Libromerci

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Demographics

The city of Libromerci is one of merchants. The completely walled of city thrives on trade from all over the known world. The city, according to legend, was founded by outlaws, who were banished from their lands after they illegal trading practices. After the initial founding of the settlement, they were a safe haven for those had a price on their heads. Creating laws and trade agreements, the founders of Libromerci saw their settlement grow in a high pace. A huge wall was built around the city, making sure they isolated themselves from the wildlife on the continent, as well as invading armies. As a result of these practices, Libromerci has people living there from all over the world. From successful merchants, to handworkers; everyone who was willing to accept the laws and agreements made, was welcome in the flourishing city.
Libromerci was, according to legend, founded by merchants who were banished from their own land, after they traded in illegal goods. After long travels at sea, they claimed a overgrown land next to the Rosperanza . They cleared the area of its flora, so they could build the foundations of what now is one of the biggest free cities in the world. It is known as the merchants haven, because everything you can think of can be sold on this market. When the city was built, the founders agreed that they would take in any refugee who was banished from their lands, giving them a fresh start. Ironically, slavery is a common thing in these lands. As a result, people from all over the planet live in Libromerci.
At a certain point, too many people came to the city. Despite the vow the original founders once made, people were turned down when they moved to Libromerci. Many of those people traveled further south, to the nearest free city [NAME]. A healthy market arose between the two city states, where they interchangeably take in goods from one another and also niche markets emerged.

The harbor of Libromerci
It comes to no surprise, that a great percentage of the population is invloved in merchandise of some kind. Wealth can be distuingished into three categories in which slaves are not taken into consideration.

The Eight

The Eight are the rulers of Libromerci. They make up the rules, although the rules have not been changed for a long time. They are represented by the eight heads of the family, or bussiness they represent. The group is bigger, however, as important associates from these representatives play a big role in the rule of Libromerci.

Wealthy Merchants and Farm Owners

There are many merchants who are doing a magnificent job at their trades, despite the rules of the Eight. Some of them decided to move their bussiness to the fields, where they built big houses and possess many acres of farm land on which their countless slaves work for them. Although they do not directly make up the rules in Libromerci, they have quite some influence on those in power. The Eight, feeling the power of these people grow, often use their power to undermine the bussinesses of the weahlty.

Working class

In cities and countries where free trade is the dominant factor, people are either very rich or very poor. Libromerci is no different when it comes to this general rule. The working class provides the habitants of the city with its services, taking the mundane tasks out of the hands of those who have money.

Slavery

The success of the city can be partly credited to slavery. Nearly all the farmers own countless slaves, who work the fields for him or her. According to scientists, about three in ten people are slaves in Libromerci. This is a biased number, as only the people within the safe walls of Libromerci are counted into the number. Estimations are that about 6 in 10 people are slaves if you take the rural lands into the eqation. Many of these slaves have been taken from the tribes in the rain forest, during hunting parties. Other slaves have been imported from other lands, where they have commited a crime which would have costed them their lives if they went to trial. Many of those sold themselves off, to prevent capital punishment.

Government

As Libromerci was was founded by outlaws, it came naturally that there were little to no rules in the settlement. The bigger the settlement grew, the more things became regulated. A group of influentual merchants formed The Eight, seizing the power in the city. Decisions were made based on economical outcome, rather than what is best for the people. Even though the populace did not always agree, the Eight enforced the new rules upon the city.
The eight do not force any tax upon other merchants, claiming everyone has equal chances. This is true to some degree, however the Eight will always have the right to bussiness with the newly arrived ships first, ensuring them to take the best goods. The other merchants still get to do their own bussiness and get to reach incredible amounts of wealth if they do it right.
This is where the country is ruled by the rich. Often times, the rich are the merchants and traders or those who own large corporations. However, in a fantasy world, the rich could be those with magic as opposed to those who don’t have magic. Also who the rich are depends on the society’s exports and trades. The wealthiest farmers could be the rich ruling class in certain areas.
In a plutocracy, the rich band together in their own little “clubs” and decide what is best for themselves and then act on it. It is important to note that there is no one ruler but a bunch of people plotting together. There tends to be a lot of back stabbing among the rich, plotting, and poverty among the common people. Also there really won’t be a middle class in a plutocracy.

Defences

The city is surrounded by a big wall, preventing wildlife to enter the city. The population rarely leaves these walls, as the wilderness is full of danger.

Infrastructure

Architecture (aesthetic styles, buildings, materials, streets, waste disposal, walls or defensive structures)
Canals and big market squares dominate the inner walls of the city. The city walls are very tall, making sure getting in is nearly impossible. Big, broad and heavy, transitioning into a thin, artistic top is a common architechtural style in Chimi.
Beautiful, well maintained buildings of the whitest of stones, decorated with the most beautiful red stones, to show of the grandeur of the city. No money is saved for the display of wealth in Libromerci. Indeed, it is the wealth which created the aesthetic beauty of this city.
Not every habitant can spend as much on their public display. The woods from the rain forest are a welcome substitute. Closer to the seashore, the city expanded even further, conquering the tides, by building over them. A sturdy, wooden construction was made on which a complete part of the city was built on. The city planners have concerns about high tides combined with tropical storms.
The streets of the inner city are broad, clean and well maintained. Like many parts of Libromerci, the roads are built with the finest materials, displaying the wealth and prosperity of the people here.
A drainage system was created for the waste disposal.

Guilds and Factions

Guild of Merchants, ruling the city have specific set of rules.

Natural Resources

Food

Flora

Libromerci lies close to the rain rorests, where there is an abundance of food. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos and tomatoes; vegetables including corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash and yams; spices like black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee and vanilla and nuts and cashews. Other than that, tobacco from Libromerci is famous all around the world for its richness in flavor.
The Patans have successfully mastered the art of argiculture, by building terraces in the environment, optimally using the lands for farming. These modifications to the landscape are a sight to behold.

Fauna

The lands of [CONTINENT] are rich with all kinds of animals. Naturally, humans have domesticated animals for their use. One of the biggest export products of the Patans (ethnicity) is beef. Huge herds of cattle can be seen on the grasslands in between the tropical forests and the beaches. Hunters bring in other kinds of meat, mostly consumed by locals.

Materials

Metals

The areas around Libromerci are relatively flat, compared to the mountainous area to the west. The Patans have not excavated the grounds to find metals. Little is known what lies beneath the hills.

Stone

The areas around Libromerci are rich of stone plateaus. The Patans built many stone quarries to have these excavated, in order to develop the city further.

Organic

The lands close to the sea used to be included in the rain forests of [CONTINENT]. The Patans have, over the years, cleared vast areas of its trees, substituting it for farm fields. The wood which was gained, was used for the construction of buildings and means of transport.

The humanly shaped lands around Libromerci, used for building crops.

Type

Large city

Population

42000

Inhabitant Demonym

Patan