Poartlind

Capitol of Mira and booming hub of Trade, Entertainment and Immigration alike. Poartlind, known to is people and the tourism industry as the 'Shining City of Brass', sits on the Great River that feeds from the Begoria Mountain Range into the Great Sea. Even before it became the capitol of Mira Poartlind was long regarded as both the Birthplace of Modern Magic, and the cradle of the Church of the Creator. In modern times the city is a bustling symphony of cultures, one of the few bastions of civilization that survived the Night of Falling Crowns.

Demographics

Poartlind has had an immigration boom ever since the Night of Falling Crowns, as it was part of one of the only kingdoms to survive mostly unscatched, and is on a profitable trade route to boot. What was once predominantly a society of Miranic natives, now is a melting pot of nationalities and races. Lunicans, in particular, make up almost ten percent of the population. While other races such as Pixies, Wulfmal, Mechanicals and Golsmiths are a mere fraction of a percent, their presence in the city is still keenly felt.
There is still a strong upper crust to the city, living on the top cliffs of Poartlind. The middle and lower classes live on the riverbed and further away from the city center, although it is not fair to say the city has no real 'slums'; Efforts have been made by both the government and the populace to ensure no citizen of the city ends up living in a shed.

Government

The governance of the city is managed by the City Parliament, which has exploded in size to be able to properly represent the vast increase in the city's demographics. Unfortunately this is often also confused with the Royal Family, whose palace is also within the city bounds. While this has not led to anything on the scale of city-wide riots, there is often confusion in public forums about who is in charge of what policy.
The City's laws and regulations have been in a near constant-flux since the Night of Falling Crowns; both a sudden decrease in Trade, followed by a boom in immigration has led to drastic about-faces in policies that had stood for years untested.
Taxation has remained somewhat stable, if higher than it was than before the Night of Falling Crowns. People are thankful the city, and the country by extension, have not resorted to martial law, especially in the early days of the calamity.

Defences

When Poartlind was nothing more than a small fishing village, it relied on the natural cliffs, rough terrain and the protection of the Wizard who ruled at the time. Since then these natural defenses have fallen by the wayside, as Wizard magic was banned and the city outgrew its original borders. In its place now is a solid Naval base at the eastern edge of the Marina district, and a series of walls that serve more as 'tree-rings' for the city rather than any practical defense.

Industry & Trade

Poartlind was born out of a fishing village, and that heritage has not been lost in the modern day. Fishing and maritime trade are still the core tenents of the economy, even moreso now that Poartlind has become a metropolis. Its position on the Great River also allows a booming economy from the logging and mining industries further up the river, as Poartlind is the last port of call before reaching the ocean. In turn, the city imports a fair amount of meat and other food substances that are either unsustainable or ungrowable in the cool mountain climate.

Infrastructure

The city built itself out of a small fishing town into a vast metropolis that nearly covers both sides of the Great River. As such, certain areas of the city have different infrastructure compared to others; the High Street and the Fisher's Plaza are the oldest parts of the city, and have smaller roads not meant for motorcars, although there has been some sucess installing tram lines. As the city radiates out from these two points, the infrastructure expands and becomes more modern; more streets designed for higher traffic flow, ekyltric plants that raise the power-giving Ekyls needed for modern technology, and better educational and sanitary facilities. Perhaps the best indicator of districts in the city are the Pixie lines; small trams that weave their way in and out of the Ekyltric lines around the city. Each district has their own style of 'tram' car. The High Street has beautiful cars smilar to the Human-sized trams, while the Boiler district has mine carts that run about on tracks. The Sheoris district's cars are reminiscent of the paper and wooden lanterns that line the upper rafters of the homes.

Districts

The City is split into several districts, each distinct from one another in architecture, layout and style. For simplicity's sake, not all are listed here.

The High Street

One of the Oldest segments of the city, the High Street is the road that leads from Poartlind University to the Royal Palace, on the upper cliffs of the city. This is also where most of the oldest families and dynasties in the city live, including the Goodvich family. As such the buildings are more grandiose and spread out, as they tend to be lavish estates built over centuries. The streets are paved with cobblestone, and new Ekyltric lamps line the streets.

