City of Suza
"They have fortune in everything. Fertile soil, pleasant climate, no foreign threats and flourishing trade. If they had a ruler to match these blessings they would be a power indeed."Suza is the largest city on the Island of Suza, and is also known as "Seelaa" (the island of Suza is also often confusingly refereed to as "Seelaa"). It is among the largest of the Free Cities, boasting a population is excess of 50.000. It is famed for its wealth and beauty. It sometimes nicknamed the "ocean's moon", or the "silver city".
Demographics
Suza is a truly diverse city. Humans constitute a slim majority of the population, but halflings and gnomes are significant minorities. There are also several thousand orcs and half orcs in the city, along with several hundred elves and half-elves. A smattering of other races can also be found within the city.
Suza is a city of significant wealth, and true destitution is rare although not none-existent. A large part of the population is engaged in horticulture and agriculture. The large Royal Silver Mine also employ several thousand people, and the nearby marble quarry employ hundreds more. The workers here are mostly human and orc. The city's halflings are most often associated with the horticulture in the city's outskirts, while its gnomish population is heavily involved in the various artisan guilds. The city's elven population are largely associated with the South Sea Company which has a branch office in the city, and which also owns the city's large shipyards.
Government
The City is ruled by a Grand Council consisting of all the prominent citizens of the town. These are considered to be the various Guild Masters, the heads of Merchant Houses, prominent clergymen, along with prominent members of the Navy and Mayoral Guard. All in all the Grand Council consists of around 60 members, of which around half are representatives of the guilds.
This council normally meets weekly to discuss salient issues. Its main purpose is to make recommendations to the Lord Mayor and his advisors, and to approve an annual budget.
The city's services are mainly funded through fines, tariffs and taxation on essential goods and services. Due to the fortunate geographical position of the city, and its lack of a standing army and historically small navy, the tax burden on the average citizen is normally comparatively low. In times of need extraordinary taxes are levied, and "voluntary contributions" from the guilds and merchant houses are expected. The recent Union War has challenged these assumptions, and led to a more harsh tax regime.
Laws in the city are enforced by a variety of organizations. Breach of religious laws are normally a matter for the various knightly orders. Breach of trade laws or guild rules are dealt with by the relevant guilds, while breach of the city's common laws are a matter for the Lord Mayor and his "Fire-men" - the city guards distinctive for their capes embroidered with the image of a roaring fire.
Defences
The city no longer maintains city walls. The remnants of the old city walls from the Imperial period are still visible in some places, but no longer serve any defensive purpose. The city's primary defense consist of its fleet, and the Lord Mayor's friendship with the powerful Duke of Ciello.
Armed forces of the city:
The city guard: Popularly called the "Fire Men" for the distinctive capes they wear, which are embroidered with the image of a flame. The fire men are the police force, fire brigade, and town militia of the city. They consist of around a hundred professionals and a larger number of "part-timers" who are called up when needed. In times of crisis ordinary citizens can be conscripted into this organization for a limited period. The Guard is jointly funded by the City Council and the Lord Mayor, although the Lord Mayor is responsible for appointing the guard's officers, granting him a good deal of power over the organization.
The Marines: In peacetime Suza maintains a small navy, which has been greatly expanded during the current war. Each galley in the fleet is required to embark a certain number of professional soldiers for use in boarding actions and amphibious operations. These are the Marines. In addition to service aboard ships these men also man the Blue Fortress and some other smaller fortresses outside the city. Much like the guard these men are jointly funded by the city council and the Grand Viscount. However, as these men are drawn from across the entire realm of Suza, they are also founded by the smaller towns and nobles. As such the Grand Viscount has less power in appointing officers. The Marines are largely considered an apolitical organization as a result.
The Houseguard: In addition to the former forces the Grand Viscount maintains a personal "elite" bodyguard drawn primarily from his landed holdings. These are the Houseguard. Personally equipped and trained at the expense of the Grand Viscount, and loyal only to him. They guard the Grand Viscount and his palace.
Industry & Trade
The Royal Silver Mine is the most profitable enterprise in the city. It was founded by king Nebi in the 3rd century. Silver from this mine is converted into coinage at the Old Royal Mint in the city, or else sold and exported. The mines are "administered" by the Lord Mayor on behalf of the absent king. In modern times this is no more than polite fiction.
