Acqua Draconis

Acqua Draconis is one of the major cities of the Trading Coalition and the heart of the Duchy of Acqua Draconis. The city has historically been a rival of Vatalli, a rivalry which has only deepened with the coronation of Doge Donatello Nicomedi.

Demographics

Most of the citizens of Acqua Draconis are Human of Lurian descent.
There is a significant minority of Halfling and Dwarf citizens. Many of the Dwarves are descendants of the Dun Kuldir clanhold and immigrated to Acqua Draconis centuries ago. As a result, Acquan culture has a number of notably Dwarven elements, among them a preference for beer instead of wine and a tradition of providing enchanted daggers with the family crest to young nobles, inspired by the Dun Kuldir clan daggers. Similarly, most Acquan Dwarves practice cultural practices more in line with Lurian culture than Dwarven.
Virtually all Orcs left the nation following the Coup of 6510, although some Half-Orcs and Humans with Orcish blood remain in the rural areas, the descendants of the many Orc clans who have served in Acqua Draconis in the past.

Government

Acqua Draconis has existed as a hereditary duchy since 5945, with two ducal dynasties since: the Monaldos and the Bergalieris. The final Doge of House Bergalieri, Ricardo Bergalieri, was slain in 6510. Now, Doge Donatello Nicomedi sits on the throne.
The inheritance for the title of Doge is unclear. With Donatello Nicomedi on the throne, his first and only son, Rafael Nicomedi, would theoretically be next in line to inherit, but it is well-known that the two share no love for each other. There are persistent rumors that one of the children of Doge Bergalieri survived the Throat Crushers coup. If so, they would be the true heir to the throne, not Donatello Nicomedi.

Industry & Trade

After declaring independence from the Lurian Empire, Acqua Draconis quickly minted their own currency - commonly called "Silver Swords" (due to the emblem of crossed swords on the back). The front of the coin typically bears the portrait of the Doge. Electrum coins, then the standard of the Lurian Empire, were removed from circulation.
Taxes in Acqua Draconis follow a basic system first established during the Lurian Empire, consisting of a head tax levied on every adult, a land tax on privately owned lands, and taxes on imports. These core taxes are oftened supplemented by various other fees, including a docking fee and a toll fee for wagons. In recent years, under Doge Nicomedi, the land tax on rural farmers has increased, causing economic hardship for many. These increased taxes are to fund the Reconstruction of the city following the Coup. As the trade war with Vatalli has escalated, import taxes on goods from Vatalli have sharply increased (when they haven't been banned entirely), leading to an increase in smuggling around the taxes and bans.
Acqua Draconis is rich in mineral resources, and the warm climate benefits many forms of agriculture. North of the Rio Draconis along the coast, wine, wheat, and olives are commonly grown, while south of the Rio, cotton and citrus are common produce. The climate is notably drier inland from the coast, with ranching for leather, meat, and dairy more common in the eastern counties. Abundant mineral resources are well-utilized by the large Dwarven population. Copper is mined in the eponymous Copper Mountains, while silver and iron can be found in the mountains near Renalto in the south.

