Amstrecht
"Amstrecht's been my life. The boat rides dad used to take me on when i was younger, the labs I used to visit as a kid during nursing school, There's a uniqueness about this city that'll keep me in here for a while "Saskia Eskhoven, talking about the Unique identity of AmstrechtThe Highlands of Netholia are known to be a harsh place. A desolate plateau with numerous mountain ranges crisscrossing it, The Highlands are no suitable place for habitation. But in the sheltered valleys of Mondsvel, the case is different. Towers of Blur concrete with the imperium banners on them fly high. Massive gates give way to large squares and buildings where the very building blocks of life are decoded. At the same time, there Is peace in the parks, where many come after a hard day's work to gain some comfort. But even there, there is no end to knowledge seeking. In Amstrecht, knowledge and education are treated as aspects of recreation, something something be indulged in. Thus, one can find children and adults alike participating in games that relieve their stress and raise their knowledge at the same time. Such is the importance of science in Amstrecht The largest city in the Netholian Highland's, Amstrecht is a scientist and scholars paradise. Home to the Imperium's largest library, Amstrecht is also a centre for the sciences, especially the life and natural sciences. It was the scientists of the University of Amstrecht who first discovered and engineered the Cytologic Repair Therapy which has allowed humanity to age without repercussion for centuries. The scientists at the University of Amstrecht have also been at the forefront of the treatment of Cancer in the Imperium and several other chronic diseases, while also being involved in the agricultural sciences as the co founders and developers of genetic engineering and the discovery of DNA. Amstrecht's libraries contain neverending tomes of knowledge, whose exports have made the city a centre in the Imperium and brought it much riches It is not just the export of knowledge and science which has brought it fame and riches. Amstrecht is also a heavy manufacturing and mining hub. Ore from the mines in the mountains is brought to the smelters and factories, whose workers meticulously turn them into weaponry and war materials for the Imperial war effort. Amstrecht is not just your regular manufacturing hub however, for it also produces essential medical supplies, foodstuffs and construction materials for the Imperial military, rendering it a critical place for the Imperium. It's dairy industry is famed and Amstrchtian dairy is a delicacy across the Imperium The aura of the city is a peaceful and scientific one. Walking across the parks or the pathways in the City's educational institutions, one cannot help but feel calm and safe and feel an air of science in the atmosphere. The City's grandiose and looming architecture style adds to this sense of security. This, combined with Amstrecht's cosmopolitan nature and it's quality of life make it one of the most desired places in the Imperium to live in, despite it's proximity to the Argonite borders
Demographics
Amstrecht's population is incredibly cosmopolitan, reflecting the nature of it's parent kingdom. Due to it's importance as a premier research, manufacturing and transport hub, it is heavily populated despite it's climate. The City's nearly 2 milllion inhabitants come from many different places and belong to many different creeds and classes which can be classified mainly into:
Labour
Amstrecht's labour force works mostly in the mining and manufacturing sectors. Due to it's location close to rich mineral deposits, the majority of the city belong to the working class and the factories and mines are owned by worker operated co-operatives. Another important source of employment is the transport sector, who have the arduous job of transporting the finished goods to the rest of the Imperium through Amstrecht's network of mountain tunnels and waterways. Finally, Amstrecht's research and medical service sector is the most productive sector in the city, with research scientists, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers contributing a signficant amount to the economy. Amstrecht is known for its medical tourism due to it's premier position as the leader in life sciences in the Imperium and as such, the research sector contributes much to Amsrecht's economy despite it being much smaller in labour numbers. It also contributes a tremendous amount by exporting knowledge from Amstrecht to the wider Imperium, a practice that has also garnered the city much fameEthnicity
Amstrecht is a cosmopolitan city, attracting people from all across the Imperium. While Netholians are the largest ethnic group still at 60 percent of the population, the remaining are made up of other ethnicities, mostly people from Hendis ( especially Vadran), Reltoran Islanders, Regulians, Arvallians etc. Many of these communities follow specific trades, for example Arvallians being doctors more while Vadranians form highly skilled metallurgists and farmers who keep the city running. The Regulians perform excellent duties as soldiers and law enforcement as well as being prominient in the teaching sector amongst other thingsDefences
