Fortalesi

Fortalesi is among the oldest and largest city-states of the Republic of Volusia, and is first among them in prestige. It has tended to take the lead both in governance and military affairs, and has historically been the driving force behind many of the Republic's policy priorities. Unlike most of the Republic's other states, Fortalesi has a sizeable agricultural acreage capable of supplying the city with much of its grain and produce, making it somewhat less reliant on trade to meet its basic sustenance needs. The city of Fortalesi has an extensive administrative infrastructure with many fine government buildings dating back to the days of the Ruveran Empire, and it is generally viewed by outsiders as the "capital" of Volusia although officially the Republic has no fixed capital.

The Fortalesi tend to be hard-headed and pragmatic, and flexible in accommodating themselves to geopolitical reality. They also see themselves as naturally standing at the center of the Republic, an attitude resented by the other city-states. The Fortalesi were in fact initially reluctant to join the Grand Alliance, feeling that doing so would weaken their dominance in the region. However, they were eventually persuaded that remaining outside it would constitute the greater threat, and with characteristic subtlety they have since worked diligently to bend the Republic towards their own interests.