Corazon

In the fields in the very heart of the floating island of Tarador lies a city. This is a place surrounded by grand vineyards and scenic rolling hills. The streets are always filled with music as the flag of the feliquine flies above the city of Corazon.

Demographics

The population of Corazon is generally not as diverse as that of Puerto Azul due to its distance from the ocean. As such, a majority of the population is human, although plenty of halflings live here as well. A fair population of other races live here as well, travelers that have settled here.

Government

Just like Tarador, itself, the city of Corazon has no formal government. Instead, it is primarily controlled by its wealthiest citizens. In this case, these people are the vintners that run the most successful vineyards. They rarely cooperate and instead consider one another to be rivals, each one trying to consolidate their power over the city.
In addition to the families' rivalries with one another, they have a stronger antipathy towards the merchant houses of Puerto Azul. This is frequently self-destructive as both sides need each other to turn a profit. They do work together towards that end, but paradoxically work against each other, as well.
One of the few areas the wine families supposedly cooperate is in the city's law enforcement. Order is kept by a group informally called the Vine Watch, funded through the combined efforts of the wine families. In theory, this is meant to maintain the balance of power between them, but in practice the Vine Watch are pawns in their struggles.

Defences

With its straight streets and its open fields, Corazon is clearly a city designed for its beauty, not its defensibility. There is no wall and few watchtowers, leaving the city quite vulnerable to attack in the event of an invasion.
This is not to say Corazon is completely defenseless, however. The owners of the nearby vineyards employ a large number of house guards, although they are unlikely to defend the city. They would, however, face any invaders before they ever got to the city, itself. They are not as numerous as a true army, but the prestige of the employing family is tied in part to the skill of its protectors.
The people of Corazon, itself, are also some level of protection. The Vine Watch that enforces the law in the city are made up of proficient warriors that would take up arms to protect their home. In addition, the Taradori dueling tradition means many of its citizens have at least some skill in the rapier or saber, making holding the city a frustrating endeavor.

Industry & Trade

There is one industry that defines life in Corazon more than any other: winemaking. The wines of Tarador are famous throughout the Twin Worlds, and many of those are made from the grapes grown in the fields surrounding the city. Some of these fields even receive supernatural aid due to the presence of a vine nymph within them.
Although much of the citizenry are employed by the famous vineyards, the city has another life as well. It is a center of the arts, even compared to the rest of Tarador. It is said the greatest artists and musicians in all the Twin Worlds live here, and the influential winemakers that live here are all too eager to spread that word as much as they can.

Infrastructure

The center of power in Corazon is not in the city itself, but just outside it. Surrounding the city are fields filled with grape vines, and the most important people live the manor houses built in those vineyards. They are almost always on the tops of rolling hills with a commanding view of the surrounding fields, like lords looking down on their subjects.
Many of the outermost homes in the city proper belong to those who work the fields, as well as the simple businesses that accommodate their needs. Few services here would interest the common adventurer, as such places are usually only there to provide the tools and food the peasantry need to survive.
The innermost buildings in the city are far more grand affairs such as businesses for the wealthy, or lavish temples, usually to such gods as Dilesseye or Bellesmin. These districts are primarily places for the wealthy to shop and socialize. They are reached through lavish fairways that cut straight through the city. The areas surrounding these streets are noticeably more prosperous than other places in the city, and visitors are recommended to not stray far from them.

History

As is seemingly always the case in Tarador, Corazon's history is very unclear. Rather than simply being shrouded in mystery as such things are in other places, it is instead concealed by legend. The story of Corazon's founding is told and retold, seemingly growing more fanciful with each telling.
The story begins in the place the Taradori first landed on their island, the bay in where the community that would become Puerto Azul now resides. One person there heard a calling, whether through a dream or a whisper on the wind, leading them deeper into the unexplored wilds of the island.
No detail of this tale varies more widely than who it was that heard this call. In some versions, it is a noble warrior, and in others a humble beggar. In yet more versions, this person was simply an attractive young man or woman who hadn't yet faced the world away from home.
Whoever they were, they followed the calling to the very heart of the island. There they met a perfect vision of beauty, the archfey Uvalina, the Vine Maiden. Before they even said one word to one another, they embraced and shared a passionate kiss at the top of the highest hill on the island.
From there, she taught her lover how to grow the first grapes, and make the very first wines. In honor of the love they shared, she then blessed the fields so they might always be fruitful. This person became the first vintner and the city of Corazon grew around their vineyard. They died living in a luxury even the wealthiest cannot dream of.
It is practically impossible to discern the truth of this tale. While the Vine Maiden does live near Corazon, she is rarely seen, and even when she is encountered those who meet her rarely remember the meeting. Even if asked about Corazon's founding, she only smiles.

Architecture

The buildings of Corazon tends towards a similar style to that of Puerto Azul. They are made of a tan plaster reinforced with timber. The roofs are heavily slanted and covered in thick red shingles. Occasionally, murals are painted on the walls, but those are relatively rare, as they tend to remind the Taradori of Arithasia.
The city streets are often decorated with brightly-colored flags and banners. Trees were frequently planted among the buildings, often fruit trees. These things combine to make the sight of the city very memorable, and many artists have painted masterpiece landscapes depicting Corazon.

Founding Date

Mid 2nd Age

Type

City

Population

Approx. 18,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Corazono/Corazona

Owning Organization

Tarador