgatovil, near the coast). Many rare species of plants and animals can be found here abundantly.

The city of Alsanovil at the mouth of the Senan is an old city founded by Tiosinosians, some time later than Fonin. First it was called Alsan, but due to the language reform during the reign of king Kevaro (Trevonit's successor) it was renamed into Alsanovil. The city evolved from a fishermen's town into a trading-town, a port for everything upstream Senan, including the Zeli-lake and later the city Zeli. In contrary with Fonin, there is not much space here, because of all the waters and streams in which the Senan divides itself before flowing into the sea. Therefore the city is known for it's small streets, and especially its many canals.

Kovovil is very different, it has also another history. Kovovil is much older than Alsanovil: it was the southernmost settlement of the Trrene. It's founded on the banks of the river Xeras, in the last hills of the Lanatin mountains. From the top of a hill near the city you can have a superb view over quite a lot of Vildittin. In the last days of the Trrene realms, Kvovve has become a major trading town, because Kvovve (as it was then called) wass the nearist Trrene town for Tiosinosian merchants. Also in the Santorin time Kovovil had been qquite important, because it was then one of the safest regions of Tantorin. Nowadays Kovovil is a quiet country town.

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Vallona

Capital: Ifron (150.000 inh.)
Other cities: Paldan (60.000 inh.), Kovran (37.000 inw)
Other important towns: Tirfon (9.000 inh.)

Vallona is a quiet agricultural province in the south-west of Tantorin. It's climate is quite wet, because the west wind drives up the moist air of from the ocean against the Toreno mountains to the east.

The main activity is stock-raising. Along the river Dié, that determines the landscape of Vallona for a great deal, there is some light industrie. The capital Ifron is a quiet country-town where not much happens. It was founded bij Tiosinosians who went from Fonin to the north. The river provided an easy way for transport and trading. More towards the east of the province the landscape becomes mountainous. There are all kinds of places where you can take a cure in this area, especially in the woodlands around Tirfon.

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Zeli

Capital: Zeli (1.530.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: Querion (27.000 inh.)

Zeli is one of the largest provinces of Tantorin, but at the same time the emptiest. Apart from the capital Zeli there is mainly agriculutural activity and nature. Agriculture is mainly found in the Zeli-basis. This is in fact a plateau between the Toreno mountains in the north and the Lanatin mountains in the south. At former times, the basin was filled with water: the Zeli-lake. This lake has been drained after the republican revolution. The republicans had built their new capital here, which is still the capital of whole Tantorin: Zeli.

Downtown Zeli is situated between the rivers Xeras and Senan. This rivers are navigable until the south of Zeli. Here you can find the harbour and many industrila areas. To the east of the centre are the governmental buildings, to the west are the poorer areas. Tourists are genreally advised no to come here.

Zeli is an enormous city. Next to the more than one and a half million inhabitants it contains also the Tantorin government and many other importan institutions. There are many attractions: from the theatre at Tavotil square to the enormous television and radio tower watching out over Zeli from the top of one of the mountains. There are also several musea: the renowned museum of international art, and the Tantorin museum of sculptures. There is much to see and to do. There are many opportunities to go out, and Zeli's got a large number of excellent restaurants.

The only other town of some importance in the province of Zeli is the village Querion, about halfway Zeli and Zinono. This is a quiet agricultural village, which attracts a little tourism. Here you can find also many large landhouses of rich citizens of Zeli and Zinono who spent their spare time here.

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Porau

Capital: Porau (610.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: none

The province Porau is mainly occupied by its capital, the city of Porau. This city is situated on the spot where the Ardo-Dié channel connects to the river Dié. Several centuries ago, before the channel had been dug, Porau had florished: goods from Fonin to the north had been transported by boat to Porau, where everything had to be put on wagons. Then the transport had to continu over land to Zicon, where it was loaded on ships again. To speed up the proces of transportation, the decision had been made to dig the Ardo-DIé-channel. Now the boats could go directly from Fonin to San Fildé, Don, Ilio or San Poran.

For the Tantorin economy as a whole it was a good idea, but not for Porau. During the building of the channel many labourers came to Porau to help with the digging. When the project was finished, 14 years later, there was no job for all these people. Also the merchants had less to do: the ships could go one and hadn't to stop at Porau. With increasing unemployment also the crime rate increased, and Porau was avoided more and more. Later there were some tries to draw the upcoming industrialization to Porau. This was only partly succesful: many heavy industries settled in Porau (which is still there), but the poverty and criminality stayed. Porau is still the city with the highest crime rate of Tantorin.