"Sietske observed quietly the formations of soldiers marching towards the gates. They were different than most. Almost all wore plate armor and had finely forged weapons. And stranger still, even marching quickly, it took an entire hour before no more soldiers could be seen coming from the entrances. It gave her hope that not all was lost yet"Due to it's strategic location as well as importance in the Imperial economy and war effort, Amstrecht is one of the most heavily fortified cities in the Imperium. It's defensiveness is aided by a number of factors The first is it's geographic position. Amstrecht is located in a narrow mountain valley, guarded on either ends by massive fortress gates housing as many soldiers as the city itself. In the event that these are breached, the survivors can always return to the city to bolster it's defences. The numerous waterways and the river Amstrel itself can be flooded artificially to slow the attackers advance. The second would be it's defensive infrastructure. Amstrecht's walls are made not of rock but slabs of High Carbon Steel, able to withstand the flames of Argonite dragons and take numerous hits from siege weaponry. The defensive towers hold magical artillery that can bring arcane devastation on the enemy. The approach to the city is also heavily laden with traps in times of invasion, and the underpass system can be flooded to deny the enemy a chance to use it against the city's defenders. Amstrecht's cityscape also has many chokepoints which counteract any sort of numerical superiority the enemy may have Finally, Amstrecht's soldiery are no small thing. Amstrecht's law enforcement is known to be amongst the best equipped in the Imperium, with even rank and file soldiers wearing plate armor and using Carbon steel swords. The arrows used by it's archers often employ the latest materials for use as arrowheads, allowing them to penetrate Argonite armor with much more ease. Amstrecht's military forces is drawn from a multitude of nations in the Imperium, and include everything from the Dexterous Swordmasters of Vadran to the hulking titans of the Undead Legion. Amstrecht is also bristling with Imperial Monsters like Fire Salamanders, Trolls, Giant Crocodilians and a unit of Gryphons who serve to cause terror within the enemies ranks. Amstrecht is also extremely proficient at biological warfare, and it's plagues can often decimate the enemy before it loosens it's first arrow on the city
Industry & Trade
"Amstrecht is the reason why you're still safe in your homes. It gives you the medical supplies that keep you from dying from infections that get you every second in the battlefield. It gives you the milk you drink before going to sleep. It gave you your blade and armor. Oh and did i mention that it probably saved your grandfather from that tumor that was growing in his head?" If you're going to spit arse about my city, then you're free to leave" Saskia, having an arguement with a drunk protestorAmstrecht's economy is mainly driven by three things. Its mining and manufacturing, dairy production and fisheries, and it's transport sector Due to Amstrecht being located in the Mondsvel valley, Amstrecht has a far more forgiving climate than the rest of the Netholian Highlands. This, along with the presence of a large body of water ( in the forms of the river and lake Amstrel) and large mineral deposits has made Amstrecht quite a good place to live in Amstrecht's main produce is divided between it's export of raw materials and finished goods such as war equipment, medical supplies, farming equipment, construction materials etc. Amstrechtian cement is known to be higher quality than most in the Imperium due to the mixing of high quantities of Carbon and Sulfur into it. It's mineral exports consist not only of regular everyday materials like Iron and Zinc but also large quantities of rare materials needed to make high quality weapons for elite regiments or make advanced ships and Fortresses. Amstrecht's manufacturing sector and export is not limited to just weaponry only unlike many other manufacturing hubs in the Imperium. Notably, it is known for making critical supplies of medicines and medical equipment, as well as agricultural machinery and goods that help the reaping of the Imperium's breadbaskets. Amstrecht is also known for it''s extremely productive agriculture industry which while not being a breadbasket produces numerous agricultural goods that are important to the Imperium and many delicacies, notably vargfish soup
Infrastructure
"You have... waterways through mountains? "Amstrechtian Engineering my friend! Amstrechtian engineering at it's finest!" A teacher taking his students on a tour to Amstrecht's famous mountain waterwaysAmstrecht's populace have built quite a monumental city, and it's transport infrastructure is the crown jewel of the monument. The city is crisscrossed by numerous artifical waterways which are connected to Lake Amstvel, on whose shores Amstrecht stands. These waterways are traversed by barges which carry manufactured goods and foodstuffs to the other part of the Imperium. Amstrecht has also constructed numerous mountain tunnels and highways, which are highly guarded and through which goods pass into the rest of the Imperium. There are even waterways through the mountains, maintained by extensive sluice networks which are a remarkable feat of engineering. In the city itself, Amstrecht's waterfarms are another feat of engineering. These are small to medium scale farms which farm numerous animals and organisms including edible fungi, algae, bacteria, fish and other small organisms. They're usually located close to the docks as a ready food source availiable for mariners, and to maximise the economic output of the ports. Amstrecht also has a robust medical infrastructure. Known for having one of the highest qualified physician to population ratios, Amstrecht's healthcare model helps in getting a quality service easily. The City's hospital's and the associated industries employ only 15 percent of workers but they are highly