Cantonova
The Free City of Cantonova is often called "the Beating Heart of the World." It is the largest port city on the continent, as well as the terminus of the transcontinental Vía Titania.
Though technically a protectorate of the majority-human Dreibach Empire to which it is attached, the City was founded by elves—or, some say, by the actual Fey. Notably, it contains a rare two-way portal to the Feywild, housed within the Royal Almaviva Palace. The City's strong connection with the fey make it a particularly excellent place for magic, even if you're not particularly good at it.
Cantonova retains close ties with the elven kingdom of Scalados to the north and the diverse Aquatic Kingdoms in the seas to the east. At the end of the last great war between the kingdoms, the leaders of Cantonova signed a peace agreement with the Dreibach Empire that the City would remain neutral and de facto independent for 750 years. The contract ends 1 September, Y1111, at which point the city reverts to the full ownership and control of the Dreibach Empire.
Cantonova is roughly divided into four boroughs. The most populous is the Cuarto Alto, the hilly northwestern neighborhood where most artisans and merchants live and most guilds meet. The northeastern quarter of the city is the Cuarto Almaviva, a wealthier district centered around Count Almaviva's palace and the Royal Institute of Cantonova; to its south is the Cuarto Porata, the port district. The remaining neighborhood, the Cuarto Perso, is a shadow of its former self. It was once a thriving arts and religious district, centered around the Cantonova Opera House. However, when this Opera house was destroyed in a storm in Y1060, the district around it has slowly fallen into disrepair and become a haven for crime of all sorts.
Directly outside Cantonova are a few sleepy suburban towns collectively known as the Borderlands, the largest of which is the town of Modére. These end at the edge of the Gaeno Woods. The forest is rich in game and other resources, but has its terrors too: ogres, ettercaps, dire beasts, and who knows what else. There are also rumors of places of powerful fey magic—the "Fey-windows" through which the creatures of the Feywild can see, and sometimes interact with, oblivious mortals on the other side.
Demographics
Government
The main government body of Cantonova is the Council of Wargraves, a group of ten warlocks who each run appointed, inherited, or elected margravances within the city plus the Count and Countess of Cantonova. Each Wargrave is pact-bound to a member of the Court of Ten, which acts as an appellate body that is both a higher court and a legislative council. In this system, the Count and Countess partner with Oberon and Titania respectively, but are considered their equals and must remain pact-bound to no one.
Industry & Trade
Cantonova is a central trade hub, positioned at the crossroads between the Dreibach Empire and the Aquatic Kingdoms. For the most part, the economy thrives, and few go hungry or without shelter.
Fashion
Cantonovan fashion tends to be elaborately decorated, whether with heavy embroidery, ornate accessories, or patterns painted directly onto fabric. Fashions are highly seasonal, in keeping with the city's obsession with the Fey: pastels and floral imagery for spring, bold colors and bared skin for summer, and warm colors with multiple layers for autumn. Winter fashion features exceptionally saturated hues and details of furs or heavy layering, designed to ward off or contrast with the cold rather than embrace the lack of color of the season.Artifice
Cantonova's position on a major ley line means that magic naturally conducts well throughout the region, granting artificers and alchemists an easier time crafting potions and magical items here. The Artificer's Guild, situated in southern Cuarto Alto, is one of the most powerful craftsman's guilds in the city.Tourism
Cantonova is an incredibly popular cultural destination for tourists. The central marketplace sees tens of thousands of visitors per year buying and selling goods of all kinds, sometimes ones rarely found outside the city. The nicest inns can be found along the coastal streets of Cuarto Almaviva, near the Royal Cantonova Yacht Club.
Architecture
Most buildings are made partially or entirely from timber harvested from the Gaeno Woods, often with ceramic elements like tiled roofs or mosaic walls added. Decorative elements like mosaics and wood carvings around bannisters typically either feature Fey scenes, historical and mythological figures, or tributes to the builder's ancestry (such as family crests or symbols).
The grandest architecture of the city is in the Cuarto Almaviva. The Royal Institute of Almaviva and Almaviva Palace have the first and fourth largest domes in the known world, respectively. Both buildings were constructed by famed Cantonovan architect Artúrio in the late 400s. Many other buildings in the borough copy the distinctive domes, spires, and grand staircases that characterize his style.
The Cuarto Perso is also home to various architectural wonders in a variety of diverse styles. Notable examples include the neo-Citadelian Temple of Life and Death and Cantonova Opera House (the latter an atypical Artúrian building from his late period, partially destroyed in a storm in Y1060) and the Bjálian revival Blue Lady Casino.
Geography
Cantonova takes up the majority of the Hai-Dara Peninsula. The Ludda River nearly cuts off the peninsula from the rest of the continent; the mouth of the river flows through Cuarto Porata, where it meets the sea.
Cuarto Alto features a number of rolling hills; the rest of the city is relatively flat.
Natural Resources
Agriculture
Cantonova's mild, temperate climate is ideal for growing pears, figs, cherries, and stone fruits; these fruit trees are a common sight in public and private gardens. Grains and livestock are usually imported from the Borderlands or Adamant on the Vía Titania, but fruits, vegetables, and herbs are often grown by residents in community or rooftop gardens. Popular vegetables and herbs include thyme, lavender, marjoram, birdseye chilis, lettuces, bell peppers, lettuce, aubergine, and tomatoes. A number of widely popular heirloom tomato varietals were first cultivated in Cantonova, including the Grümpel's Gold (an enormous golden-yellow tomato harvested in late July) and the Pixie-Plum (a tiny, almost violet-red tomato frequently used in salads, jams, and cakes).
The nearby Gaeno Woods are rich in timber and wild game. Salmon spawn in the Ludda River delta every fall, and dishes based around salmon and their roe are a local seasonal delicacy. Lobsters, crabs, oysters, and mussels are commonly trapped or gathered on the coasts.
Alternative Name(s)
Free Cantonova
Type
Large city
Population
450,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Cantonovan
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Related Tradition (Primary)
Characters in Location
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