History

Prior to human rule, the land that would become Acqua Draconis was ruled by the green dragon Aryzolos. Early Lurian explorers named the bay "Acqua Draconis" due to the threat of the dragon, and the name has stuck until this day. Eventually, Aryzolos was slain by two Lurian champions.
The city of Acqua Draconis grew rapidly after the first settlers arrived in 5372, as the strategic location at the mouth of the Rio Draconis made it a key trading hub. Competition for mercantile prominence with Vatalli formed the foundation of their lasting rivalry. During this time, the city was primarily managed by a city council chosen from influential families.
In 5544, the leaders of Acqua Draconis invited the dwarves of Dun Kuldir to settle in their lands, following the second fall of their clanhold. The dwarves agreed and formed the core of a substantial Dwarven population, who have given Acqua Draconis a reputation for quality blacksmithing and masonry. Moreover, the Dwarves have greatly contributed to the local culture, with Dwarven dishes (especially ale) considered national dishes.
The colony was regularly threatened by goblin raids from the south, which led many small settlements to train local militias. The Duchy itself became reliant on condotierri mercenaries, including many Orc clans after the colonization of Fleurgurd.
Acqua Draconis won independence from the Lurian Empire in 5942 following the The War of the Eagles. A number of key land battles were fought in Acquan territory, including the First Siege of Acqua Draconis in 5934. Signore Giovanni Monaldo, then a member of the city's council, led the defense of the city, earning a great deal of influence and accolades. The Siege is remembered proudly as an example of the city's determination.
Following the war, the city council proved ineffective at dealing with the challenges facing the newly independent nation. Signore Giovanni Monaldo was coronated as the first Doge of Acqua Draconis in 5945 to restore order. In the following years, the Doges would consolidate power in the region by pressuring smaller settlements and noble holdings to pledge fealty to the Duchy.
However, the Duchy had several years of misfortune, which culminated in the Second Siege of Acqua Draconis in 6152 by a goblin horde. The Doge plead for foreign assistance. In response, the Atathian Empire sent a Legion to lift the siege of the city. In the aftermath, the Duchy became a protectorate of the Empire.
In 6301, shortly after the Demonic Invasion, Acqua Draconis declared independence from the Atathians alongside Vatalli. The Monaldo dynasty would not long survive independence and they were forced to step down by lesser nobles. Signore Niccolo Bergalieri was coronated as Doge in 6304.
In 6346, Acqua Draconis would join other leading cities of the region in establishing the Trading Coalition.
In 6510, Doge Ricardo Bergalieri hired The Throat Crushers as condotierri. After the completion of their service, the Doge refused to pay the mercenaries. Krusk Firemaw, leader of the Throat Crushers, led a coup against Doge Ricardo Bergalieri, slaying him and many other nobles. Krusk declared himself Doge of Acqua Draconis. The people of Acqua Draconis opposed his rule, eventually growing into an armed resistance with the support of Alto Signore Donatello Nicomedi of Vatalli. The fierce fighting during the rebellion destroyed most of the city of Acqua Draconis, both from the conflict and from a great fire which broke out in the city. Eventually, after a year of Orcish rule, Krusk was slain and the Throat Crushers were forced out of the city.
in late 6511, Donatello Nicomedi was exiled from Vatalli and afterwards made a new home in Acqua Draconis. Despite popular misgivings on his original home and the reasons for his exile, he was welcomed given his support for the resistance against the Orcs, particularly by the nobles of Acqua Draconis. Nicomedi was subsequently appointed Doge by the citizens of Acqua Draconis in early 6512.
Doge Nicomedi's reign has been troubled, to say the least. Much of the Duchy's nobility was slain during the conflict with the Throat Crushers, leading to great confusion on the inheritance of titles. In 6513, the debated lands were given to Nicomedi and to loyal followers.
In 6513, Doge Nicomedi formally ordered the Expulsion of the Orcs from Acqua Draconis. Virtually all Orc clans had left the Duchy by this point, but the order also applied to any Orcs not affiliated with a clan or people with a majority of Orcish blood, including those of mixed race. Half-Orcs and those with a majority of non-Orcish blood were permitted to remain, although in practice they were forced out of the major cities due to persecution and discrimination.
In retaliation for the treachery of Nicomedi, Vatalli used its mercantile influence to steer commerce away from the city starting in late 6512. With domestic and foreign rivals to the Alta Signora eliminated, Vatalli was able to focus a great deal of power on this goal. As a result, much of the reconstruction effort of the city stalled.
Doge Nicomedi vowed to continue the reconstruction, despite "foreign aggression", and rebuild the glory of Acqua Draconis. He has paid for the reconstruction primarily by increasing taxes on the rural lands in his domain. He has built a steady base of support, primarily in the capitol and among the nobles, and imposed a strict order where any unrest is harshly punished.
Doge Nicomedi has also built a strong relationship with the Church through Archbishop Lorenzo Palmeri. Archbishop Palmeri led an inquisition into demonic corruption among Orc-bloods (Half-orcs and other humans with orcish heritage) in the city, after it was revealed that surviving Throat Crushers had made pacts with demons in Vatalli. Nicomedi has supported this inquisition and funded the reconstruction of the city's cathedral.
The relationship between Acqua Draconis and Vatalli has continued to deteriorate. In 6515, the infamous Black Viper engaged in a series of heists in Acqua Draconis, targeting the Doge and wealthy Acquans. The Viper vanished without being caught. The Doge blamed Vatalli for sending the Black Viper as their agent, despite a lack of hard evidence. In retaliation, Acqua Draconis placed a number of tariffs and bans on Vatalli imports, launching a trade war and escalating series of embargoes between the two states. The ongoing trade war is the greatest diplomatic challenge within the Trading Coalition, with Vatalli unable to convince other key member states to take action against Acqua Draconis.

