Theden
It's weird, really. Parts of Theden are old, really old. The ruins on the south side of the city point to a rich and vibrant history going back thousands of years.Theden is the westernmost city of Paltetia and one of the largest in Theden Province. This medium-sized city has grown and developed from the site of an ancient city. Some buildings in the Historic District even rest upon ancient foundations. This, however, has not stopped the steady march of progress. Some areas of the city are very modern. From skyscrapers in the northern part of the city to ruins in the southern sectors, Theden boasts a bit of something for everyone.
And yet, I can find very little information from the previous era. Just 1,000 years back, and you'll find no written records, no census information, few artifacts. We don't know who governed here and can only guess at their lives. 1,000 years is not so long ago to expect no written histories...
Geography & Climate
It's strange for a city this size to be so far from the river.
Sweat trickled down Anders's neck and he glanced at the trees towering over them. A cool breeze chilled him, and he looked around once more.
Don't be superstitious, he chided himself. We should have found it by now. Maybe I was wrong.
Anders paced, then climbed up the hillside, scanning the surrounding hillocks for what had to have been the hundreth time for any signs that one might contain evidence of an ancient outpost. Or something. Anything.
Could I get a permit to demolish some of these hills?
The clang of metal on stone spun him around. Anders raced down the hill, even as he though, Probably just a rock.
The crew uncovered large, suspiciously flat stone. Anders bounced on his toes, grabbed a shovel, and hopped into the hole. He dug the hole wider, working toward the looming treeline. Another stone.
As the sun dipped below the cityscape behind them, he wiped a dirty hand across his face. A wide grin crossed his face as he thought about how he would write the articles for this find: an ancient, stone road leading into the Great Woods.
A group in military uniforms crested a nearby hill and approached with long, determined strides. "Professor Anders, come with us, please."
Natural Resources
Despite being situated at the edge of a forest, most of Theden is built from metal, stone, and concrete. Some stone is quarried from nearby, but most materials are brought in from other areas of Paltetia.
The rolling hills and temperate conditions do provide an abundance of farming and grazing livestock to the north and west of the city.
Theden City Proper
Defending Innvotion
Founding Date
Unknown - believed to be 1000s of years ago
Alternative Name(s)
Theden City
Population
~130,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Thedens
An interesting blend of old meets new.
Education & Innovation
Theden boasts a number of top-tier universities and research facilities. People from all over Paltetia attend these schools and travel to Theden for academic conferences, workshops, and the like. Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and other science-based industries call Theden and its surrounding suburbs home.An Unusual Defense
Identifiable by their penchant for rustic leather, Hunters have their headquarters and training ground just outside of Theden. They patrol the forests, keeping citizens from entering the The Great Woods and dangerous wildlife from roaming the city.Most people in Theden were afraid of the Great Woods. Whispers of ferocious beasts and supernatural beings circulated frequently, despite the best effort of city officials, who discouraged the rumors.
The Great Woods
Paltetian Hunters operate in The Great Woods, a stretch of forested land spanning nearly the entire length of the eastern side of Paltetia and roughly dividing the continent of Wennovi. Paltetians believe the Great Woods to be impassible and the lands beyond to be uninhabitable.Districts
Theden City is separated into various districts. The most notable are the Historic District and the Business District, for how dramatically different they are from each other. The other districts, such as Westend District, fall somewhere in between the others in terms of age, height, and modernity.Old Theden
Castle Ruins by Frank Meitzke from Pixabay
The Historic District
The Historical District (north of the ancient ruins) feature buildings as old as 500 years or more. People lived in this area for much longer, however, as some of these buildings are built on ancient foundations and sites. This district once contained wooden structures, but a series of devastating fires hundreds of years ago led to their reconstruction in stone. Those stone structures stand to this day and have been protected by the Theden Historical Society.As she walked into the older part of the city, the buildings shrank to two- and three-storied buildings with brick and stone façades. She sighed with relief as she crossed into the pedestrian-only district and the traffic noise abated.
The Financial District
The Financial District includes large skyscrapers full of business offices, banks, and government buildings. This district boasts fully modern buildings, made of sleek glass, metals, and marbles, and is located to the north of Theden City square.
Lia startled when the Trade and Commissions office building came into view. The tall, glass and granite skyscraper towered over her while busy people dressed in business suits hurried to and from similar structures. Car horns blared behind her, and the frantic bustling around her tightened her stomach. She hated visiting the Financial District with its incessant traffic and monolithic structures.
This map shows downtown Theden and nearby landmarks. It does not include the surrounding suburbs, neighborhoods, and farmland. Such a map would be much larger.
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Author's Notes
Thank you for reading!