The Marble Quarry is not owned by the Lord Mayor, but instead collectively by the city's older guilds and temples, with profits split between them. The quarry was traditionally worked by slaves, but is today worked by the prison population from across the island. In truth this is not so great a change.
Shipbuilding is another major activity in the city. Florian Shipyards lies at the northern edge of the city, and specializes in building large modern merchant vessels. The shipyards were once owned by the Lord Mayor, but were sold to the South Sea Company in 1007 IC.
Districts
Citàregal - "The Royal City" is the district stretching from the Grand Plaza by the seaside up to the slopes of Mt Neva where the Lord Mayor's Palace overlooks the city. Between the two lies Nebi's way, alongside which the guild houses and the temple to Sol the Merciful stand. This is the city's political heart and its wealthiest district. Most of the city's elite live and work here.
Viapietra - "Stone Road" is a district stretching south from the grand plaza to the Blue Fortress. It hosts the docks belonging to the city's fleet, as well as its small garrison, the headquarters of the city guard, along with the South Sea Company office. A large bathhouse, a gift from a Republic Praetor to the city, can also be found here. The district is known by its name the "Stone Road" due to the presence of many stone buildings here, in contrast to the rest of the city, which is primarily built of wood or burnt-mud bricks.
Pozzi - "The wells" is an area south of the Viapietra. Its freshwater springs is the city's main source of fresh-water. Many citizens make a daily pilgrimage here to collect water. The "Mayor's Copper" paid to fill a jug at these springs is a much derided tax among the city's poorer population.
Caseisiav - "The Slave Homes" is the district directly south of the Citrèagal and west of the Viapietra. The name comes from its historical association with slavery. In past centuries it was here that the slaves who worked in quarries and mines were kept. Today the district is home to many of the city's poorest.
Fangodargento - "Silver Mud" is the southernmost district of the city and is almost a town unto itself. It houses the workers of the Royal Silver Mine. While the mine itself lies on the foothills of Mt Nera the housing for the workers lie on a flat plain which is often flooded. Either by overflow from the nearby freshwater springs, from rough weather on the oceans, or from the autumn rains.
Lincarne - "The line of Flesh" is the smallest of the city's "districts". It is a single straight street stretching directly north from the grand plaza. Here can be found many of the city's brothels, taverns and smoke-houses. It is a place of vice and sin, frequently visited by visiting sailors and merchants. To enter the street one has to pay a silver coin, and this tax is a significant source of income for the city's government. Embarrassingly the Common Guild Hall is also located on this street.
Vecchia - "Old" is the area surrounding the city's most mysterious building, the Ziggurat. This ancient building is far older than the traditional age of the city itself. It is surrounded by a large park, which is frequently visited by the city's youth, for various recreational activities. A smattering of shrines and temples to lesser deities litter this space. Most significant of these is the shrine to Nera, the spirit of the volcano which looms over the city.
Cattiodori - "The Bad Smells" is a district north of the Vecchia. It takes its name from the presence of the city's tanneries and the meat-market within this area. The city's Fish-Market is also located in this district.
Porto Nord - "Northern harbour" is the commercial district and the main port of the city. It is here that most merchant ships dock and unload their cargo. A great many warehouses lie here, along with taverns and inns, bars and eateries to service visiting sailors. Illicit brothels can also be found here, for those who wish to avoid paying the "Silver Price" at the Lincarne. Florian Shipyard lies in the north-most corner of this district, and is among the largest shipyards in the Free Cities.
Assets
Suza is famous for its great wealth. The soil is rich and fertile and the climate pleasant. The city maintain stores of grains and foodstuffs to weather hard times, but rarely need to draw on them. Instead they are often used to relieve allied cities when they fall on hard times. The city's treasury is said to be overflowing with silver, although wether this is true after 14 years of war is uncertain, at best.
Guilds and Factions
The City's current government could roughly be said to be divided between two powers, the Lord Mayor (Grand Viscount) and the City Council. In addition the Order of Nera and the so-called "successionists" who support the claim of the Viscount's elder daughter over his son are major players in the city.
