Carrano
The Imperial Capital of Carrano is a beautiful sight to behold. Large stone buildings and cobble roads scatter the enormous city-scape of the city. On a rocky island on the south-west corner of the city stands the marbled Imperial Palace where it shines like a beacon for ships going for the famous Carrano markets. Most of the city is surrounded by a large broad stone wall, which begins by the mouth of the river Carr near the west side of Oldtown and ends by the Silver Citadel on the eastern side of the bay. The Silver Citadel is the headquarters of the knightly order known as The Silver Knights. The city is divided into six districts which are described in detail in the following sections.
Oldtown:
Across the bridge to the Imperial Palace lies Oldtown which is towered by the massive Cathedral of the Goddess. The Cathedral large presence impose an almost unavoidable shadow upon the citizens of the city's inhabitants and the Priests of the Chosen are commonly found on the steps of the cathedral proclaiming their wisdom upon any that dare wander by. Oldtown is the oldest district in the city and is the home for the most wealthy people in Carrano. Therefore, the district is also comprised primarily of large mansions built of stone and marble. In addition, Oldtown is also home to the City Hall wherefrom the Mayor administers city affairs. The Imperial Academy - home to the Engineering Guild and the School of Imperial Officers - is also located by the bayside of Oldtown near the border to the Spice District.
Spice District:
Massive trading houses has their operation within the Spice District which also houses their shipyards and warehouses. The trading houses controls the Spice trade, but they also have large ships carrying trading goods that set sail towards almost every port in the Iromar Isles. The Spice District are also the location for the Grand Bazaar, the largest market of the Iromar Isles, where it is possible to find exotic goods and the finest mercantile products. The Merchant Guild is also located in this district.
The Grapes:
The Sapphire Road goes through the entirety of the city and marks the difference between various districts of the city. North of Oldtown and North-West of the Spice District lies the Grapes - nicknamed as such due to the its famous wineries. The Grapes are also home to the Brewer's Guild and the location of several large breweries. In addition, the Grapes are inhabited by many of the city's commoners and the district are also the location for a promising textile industry using the exotic dyes imported through the Spice District. The Grapes have the largest community of elves, but also contains significant populations of humans, half-elves, and other half-species. The knightly order, Lyara's Guardians, have a chapter in this section of the city. The Bard's College also finds it home within the Grapes. Therefore, the taverns and inns of the Grapes are known to have some of the best entertainment as well as some of the finest drink in the city.
Littleville:
To the east of Oldtown lies Littleville which is nicknamed as such due to its massive gnomish, halfling, dwarven and mousefolk population. Over time this has altered the architecture of the district so significantly medium sized humanoids often find it difficult to navigate. Littleville is the home of most of the city's guilds and therefore the cityscape of the district is dotted with workshops and large ironwork smiths. In addition, the district is renowned for the amount of innovation and the latest innovation is within the field of clockwork machinery which is fueled by the Artificer's Guild located in Littleville. Carrano Wargolems are similarly a product of Littleville's workshops and these are feared by many of the Empire's enemies. Furthermore, the Imperial Guard also has a large castle within Littleville known as the Little Keep wherein they have a large prison for the city's miscreants. In front of the Little Keep lies the Bloody Square where public punishments and executions are held regularly.
On the south-west corner of Littleville lies the University of Carrano. The campus of the university stretches far and wide as it contains schools for almost every scholarly and magical pursuit. The Dragonian Hall are commonly considered the center of the university and is famous for its large population of pseudodragons under its roof and the massive library that the hall contains. The Dragonian Hall also functions as the local chapter for the knightly order known as the Order of Dragons. Within campus there also exists faculties for Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion and Transmutation. The University of Carrano is self-governed by the eight archmages which each is a head of a faculty (the 8th archmage governs the Dragonian Hall and is also known as the Head Librarian).
Eastport
Large, sprawling slums are located in the east part of the city. Eastport is considered the poorest part of the city and is the home for the majority of the thiefling and half-orc population in the city. Dangerous criminal syndicates operate within Eastport such as the Green Hand, Night Steps, Blood Ravens and Seaside Brawlers. The Temple of the Deities lies in the center of Eastport and is the home to many faiths and unorthodox pantheons. Although the Imperial Guard has a significant presence in this district, the Silver Knights are considered the primary law-keepers of Eastport.