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Toreno

Capital: Ixinio (230.000 inh.)
Other cities: Ixando (94.000 inh.)
Other important towns: Meditoreno (19.000 inh.)

The major part of the Toreno mountains is situated in the province Toreno. Therefore it's not very surprising that Toreno is a mountainious province. The eastern part is rough and inaccessible. More towards the west is one of the main north-south connections of Tantorin: the road from Zeli to San Fildé, via Ixando and Ixinio. Between those two cities are two broad valleys, the northern and southern Toreno valley. They are separated by the mountainridge of the Toreno-pass. In former days all the traffic between Ixinio and Ixando had to go over this high pass (2412 meters above sea level), but nowadays there are large tunnels for all the road and railroad traffic.

As can be read in the history section, were the Toreno valleys the central part of the Trrene-realms. Especially in Ixinio there still many things left from that period. Very famous is the royal palace of Ixinio (Ssinne in the Trrene time). This palace has been used since ancient times. First the Trrene-kings like the legendary Lsanne lived here after the Falgaryan conquests the palace hasn't been used for a long time, until king Trevonit restored it in its glory and used it again as his main seat. After the revolution and the death of the last king it hasn't been used as governmental building anymore. Nowadays all kinds of companies of offices there, and parts are open to the public as museum.
In Ixando itself no traces are left from the old Trrene days: the city Ssande (as it was called then) had been utterly destroyed. Just outside Ssande some ruins can still be found.

The main economical activity of Toreno is tourism, in the summer as well as in the winter. Especially the small town of Meditoreno is known for wintersports. It is just below the Toreno pass, so it is quite high, but still good reachable, and the snow chance is very high.
In the east of the province some mining activities can be found, mainly for iron ore. The ore is then brought by train to the heay industries of Indiono

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Zentovo

Capital: Zinono (790.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: Kiflano (19.000 inh.)

Zentovo is a long province on the east side of Tantorin. Especially the northern part is quite dry: the main wind direction is west, so all the rain falls on the westside of the Toreno mountains, and not on the eastern side. Only in summer the wind is sometimes southeast, and sometimes brings moist air along. The landscape mainly consists of highlands covered with heath. It is not very surprising that this part of the province is very scarcely inhabited. Only in the Zinono area, it is somewhat better: first the river Nièno flows here, second, there is a gap in the mountains to the west: the Zeli bottom. Through this the west wind can blow uninhibited. The southern slopes of the Nièno are very well suited for growing the Tavali-plant, of which the well-known Tavali-whine is made.

The capital Zinono consists of two parts, which have grown into one big city. In Zino, on the northern shore of the Niènomouth, you can find the modern centre of the city, the economical and institutional heart. On the other side of the many bridges over the river, you'll find a very different town. The narrow streets and the old buildings give this part of the city a somewhat pover look. Here is the cultural centre of the city: the concert halls, the theatres, but also many street artists and ateliers of national and international artists.

On the southeast coast of Zentovo are the several fishermen's villages, of which Kiflano is the largest, under the Orceva Tarvos (the 'lighthouse mountain').

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Zinekon

Capital: Zicon (470.000 inh.)
Other cities: Tonedo (110.000 inh.)
Other important towns: Son Picasso (17.000 inh.)

Zinekon is situated in the hills in the western part of Tantorin, between the long ridge of Rolan to the north, and the Toreno mountains towards the southeast. The province is more or less cut in half by the river Ardo, which also origins here.

The province capital Zicon has been founded in the late Trrene time. Colonist came from Snne Pgase along the Ardo, until the river bends back to the east. Here they build Shgone. Why the colonists left Snne Pgase is not known; according to some people they were banished. Later has Zicon been captured by the Tiosinosians, who called it Zicon.
The beginning of the trade routes along the Ardo and the Dié was a glorious time for Shgone, just as Porau. After the building if the Ardo-Dié channel, which had set in the demise of Porau, was not that dramatic for Zicon. Today Zicon is quite a quiet city, where not much happens. Only in the summer there is more activity in Zicon: now and then noisy bands of surfers and the like come to Zicon to risk their lives in the enormous waves along the coast of Zicon. It's good that the famous high dunes (up to 150 m!) of Zicon exist.
The second city of Zinekon is mainly a dormitory town. Most of the people who live here work in San Fildé or Zicon. From the southern border of the city, you have a superb view over the river to the high peaks of the Toreno mountains, whose slopes rise immediately behind the river.

