Mienica (my-EN-i-ka)

Mienica is one of the largest cities in the Core, as it is the Breach with the most amount of land protecting it from the Ocean.

There's a large expanse of land that sits as a crescent-moon mass in the Ocean. To the north, east, and west outsides of the island are steep cliffs to the Ocean. The south has a bay, surrounded by a curved set of rocks acting as breakers, protecting Ye Olde Bay from the rough and relentless ocean waves. Ye Olde Bay flows north and drops off into a plunging waterfall, appropriately named The Fall. To the east of The Fall is the Breech itself, the sinkhole that leads directly to The Keldris
There is an arching land bridge called the Taevsadam, which arches high over and divides Ye Olde Bay in half; the Vessadam to the south and The Fall to the north. The peak of the Taevsadam houses the airship docks, as well as connects the Queen's Land from the opening of The Throat.
The Vessadam is built of sturdy docks that house only the strongest of ocean ships. Only the bravest work as seamen, embarking across the tumultuous waves of the Ocean to trade with the other Breaches.

Less than a quarter of the population lives above, primarily on the eastern side, working and living around the Vessadam and the opening of The Throat. The rest live within The Throat or deep in the Keldris.

The city has a blessing from Melora, called the Vee Onnistus. It turns the ocean water into freshwater before it pools in the Keldris, so the base floors of Mienica have drinkable freshwater. The blessing shows Mystra's desire for Mienica to be a thriving city, the best of the Breach Cities.

Demographics

It's a huge blend of all types - high-elves, dwarves, humans, tieflings, and drow each have a significant presence across the city. Half-orc, duergar, halflings, kenku, dragonborn and dark gnomes have a smaller presence. The entire city is segmented, with each race living amongst themselves in racial ghettos for the most part, but working amongst each other well enough when needed. There's a great deal of racism and racial violence when entering each ghetto. Tieflings, duregar, drow, and some kenku live at the bottom, in the Keldris. Dwarves, elves, gnomes, halflings, and humans live among the Throat and on the Sild.

Government

The city is run by the Queen's Council which contains guild representatives within her Court, but also prominent families and others of influence.

Industry & Trade

Tattoo ink is made in the city, which is mined on The Keldris, in The Trench.

There is salt from the ocean that is extracted and sold as a spice. It's wildly loved across the Rimland and the Stratos, and a large reason why the city is such a heavy port - by both sky and sea.

Infrastructure

The main way in and out of the Keldris of Mienica is by using the lift system created and maintained by the dwarves, with very few exceptions. Travel is otherwise done by foot, through back alleys and cave systems, and isn't known to be very safe, if the path is known at all. Flying between the korrus' of the Throat is strictly prohibited, and each korrus has an alarm or forcefield between them. Each korrus is varied, both in depth, width, and population.

Districts

The Sild

- the top surface layer of the Breach, has 227 buildings. Most of the population lives on the eastern shore, the land around the Vessadam and the opening of The Throat.

The Throat

- Consists of five Korrus of buildings and bridges down the column of the Breach. It's navigated primarily by the lift system, but there are caverns to stairs that are far less safe. Each Korrus has pockets of ghettos, typically further from the Throat, that stretch into the rock. The areas become slightly more blended as one is closer to the Throat.

Korrus 1 - contains 47 buildings and three lifts. The smallest and quietest Korrus, it's primarily occupied by halflings and humans.
Korrus 2 - contains 77 buildings and four lifts. Its waterwheel provides power for Korrus one through three. It's a much more communal space, with shared workspaces and a good deal of comraderie surrounding the Wheelwright's Guild.
Korrus 3 - contains 86 buildings and five lifts. A main boast is the dual churches of Bahamut's Breath The Shrine to the Wildmother, and The Protector and Provider, which is a Yondalla-central Inn that's run by both halflings and dragonborn. There's also a monastery - House of Yrreus, which teaches the Way of the Open Hand.
Korrus 4 - contains 229 buildings and four lifts. The most populated of the Korrus, it's dominated by dwarves of The Foundry, a fortified dwarven stronghold that acts as the central hub of dwarven influence in Mienica. In the dim glow of forges, dwarves and their kin toil day and night, turning raw materials into marvels of machinery. Here, the spirit of innovation thrives, fueled by the strength and determination of the city's industrious core.
Korrus 5 - contains 158 buildings and two lifts. It contains a heavily guarded bridge to The Trench, the large jail in the center of the Throat. Korrus 5 is a place where many of Mienica’s undesirables, outcasts, and struggling citizens find themselves. It is a place of opportunity for some and a dead-end for others.

