Iconia and Napla
Αϊκωνια νων Ναπ λα
View of London Bridge by Claude de Jongh
Wards of Iconia and Napla
Iconia and Napla possess seven wards between the two. As a result of the lack of hills on which to build fortifications near the cities, the wards of the twin cities are densely packed with most being right along the Ilos. The fact that the cities have no natural defenses and indeed must rely on their walls to protect against the comparatively frequent sieges has meant that spreading out has been infeasible, and as a result the twin cities are some of the most vertical in the known world, second only to the largest Feloran cities, and Artenos.Old Iconia: Old Iconia is the elder heart of the twin cities, and indeed is the oldest part of either settlement. Centered around an ancient temple believed to be early Yulan-Tai in origin, but since having been dedicated to Cielon, and with many other temples to both Pandroi and foreign deities, Old Iconia is seen as the spiritual heart of the twin cities.
Old Napla: Established right along the east bank of the Ilos, the ward of Old Napla was formerly a fishing village and a place where fishers could sell their catch. Old Napla gradually grew into a market town and eventually formed the heart of the growing city of Napla.
The Garden: Formerly the site of the Basil of Iconia's Palace and converted into the first major public garden in Galisea, The titular Garden is often considered for many, a respite from the dense bustle of the rest of the twin cities. Many however, would like to replace the Garden with more living space.
The Hollow: A deeply impoverished district near the edge of Napla, the Hollow was once the living quarters for the city's slaves, and had numerous slave markets. Despite the abolition of slavery in Nikea however, the conditions of those living in the Hollow have improved little.
Ironguard: Established along Iconia's walls, the Ironguard has become incredibly important to the defense of the city, especially since Nikea has secured both of the twin cities. Ironguard is heavily fortified with checkpoints scattered throughout the winding streets of the ward.
The Mills: Established on the banks of the Ilos in Iconia the mills exploit the flow of the river to power the various watermills that have launched an industrial revolution in the twin cities. The mills are a major economic driver of the city, especially as skilled tradespeople have also moved into the mills to set up shop.
Bridgetown: Built literally upon the Peresté Solos, bridgetown has become an open market right upon the river with ships loading and unloading cargo right next to the bridge, and traveling merchants partaking in the close proximity of various shops and storefronts.
Important Locations
Peresté Solos: Perhaps the defining feature of the the twin cities, the Peresté Solos, built in the Late Imperial connects Iconia and Napla. The Peresté Solos is a solid, large bridge that allows, at its tallest three spans smaller oceangoing ships to pass. An entire neighborhood has grown up on the bridge, and makes for a unique look for the bridge.The Ancient Temple: An ancient, possibly Yulan-Tai Temple that has since been taken over by the Aeillans and dedicated to Cielon. This is the largest religious structure in the city, and the place to go, it is the best place to go to obtain religious services.
The Spire: Established by the venerable Wizard Iskros Kallimedes, the Spire has become significant collection of arcane spellcasters, and has one of the larger magical libraries in Aeilla.
The Bardic College: A large school dedicated to the performing arts, the bard's college is one of the few places in Aeilla where one can receive formal training in both the magics and performance that bards are known for.
The Yellow Aurochs: A regionally famous pub, the Yellow Aurochs is a major stopping point for mercenary companies and adventuring bands. It is also rumored to have been built over an entrance to the Ancient Path.
Demographics
The twin cities possess a combined population of roughly 52,800. The majority of this population lives within the city of Iconia, a little less than three quarters. The rest live in Napla. Most of the population, 32,800 are noncitizen freemen, with the rest being citizens. Under Nikean law, there no slaves officially living in the city, and all slaves are nominally freed if they arrive in the city. The majority of the twin cities' population is human, though there is a large and growing population of goblinoid, orc, and half-orc people who live in the city hoping to build a new life away from the high violence of their own societies.
Government
The twin cities recently merged their two governments during the phase of state reorganization with the establishment of the Nikean Republic. As a result the Iconia and Napla are ruled by a jointed urban senate, who appoint from their number a Consul to service as a senior senator in the broader Nikean senate, and who appoints most of the high level government functionaries that lead the civil service. The twin cities maintain a large civil service with, thanks to the Peresté Ilosos, a major emphasis on the maintenance of state infrastructure.
