Greater Rimeport Region

"He who grows tired of Rimeport is tired of life. He who visits Crosswich after nightfall is similarly so."

Krawnak Boarstooth, Member of Overthing for Krazzath, 247 Gz

Rimeport, ancient capital of the great nation of Linnadeigh, lies at the centre of the Greater Rimeport Region. It is the largest population centre in the country, combining both the densely populated capital and the Rimeport Conurbation around it.
The site of modern-day Rimeport has been settled since at least 2000 Gn, though archaeological evidence suggests it was little more than a small cluster of farmhouses until several hundred years later. By the founding of the nation of Linnadeigh - generally considered to be the accession of King Welby I to the throne of a unified Chessex in 1077 Gn - that settlement had become the moderately successful fishing town of Geddy's Haven. Its natural harbour and proximity to the large roads allowed the town to grow quickly, eventually becoming the official summer residence of the monarchs of Linnadeigh.
In 848 Gn, Queen Foresight Gar'Zharr moved her court to the Summer Palace and declared the city - by now renamed Geddishaven - to be the new capital.
In the years leading up to the Glaze, the river through Geddishaven started freezing over more often. It became jokingly referred to as the Rimeway - according to popular mythology, a name coined by a favoured counsellor to Queen Dhaelleraraen III - and the name gradually became official. By 10 Gn, Geddishaven had been formally renamed Rimeport.

Rimeport

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The great city of Rimeport, capital of Linnadeigh.

Over the last few centuries, Rimeport has grown significantly, from the initial walled peninsula city now known as Auldton to the urban sprawl that we now recognise. It has agglomerated with the dozens of smaller towns and villages around it, many of which have become absorbed into Rimeport and given their names to its boroughs.
With the advent of faster forms of transport and better infrastructure, travel within the area became easier and quicker. This gave rise to the concept of Greater Rimeport, where people within the region were able to travel to the capital in a day or less. It became an administrative region in 229 Gz through the Rimeport Capital Region Act. At the 338 Gz census, it had a total population of 4,770,356.

Communications

"We have bent the hostile landscapes of our northern reaches to our will. We have fended off every foe that has touched these shores. It is only right that our ships, bearing trade if possible and force if necessary, rule the waves."

Sea Marshal Harrison Imcar, 1st Sea Lord, 72 Gz

Greater Rimeport and its almost five million inhabitants are connected to the outside world to a degree rare in the modern world. An extensive road and rail network connects it to the rest of Linnadeigh, and Rimeport Harbour has extensive shipping links to the rest of Voralar. In recent years, attempts have been made to introduce a dirigible service, but it is currently at a very early stage.

Governance

The region - unlike Linnadeigh's other domestic regions - is administered by a viceroy, currently Viceroy Daerthunnaelv Ryetalesis. This was the traditional form of governance within Linnadean territory, where the rulers of the various fiefs were granted viceregal status to persuade them to join the larger union. (The approach was gradually retired over the years, and the last domestic viceroy died in 771 Gn.) The viceroy is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Overthing for a six-year term. The capacity of viceroy is still used in many of Linnadeigh's overseas territories, though with significantly more autonomy (and longer terms) than is granted to the viceroy of Rimeport.
The viceroy is aided in governing the region by the Greater Rimeport Assembly, while the Rimeport Council assists in governing the city itself. Both bodies are made up of representatives elected by borough.

Demography

Greater Rimeport is the most populated region in Linnadeigh, and among the most populous regions known in Voralar. As a region, it has a population density of 1,786 people per square kilometre.

Ethnic Groups

At the time of the 338 Gz census, 13.2% of the population classed their species as human, 11.9% as half-elf, 6.6% as elf, 11.9% as half-orc, 9.9% as orc, 11.0% as dwarf, 11.2% as tiefling, 5.7% as gnome, 3.7% as goblin, 11.1% as halfling and 4.0% as "other". 22.7% of the population listed a place of birth outside Linnadeigh's borders, of which 32% were within Linnadean dependent territories.
Rimeport is notable for a very varied and integrated species makeup, and being a Rimeporter is generally considered more important than species. That is not to say that schisms do not exist, of course; according to a survey by the LOS, 36% of respondents reported having faced some degree of discrimination due to their species, though only 14% rated it as "severe" or worse. (Linnadeigh Office of Statistics, 341 Gz) However, it has historically not presented a barrier to social advancement; even species that have traditionally faced prejudice have thrived in Linnadeigh, and tieflings in particular have historically been commonly found in the higher offices.

Religion

"We have a great many gods at our disposal, from Tarregis and Erobhiàn in good times to Fennostyn and Lettis in bad. Caldhelion has always stood at their forefront, and now, as we face the encroaching chill of endless winter, there is no better time to call Him to aid us at our time of greatest need."