The Keldris

The floor of the city. It spreads out into the cave systems, with 470 buildings as part of the city proper. It's the lowest of the city, the urchins and the mobs do most of their work down below under the control of The Raziim, the organized criminal underbelly

The Light

The section of the Keldris under what little natural light passes through the Throat. It's a fairly blended district, and some of the more safe areas, which feels slightly contradictory as it's surrounding the prison. It's heavily patrolled due to The Ascension and The Trench, so there are safer and more reputable businesses in the district.

The Underdark - the caverns beneath the Keldris and beyond. There is a lift directly within The Trench which leads to spidering tunnels that are mined for sulfur and other minerals.

Guilds and Factions

The Raziim is a controlling faction in the lower levels and the The Keldris.

History

**Elven, Drow, and Dwarven Settlements** The early history of elves living on the Breach, dwarves living in the Throat, and drow residing in the Keldris highlights a divide between the two races due to their geographical separation and the limited communication via magical means. This separation laid the groundwork for initial misunderstandings and prejudices. And, without much travel between each area for many generations, there was very little to unite these groups. Thousands of years of infighting, even if in a cold-war style, was the result of this.
**Invention of the Elevator** The dwarves' creation of the elevator was a significant technological advancement that not only facilitated physical travel between the Sild and the Keldris but also symbolized a bridge between cultures. This innovation triggered a merging of communities and, ultimately, beginning the breakdown of some racial divisions.
**Racial Tensions** The Keldris of Mienica developed later than the Sild or the other floors due to unrestrained construction, digging, and mining in the Throat. Any work on a higher floor destabilized the one underneath it, leading to a dangerous environment for those living in the Keldris. This caused racial tensions, as elves lived on the Sild, Dwarves on the korrus of the Throat, and Drow in the ever-changing environment of the Keldris. This changed in the year 2328, when King Ezeriah created a mandate forbidding major construction on the floors surrounding the Throat. Without the environmental stress, the Keldris flourished in a renaissance, with humans and tieflings adding to the population boom. This, of course, led to some resentment from the dwarven communities, which still lingers.
**Immigration and Exploration**: The introduction of airships and the exploration of the Rimland expanded Mienica's population and demographics. Various races and half-races settling in the city brought their own cultures, languages, and traditions, leading to a melting pot of diversity.
**Modern Mienica**: The result of these historical developments is the city of Mienica, a place marked by its cultural diversity, various races, and a complex history of overcoming prejudices and working towards unity.

Architecture

The city is truly a mix of different cultures and architecture. The style changes as you go into different ghettos, signaling the shift in territory between races.

Each Korrus has sections of the floor that are rock and cavern, but much is built out into the center of The Throat. There are angled posts above to create structure and stability for the Korrus above, off which hangs signs, lights, and decorations.

There's a variety of bridges that cross each Korrus in multiple places. Some are sturdier and wider than others, with and without railings or spelled edges.

There are magical and mechanical lifts allowing for travel between the Sild, Keldris, and each Korrus in between. Nearly all elevators only go between certain Korrus (1-3, 4&5, 2-4, etc.) The main lift is called The Ascension; the colloquial name is The Scale.

Mienican Terms:
The Sild - the surface level of Meinica
The Vessadam - water harbor
The Taevsadam - sky harbor, the land bridge that arcs above the Bay
The Throat - The sinkhole that makes up the actual Breach, made up of several levels connecting the Sild down to the Keldris.
Korrus - floor/level of The Throat
The Keldris - the basement - bottom floor of Mienica
The Fall - The sinkhole at the north of Ye Olde Bay, where Ocean water plummets down to the Keldris
Vee Onnistus (vahy ON-ist-us) - water blessing - The magic of Mystra
Soola - sea salt - a major export that is sold escalationally
Clay - a derogatory term, to be lower than dirt

Economics: Weekly economy 40,000g Taxes 4,000g/week
1 & 2 - 15 gp

Type

City

Population

39,800

Inhabitant Demonym

Mienicans

Included Locations

• The Sild

Owner/Ruler

Queen Essaerae

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Ingon Taldilindar

Island size: approximately 730 square feet.