Gaevoyga
The westernmost city in the vast Great Western Plains, sitting on a high cliff overlooking Black Paw Lake.
Demographics
Species
- Demon - 85%
- Beastkin - 10%
- Troll - 2%
- Human - 1%
- Kinfolk - <1%
- Elf - <1%
- Dragon - <1%
Demon Variant
- Traditional - 61%
- Beastly - 20%
- Trollish - 10%
- Inspired - 8%
- Arcane - 1%
Government
Governance of Gaeyvoyga differs from most demon cities in that it is split between three bodies, rather than two - in addition to the Court and City Council, Gaevoyga is also governed by the Great Temple of Vemera, the Goddess of Judgement.
Like other cities, the Petty King and Court are responsible for overall health and safety as well as maintaining the lands outside the bounds of the city proper but within the Field Walls. The City Council manages the city itself, as well as liaising between the general populace an the Court.
While the Temple of Vemera is present in all cities as a judicial and civil body, it is also a legislative body in Gaevoyga. Laws may be proposed by both City Council and Petty King, but must be approved by the Great Temple. Gaevoyga also has the most laws of any city.
Defences
Like most demon cities, Gaevoyga is surrounded by Field Walls that encompass the castle, city, and outlying fields - as well as walls around the castle and city individually.
Industry & Trade
Gaevoyga is a major leader in the burgeoning textiles industry of the Demon Realm - having had the most access to fibrous grasses prior to the serious cultivation of agriculture and having the most historical experience with it. The move to larger production was aided by the wealth of skilled craftspeople in the weaving trade already found in the city - and supplemented by the equally robust dye industry.
While still very traditional in patterns and techniques, Gaevoyga textiles are known for their rich hues and high quality.
Their proximity to the Great Western Plains offer more benefits than this, however - bulk animal feed and medicinal plants found only in the Plains are also significant exports, though textiles are their main export.
Brown clay goods are the last major export, though they are considered luxury items.
Metals and metal goods are a major import in Gaevoyga - being one of the few areas of the Demon Realm where they are not found in easy abundance. The trade boom of the cool dry season with the Plains herdspeople is another significant source of new goods into the city, namely wuna fur and milk goods, as well as rarer plants.
Infrastructure
Gaevoyga has a robust system of roads and underground aqueducts. They also have several windmills, having long been a center for flour production even before agricultural innovations.
Districts
Internal City Districts
Legal District
The central district of the city where one can find the Great Temple of Vemera, as well as the Courts (Higher, Middling, and Lower) and administrative establishments she holds domain over. One can also find establishments that carry out legal matters such as tax houses, the City Council Building, and Guildhouses. Access to this district is often restricted to those with business there, though not tightly, as any member of the public may have some form of business from petitioning the Council, declaring intent to marry, or obtaining a business license.Temple District
The district where one can find temples to other important deities, namely Maenscul, the Deity of Kings, their twin Vouscu, Deity of the Hearth, and a free-standing temple to Vouscu's queerplatonic spouse Nosu, Deity of Wisdom. In most cities, the temple to Nosu is found within Vouscu's temple - but within Gaevoyga, wisdom is often sought, warranting a separate temple that also functions as a large public library and Hall of Records.Court District
The district where one can find buildings maintained by the King and Court - such as a public hospital, public works maintenance, storehouses, and related facilities.Market District
The hub of trade and commerce within the city. As businesses within the bounds of the city are required to have a license before purchasing a permanent building, there is a monthly street market in the main square of the market district for those without such a license. This includes both amateurs with homemade goods looking for extra income and journeymen seeking to establish themselves prior to masterage. This fair is also used by the nomadic herdspeople of the Great Western Plains during the cool dry season. A sub-area of the Market District is Flour Quarter, where the large windmills can be found.Entertainment District
The Entertainment District of Gaevoyga has a much calmer atmosphere than that of other demon cities - likely due to the various establishments being more regulated than their counterparts. There is one exception, however - Debate Houses. While competitive debating can be found across the entire Demon Realm, no city loves it as fervently as Gaevoyga - Debate Houses of all kinds dominate the Entertainment District of this city, and the events often get rambunctious during more heated debates.Lake District
Most of this district lies below the rest of the city, built into the cliffside facing Black Paw Lake. Dwarven-engineered lifts built inside the rock provide the fastest access between the upper city and the Lake District.Residential Districts
The residential districts of Gaevoyga are named for wild grasses and flowers found in the Great Western Plains. The Varin District, named for a type of common cereal grain, is where most noble estates can be found. The Exae District, named for a type of flowering grass commonly used for fiber arts, is where the wealthy common citizenry lives - primarily merchants. This is also where one can find more expensive inns used by visiting nobility and other wealthy merchants. The Apan District, named for another type of cereal grain, and Naene District, named for a tall leafy herb used in fiber arts, are where the bulk of the common population live. The Laesmez District, named for a type of flowering plant that produces a cotton-like substance, is another common district where most regular inns can be found, as well as temporary housing. The Sculos District, named for a flowering plant often used in alcohol and cooking, is the poorest residential district - however, there is no marked demographic in this district as there often is in others. Gaevoyga's structure of laws includes anti-discrimination in both housing and employment, which is rigorously enforced. They also have laws surrounding the upkeep of properties being rented, ensuring they do not fall into disrepair.External City Districts
Black Paw Overlook
The castle of the Petty King, a small settlement unto itself, and named for its lake vista. It is able to sustain itself autonomously from the city, with its own windmills on the grounds and housing for permanent staff members.Field District
The name given to the fields and ranches surrounding the city and castle.Bull District
