Deefin Gate (DEE-fin)

The city of five smells

Demographics

Because of its cosmopolitan position as a marketplace and border crossing city, there are people from all over. Most have some relationship to trade, either as a laborer or as a merchant. There is some tourism, but that has withered away over the past few years with rising tensions. Because it is on the Borderland side of the mountains, there is a less strict enforcement of Piromese ideals, an independence that is fiercely defended.

Government

"It's time for those merchants fat off our work to hear our demands!" --Labor organizer

There is a city commission that governs this city-state. The commission adheres to a strict neutrality doctrine to stay removed from either Piromere or Numab agendas. Their goal is to maintain independence, peace, and trade. The commissioners are elected, but more often than not come from the merchant class with notable exceptions. Elections are run by public declaration of support by permanent residents. There are many commissioners to represent the numerous districts of the city, but they elect one to be the head commissioner who makes the executive decisions and nominates diplomats.

Industry & Trade

"If you can't find it in Deefin Gate, then you probably won't find it anywhere." --Retired Explorer Max Jamison

Most of the trade between Piromere and the Borderlands passes through Deefin Gate. As such, the city is  a hub that attracts people and industries of all kinds. The city takes a hefty toll for import and export rights, which bankrolls the municipal needs of the city. The city is also a key place for industrial processes to transform raw materials into refined products.

Infrastructure

Deefin Gate was built in a natural underground cove on the Borderland side of the mountains leading into Piromere. The city relies on its natural defenses to protect it from invasion by external forces--leading to it being one of the few truly independent city states in the Borderlands. To protect the city's water and air resources, there is intense infrastructure to allow for trade and industrial processes without great environmental harm.

Tourism

Most tourists use Deefin Gate as a jumping off point on their tours. However, there are plenty of Piromese elites who enjoy the looser social norms and exotic finds of Deefin Gate on their own. They tend to stay in the wealthier districts away from the industrial areas where there are curated experiences designed specifically for them.

Architecture

While most of the buildings, streets,  and thoroughfares are carved from the rock, there are surface tunnels with a series of filters and mirrors to bring sunlight down to various levels of the city. Because of the filters and distance from the surface, it is weakened from full strength and can take on different colors, usually in the red area of the color spectrum.

Geography

It is an underground city, so there are many different levels. There are larger, more open caverns, but the rest can be a 3-d maze that's easy to get disoriented in by foreigners. There is fresh water access from the The Stradlon Aquifer .

Inhabitant Demonym

Deefinan

Location under

The Borderlands

Related Traditions

• Ward Stones