Fisher's Plaza

The second Oldest Segment of the City. Unlike its High Street Counterpart, Fisher's Plazas buildings are a lot closer together, and centered around what was once the marketplace of the Port of Linder, down below the cliffs. It still remains as a point of trade today, although Salmon Place further down the shoreline has become the newest, grandest marketplace.

The Boiler District

The manufacturing hub of the city. Founded and inset into the base of the cliffs, the Manufacturing center boasts a wide variety of refineries, blacksmith shops and forges to create any metal object a man could desire. There are few houses here, as some of the more volatile materials stored within its warehouses make the district a.... less than desirable place to live.

The Sheoris District

One of the many ethnic centers of the city, founded along the westernmost shore of the Great river. While Immigration had been the source of a great many new souls to the city long before Calamity struck, The Night of Falling Crowns brought with it a throng of desperate souls seeking refuge.  The architecture here reflects the spirit of those who call it home, even in this unfamiliar land.

The Source of Knowledge

The second half of the cliffs, ranging from Poartlind University down to the Brass District. This is the intellectual hub of the city, home to the University and no small amount of education and scientific centers. It is also home to the Source the city was founded around, back when it was no more than a small fishing town.

The Brass District

An area that encompasses both the top and the bottom of the Cliffs near the Great River. This middle ground between the two geographic areas is reflected in the shops and homes that line its streets; not lavish or elaborate enough to occupy a place on the high street, yet built centuries before most of the newer districts of the city, and home to St. Bartholomew's Cathedral.

The Marina

A district that ecompasses both sides of the Great River, especially in recent years with the boom in marine trade.  Although the City-side of the River is the favored one, more and more does the Northern Shore find itself enroached on as the need for land overcomes the traditions and the distance of the past. The marina is home to the shipyards and Salmon Place, as well as smaller marinas along the shoreline for personal sailing vessels.

Guilds and Factions

There are several guilds and organizations that make their base in Poartlind, even more so when many countries fell to war or riots. The most prestigious and well-known of which are the Keepers of the Oath, the official organization of Mages and Mage oversight. This is a multi-national organization, and has outposts all along the Eastern Sea. Other multi-national organizations include the Dalremain Guild of Performers (Seeking refuge from political unrest in Ruben and Lazuli) and The Consortium of Espers (A Trade guild formerly based out of the Lunis Archiapegalo). 
As the capital of the Kingdom, The city is host to a veritable waterfall of smaller guilds, some focused on city operations such as trade guilds and unions, others focused on a national scale such as the Coast Watch and the Department of Transport.

History

Poartlind was founded as a small fishing village called the Port of Linder just before end of the Jade era. Its small focus near the river blessed it with food and sustenance, the villagers did not know of the Source that rested at the top of the cliffs until it was discovered by a Wizard in 47 BC. The Wizard, a cruel man named Agathodaemon, established dominance over the region and slowly expanded the hamlet into a larger village, with a proper market and a sturdy wall that protected the edges of the town and more importantly, its Source, from outside invaders.
Agathodaemon held sway over the Port of Linder for almost fifty years, until his death in {date}. It was at this point that Perenelle, the Original Good Witch and the creator of Mages, took control of the city. Trade and industry exploded under her care, as both freedom of Religion and freedom of trade were reestablished under her watchful eye. Even after her passing in {date} the city continued to blossom.
The city slowly expanded over serveral centuries, as its central point in trade and its heritage as one of the earliest points of ministry for the Dark Monks of the Creator sustaining it. It became the capital of the newly established kingdom Mira in {date}.
While the city blossomed, it did not truly boom until the Night of Falling Crowns in 1902. As Mira remained one of the only countries relatively unaffected by the global catasrophe, it became a haven for refugees and immigrants alike. The city experienced a boom like never before, and even twenty years later is still feeling the growing pains as it almost doubled in size.

Points of interest

by TinkerTech

The Brass Palace

The home of the Royal Family of Mira. The Brass Palace was built anew in 1835 after the old stone palace collapsed into the Great River. it is a feat of architecture and construction as every guild in the city worked to ensure the Royal Family's safety on the edge of the Cliffs. While certain parts of the palace are open to the public for tours, much of it remains closed off for offices and for the privacy of the Royal Family.

