Free City of Two Sea Bridge

The Free City of Two Sea Bridge was founded almost 1,500 years ago after centuries of direct and indirect conflict among what have now become the Malazan Empire, Eldandor , and the Holdrhek Kingdom for the strategic control of the Attaire Strait.
In its long history, the city has grown rapidly and has become more varied, to the point of being a melting pot of cultures and races and being the actual centre of Niquenaira.

City layout

The core of the city is the embassy district, a pentagonal, walled off area that hosts the House of the The Chain (and the residence of the High Chancellor) and the four embassies of Eldandor, the Golden Scale Empire, the Malazan Empire, and the Holdrhek Kingdom.
The embassy district is surrounded by the temple district, where there are gardens and temples dedicated to each of the twelve main deities (the Protector Gods). A special place is held by the temple to The Change Bringer, as she is the patron of merchants and traders. Notable is also the temple to The Raven Queen, as its ground hosts the main cemetery (underground) within the city limits.
The four northern sides of the temple district are surrounded by the racial districts, each characterized by the architecture of the related race: the Wood District (Elves), the Stone District (Dwarves), the Iron District (Humans), and the Ice District (Dragonborns). While in the first part of the city life the four races lived almost isolated, with the passage of time it has become more cohesive and it is now common to see different races inhabiting the same district.
The southern side of the temple district (as well as the Wood and Stone districts) faces the Clinking Road, connecting the western side of the Attaire Bridge to the eastern part, on the other side of the Isle of Amager. Within the city, the Clinking Road is where stores and most taverns and inns are located.
Moving to the south, there is the market district and the guilds districts, while to the west there are the docks, with the northern and southern docks separated by the Attaire Bridge. Around this central part, the city has grown more organically, and no real districts exist (although there is a division between the North slum and the south slum, the former slightly better off than the latter).

Government

Every 15 years, the Malazan Empire, Eldandor, the Golden Scale Empire, and the Holdrhek Kingdom jointly nominate a High Chancellor to govern the city.
The High Chancellor is supposed to govern the city autonomously, without intervention of the other countries, and acts as an impartial party among the others. For this very reason, Two Sea Bridge hosts the embassies of the four major nations of Niquenaira and the main international councils.

Defences

As per the Treaty of the Two Seas, the city cannot have outer walls. Only the embassy area, where the palace of the high chancellor is, together with the four embassies and the city guard citadel, is walled off. The city has a standing army of 1,800 soldiers. The Kingdom of Havetrike,the Golden Scale Empire, Eldandor, and the Holdrhek Kingdom all support 400 soldiers;. the remaining 200 soldiers are native from the Free City and among them are the highest ranking officers.
Patrols around the city are composed of 4 guards, one per race, lead by a guard native of the city - to possibly avoid episodes of racism and discrimination.

Industry & Trade

Two Sea Bridge relies mainly on commerce. Thanks to its strategic position, it is the main transit point for most traders and, as a consequence of its relative independence to the other Nations, the trade taxes are lower. As a consequence, most members of the middle-upper class are traders and merchants.
The poorer side of the population is mainly dedicated to farming the fields outside the city. Due to the sheer size of Two Sea Bridge, though, the internal food production is not enough to sustain everyone and a significant part of the required food is imported.

Infrastructure

The city is very close to the bridge after which it is named. Together with the other bridge on the other side of the island, it is the only road connection between the Malazan Empire and Eldandor.

Guilds and Factions

The Unchained - I Senza Catene Bridge Company

History

Founded as a result of the Treaty of the Two Seas, Two Sea Bridge has grown rapidly thanks to the bustling commercial activity that it experiences resulting from its independence and strategic position.

Architecture

In line with the extremely varied nature of the city, the architecture ranges among numerous styles. Each of the embassies reflects the architecture of their culture, as well as the four racial districts. The market, docks, and the guild districts, on the other hand, present a more uniform style, with details borrowed from the four mother architectures.

Alternative Name(s)

Free City, Two Sea Bridge, Half City

Type

Capital

Population

90,000

Owning Organization

Free Territories of Two Sea Bridge