Ekonu
"Here, there shall be our capital. My people, who have marched and suffered for too long, shall finally find prosperity in this city that I shall build with my own hands" - The first emperor
The capital of Eshneff'il for more than a thousand years, Ekonu is one of the most prosperous cities on the entire Continent. Though it is situated in the middle of the desert, its large port and many caravans give it a web to the outside world even beyond The Continent. Despite its growing influence, the city itself has many problems. It has been the center of many insurrections and rebellions against imperial authority, and the harsh inequalities and slave trade, though less catastrophic than Offash'el, are a glaring issue. Next comes the problem of the leader. The current emperor, Heshni IX, though less blatantly manipulated like his predecessor, is still often accused of being a puppet of the nobility. Furthermore, his expantionist politics leading to an invasion of Eshneff'il's neighbors is even criticized among intellectuals, though it makes him popular among the common folk.
However, Ekonu's power and influence is indisputable. Not only does the city house the center of Eshneffian power, but it is also one of the 5 major trade cities (the others being Offash'el, Offstoke, Mikestshire and Eacester) specializing in processed goods and slavery. Furthermore, Ekonu is the harbor to The Continent's greatest navy and a large part of Eshneff'il's army, making its status as one of the mightiest known. The city's thousand year old history also makes it incredibly rich, and though the problems are manyfold, the assets are always greater.
However, Ekonu's power and influence is indisputable. Not only does the city house the center of Eshneffian power, but it is also one of the 5 major trade cities (the others being Offash'el, Offstoke, Mikestshire and Eacester) specializing in processed goods and slavery. Furthermore, Ekonu is the harbor to The Continent's greatest navy and a large part of Eshneff'il's army, making its status as one of the mightiest known. The city's thousand year old history also makes it incredibly rich, and though the problems are manyfold, the assets are always greater.
Demographics
Ekonu being the capital gives it an extremely diverse set of demographics. From imperial nobles to commoners, to even outcasts in slums. This leads to an extreme social segregation.
Government
Ekonu is under direct rule of the imperial Eshneff'il authority. This makes it that the emperor of Eshneff'il is also always crowned the king of Ekonu at the same time. However, the true power over the city belongs to the steward of Ekonu. Though under direct command under the Emperor, the steward has relative independence in his decisions, through the emperor's busy schedule and easily manipulated nature. As such, it is often a sly and manipulative noble who becomes steward of Ekonu, as he is nominated by the emperor himself.
Defences
Ekonu is naturally one of the best defended cities on The Continent, rivaling Capital Supreme, for example. Its natural defenses come in the form of a harsh desert surrounding it and the sea on the other side. However, it is with its man made defenses that the capital truly shines: Siege engines and equipment, and even giant trolls used as siege beasts in time of war are said to be kept in the depths of the city's Towers Of Power.
Industry & Trade
The city has multiple trades and industry. Slaves and treasures, as well as valuable cosmetics such as perfume and diamonds are only a few to be made. As a counterpart, Ekonu imports a lot of basic goods such as food and rocks, with its environment being poor in these things.
Infrastructure
Ekonu has basic infrastructure even in the lower parts of the city. This makes even its slums cleaner than most, though the canalization does not reach to these parts. Pandemic control is well established since the last plague incident in Offash'el, and there is sufficient food for everyone, theoretically.
Assets
As the capital of the great southern empire, the city has so many valuable assets that it is impossible to all enumerate them. There are of course masterful blacksmiths and equipment stores, but also cultural and social phenomenons and icons. For the higher society, Ekonu also possesses an officers academy in the form of the great school of divination, that of course also dubs as a wizard school at that and houses the Emperor's personal diviners and witches. Furthermore, the city's thousand year old history still houses many treasures and dark places yet to be explored...
Guilds and Factions
Guilds:
-Southern merchant's guild
- Imperial smith's guild
-Caravan guild
and many more...
Factions:
-Imperial nobility
commoners
-Great school of divination
-slum resistance and other races
-Merchants
- Imperial smith's guild
-Caravan guild
and many more...
Factions:
-Imperial nobility
commoners
-Great school of divination
-slum resistance and other races
-Merchants
History
About 100 years after the empire's foundation, the first emperor, sensing his end approaching after 100 years of reign, ordered to move the capital from Southern Peak to a more prosperous land. This migration to a new location near the sea was named the "Great March", with a couple thousand inhabitants at the time following their emperor, leaving behind the old capital and its elder noble families. Once arrived at the site of the future capital, it is said that the emperor, with his very own magic, built the historic city center, then vanished, leaving his only son to reign. After that, over generations, the Empire expanded from Ekonu as its base of operations. In recent history, after many marionette emperors and family backstabbing, the city has become the stage to many conflicts among the highest nobility.
Architecture
Ekonu possesses high fortified walls and buildings on multiple layers, except for the outer slums. However, inside these walls, the architecture resembles a lot that of Southern Peak, especially the historical center modelized by the first emperor himself.
Geography
The capital is built on the shores of the sea next to the desert. However, through some magical cataclysm, it has elevation among the city's levels that make it easily defensible. As such, it stick out like a sore thumb in the sea of sand and water, like a frontier island between the two elements.
Natural Resources
Ekonu's surroundings are rich in the natural resources one might expect from a desert and the sea. Fish, diamonds, and many other treasures, but no fertile soil or grassland.
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