Midlan

Midlan lies in the centre of the Empire of Cytoria.  Encompassing the Eastern shore of the continent of Tessoras, Cytoria is a state separated into three, qually sized cities.  The central city of Midlan acts as the capitol of Cytoria, and is home to the largest population of humans in the known world.
Midlan is also home to the ancestral seat of power of the Cytorias clan, held by the family even today.  A family of ultimate power in Tessoras, the family rules over all three cities, and demands a high price of living from the external settlements.
Despite this daunting introduction, and despite being a Human dominated city, Midlan is a melting pot of high-society from all races in the known world.  A city built on riches, the economy of the Empire is almost fully sustained by this coastal capitol.

Demographics

The population of Midlan conists of mainly weathy people. Business owners are considered Artisans, with their respective Guilds finidng there headquarters situated here too. Those who don't own or manage businesses (those who enjoy a comfortable life of money and free-living) spend their days drinking and dining in some of the most well-presented taverns that can be found in the whole of Tessoras.
Courtiers and representatives of the ruling house of Qorinn Cytorias similarly find their living in Midlan. A defined district for members of the ruling family and their court exists in the middle of the city, with the Market, Dining, Living and Harbour districts surrounding in uneven quadrants.
Racial distribution weighs heavily towards Humans (80% of population), though there is no discrimination against any race in Midlan. Despite this acceptance, the majority of residents are Human, Half-Elf, Elf and Dwarf. The remaining races are less dominant, but there is representation from all.

Government

Taxation and Tithing are the key to sustaining the Imperial coffers.  All businesses, both existing and upon new establishment, are provided with a magical ledger, in which to write their sales for the month.  This ledger is magically linked to the master ledger in the Office of Coin.  With the information available, the General of Taxation and their team determine how much each business is to be taxed each month (equating to 20% of total sales).  Many businesses determine their prices to accomodate this tax before a sale is made.
Farms and setllements outside the wall who wish to remain friendly with the Empire make Tithes to the Ruler of Midlan, giving only that which they can afford to lose.  Tithes are less strictly policed than the taxes, but swift justice is meted upon those who miss a payment.

Defences

The Curtain A one mile high wall, 100ft thick, constantly manned by the foot soldiers of the Imperial Infantry.  It is important to note that the majority of these soldiers are conscripts, many of those eager to join to gain additional combat traning for the bi-annual "Wager". The Curtain surrounds the entirety of Cytoria, spanning from the southern edge of Tessoras, through the Ice-Crowned Highlands, all the way to the northern coast.  Splitting the landscape, fingers of the Curtain also stretch to the Eastern coast, separating the horison into three eqully-sized cities.  Each finger of the Curtain extends 300 feet into the Eternal Ocean, providing a small amount of protection from the water.
The expanse of Curtain that surrounds midlan is decorated somewhat with watchtowers and guard posts, suspended from the immense heights.  These towers and buildings are referred to in the style of a town in itself, often known as The Stalac-Towers, with the Western town also home to the Immitation Luminescence: a vast magical source of light that emits rays similar to those of the white hot sun, allowing for daylight in the shadow of the Curtain.
The Imperial Navy (The Cytorian Armada) Spanning the similar expanse of the Curtain, but in the harbours and bays of the Eastern coast, is the might and power of the Cytorian Armada.  Ships of all sizes, built for power or speed, might or stealth respectively.  The Armada is the only known sitting navy in the whole of Tessoras (the whole of Drasseryon, perhaps?)  
The Midlan Flotilla is decorated differently to the Flotillas in Heavensword and Hellmount.  The base colour is a regal purple, with the expected gold-like accents wherever metal is shown.  The sails are ornate, emroidered silk to demonstrate the vast wealth or the Empire, but also to reduce the weight of the sails (to catch the wind quicker). The smaller vessels designed for regular troop carrying and reconnaissance pass through the pseudo-barricade created by the larger warships on a regular basis.  The same is said for the fishing and trading vessels with appropriate licenses.  The armaments of the warship barricade are only loaded on the side facing the Eternal Ocean.  What they are currently aiming at, nobody is quite sure.

Industry & Trade

The Market District of Midlan is filled to the brim with the usual wares you might find in any town, with the quality pushed to the nines.  The only businesses to be found in this mighty town are manned by Artisans: masters of their craft, dedicated to elevating their wares, selves and businesses to the highest possible level.  With a town this size, competition is rife, but so far the competition is all in good spirits.
Fish are the main export from Midlan (and similarly, both other cities as well.)  What's odd is that Fish are also the primary important.  What limited number of species can be found between the Eastern coast and the Ceaseless Maelstrom are in high demand in Shuginoya to the South.  The same can be said of the inverse, with Midlan importing exotic fish and fruit from the southern continent
For the more discerning customer, Midlan prides itself on being the only stretch of ocean to house the unique shellfsih that produce Amethyst Pearls.  These extremely rare jewels provide versatiliy in jewellery options for the ihgh brow society, and for the limited number of arcane practitioners, an almost indestructible material component.