In the southeast of Zinekon start the Toreno mountains. Here can also be found the touristic place of Son Picasso, near the one-but-highest mountain of Tantorin: the Orceva Picasso on 3384 m above see level (The highest is the Orceva Sonté, in the province of Sandittin. In the summer Son Picasso is visited by large amounts of mountaineers, in the winter by skiers. In the Trrene time it had been a fortress, called Snne Pgase. This fortress is still in quite a good shape, and can be visited. Near Son Picasso is also the origin of perhaps the most important river of Tantorin, the Ardo.

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Sandittin

Capital: San Poran (250.000 inh.)
Other cities: San Fildé (890.000 inh.), San Tomé (98.000 inh.), San Podo (45.000 inh.)
Other important towns: San Tirano (17.000 inh.), San Spryx (11.000 inw), San Sonté (8.000 inw)

Sandittin has a very diverse landscape: mountains to the south, a large river flowing through the north of the province, hills, beaches and rocky shores. In the north is the beginning of the long Trencera il Ardo, 'The hills near/upon the Ardo'. Sandittin is just a little smaller than the former kingdom of Santorin, the origin of the modern Tantorin. This was also birth place of the first Tantorin king, king Trevonit. Now Sandittin is one of the important places of the Tantorin economy, together with Indiono, Ilio and the capital Zeli.

Although San Poran isn't the biggest city of Sandittin, it is its capital, probably because San Poran is much older than the larger San Fildé. San Poran has been founded by brave Tiosinosian colonists who went by ship along the coastline of Tantorin. After a long time they first discovered Shone on the mouth if the Niçno, which is now a part of Fonin. San Poran is not as rich and extravagant, but it has the same open structure.

San Fildé is biggest place of Sandittin. It is a busy town. Because of its central position it is the most important Tantorin town regarding commercial activities. The university of San FIldé is very well known for its economical and juridical branches. It is a new town, in Tantorin history as well as her looks. It hasn't grown into a city until the declaration of the republic of Tantorin, because the republicans had there headquarters here. This happenend a few centuries ago, but older buildings are often torn down in order to build new ones. Only the area around 'Republic's Square' is kept in its original shape.

A larger difference between the busy San Fildé and the quiet San Tomé is nearly unthinkable. San Tomé is a small town in the hills to the west of San Poran. In contrary to San Fildé is San Tomé very old. It had once been founded by colonists from Akke by the name Tmme, and has never played a important role in Tantorin history. It is not situated along the route through the important historical cetnres, like Ixinio and Aquyo. If it hadn't been necessary for the ships to build the Tomé channel, the city would have been degraded to a dormitory town for San Poran and Ardosil. Now there is still some industrial activiy

Along the southern borders of Sandittin one the highest part of the Toreno mountains can be found. Here the highest mountain of Tantorin can be found, the Orceva Sonté, on 3407 m above sealevel. Near the Orceva Sonté the touristic place of San Sonté can be found. To the east of this town is the small miners town of San Spryx, to the west is the regional centre San Tirano. This was just like Son Picasso an old Trrene fortress.

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Rolan

Capital: Rolan (540.000 inh.)
Other cities: Novondo (270.000 inh.)
Other important towns: Ertego (31.000 inh.)

Rolan is a big province in the northwest of the main island Melodan. It is a hilly province where it rains quite frequently. Rolan is sometimes called the granary of Tantorin. The landscape is marked by large corn fields. To the north of the province the land changes to graslands. The west coast is often infested by heavy western storms.

The city of Novondo is build in a very unimaginative way, and the hole city has a dreary atmosphere. Rolan has an old town centre with a large fortress, from the time it was the capital of the kingdom of Rolan during the Santorin time.

Ertego, in the most northern point of Rolan, is a nice little town. It is situated on the mouth of of the river Squeran. From here the ferrylines to Xyunova go. The Trrene knew Ertego as the city of Rtege. Since then it has been sometimes a trading post, but more often a military stronghold.

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Ilio

Capital: Ilio (590.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: none

The province Ilio is situated between the provinces Rolan and Indiono, and the big bay of Ilio. The north of the province is agricultural, just as Rolan, the south around the capital Ilio is very industrial. Half way along the coast rocks change into a sandy beach. These beaches are favourite touristical attractions within Tantorin.

