Feydeau Island
Demographics
Compared to its cosmopolitan neighbor, the wealthy district of Feydeau is much more restrictive, a combination of Bretoned, Anjevin, Gallian and Akitanian nobility, mostly those with holdings in the larger County of Naoned.
Some Tuatha de Danaan have risen to the ranks of the nobility or upper class merchants, but almost no Korrigan or Formorii live in the district, save for Boudics working as domestic servants and the occasional Gargoul squatters.
Government
Feydeau is a collection of nobles and wealthy merchants operating with unmatched levels of autonomy within their holdings, answering only to the Duke's authority, at least officially.
Day to day administration is overseen by the Council of 18, 3 of whom are drawn from the District. The nobility and the Merchants each elect a representative every 7 summerrules, while a representative is chosen by the Duke as the third, typically a close relative of the Duke. Feydeau is a stronghold of the nobility, with all three representatives usually having some ties to the noble classes. As a result, it typically has a strong political rivalry with the guild controlled Vineport.
Defences
Located fully within the city, the district holds no ramparts of the city within its territory, although it does possess some rivergates on smaller canals and rivulets. The district is one of the more heavily patrolled, with the private security of the nobility supplementing the well-funded city watch and high-end Brassgaurd. While this ensures that noble assets are well-protected, this protection does not extend to the heavily trafficked main roads, which are a favourite hunting ground for thieves and cutpurses, earning the Pont du Vin the moniker of "Thievesbridge", which takes on double meaning when applies to the eager toll-collectors stationed there.
Industry & Trade
The direct income of Fourbridge comes from its control of the river crossings, but most of the wealth of the region comes from outside the district, from industries located in the other districts or outside of the city. The district is primarily residential, home to the nobility and wealthy elite of the city, who maintain luxurious homes and gardens on the island.
Infrastructure
Feydeau is a collection of smaller islands, many of which have been joined or expanded upon by landfill, solidifying the ground. A complex network of sunken pilons, rafts and granite slabs serve as the foundation the allows the heavy and ornate mansions of the elite to be built above.
In addition to smaller bridges within the district, four main bridges connect it with other regions, giving it the moniker Fourbridge. These bridges serve as the main overland connection across the Liger, a circumstance that the nobility has taken advantage of with fares and tolls.
Underground plumbing is well-developed on the island, with drainage from the sewers emptying out into the river below, largely buried from sight. Running water is common in the district, which is also served by a blackwater network.
Several small private windspires and river docks are found on the islands.
Assets
The district, located at a critical crossing of the Liger River, connects the North and South banks by a series of four bridges, giving the district its nickname. As a result, the nobility and wealthy merchants that control the district earn a sizeable income from the land traffic that passes through.
Guilds and Factions
Under Construction.
History
Originally a poor slum on a rocky islet, Fourbridge long stood opposite the then affluent Mask District. The buildings on the island often sagged and warped on the unstable, marshy ground.
As the port grew, the nobility turned their eyes to the island and seized it from the peasantry, establishing it as a district of wealth and prosperity away from the hustle and bustle of the constant flow of traffic and ships. The poor inhabitants were pushed out further to the edges of the city. Wooden pilings and rafts were driven into the ground to serve as a foundation for the stone mansions and keeps that rose over the island, which was continually expanded with landfill.
Tourism
Fourbridge has earned a reputation as a destination in Naoned, a combination of its control of the major overland routes across the river and the opulent wealth on display. Several large, paved thoroughfares cross the islands, which opens up in large plazas, squares and parks. Public works such as fountains and monumental statues celebrating the city, and its wealthy patrons, are placed in conspicuous locations.
Architecture
Like the Quai de La Fosse before it, Fourbridge has built up a reputation for opulence. Well-crafted structures of stone and half-timbering line the two main roads, packed with upscale merchants and highly recognized artisans, which open up into grand plazas. Down the side roads, the district opens up considerably, with large manorial houses with opulent decor and numerous outbuildings dominating the space. These are often accompanied with private gardens and parks, even some private lagoons, channels of the river dammed off from the main flow.
Geography
The District of Feydeau Island is a misnomer, containing not just the island itself, but dozens of smaller islands, which serves as the private refuges of the elite. Connected via decorative bridges or entirely cut off, the public rarely travels to these, which are used primarily for residential or entertainment purposes, with some restricted to the use of a single estate.
The primary island sits between the Erdr and the Liger Rivers, located at the Eastern edge of the Quai de la Fosse before the Liger widens into the sea. Feydeau Island is often called the heart of Naoned, located at the edge of several districts, connected by several bridges that span the rivers. To the Northwest, the Pont du Vin, also known as Thievesbridge leads to the Bourse de Naoned and the Place du Vin, the largest wine market in Naoned, the gateway to the docks on the Northern Bank of the Liger. This bridge is the most heavily traffiicked and is packed to the brim on market days. To the Northeast, the grand Pont du Duc leads to Place de Alan II, the central square of the city and home of the Ducal Palace. The Pont de la Poissonnerie, located to the Southwest of the island, leads to the fishing docks that line the Southern Bank of the Liger. Lastly, the Pont de Belle-Croix leads to Gloriette Island, a priory and hospital run by the Southern Church.
Alternative Name(s)
Fourbridge
Type
District
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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