Westcarr
The newest district of the city and the only one located outside the city halls. The district of Westcarr lies on the riverbank of the river Carr, which also gives the district its name. The district was originally the home to the farmers of the city's vineyards, which still give the distinct a unique country-like feeling that is no longer present inside the city walls. The criminal syndicate known as the Green Hand originates from Westcarr because the Imperial Guard took a long time to get established within the district.
Demographics
Possibly due to the enormous size of city, Carrano contains the most diverse population in all of the Iromar Isles. Although Humans are in majority, the city contains sizable populations of Gnomes, Thieflings, Elves, Halflings, Mousefolk, Dwarves and various cross-species such as Half-Elves and Half-Orcs. By far, the largest minority are the Gnomish population that also constitute most of the craftsmen in the city. The second-largest minority are the Thieflings that dominate Carrano's criminal underworld and lives in the city's various slums, which also means that they are frequently discriminated against. Most of the Elven population comes from the neighboring nation of Ganzhou. Furthermore, Carrano is also the home of multiple sub-cultures that would otherwise not be accepted by the larger society such as same-sex or biracial couples.
Government
The city of Carrano is administered by the Mayor on behalf of the Emperor (who also resides in the city, but who has other concerns than managing the city). The Mayor, the City Council and the lawmen operates from the City Hall, located in Oldtown, which is also a common meeting place for the city's prominent citizens to discuss both matters of law and business. The Imperial Guard also have a very large presence in the city and they have large barracks in almost every district of the enormous town so that they can execute justice. The headquarters of the Imperial Guard is located at the Imperial Academy, which also educate officers for the Imperial Guard.
Defences
The City of Carrano is most well-known for the huge stone walls and the deep moat that surround the city and protects its inhabitants. The Carranovian Engineers of the Imperial Academy famously creates some of the most advanced magical siege weapons and the city's garrison contains a vast quantity. To the South-West of the city lies the Imperial Palace - home to the Emperor himself - on a small rocky island about 200 meters from the shore. At the end of the wall at the eastern side of the city lies the Silver Citadel, which serves as the Headquarters of the Silver Knights. The Silver Citadel and the Imperial Palace helps protects the city's waterfront and function as landmarks for sailors on their approach.
Industry & Trade
Large trading houses resides by the docks and by the Sapphire Road. These trading houses imports exotic trading goods from all the various lands of the Iromar Isles and exports fine Carranovian Wine and expertly-made craftswork. Furthermore, the city is dotted with various guilds and craftsman districts that produce almost any manufactured goods. The largest import of the city are food for the population such as flour, meat, fish, vegetables, and herbs. The docks also contain multiple fisheries - controlled by local fishing guilds - that supply the city with a somewhat stable, although limited, food supply. Similarly, the lands surrounding the city are dotted farmland and pastures. However, most of the produce from the farmland is either used to supply the Imperial Palace or controlled by the Brewer's Guild and used to produce grapes for fine wines.
Infrastructure
Carrano contains many architectural marvels although the largest being the Imperial Palace on the south-western banks of the city at the mouth of the river named Carr. In addition, Carrano is one of the few cities of Iromar that contains a large sewer system below the major roads. Furthermore, the Cathedral of the Goddess is an architectural marvel located besides one of the largest market squares of the city and is a popular pilgrimage spot. The Sapphire Road is a large, broad stone road that goes straight through the city and connects with many other important cities of Iromar.
Guilds and Factions
The city is a crucible of many different political interests. The most prominent being the guilds and the trading houses whose vast wealth grants them a lot of influence. Other factions include the Silver Knights, the Imperial Guard, the Church of the Chosen, the University of Carrano, the Bard's College, and various criminal syndicates such as the Green Hands, Night Steps and Blood Ravens. Besides the Silver Knights, the city also contains chapters of knightly orders such as the Divine League, Lyara's Guardians, and the Order of the Dragon.
History
The city of Carrano is said to be settled by some of the first humans that landed in the Iromar Isles. However, the city remained the size of a small time until the rise of the first Emperor of Storvia, Godfrey the Great, who conquered much of the surrounding lands and founded the Storvian Empire. Since then, the city of Carrano has grown almost exponentially and become the cultural and economic hub of the Empire.
Founding Date
2268 AD
Alternative Name(s)
The Imperial City
Type
Capital
Inhabitant Demonym
Carranovians
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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