Ilio, once Lle, is a very old trading town at the river Don and the bay of Ilio. Nobody knows when Ilio, or Lle, had been founded, but the oldest resources already name the city. Ilio has been destroyed many times, most utterly during the 4th world war, and later resurrected. From the old Lle, not much is left. Later the city is resurrected and it has become a very moern an dbeautiful city. It is the first city of Tantorin that has all its major traffic routes underground (except for the river Don). This has the big advantage that all the goods transport to the harbour of Ilio doesn't have to go through the city. Furthermore is Ilio well known for its high tech

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Indiono

Capital: Don (1.030.000 inh.)
Other cities: Freyxy (310.000 inh.), Aquyo (85.000 inw)
Other important towns: Yntando (28.000 inw)

Indiono contains the largest industrial centra of Tantorin, around the river Don, a large side arm of the the Ardo. The flatlands west of the Don has been wetland for a very long time, and has been dried not long ago. To the west the land evolves into the hills of Zinekon and Rolan. Most towns in the center of Indiono are not very old.

The biggest of these newer towns is the province capital Don, the second city of Tantorin. The area around Don is pretty poluted, because lots of heavy industries have settled here. The mining products of the east Toreno mountains are also processed here. Other industrial centres are the village Yntando and the ancient city Aquyo along the Ardo.

Aquyo is situated on a place were the Ardo is, still, very broad and shallow. Nowadays a gutter has been dug to allow ships to pass the spot. However, the main route is still through the Tomé channel through San Tomé. In past times this was the only fordable place between in the Ardo between Son Picasso and San Poran. To make thngs easier, a large stone bridge was built in Akke, as Aquyo was called in those days. This has been the only bridge over the Ardo for a long time About this bridge a large epos has been composed in the days of Trevonit, called the Akke. A part of bridge still exist, as part of a modern pedestrian's bridge.

To the west of the industsrial area, at the onset of the hills the old fortress Freyxy can be found, the former Freisse. In Santorin times, Freyxy didn't have a good reputation: in those times it was the capital of the small state Selvarna, which was an infamous refugee spot for criminals, bandits, and other scum, whose hobby it was to attack merchants and small cities.

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Sildittin

Capital: Stonosil (280.000 inh.)
Other cities: Ardosil (500.000 inh.), Zenovosil (48.000 inw)
Other important towns: Mirtenasil (14.000 inw)

Sildittin is a stretched province in the north-east of the isle of Melodan. The province resembles much to Rolan in the other "ear" of the island. Still there are differences

The capital Stonosil in the most northern point of the province, hasonce been founded by Mosenian colonists, who arrived via the islands Zentaigo and Ioniskona. Those who comes from the south to Moseno, will notice that the city looks quite different from Tiosinian cities like Fonin anbd San Poran. Although there is space enough, the streets are narrow and the houses are built close together. The city makes a bit of a chaotic impression, but it is a nice place to be. Stonosil has always been a fishermens town, and still a large part of the Tantorin fishing fleet comes from Stonosil. Therefore Stonosil has a harbour, but it is small compared to those in Fonin, San Poran, Ilio or Infando. Stonosil is also the departure point for the ferry to Ios on Ioniskona.
In contrary to Rolan has sildittin more woodland, especially on the hills crossing the province from south to north, the Trenceva il Ardo. The place were the Ardo breask through the Trenceva il Ardo, on the southern border of the province you can find the largest city of Sildittin: Ardosil. Ardosil is also an old Trrene city (Rdosse), and therefore has again a very different character compared to Stonosil. Because it is situated on the eastern side of the hills, it is a sunny town, with sunny people. The Ardo gorge is a nice place attracting many tourists.

Zenovosil is the last town in Sildittin. It is know for two things. First the anormous amounts of people infesting its beaches in summer, and second the enormous forts that have been built in Santorin times. Zenovosil was then a town on the southern border of Taseno. To make a big impression and to protect the city the Taseni built huge defence walls. Some sources say that even in Santorin times they were regarding as ridiculous large. These works can still be admired.

In contrary to the sandy west coast, the easern coast is rocky and has steep cliffs. ALong this east coast the village Mirtenasil can be found.

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Xyunova

Capital: Yxyuyano (140.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: Xyryk (33.000 inh.), Alyxys (13.000 inh.)

