City of Vrahlis (VRAA-LIS)

The Cultural and Political Centre of Arros

The city of Vrahlis is the largest city on the continent of Arros, not just in terms of its sheer size but also regarding its population, which is well over a million people. It is also the most important port on the Mahadorian sea coast and one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world.

Demographics

A multicultural city

With the city being so large and having such a long history, it has consequently become one of the most ethnically diverse city in the world. The descendants of the Hazian colonists who founded the city and still present and while they form the bulk of the city's population, a sizable portion is made up of a large amount of other ethnicities, kavasians, Gysians and Lauralians. In Fact, ever since the events of The Fall devastated their homeland further north, the last significant groups of ethnic Lauralians now live inside the city. While these 4 groups form the bulk of the city's population, other ethnicities from lands further away can also be found inside, ike Darnians, Rumalians and Naurcians, all contributing into making the city's culture very rich and diverse.

Magic users/Mages

The population of Mages in the city is large and diverse. Most elemental Mage types have their own guild, with each of them having their own guilds, like the Stonemages Guild of Vrahlis. For Soulmages, thing are vastly different. Officialy, most of them are barred from the city, like Soulweavers and Shapeshifters but can be smuggled inside for various reasons. For the ones that aren't, like Soulstrider and Soothsayer, they still have a hard time to intergrate into the city and have a low number. Necromancers are banned from the city, just as Shadowmages.

Alchemists

Alchemists are numerous in Vrahlis, to the point where Vrahlis is sometimes dubbed the city of alchemists. They have the single largest guild in the city with thousands of members either directly involved or allied with it. Generally speaking, Alchemists keep to themselves or to other Alchemists and rarely overtly participate in the city's various public gathering, except for during elections, where they are heavily involved.

Scholars

The University of Vrahlis and its expansive library attracts Scholars from all around the continent wanting to study at the University or further their research at the library. Because of this, the city reportedly possesses the largest student population on the continent.

Indentured servitude

Since slavery was abolished more than a century ago in the empire, indentured servants came to replace the role they had previously filled. It is estimated that more than 20% of the city's population are indebted servants. Most of them work as assistant to Mages, guild workers, scholars or alchemist. Their contracts are bought, exchanged and sold at the city's old slave market square.

Mage Smuggling

Most Elemental mage types are accepted into the city, with Shadowmages being the only exception. As for Soulmages, it varies wildly. Some, like Wayfinders, Soulstridders or Soothsayer, they are accepted into the city, were they are highly in demand. Shapeshifters are officialy banned from entering the city, like Necromancers and Soulweavers. 

Shapeshifters

However, unlike the latter ones, Shapeshifters are regulary smuggled into the city. There, they are sold and bought through the black market as slaves to fight in the illegal fighting pits for the entertainenemtnt of the Bourgeois and noble folks of the city These used to exist all throughout the Kavasian Empire, but after a recent crackdown by the Empire, most operations are left in the Sister cities of the south-west, with the most prominent being Vrahlis. Once in these illegal arenas, they are slaves in all but name and are owned by their masters until they reenburst their dept. These masters also generaly own the arena they fight in.

Government

A City-State at Heart

Like other Hazian city state of the region, Vrahlis hasn't officially been independent in more than 500 years. Officially, the city of Vrahlis is under the control of the Kavasian Empire since the year 22 AC, but in practice, the city governs itself, and pays yearly taxes to the Emperor, who in return, commits to protecting the city and its vast trade network. Moreover, even while the most inhabitants of Vrahlis see the empire positively, their loyalty is first toward the city itself, not to any state who may claim control over it.

The Prince of Vrahlis

The Prince of Vrahlis is a title that directly comes from those time. It is still in use today and holds considerable sway in the city's politics, especially external politics. The prince and the Emperor of Kavasia have, per tradition, to meet at least one time in City of Kus'Quar and envoys are sent to the prince's residence at the citadel to deliver requests or gifts multiple times a year. However, the true extent of the Princes power in the city's internal affairs is questionable thanks to the existence of the Council.

The Council of Vrahlis

The Council of Vrahlis was established during the Second Age, in the year 1151 BC, in the wake of a violent pro-democracy revolution that swept the cities of the Hazian league after a crushing defeat at the hands of the Valcorian league in the War of the flaming Sea. It is a political body composed of 22 elected members ment to represent each facet of the city. Almost immediately, the most prominent organisations in the city rushed to get a candidate elected. Powerful Guilds and other organisations, like the Temple all have members elected into the council, whether through legitimate means or by good ol' fashioned bribery and corruption. Over the course of its 1500 years of existence, the Council has only grown more powerful, to the point where its influence inside the city surpasses that of the Prince.

Elections, Corruption and Foreign Influence

Elections are held every year in March for half the member, and then for the other half the next year. so that every 2 years, all the council members have all be elected or reelected. Although bribery is technically illegal, it is rampant during election season. Most members will turn a blind eye to it, and paying an assassin to prevent someone from being elected is not unheard of. It is also alleged that some members of the council have had their loyalty bought by theArbitian Mercantile republic, which is an enemy of the empire. The Emperor has send multiple requests to the prince, asking him to clean up house, yet, nothing has been done. Today, it is widely believed that the Council of Vrahlis, are the one that hold true power in the city.

