Vichonille (Vee shon ill)

The picturesque location of the settlement called Vichonille, beside a glassy lake among gently rolling hills, is no accident. Although other factors were doubtless in play, it is generally believed that it was largely for the astoundingly beautiful scenery that it was personally chosen by Lorin De Fleury as the site to build the centre of his new realm, the Kingdom of Fleurice.
The original settlement, then, was established largely as a series of large mansions and estates for the De Fleury family, and the other elven families who accompanied them from the Barsian Empire. Each estate required a few cabin lodges for those servants who were not required to be in personal attendance within the house itself. Over time these grew into small village districts, discreetly placed in landscaped grounds to be out of sight of the high families. Outside the specific estates, other tradesmen and hopefuls began to congregate, aiming to be close enough to the seat of power to profit by it. The visiting tradesmen were permitted to set up a caravan trading post (again, in a location where it would be unobtrusive within the hilly handscape) which inevitably became more permanent, although with a very different quality and style of building to the grand manors and palaces of the immigrated elves.
It is not surprising that, to the native Galay tribes of humans who already lived in the region, the newly established city of Vichonille was a symbol of the incoming regime. For some, they were drawn to it as an opportunity for gain, glory and elegant elven civilization. For others, it was an imposition by a foreign culture taking control of their lands. Over time, the Kingdom of Fleurice solidified its hold, and a new generation of nobles grew bold in their entitlement. In return, greater and greater numbers of the Galay grew disillusioned. While the Fleurian elves congratulated themselves on the glittering elegance of their creation, the majority of Galay humans came to consider the city a hive of decadent and oppressive hedonism.
Once the Galay rose up and overthrew the Kingdom of Fleurice, they established a new capital city for their Galiate Republic, and as such the establishments of Vichonille became redundant. However, it seemed a shame to tear down and destroy the extravagant palaces that had been painstakingly built by Galay labourers, who would never have been permitted to see the inside of them once they were done.
The decadent reputation of the city lingered, and the grandiose buildings still stood, and so even without its elven founders, Vichonille remains a city of glittering elegance and pleasure. Now, though, it is the pleasure of the citizens of the Galiate Republic which is the primary focus of the city, as a gaudy holiday destination.

Type

City