The island Xyunova is more or less parted in halves by a quite high mountain range. The west is covered with a large wood, the eastside is the province Xyunova, through which the river Xyuvo curves. Xyunovians have never felt very Tantorin. In the Trrene time was Xyunova already regarded as a mysterious country, and people weren't sure if it even existed (just like the trading town Jolsse at first, on Ioniskona). Even king Trevonit didn't succeed to merge Xyunova into the new Tantorin. This would happen about two-and-a-half century later, under king Vademon. Xyunova is the only island on whole Choyova where the language Tyryllak is spoken. This language has some connections with the old Trrene, next to a big Falgaryan influence. It doesn't resemble much to Tantorin, so most Tantorins don't understand it.

The province capital Yxyuyano is situated at the Xyuvo mouth. It is a city with a nice atmosphere, with lots of canals, parks and sunny terraces. If you walk through the centre of Yxyuyano, you get the impression to be on another world, or at least in another country. Another town that looks just as exotic is Xyryk. When Xyryk was called Shirke, it was the capital of Xyunova, and that's still visible. Its inhabitants still feel that Shirke is the true capital, and Yxyuano (in former times Sse Jane) is "only" the harbour of Xyryk, although it is ten times as large. The last town worth mentioning on Xyunova is Alyxys. Alyxys is the holiday hotspot of Tantorin, especially among young people it is incredible popular. They come here to lie in the sun, to be on the water, to climb in the mountains and to party.

Behind the mountains you can find the large wood of Xyunova. This is a wild and highly unexplored area. The only official human buildings are a few scientific research station and army camps. The wood of Xyunova is mainly inhabited by trees, animals, a few excentric individuals and some criminal groups. This wood is also the scenery for the famous stories in The forest of the other side

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Ioniskona

Capital: Iofono (350.000 inh.)
Other cities: Iolos (51.000 inh.)
Other important towns: Ionedo (22.000 inh.), Ios (5.900 inh.)

The province Ioniskona covers the whole island Ioniskona. It is a rough island, with high mountains and steep slopes. It is scarcely inhabited: except for a few places along the coast, only a few hermites and shepherds live here. The only place to built roads on this island is the southern coast, except for the treacherous, steep and curved road from Iolos on the northern shore to Ionedo in the south.

De cities of Ioniskona are generally cramped and gloomy. Most houses are built with the grey stone of the island. Iofono is situated around a small bay, and around this bay the houses are stacked against the mountain slopes. The second city of Ioniskona, Iolos, looks much the same. It had been a big trading town called Jolsse. Many Melodan-Trrene believed Jolsse was some mythical place and didn't exist. It rteally did, however, and the temples devoted to the gods Panne, Tsserenne and Llinne can still be visited, as wel as the temple for the sea-god Josnne.

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Zentaigo

Capital: Infando (400.000 inh.)
Other cities: Kuados (88.000 inh.)
Other important towns: none

The province Zentaigo consists of the island Zentaigo, except for a small area around the city Zortevo. Zentaigo is a pretty flat island. The only mountain on the island (1293 m) is nearby Zortevo. The capital of Zentaigo is the city Infando, in the most northern tip of Tantorin. It has been founded by Mosenian colonists in the late Trrene time. The difference between Infando and Fonin on the other side of Tantorin is obvious: Fonin is open, with large buildings and lots of space, whereas Infando has narrow streets and small shops. Although there is space enough, Infando makes a packed impression. Just like Fonin has Infando a large harbour. Lots of ships from Moseno and Abero arive here but also from far-away places like Firno Teni and Saidon.

The other city, Kuados, is situated on the south east point of the island. Kuados is also a Mosenian city, but it looks less like one. Just like Alyxys and Zenovosil are the beaches a very important part of its economy. While the young people go to Alyxys in summer, the older generation goes to Kuados, to see and be seen. Having a second appartment in Kuados is for some people a kind of status symbol, for others the summum of decadence.

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Zortevo

Capital: Zortevo (910.000 inh.)
Other cities: none
Other important towns: none

The province Zortevo only consists of the city Zortevo and a small part of the surrounding countryside, on the northern island Zentaigo. In the Trrene time Zortevo was known as the town Shrteve. When the Moseni came from the north, they conquered the city, and renamed it to The city increased tremendously and now it is a big industrial town. From the nearby Verceva Takala, the eagles hill, gives with good weather a beautiful view on Zortevo. The summon of the hill, the highest point of the island, is already in the province of Zentaigo.