Defences

The city is well known across Arros and beyond for is formidable defences. It is considered by most to be near unconquerable. This is partly thanks to its extensive defensive Infractructure, which includes very high and thick walls which are ponctuated by large and impressive defensive towers.
On top of these towers, and on others spread out into the city, large mechanical harpoons protect the skies above the city from a possible aerial attack performed with Winged ships. And of course, the heart of the city is on an island, which only adds to the complexity of conquering this impressive city. 
There is also the obviously high concentration of Mages in the city, which means that even in the event that the city is beseiged and penetrated, she would be extemely hard to occupy for any foreign army without a significant mage force within their ranks.

Infrastructure

Airport

On the eastern side of the river, just outside the city's wall is where the Airport of Vrahlis is located. Its it the largest airport in Arros in terms of docking towers that are usable by Winged ships. As much as 6 docking towers and dozens of landing spots are available for all those ships to either temporarely dock, or fully rest overnight on the landing spots. These ships come from all over the continent and even further beyond, bringing people to the city for its numerous points of interest.

Sewers

A large Sewer system run below the city's streets, which like many other sewer system in this part of the world, is accessible by square wooden trapdoors located in strategic areas. Most buildings have a basement acess to the sewer, where the residents can dispose of their wastes. Water from the river is brought inside the system and is constantly allowed to flow towards the exits, which lead downstream into the river or the Bay.

Bridges

Since the city of Vrahlis is divided into 4 broad sections separated by the two large channels of the Royn river and the Sayn river. To improve circulation between these different sections, numerous bridges were constructed to link them. The most famous of them is of course The Long Bridge of Vrahlis which spans the eastern channel of the Royn river and links the main island to the prestigious Scholar's District on the eastern shore. Most other bridge have official names, such as for example, Maqlen bridge that links the Main island to the Temple hill district on the western shore is named after Prince Maqlen, who was the ruler of the city at the times of the Topling of Haratha's hegemony. He was also the ruler who oversaw the establishment of the Council in the city.

Shipyard

Situated on the northern tip of the main island, there is a large shipyard that builds and repars boats fro both the city and in part for the Empire. It is the third largest Shipyard in Arros after the ones in Arbiro and Sargassin

Geography

The city is located on the southern part of the continent of Arros, at the mouth of the Royn river. Its main part is located on a large island that splits the royn river into an east and west channel. The island is large and its elevation is varried with the western and southern half of the island being more elevated than its eastern and northern half.
Across the fast flowing and deep western channel, the Western bank of the river is elevated and hilly. A smaller river, called the soyn, which snakes down from the Morattian hills and empties itself into the bay of Vrahlis. Half a kilometre away, an island rises from the bay, called Sunos. It is small, rocky, devoid of flat land thus and mostly inhabitable, safe for a lone Lighthouse.
The eastern channel is twice as large as its western counterpart, yet not as deep or fast flowing. The eastern bank of the river is mostly flat and muddy, safe for the southernmost portion, which is elevated and hilly like the western bank. East of the northern island, the low lying plain of the eastern bank eventually give way to marshlands. During spring, snow melts from the Alvars mountains swells the river and transforms the marshland into a temporary third channel, called the false river, as water flows down until it empties into the Little Bay, part of the eastern channel.
The Temple hill is the highest point of elevation of the city and is situated on the western shore of the river. It gets its name for the impressive Temple built on top of it, which overlooks the city. The slums sutuated near the marshlands on the eastern side of the river are the lowest point of the city. They can get flooded after a particulary snowy winter further north.

Climate

The summers in Vrahlis are hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms showering the city and cooling it off. This occurs 1 to 2 times a week as light showers move from west to east across the region during the months of April to September. The winters are warm and dry. Occasional rains coming from the north is possible, though quite rare. The city is windy throughout the year, with peaks under severe thunderstorms.

Founding Date

-1812

Alternative Name(s)

The Third Sister

Type

Large city

Population

1 400 000 people

Inhabitant Demonym

Vrahlians

Location under

Continent of Arros

Included Locations

• The Long Bridge of Vrahlis
• The University of Vrahlis

Owning Organization

Kavasian Empire

Related Traditions

• Summer Solstice Festival

Related Materials

• Vrahlian Steel

Points of Interests:

• The Long Bridge of Vrahlis
• The University of Vrahlis
• The Solian temple of vrahlis
• The Princely Citadel
• The Coloseum of Mages
• The Airport of Vrahlis
• The Magic Academy of Vrahlis
• The Bronze bank

Major Industries

• Shipbuilding: The city possess a large shipyard that builds a wide variety of ships using wood that comes down from the north, generaly from the forests of Alvaros, where the timber is procured and shipped down from the City of Hersa via the Royn river

• Blacksmitting: While the industrial footprint of metalworking in the city is relatively small compared to other industries, such as Shipbuilding, it is no less important as it generates vast amounts of wealth for the city and the manufacturers. Vrahlian steel is exported to all corners of the globe, even as far away as the Kingdom of Nan-Tao

Major Organisations and Guilds

• Stonemage Guild of Vrahlis

• Alchemist's Guild of Vrahlis

• The Steel Guild

• The Merchant Guildhall of Vrahlis

• Scholar's guild