History
The island of Suza has been settled for millennia. There were humans here before recorded history began. Scholars believe that the first humans were brought to the islands as slaves, but to whom they cannot say. The old ziggurat in the city is one of a few surviving ruins dating back to this time. Unfortunately its interior is bare, having been plundered and defaced in ages past.
The founding of the modern city is dated to around 600 BIC. The oldest foundations of the city's Blue Fortress may date from around this time. By the time of the Imperium's conquest of the Royal Archipelago the city was one of the largest and wealthiest of the cities in the area. The city fell to their advancing forces in 312 BIC and became a major base for further conquests. Little of the imperial city still remains today.
The final imperial conclave in the year 0 led to the fracturing of the Imperium. Initially the city of Suza came under the Governor of the Isles, the imperial magistrate in the area. Governor Dunorix attempted to reunite the empire, but was defeated. In the aftermath his province began splintering into its component parts. Suza negotiated autonomy from the remnant of the Imperial Province in 83 IC, and a century later the last remnant of imperial authority had atrophied away.
Disaster would soon strike the city, however. In 193 Mt. Nera erupted! The volcano had long been believed dormant, having not erupted since before the founding of the city. Yet erupt it did, causing untold devastation. Proudly independent of other cities, and without even the pretense of imperial authority remaining in the Isles, Suza was left to fend for itself. Out of the city's 30.000 inhabitants only perhaps a third survived the disaster. Pirate raids on the island and opportunistic invasions by the city's rivals finished of the destruction of the city. Only the Blue Fortress and the old Imperial Walls were later dug out of the ashes, along with the ziggurat.
The remnants of the city was conquered by Nessumontu ab Nebi in 197 IC. It was among his early conquests on the path to uniting all the isles in 234 IC. Between 202 and 218 the to-be-king had his residence in the city. During this time he built the Royal Palace (today the oldest section of the Lord-Mayor's Palace), and founded the Royal Silver Mine. The city recovered some of its splendor during this time, if not its size. King Nebi died in 258, and his kingdom did not long outlive him. With more than forty acknowledged children (and countless unacknowledged and claimed offspring) there was no clear heir. Civil War followed, and the kingdom splintered. Suza was sacked three times during these tumultuous times. A daughter of Nebi, Meresanskh, ruled the city between 265 and 302. She had no heirs, and rule of the city fell to her council and the guilds. A state of affairs which would largely continue into modern times.
During the course of the 8th century the baron of Falmer, Cyril, began a conquest of the island of Suza. By luck and skill he swiftly succeeded. To avoid invasion the city council offered him the hereditary position of Lord Mayor. Although he was initially given largely symbolic power lord Cyril accepted, and installed himself in the old royal palace. Over time the Lord Mayor would wrestle wide powers from the council.
Points of interest
The Lord Mayor's Palace is the most impressive building in the city. It is a massive complex which has grown up over the centuries as each mayor felt obligated to put his own mark on the old Royal Palace. That old palace is now nearly buried beneath the additions.
The Temple of Sol the Merciful is the largest of the temples in the city, and is maintained by the Order of Neva the Merciful daughter, an order unique to Suza. The order believes that the volcano is in possession of a spirit, a minor daughter of sol, and that by its mercy is the city spared disaster. The Order was largely responsible for converting the city to the worship of Sol, after Mt. Nera erupted in 193 IC.
A large Ziggurat is the oldest building in the city. It is built of volcanic stone from the mountain and is older than the founding of the city. Some believe it was built by human slaves in a past age. The park that surrounds this monument is a popular recreational site.
The "Historian's House" is an oddity in the city. Built and maintained by a dwarven clan out of Valammar, the building is unique for being built out of stone imported from the dwarven kingdom.
The South Sea Company Office is a new addition to the city's tally of monuments. This building was raised in the late 10th century, and is built in the elven style, with a focus on geometric lines and an abundance of lifelike statues and other embellishments.
The Praetor's Bathhouse is a large bathhouse and recreational area which was gifted to the city by an elven Propraetor who took up residence in the city in the 9th century. It features elements of the local style with elven features. It is notable for its heated baths and its indoor marketplace.
Founding Date
Ca 600 BIC
Alternative Name(s)
Seelaa, "The Silver City", "The ocean's moon".
Population
50.000 +
Inhabitant Demonym
Suzan
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
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