The Gaevoyga militia is stationed at the main entrance through the Field Wall, with a small base for training and barracks. With the increased risk of larger beasts and plants using the tall grasses of the Great Western Plains as cover to approach, the Field Walls of Gaevoyga are more closely monitored than those of many other cities.Guilds and Factions
Political Factions
Conservative
Like other cities, Gaevoyga has those that espouse traditional demon values such as virtue in manual labor, respect for culturally high-value professions, and piety to the deities in general. However, Gaevoyga conservatives often believe that the city is too dedicated to Vemera - that many of the additional laws found in the city compromise demon ideals of independence and self-sufficiency. Why should laws protect private property? If one has gained riches, one should be able to defend those riches themselves, a conservative would argue. However, these views are not always to the benefit of the public at large - as conservatives also believe laws that prevent discrimination against non-demons and groups culturally viewed negatively are also overreaching.Authoritative
The faction that believes in the rule of law implicitly - often those most devoted to Vemera, who believe that the law is what keeps the peace in the city. They do not believe in exceptions to the law, no matter the circumstances. If a law is in some way incorrect, it should be changed in the proper manner through a petition to the court - regardless of how long that process can take and who it may hurt to wait that long for. Making exceptions to the law, in the mind of an authoritative, invites chaos and disorder. While this can be beneficial, as this faction believes the law applies equally to all and will fervently root out corruption and bribery, it can also be a hindrance to taking fast, decisive actions.Civil
The faction that believes in the law, yes, but also that the purpose of laws is to serve the people - rather than to keep order. Also devotees of Vemera, they believe the legal courts, like their patron Lady, should use laws as a guideline and consideration, but not as a hard rule for their decisions. The law is a set of rules, and rules can not account for every circumstance and take broader considerations into mind - making them fallible. And while the most fallible laws should be changed, the lengthy time it takes to do so should not be a hindrance to carrying out a more just decision in the meantime. This faction can be more tolerant of corruption, but this generally takes the form of turning a blind eye to illegal actions they believe to serve the greater good.Independent
This faction, like conservatives, believes that Gaevoyga is overregulated - however, they do not see this as a compromise of traditional values. They believe the large amount of laws stifle progress, as all new initiatives must go through a lengthy evaluation period. A tradesman wishing to open their own physical store must obtain a license, which has a requirements process they feel is unnecessary - if one wishes to open a store, having enough funds to purchase the building should be the only requirement. While this line of thinking can be a boon to some, it can be to the detriment of others - for example, a landlord with no legal obligation to maintain their properties may allow their tenants to live in unsafe conditions.Gaevoyga Tradesman Guilds
Judges and Barristers
Due to the high amount of legal courts, Judges and Barristers both have established guilds in Gaevoyga.Weavers and Dyers
While most cities have one combined artisans guild, Gaevoyga's robust textiles industry has given rise to independent Weavers and Dyers guilds.Debators
Also unique to Gaevoyga is the Debators Guild, formed due to the popularity of the activity as entertainment in the city.Artisans
Other artisans still share a single guild.Merchant
The Merchant Guild handles most trade in the Demon Realm, though in Gaevoyga, it has more responsibilities within the city than most guild chapters.Stonemason
Due to the wood scarcity, most demon architecture is composed of stone, clay, and packed earth - all of which fall under the purview of the Stonemasons guild.Pharmacy
The Great Western Plains have a wealth of medicinal plants the Pharmacy Guild harvests regularly.Fisherman
While focused on lake fishing rather than river fishing, the Gaevoyga chapter is still one of the primary sources of meat for the city.History
Gaevoyga was originally just a temple to Vemera, with a small settlement nearby. Then, as was often in the Fractured Realm Ages, a king came to claim the settlement - and declared his intention to topple the temple, and erect a new temple to Sciekles, the Goddess of War, in its place.
The mayor of that settlement, Ierge, did not agree with this - she met the would-be king in combat and defeated him. As more and more challengers arrived, Ierge earned the title of king herself - and eventually accepted this responsibility and formally founded the city of Gaevoyga. As a devotee to Vemera - having started her defense in the goddess's name - she naturally paid the temple great deference. This respect, shared by Ierge's people, was what allowed the temple to grow into the Great Temple.
Tourism
Many come to Gaevoyga simply to see the expanse of the Great Western Plains in all its glory - usually during the cool dry season to meet and trade with the nomadic herdspeople that call it home. Most tourists outside of this season come to see the Great Temple of Vemera and pay their respects to the Goddess.
Architecture
While Gaevoyga also uses the dome-based architecture found throughout the Demon Realm, the clay in Gaevoyga is a rich, dark brown hue - setting it apart from the most common orange-red clay and the white clay found in the southeast. Its access to the plentiful wildflowers of the Great Western Plains also means that ornamentation tends to come from paints and dyes, either directly applied to the packed earthen walls or in to form of fabric tarps or tapestries. This contrasts sharply with the stone-pressed mosaics and metal accents found in most other demon cities.
Geography
Gaevoyga sits on the top of a hill that drops off sharply on the water-facing side overlooking Black Paw Lake. Surrounding it on all sides are the Great Western Plains, a vast grassland with few other settlements, even small ones.
Climate
Due to its location in the Great Western Plains, Gaevoyga experiences three seasons, rather than the two common to the rest of the realm. The warm dry season which is humid and fog-laden; the cool dry season which often includes frost but not snow; and the rainy season.
Natural Resources
Wild grasses and flowers and brown clay are the largest supply of natural resources in the city.
Founding Date
15461 FR
Alternative Name(s)
The Bulwark of Law
Type
Large city
Population
500,000
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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