productive, contributing to 35 percent of the City's GDP. Amstrecht's hospital's have also recently been outfitted with arcane life support monitors which allow projection's of patient's vitals, eliminating the need for manual checking of vital signs. Due to lying in an earthquake prone and war region, Amstrechtian architecture is built to last. The Concrete is made from a special solution of carbon and sulfur reinforced with high pressure steel. This provides most of Amstrecht with earthquake proof buildings. Amstrecht also has numerous waterways, which maximise economic benefit by not only serving as ports but tourism and fishing sites On the Outskirts of Amstrecht, one can find Large dairy and Livestock farms and Mines. The farms are technologically advanced, using agricultural automatons to help in harvesting alongside the latest fertilizers, genetically modified crops and also organic farming. The mines are also equipped with filtration units to filter noxious fumes and pollution control units which control pollution. The mines are also designed to be wide and well lit, which reduces the psychological toll of working underground for long hours Amstrecht also has an underground section. The Underpass is mostly used for travelling to different ends of the city on Mounts, with there being boundary markers to divide the roads according to where they go. As Amstrecht is a large city, many people prefer to use the underpass while travelling to their workplace. The Transportation costs are provided free and the Underpass is well lit with many shops serving travellers daily. The Underpass also has a burgeoning farming and quarrying sector who contribute further to the city's economic outuput
Districts
Amstrecht is divided into a number of districts according to a variety of factors, including their economic role, demographic profile etc
District of Scholars
The District of Scholars is an informal term , mostly used by Non Amstrechtians to describe the place where most of the city's educational institutes have sprung up. This includes the University of Amstrecht, which hosts the Imperium's oldest and best medical school and life sciences institutes. The District also contains the famed College of Metallurgy, a College under the auspices of the University of Amstrecht where cutting edge work on metallurgy and materials engineering is done. The District of Scholars also includes numerous laboratories, among the most technologically advanced in the Imperium, to the point where the Imperium's first and one of only two electron microscopes, cryobanks and gene labs are located here. The laboratories of the University of Amstrecht have made significant strides in medical science, including the discovery of Cytologic repair therapy which allows the repair of the body at a cellular level and also the development of nanovectors, microscopic vectors that transport medications much more efficiently than direct molecules. The Lab's research has provided the Imperium with a much less disease burden, which has propelled it to height's it's founders could scarcely imagine
Government District
The government district houses the important government offices of Amstrecht, including the council Hall ( where the City Council of Amstrecht sits), the Burgmaster's Chamber's where the City's Head Official sits, as well as the headquarters of numerous government departments including the law enforcement, the City Development Board, the Housing Department etc. It also contains the offices of various position's of liasion that help maintain it's link with Netholia and the wider Imperium. The Government District is made for security. There are many checkpoints to be passed, each manned by hundreds of soldiers. There are also few alleys to prevent the escape of Intruders and their entrance in the first place. There are clear fields of fire for archers on the tops and inside the building, while there exist abundant chokepoints that are easily defendable by soldiers. The District also holds a lot of museums, which are noticeably less claustrophobic and public friendly.
Industrial District
Though there are no
RUINED SETTLEMENT
10,000 AI
Type
Large city
Population
4.7 million
Inhabitant Demonym
Amstrechtian
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Living Conditions in Amstrecht
Amstrecht has a living condition much better than most places in the Imperium, due in part to it having a higher income ( The Average monthly income in Amstrecht being 30,000 Imperial Marks compared to the Imperium wide average of 10,000 Marks) and also due to having better technology and social welfare policies. Even those who work in the physically demanding Mining and Industrial Sectors usually get large breaks, and there are three day weekends with the maximum number of work hours being 6 on any particular day ( save for military and police personnel as well as first responders). Amstrechtian's tend to use their free time in creative pursuits such as writing, composing music or having discussions with like minded people, even that over the ubiquitious boardgame known as Talespinner. Amstrechtian's are laid back in their approach to work and even when faced with a dangerous situation, an Amstrechtian will give it it's apt treatment while remaining under calmPopular Amstrechtian terms
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1. Nu komt de aap uit de mouw. ( Now comes the monkey out of the sleeve!)
2. Nu breekt mijn klomp. ( Now my wooden shoe is breaking)
3. TYFUS! STIJFKRAMP! GOT VERDORIE!!!” ( Typhus, Tetanus, Goddammit!!! Used as curse words for expressing extreme frustration)
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