History of Nova

Nova is a city that sits on the edge of the world. Now the largest port for world exploration (Air Ships) as well as a center for magical study and scientific invention. However the city, like most, had its humble beginnings.
Founded by Nathan Collossus 300 years prior to the events of our 'little' adventure, Nova started as a refuge from war. The city was decidedly named after Collossus's pet elephant and the founder of its first mission Otto Osesa pet faerie dragon. When the war ended, partially due to the advent of flight, Nova quickly grew into an outpost for expiditions into the Great Sky Sea. The call of adventure brought people the continent over which lead to the establishment of grand bazaars which sported exotic spices, endless art and artifacts, and materials never seen by master craftsmen. It was at this time that Otto Osesa, the first elected mayor, established the Grand Consortium.
It wasn't long before people started coming to Nova for a different reason. For the rich, they came to establish workshops where they could easily source unusual materials. For the less fortunate, they came to feed the ever growing demand for workers. Perhaps dreaming of finding their way onto an adventure into the Great Sky Sea. There was also a massive draw for the less savoury. Crime came to the city and dug their claws into the cobbles that made up its lavish streets. The more affluent in the city, namely Nock Blackwell a factory owner and urban planner, became increasingly disgusted with the urchins and sick that lined their beautiful streets. They decided they would create massive housing on the far side of the canal to the main city. This neighbourhood was named the "Nock Burrow" after Blackwell while the other side of the canal was renamed the "Osesa Burrow". Due to a lifetime of work in developing (segrigating) the city, Blackwell was honoured by having the central canal after him.
From here things stagnated. Nock continued to grow to eventually surround all of Nova. The Nova Institute of Magical Innovation was started by its current Archmagus, Vondal Onyxbuster, who also happened to be one of the directors of the Grand Consortium. Meanwhile crime has flourished with the emergence of The Confetti Family and its rival gang Holderhek's Knives . While the two gangs are not currently at war, the feeling in the streets can mirror the air before a battlefield.
The most powerful groups in Nova are stuck in a deadlock for power, but can be listed as: The Immaculate Society of Merchants and Explorers --> which runs the mayoral household The Institute of Magical Innovation --> which runs the Grand Consortium The Confetti Family --> manages majority of the constabulary as well as the Nock Burrow The Holderhek Knives --> a psuedo-revolutionary group which controls Lower Osesa