Infrastructure

Below the entire Empire of Cytoria is a vast system of sewers functioning as a simple plumbing system, to carry the waste of the cities' denizens up to the Northern shore and out into the surrounding waters near the Perpetual Freeze. Midlan's sewers are so impeccably maintained in comparison to the other two cities, that they almost gleam on a daily basis (if anybody had the bravery to descend into those foul depths.)
The top half of the finger of the Curtain between Midlan and Heavensword acts as a viaduct, transporting water from the Eternal Ocean closer to the centre of Tessoras. Though its location is shared by Midlan, its maintenance is the sole responsibility of the artisans of the headquarters of the Guild of Artifice.
One, majestic, obscene, ginormous wizard's tower is in existence in Midlan, though it solely owned by the Empire, and houses a very select number of wizards and arcane users.

Guilds and Factions

Almost every guild in Tessoras finds their headquarters in Midlan.  There are branches in all three cities, but the main hub remains in the capitol.  The only outlier here is the Guild of Artifice, which finds it's headquarters situated in the Northern city of Heavensword.

History

Midlan as it stands now has always been the Capitol of the East. Back before the war, the largest settlement in the East, known as Odonwell, found itself exactly where the Imperial Palace now stands (in the direct centre of Midlan). The first man to take the name Cytorias, Mergim, rallied the surrounding settlements together under the common banner of overthrowing the legion of bandit captains that harried and raided them so regularly. These bandits were akin to tyrants, and caused more trouble than their promises of protection were worth. The Cytorian Assembly marched forward to war, with the overwhelming benefit of having the largest concentration of arcane-inclined individuals on Tessoras. The bloodshed and dust-fall after the initial battle was immense, with the combat persisting for an entire month.
Enjoying the power and wealth of his assumed station, and riding on the coattails of a momentous victory, Mergrim convinced his new army to march through the entire continent, hoping to eliminate any opposition before it could arise.
During his campaign, Mergrim Cytorias led his armies North, into the constantly frozen wildlands (The Perpetual Freeze). There are none alive now who remember what he found up there, but what we do know is that it was so dangerous that nobody has ever ventured there since. On his way back home, Mergrim left most of his strongest arcane users on the border to the Northlands, with the sole mission of building defenses to keep the danger out, and keep his people in.
Mergrim returned to Odonwell, naming it Midlan once he arrived, and from here began to build what would become the great Empire of Cytoria, and its three immense cities.
The "final" form of Midlan, upon which the modern world is now built, was finished in 112 PI.

Tourism

"What happens in Midlan, stays in Midlan." - Some guy, probably.

Architecture

The design of the architecture around Midlan (and the basis for all three cities) is visibly medieval. Predominantly wooden buildings topped with thatch, the barebones of the city shines through. The Empire built upon existing settlements along the coast, and much of the original inspiration is still visible today. As wealth was amassed, and power secured by the family Cytorias, the good luck and good favour of the family bled through to the populace. Most well-to-do and store owners in the Capitol have modified their buildings, swapping wood for stone, thatch for tile. Garish colours abound, the better to attract more custom to the Artisans of the Market District.   It is worth noting that some purists of classical architecture place great value on securing an original, thatched building to show off to their similarly-minded peers.

Geography

The entire East coast is inhabited by the Cytorian Empire, a vast expanse of magically-flattened land separated into three massive cities. Each city has a border consisting of The Curtain on three sides, with the ocean on the fourth (with the Imperial Navy acting as a fourth defensive wall).
The only raised land in all three cities is the artificial hill that seats the Imperial Palace. (This excludes the section of the Ice-Crowned Highlands that form part of the Curtain in Hellmount.)

Natural Resources

In the city, it is extremely easy to find fish of all species, alongside shellfish and seaweed by the boat-load. Similarly, being a city by the sea, there is an abundance of salt water (useful to clerics and medical professionals for cleaning wounds). Some ocean-side establishments focus on separating the salt from the water, increasing its versatility. For the more upscale and discerning clients, with an abundance of shellfish comes an abundance of Pearls. In the ocean bordering the Empire, the unique climate and concentration of salt in the water has caused the majority of Imperial Pearls to carry an amethyst shade.
From the city's farms, outside the Curtain there can be found Livestock of all forms, wood, hay, grain: all the products of farming.
There are a handful of farms that aren't affiliated with the Empire that are attempting to perfect the art of growing spices all year round, not just in Autumn. With their extensive knowledge of spice growing, they demand a higher price in all Imperial cities, though they have negotiated a lower Tithe than the other farms, which they pay to the ruler of Midlan.

Founding Date

Odonwell founded 12 AB (Ante Bellum/Pre-War) Midlan founded 12 PI (Post Imperii/After Empire)

Alternative Name(s)

The Middle

Type

Capital

Population

3,862

Inhabitant Demonym

Middles, Middlers, The Rich Folk

Location under

Cytoria

Owner/Ruler

Qorinn Cytorias Ruler of Midlan

Ruling/Owning Rank

The Emperor of Cytoria

Owning Organization

The Cytorian Empire