Defences
The twin cities maintain a fairly sizable garrison, with a full Tagma of Penandroi headquartered in Iconia, as well as a Bandon of Hetairoi. The twin cities also maintain their own modest militia which while not as potent a fighting force as the professionals is nonetheless fairly well equipped with metal armor, pikes and arquebuses. The walls are well defended on both sides with numerous artillery emplacements. Ironguard possesses advanced military infrastructure with many magic wards, magic weapon emplacements, and an old network of flame projectors protecting the walls of Iconia from attack, though this coverage is not extended to the Napla walls.
Industry & Trade
The city maintains a sizable class of skilled craftspeople with all the basic needs of the city more than met by this class, along with a fair surplus. The works of individuals are further supplemented with products from the watermills, mostly textiles, which produce vast quantities of simple fabrics that are sold throughout Aeilla. As a key crossing point on a major river, the twin cities see a lot of trade from the Ilos River trade route and the coastal overland trade route, with these arteries of commerce bringing vast amounts of shipping to and from the twin cities. This is supplemented by local farmers and artisans who bring goods in from the nearby villages to sell at a much higher price than the local markets.
Infrastructure
The twin cities possess highly advanced infrastructure with running water and sewage being transported through an advanced network of plumbing, and in the many baths of the twin cities, these waters are even heated. In the older, wealthier wards of the Iconia, the streets are lit at night thanks to a major network of streetlights provided by the temples of Old Iconia. The streetlight network has slowly been expanding since the capture of Iconia by Nikea and building more has been an objective of the unified government. Riverine traffic is serviced by two sets of docks which can support the loading and unloading of cargo of even fairly large ships, and can, for smaller vessels provide repairs. The older wards of the twin cities have magic wards protecting against invasion and disaster.
Guilds and Factions
The politics of the twin cities is predominantly dominated by commercial interests with the mill owners, river merchants, and owners of nearby Latifundia forming a large, and mostly cohesive political bloc that has dominated the unified senate with ease. The interests of poorer classes, and modest skilled traders goes mostly unheard in the twin cities, though a mass movement has begun to form under the banner of the newly formed League of the Base. Political infighting has mostly been contained to the halls of the senate, though the nature of Aeillan politics does still shine true from time to time, and indeed the flashing of knives has ended the ambitions of more than a few would be politicans.
History
The twin cities have not always been considered one unified entity, indeed their designation is demonstrative of that much. Iconia was founded first, formed around a holy site from ancient times, and becoming a proper city early in the Era of Forging. The junior city, Napla was started as a fishing village much later, by many people exiled from the Iconia. Napla would grow more slowly, with the eastern bank of the Ilos, at that time being relatively underdeveloped north of Nikea. As the Ilosi Republic came to dominate the region, both cities would grow significantly, as its strategic location at one of the narrower parts of the lower Ilos meant that troops and trade could be funneled quickly through this route.
The twin cities would continue to grow throughout the Imperial Era, even weathering the Fifty Years of Crisis remarkably well. The completion of the Peresté Ilosos and the permanent bridging of the two cities would only improve conditions in the twin cities. The Feloran Invasions however, would end the long period of relative prosperity. With the Felorans routinely attacking and seizing the eastern Ilos Valley, the twin cities and their reliable crossing point became a vital strategic chokepoint and the twin cities were fought over intensely by the Felorans and the Empire to devastating effect, with Iconia losing almost half of its population in a scant fifty years. The early post-Imperial would prove little better as instead of Felorans and Aeillans, the lands would be fought over by the newly independent Exarchates of Nikea and Spathos.
A campaign by the Nikeans would seize most of Alysia, including the city of Iconia, finally bringing relative peace to the area, aside from the occasional attack on Iconia. As a result the past decades have brought about greater and greater integration as the bridge between the two cities became increasingly developed and the twin cities thusly becoming seen increasingly as a joint marketplace. In recent years as numerous reforms made in Nikea have continued this integration has become increasingly formalized culminating in the establishment of a unified city government shortly after the proclamation of the Nikean Republic.
Geography
The twin cities are dominated by the River Ilos which splits Iconia and Napla. The twin cities themselves are closely settled around the banks of the river, with the area of the twin cities comparatively small for the size of the two cities. The area around Iconia and Napla are flat, and incredibly fertile, making for excellent farmland, and indeed many latinfundia have been created in the area alongside the smaller farms of freeholders. The twin cities are also unique in the fact that the bridge between them has also become a neighborhood in its own right.
Founding Date
EY 1476 and EF 27
Alternative Name(s)
The Twin Cities
Type
Metropolis
Population
Iconia 34,700; Napla 18,100
Inhabitant Demonym
Iconian, Iconians; Napalan, Napalans, Napalese
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
