Solden
The city of Solden is one of the twin capitals of the Republic. It is situated not but two miles away from Vernica with only a strait between the two. The cities used to be connected by a massive arch with a portal sitting on the center in which colonists poured from and trade flowed through. Solden is the second most populated city in the Republic and contains the largest industries within the Republic as well as one of the two senate houses.
Demographics
Solden is mostly populated by humans, dwarves, elves, and half-elves. There are a large number of bankers and craftsmen in the city. The city of Solden has the largest trade ports with thousands of tons of goods flowing to and from the city constantly. There are not many 'non-core' races that live there, but there is a large number of transient workers that work on the trade ships coming to and from the city leading to a massive foreign quarter in the city to keep them away from the citizens of the city. Many of these workers visiting are merely from the other provinces of the Republic.
Government
See Senate of Solden and Vernica.
Defences
Solden is protected by an impressive set of walls that protect the city from attacks both the land and sea. In Solden there are dozens of small fortified positions in which legionnaires are barracked in as well as can protect important sections and chokepoints throughout the city. Solden is protected by a minimum of five legions but this number usually sits around eight. They also act as the riot force in case there are riots from Stadia Aquila which happen on occasion as well as riots from the Market of the August when the price of food goes up.
The walls are also manned by several artillery battalions from Miana to provide further protection against invasion. The last time Solden was attacked was during the sundering with no enemies even crossing past the Crelan Spires since the Justicar's Crusades. Due to this fact Solden Solden has taken to reducing the number of legions stationed in their city and only maintain enough needed to police the city and maintain order to save money.
Industry & Trade
Solden is an economic powerhouse and the largest source of exports within the Republic. They import massive amounts of raw material from the provinces as well as exotic good from the Adal Caliphate and transform them into processed goods to be resold throughout the Republic and back to the Adal Caliphate. There are a number of manufactories and smaller scale craftsmen throughout the entire city. Solden mostly produces general goods and foodstuffs and doesn't produce many war material goods as Vernica usually covers that area.
Solden imports an enormous amount of food from Plania as well as Redwater to feed its citizens. Unlike Vernica there is rarely a free grain dole as most of the citizens are employed in the city.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure is well maintained. The main streets responsible for bringing in raw material and exporting the finished goods are paced and wide allowing for a significant amount of traffic. They also have an extensive network of water and sewage systems to keep the city supplied with fresh water and ensure the streets are not covered in piss and feces.
Solden also has one of the two Senate houses where senate meetings are held. Solden also has the Bank of the Republic which is responsible for collecting and counting the taxes collected from the provinces. A large portion of these funds that flow in immediately are sent to Vernica to train and equip the legions and maintain the forces out in the provinces protecting the borders and maintaining order. There are also a significant number of private banks that sprouted up around it leading to a fairly large banking district which controls a large portion of the wealth in the Republic.
Solden also holds Stadia Aquila, the largest circus and games center in all of the Republic. Thousands of crafstmen and general workers throughout the city go there to enjoy the spectacles and events that play out there. There are several other stadiums within the city but none compare to the size and glory of Stadia Aquila. Many wealthy senators hold games on their dollar in order to gain votes to be reelected and stay in the good graces of the citizens.
The Market of the August is situated right near the ports of the city and is home to hundreds of thousands of shops and stalls and even rivals the markets of Dumien. The market sells a wide variety of goods from simple foodstuffs, to luxury goods such as candles and perfumes, to exotic pets or mounts as well as powerful weapons imported directly from the greatest forgemasters from Karak Dumar.
Guilds and Factions
The Evocati have a massive presence in the city. Solden trains the chaptermaster that operates the day to day operations around the provinces. They also have a wing of Imperatum agents that keep an eye on the city to maintain order.
The United Bankers Federation or UBF is a group of various banks that have united to control the flow of commerce throughout the city. They are the banks that give out most of the loans to the businesses through the city and have a significant amount of control over the imports and tariffs levied on the goods coming into the city. Many foreign merchants dislike the UBF as many times they have to pay an additional fee to sell their goods on top of the tariffs levied by the Republic to set up their stalls in the Market of the August. Many smallfolk also dislike their loan rates and see them as predatory, but the UBF has a significant amount of control over many senators so most are willing to turn a blind eye.
History
Solden was established by the Soldicus family after setting foot on the planet of Gaulren from the old world. The Soldicus family became the defacto rulers of the city and eventually formalized their alliance with Vernica around two and a half centuries following the first settlers arriving to Gaulren. Solden has ever since been a major player on the global scene and is one of the twin capitals of the Republic. Solden was slowly expanded to its massive size that it is today. Following the Sundering there were a large number of abandoned houses throughout the city due to the lack of people throughout the Republic. It took a quarter of a millennia for the city to return to its former size. In 2432 F.S. the city expanded in size once again and has stayed at around the population it is at currently since. Solden has a large number of apartment complexes housing hundreds of people most of whom work in the manufactories or as crafstmen throughout the city. In recent years there have been a number of people migrating from Vernica to Solden in search of employment.
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