Points of interest

The Palazzo Ducal was originally built by the dragon Aryzolos upon a prominent acropolis. Legend says that the dragon raised the rocky hill from the sea with magic, and that it took a hundred years to build the massive citadel atop it. It has been expanded and remodeled extensively in the centuries since by humans, but the draconic origin is evident in the massive central chambers, wide enough to comfortably fit an ancient dragon. The dragon's magic is said to still linger in the exotic plants of the courtyard gardens, which all run poisonous to humans (but not draconic races), despite all magic intervention. The Palazzo is highly defensible, with a bridge connecting the city below to the Palazzo above. Like much of Acqua Draconis, it was ravaged by the fighting against the Orcs. Rebuilding the Palazzo to a magnificent state has been a key goal of Doge Nicomedi. Reconstruction is nearly complete. Beyond serving as the primary residence and court for the Doge, a number of other governmental functions are carried out in the massive structure.
A bridge connects the Palazzo Ducal to the Merchant Quarter. The Merchant Quarter was heavily damaged during the war, especially the fire. Reconstruction has focused heavily on this district. The Merchant Quarter is built around the Central Plaza, which is home to the Cathedral, Ducal Academy, and several large businesses, including the Bank. Many new businesses have been launched during the Reconstruction, including the Siren's Song inn and Boutique Nouveau.
The Devotion of St. Fyolgur is the largest Absyunic cathedral in the Duchy. Commissioned in 5950 by Doge Monvaldo, the Devotion was designed to merge traditional Dwarven and Lurian styles. The cathedral features a prominent bell tower with a large Dwarven mechanical clock. Beneath the main building is a large archive and church sanctuary, which connect to extensive Dwarven catacombs. The main building of the Cathedral was heavily damaged in the fighting of 6510, although the underground sections were relatively undamaged. Grand repairs are underway under the close supervision of the Archbishop Lorenzo Palmeri.
The outer working districts were old long before the war. While damaged, they did not suffer the same amount of damage as other areas. The Orphanage of St. Phaidros is located in this district.
Acqua Draconis has two city walls. The Old Wall protects the core of the city - originally built by Lurian colonists, it was reinforced and expanded by Dwarves. The New Wall protects the perimeter of the city - it is primarily of Atathian construction.

Geography

The Duchy of Acqua Draconis is bordered on the northwest by the rugged Kallinikos Mountains which divide their territory from Vatalli. The overall climate is dry and warm, but there is ample water for agriculture along the coast and the major rivers. The city lies near the mouth of the Rio Draconis, where inland river trade and seaborne vessels meet.
A number of smaller villages and towns in the rural areas are part of the Duchy, including the towns of San Rhodope and Ovidio.

Founding Date

5372

Type

City

Population

40,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Acquan

Owning Organization

Trading Coalition