Suwannee
Suwannee is the largest port city in the Kingdom of Columba. As the only natural harbor along the coast possessed by the Columbans, it has gained great importance and stature since the kingdom won its independence. The port itself was heavily fought over during the rebellion and in the decades since, its recovery and growth have been extraordinary, spurred on to greater prosperity by the need for new shipping. Similarly, it has become the only base of the Royal Columban Navy, which has occasionally had pretensions towards contesting Imperial control of the Circle Sea. Between the new shipping, civilian and military, Suwannee is currently seen as a city on the rise.
Demographics
Suwannee consists almost entirely of Columban humans. Although the nation itself has always been welcoming to other races, in comparison to the empire, the nonhuman population has grown slowly, if at all. The new expansion of the shipping port and trade with Riveraineville and the other free cities has seen a tiny trickle of nonhumans, including small quarters of both Lizardfolk and Catfolk, marking tiny enclaves for these people in districts near the port. Although their numbers rarely break the low hundreds, their unique culture and appearance causes some remark to people from elsewhere in the kingdom.
Government
All essential functions of Suwannee are dictated by the patriarch of the ruling noble house. They appoint delegates and representatives to manage the various affairs of the city and departments that exist. Due to the city's rapidly growing size, there has been a dramatic increase in civil servants and administrators required, and the nobles have had to frequently provide those of nonaristocratic birth positions of power and influence, mostly to win friends among the new middle classes. The Royal Navy has also begun to exert its influence in the city, managing several districts by the harbor, and maintaining its own base and facilities within the city limits, contributing both to the city's defense and its leadership in the form of advisors.
Defences
The noble house of Suwannee is responsible for the defense of the city from any foreign aggressors, but the Royal Navy has a vested interested in protecting their primary harbor. To that end, the city is defended by nearly twenty warships of various sizes and three full regiments of Royal Marines. They are trained in the defending the city in addition to protecting their ships. There is a sizeable wall that encircles the center of the city, however it has recently fallen into disuse and disrepair, due to the rapid growth of homes and settlement outside of the fortifications. These can be manned by the two standing regiments of house guards, and three additional regiments of levied forces belonging to the house from the surrounding region. In the case of a true emergency, nearly six thousand militia could be rallied to help defend the town from invasion.
Infrastructure
Suwannee has long since passed the point where the community's infrastructure can keep up with its expansion. Although the area within the city walls consists of paved roads and reliable lighting, the situation is far more fluid outside. Most of the roads lack sanitation or development, and lampposts are few and far between among the outskirts. The wealth of the city is plainly on display by the docks and within the central districts, but even the most generous amounts of funding have had difficulty in keeping up with the rising demands of the growing population. The strain is seen everywhere in the city, as citizens have often been forced to undertake care and maintenance that in other places would be provided by the nobles or city leadership.
Assets
Suwannee has numerous marketplaces and inns available for the discerning traveler or adventurer. Most of these places cater to those traveling by sea or coming overland from the Columban hinterland. Numerous supplies and materials are available for purchase here in bulk, as merchants and noble houses from the rest of the nation seek purchases from abroad to grow national industry. In addition for these larger trade markets, there are numerous smaller ones that cater to the local community, and provide the goods and services needed in a city of this size. The catfolk and lizardfolk markets are particularly famed for exotic meals and spices that are favored among these people, and have been rising in popularity among the city's human population.
Guilds and Factions
House Gutfreund is the leading noble family in Suwannee, but there are over two hundred smaller aristocratic families constantly jockeying for favor and position within the city limits. These forces represent the bulk of wealth and power in the city limits, and their support and influence go a long ways towards providing stability. There are three major factions that have emerged trying to dominate the policies and agendas set by the administrators and the delegates appointed by local rulers: House Gutfreund, the Royal Columban Navy, and the City Movement.
House Gutfreund seeks to more or less retain the status quo and protect its own rights and those of the landed upper class. They frequently work with the navy to maintain the central districts and make sure that commerce is uninterrupted and shipping develops accordingly. Occasionally they seek to raise taxes, to support their own lifestyles, and maintain their hold over the affairs of town governance.
The Royal Navy on the other hand, while it does occasionally cooperate with the aristocracy have their own clear agenda. They definitively seek to expand their control over the shipyards and ports of Suwannee. They believe that the city has overextended itself and that the rampant greed and efforts of the upper class have compromised the security of one of the most essential defensive positions in the kingdom. They seek to secure control of the town for themselves, at least in terms of a coordinated defense.
Lastly, the new City Movement has raised the hackles of both other sides, but they too have had cause to cooperate with the navy in some matters. They seek to recognize the rising status of Suwannee's middle class and artisans, as well as support the rights of minority neighborhoods. Supported primarily by the city's lesser noble houses and middle class, they are a rising star in influence. They frequently use their position and popular support to coerce House Gutfreund into appointing those that would champion their causes over the positions of the upper class.
Founding Date
499 AF
Type
City
Population
67,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Suwannean
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments