Macia

The City of a Thousand Islands

The City on the Water, The City of Trade, The City of Prosperity, Macia goes by many a name. From its gorgeous aesthetics to the magnificent wealth and variety in its markets, Macia is the shining jewel of Dravicci and the seat of the Macian Republic.

Demographics

Races

• Humans: 74%
• Elves: 10%
• Halflings: 6%
• Orcs: 5%
• Dragonborn: 4%
• Other: 1%

Government

The government of the Great City is left to the Mayor of the great city, his council of 10, and the Grand Chamber of the City (about 100 councilors). Law and order are efficiently enforced, including myriad laws dealing with the proper conduct of merchants, craftsmen, the selling of goods, and interactions between the orders. The ruling mayor and council are not tied to the overall government of the Republic with one exception, the Mayor is also a member of the Council of eight (basically the overseers of the Republic, making decisions not trusted to the wider elective bodies). Taxes, a thorn in many merchant's side, vary from business to business, but not paying them leads to extremely dire consequences.

Defences

The city is defended by virtue of being spread out upon several hundred islands, both real and artificial. Guard towers, sea walls, and a series of garrisoned fortresses upon the water serve to protect the city from any seaborne attacks. Land access is restricted by several heavily guarded gatehouses all along both bridges leading in, and the massive Castle Idrazza, home to the Doge.

Industry & Trade

Macia is primarily a merchant city. It produces compartively little in regards to the sheer magnitude of goods which flow through it. Thus merchant guilds are the largest and wealthiest in the city. It does have a sizable drydock to construct the mighty Macian Galleys, and the fletchers and bowyers are some of the best in Iada. Glasswork and textiles are the primary exports Macia is famous for, it imports nearly anything one could think of

Infrastructure

Macia is known to have three great harbors (two of which also function as a shipyard), two constructed by powerful merchant families and one being a holdover from its tenure as a Firaen vassal. Additionally its population is split upon many hundreds of artificial Plazas upon which entire neighborhoods. Several great cathedrals have been constructed in shows of piety and power by many of Macia's wealthiest members both past and present.

Assets

7,000 Foot-soldiers, 3,000 archers, 5,000 mercenary warriors, and 45 warships are available for the defense of the city. An additional 600+ mercenaries are available from the various houses personal armies.
It has enough stored food for six months, and water for twelve. The gold and silver in its vast vaults could ransom a great king many times over. If need be it could equip an additional 30,000 militiamen with spears, shields, and mail.

Guilds and Factions

Merchant Houses: The Three largest Merchant Houses are

• The Iacatta's, a mostly benevolent house popular amongst the military for its military spending and the commoners for funding hospitals and other charitable works. Made much of their fortune from trade with the North and the West (and even the distant continent of Mezur) as well as some military adventures. Currently lead by the merchant prince, Tristan.
• The Lodovicci. A prideful and arrogant house commonly thrust into the public sphere for its epic public projects, and terrible scandal. Made much of its money through trade with Firae and the West, as well as extensive illegal ties. Lead by the rather intense patriarch, Giacomo.
• The Vesparna. A family known to be fantastically wealthy, yet keeps to itself almost religiously. They have close ties to several powerful guilds, including bankers guild, the glass blowers guild, and other craft guilds.

History

Macia was originally settled in the last days of the Old Empire as a refuge from the turmoil of the time. It remained a fairly small fishing village for some time until it slowly grew under sequential kingdoms and owners (at one point including the Firaen Empire) into a failry prosperous trade port. Doge Bataglia the Victor (as he'd later be known) carved out Macia a land all its own, and declared the humble trade port the new capital of the Republic. Since then it has grown into one of the largest cities in Iada with wealth undreamed of by those early settlers.

Architecture

Macia's architecture is noteworthy for its prevalence of whitewashed stonework with high arches, intricate glass work, and red tiled roofs. Instead of roads, canals form the major paths of the city, with bridges connecting one of the many Palazzas, or plaza, which are like self-contained neighborhoods within the city proper. Looming over the city are spires, palaces, and cathedrals built by the urban elite, each a display of their family (or individual) prowess and grandeur.

Geography

It sits upon a series of islands off the coast of Dravicci with the river Prima emptying near where the city begins.

Natural Resources

Fish, sand, whale, and the occasional pearl.

Type

Metropolis

Population

600,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Macians

Location under

Southern Iada

Owning Organization

The Serene Republic of Macia