St. Bartholomew's Cathedral

One of the oldest Churches of the Creator in the Mortal Lands, St. Bartholomew's was born out of the barn the Dark Monks taught in when they first arrived in the Port of Linder. The Cathedral has been built and rebuilt as it has been assailed by calamity and strife. Constant in its design is Bartholomew's Lantern, which always remains above the front doorpost of the Cathedral. It is always lit, even in the darkest of nights or the fiercest of storms, much to the relief of the Monks who care for the building; they do not own a ladder tall enough to reach the Lantern otherwise.

Poartlind University

A center of Learning built around the Source that brought Agathodaemon to Linder centuries ago. The oldest building on campus is actually Agathodaemon's mansion, re purposed with the basement sealed off, even to this day. The University is home to all forms of learning, as well as the headquarters of the Keepers of the Oath.

The Goodvich Mansion

As the Goodvich Family was founded in Poartlind, so it has remained. The family mansion, like many parts of the city, has been rebuilt several times, although this is less due to political anarchy than the simple fact that raising several generations of mages under the same roof will lead to fireballs in the ceiling more often than not.

Salmon Place

The newest, hottest market in Poartlind. Open-air with all sorts of delicacies served year round, the highlight of the Market is the Flying Fish show. Spectators are encouraged to have a net on hand incase the fish try to escape.

Northern Shore

The Immigration Centre for Mira. Founded three years after the Night of Falling Crowns, Northern Shore serves as the central location for processing and admitting immigrants into Poartlind and Mira proper. It features the Central Immigration Hall, the 'Kissing Post', and a hospital for those who save for an inconvenient bout of pneumonia are otherwise fit to enter the country.

Tourism

Poartlind's rich history in Magic, the Church of the Creator, and the centerpoint of the kingdom make it one of the hottest tourist points in the country.
The highpoint of the Year is the Festival of Sparks, Held at the beginning of the summer season. The Festival is a week-long celebration of the Rise of the Royal Family and the Founding of Mira. During this week a tournament is held, although these days it is more a ceremonial spar than a true test of combative ability. Traditional treats of caramel apples and spiced cookies are served, and there is a fireworks display every night over the Great River.
The Second most well known Festival, although not as visited from afar by tourists, is the Festival Of Lights in the Winter season. Funnily enough, this festival takes place during the day, ending at dusk as the city comes to life in a blaze of glorious lights. A skating rink is carefully formed in St. Bartholomew's Plaza, and a small bazaar is established around the perimeter. Guests to the festival can take part in all sorts of activities, from skating to sweets to cuddling together by a bonfire set at the far side of the plaza from the cathedral.

Architecture

The city is a blend of architecture, radiating out from the city center as the city expanded over the centuries. The High Street boasts, in paradox, some of the oldest and newest architecture styles as old buildings crumble away and are replaced. There has been a long debate with the City's Parliament whether the 'skyscaper' style currently popular in the Republic of Cailsmarch has any strategic or asthetic value to give to the city, or whether they are an 'unimaginable eyesore'. Regardless, many of the buildings on the High Street are either marble, stone or brick, in keeping with the old ways of construction. Newer buildings near the edge of the city are wood mixed with stone and plaster, in accordance with the rapid expansion of the city. Certain districts of the city tend to reflect the architecture of other countries, as the wave of immigrants after the Night of Falling Crowns create a little piece of home in their new homeland.

Geography

Poartlind sits on the Great River, no more than an hour's sailing from the mouth of the river as it opens into the Eastern Sea. Most of the city sits on the southern side of the river, although the expansion in recent years has required building on the northern shore as well. The banks soon turn in to great cliffs that extend high into the air, before giving way in turn to dense forests and rolling hills.

Founding Date

123 B.C.

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Brass, The Cliffs of Opportunity

Type

Capital

Population

2.5 Million

Included Locations

• Khatayin Hall
• Northern Shore

Owning Organization

Mira

Related Traditions

• The Oath-Taking

Characters in Location

• Claire Hewitt
• Dr. Anthony Hewitt
• Dr. Gearmo
• Reginald Goodvich

Related Professions

• Chief Doctor