Heliarch Lionel Hugg, Heliarch of Linnadeigh, 339 Gz

Linnadeigh as a whole has a pantheistic state religion, of which Heliurgy - the worship of Caldhelion - is the primary faction. Rather than this presenting as multiple religions, the religious tend to appeal to gods within the pantheon as appropriate to their life and situation. While religious belief has reduced in recent years - falling from almost universal before the Glaze to under 30% in most surveys of the Greater Rimeport region (rural areas have tended to maintain higher rates) as the Glaze has set in. However, of those who do actively worship, worship of Caldhelion has proportionately increased as believers petition him to bring back the warmth of days past.
Most religious buildings are constructed on Heliurgical templates, with a curved wall with large windows facing south to capture as much sunlight as possible and the church oriented such that the portico, when opened at dawn, guides the first light of the day down the nave towards the altar.
Numerous smaller religions are present in the capital region, particularly within the city of Rimeport itself.

Architecture

See Linnadean Architecture

Education

Primary education is provided through state-funded schools for ages 7 through 14, with some variations due to species' relative speeds of ageing. Secondary schools are largely funded by the regions, with a number of private schools (including the Glacis School, funded by the Entropic Society) available at greater or lesser cost.
Further education is found at the region's 33 universities and colleges, including the McKrannel School of Economics, Sea Marshal Harrison Imcar Military College and Linnadeigh University.

Defence

The region is home to many of Linnadeigh's military industries, including the HIMW Bulwark naval base and shipyard, several Linnadeigh Coastguard installations and, further upstream, several arsenals.
Rimeport itself is defended by a layered set of coastal fortresses. Fort Hotchkiss and Fort Carrington lie at the edge of the region, and Fort Harvest lies within the city itself. It was once a remote fort protecting the river far ahead of the city, but the city's expansion has absorbed it over the years.

Twinning

Rimeport is twinned with Pentacorsa in 293 Gz. The twinning agreement was suspended during the 4th Pelspar War (303-304 Gz), but was reinstituted as a sign of friendship during the ensuing peace accords.

Geography

Rimeport and Environs

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Rimeport lies in the Rimeway basin, surrounded by the Onswalds to the northeast, the Ember foothills to the west, Chessex to the south and continuing along its tributaries to the north. The region opens to the Rimeway Estuary to the east. The Rimeway remains navigable up to 150 km inland, beyond Undermount and Loch Pich and to Minehead-in-Lee in the throat of Highpass.
The region lies mostly on alluvial sediment and sedimentary rocks. The Onswald Hills are believed to be ancient volcanic mountains, though legends still remain that they are the eroded rims of a cataclysmic prehistoric impact crater.
The floodplain is vulnerable to flooding during storm surges, particularly during the summer thaw. While embankments protect Rimeport, the rest of the Rimeway's length relies on taller foundations and rudimentary earthworks.

Fauna & Flora

The flora in the Greater Rimeport region is mostly grassland and agricultural land. The northeastern reaches towards the Onswalds are heavily covered in coniferous forests, while scattered clusters of the same native conifers are found across the plains. Most of the arable crops are adapted to the cold climate, including brassicas, peas, potatoes and winter grains.
Wildlife is abundant, both in the cities and in the more rural areas. The range of fauna is much the same as in the rest of Linnadeigh; rabbits, foxes, wildcats, stoats, boars, bats, voles, martens, mountain hares, various deer, badgers, otters, stoats, and a few species of relatively harmless reptiles. Rabbits and foxes are particularly common in the urban areas.
Marine life is also very common, from a wide range of freshwater fish to cetaceans, seals and crustaceans.

Natural Resources

The Greater Rimeport region's natural resources are very limited after a millennium of constant large-scale human occupation. Wood has been largely displaced by agricultural land and built-up areas, and additional deforestation is regulated to maintain the stability of the floodplain's sediment. A few coal mines remain active near the border with Chessex, though most coal is imported by train from other regions. Chalk and copper are also excavated in places.
Water, of course, remains abundant, both in frozen and liquid form. As a tidal river, the Rimeway holds several tidal power plants, and several water-powered mills and factories lie along the river and its tributaries. Beyond this, the only natural resources produced in the region in any real quantity are from farming and hunting.
In reality, Rimeport's value lies in more intangible matters. Quite apart from its history and importance as a political centre, Rimeport is home to a great many secondary and tertiary industries, as well as its very active port.

Greater Rimeport Region

by awmperry

Sovereign state	Linnadeigh
Settled	1193 Gn (as Geddy's Haven)
Established	848 Gn
Viceroy	Daerthunnaelv Ryetalesis
Area	2,670.5 km2 (region) 70.3 km2 (City of Rimeport)
Population (338 Gz census)	4,770,356 (region) 26,780 (City of Rimeport)
Species distribution (338 Gz census)	13.19% Human 11.87% Half-elf 6.60% Elf 11.87% Half-orc 9.89% Orc 10.95% Dwarf 11.21% Tiefling 5.67% Gnome 3.69% Goblin 11.08% Halfling 3.96% Other
Government	Greater Rimeport Municipality Mayor Hurdilla Basforth-Kartherton Rimeport Council
Districts	14 districts
Members of Overthing	44 MOs
Law Enforcement	Regulatory Branch

Alternative Name(s)

The Rimesump, The Jewel, The Clearstone

Type

Region

Location under

Linnadeigh (territory)

Included Locations

• Rimeport

Owner/Ruler

Queen Aetherya III

Owning Organization

Linnadeigh (nation)