Alqua

Alamzara County, Republic of Tory Capitol

Founding Date

Established early 1300s, became the Republic Capitol 1315.

Founders

The city became recognized when Pra'Stazrach took over - thus naming them the founders.

Government

Constitutional Republic
There is a constitution guiding the governance of the Republic at large while a board of Electors manage the city, head by a mayor elected by popular vote.

Demographics

Nobility 3%
Shpachhad 10%

Common Residents 71%
Tourists / Transients 16%

Districts

The Crown

On the north-eastern side of the city are large plots of landscaped estates, gated in smaller communities that require clearance to access. Several of these grand homes belong to the Shpacchad that co-run the city, alongside the various wealthy politicians, Electors, and Investors. There are a couple of estates owned by nobility of a couple different families, most notably Zhu'Shpazh, Sid'Thovaych, Pra'Stazrach, and Sid'Shrie. The grounds belonging to nobility is notably more secure than those belonging to the wealthy common vnou of the city, with even the Shpacchad tending to keep an eye on these particular estates.

Golden End / Financial District

The historic Golden End is where all of the modern business and other wealthy establishments have settled. South of the Crown though notably separated by a large park that wraps around the north - like a natural barrier between the Crown and Golden End - while bordered on the south by the Darahrah River that splits the city. Golden End is the nicest, most expensive part of the city, dominated by skyscrapers, well dressed vnou, clean streets, and little to no crime. The Shpacchad operate primarily in this area and keep it neat and orderly.

Ash Mile / South Town

A hold over name from when the river was dominated by coal and steam powered boats that left the river docks black and dirty, the Ash Mile refers to the businesses on the south side of the Darahrah river, across from the Golden End. This is a primarily tradesman and common vnou work area. Relatively crime free and marginally clean, Ash Mile blends south into what is eventually simply known as South Town, which is the primary residential area of the city. This, like Ash Mile, is a relatively clean and safe area of the city. Managed, patrolled, and cared for by the small presence of Zhu'Thlach, the residents of both Ash Mile and South Town have a strong faith in their civil servants.

by Midjourney

by Midjourney

Sampirson's

The downtown area simply known as Sampirson's is a messy mix of lower class housing, older parts of the city that have been abandoned or have been neglected, and is widely known to belong to the Sampirson gang. Sampirson is a common vnou gang that plays up their importance in the city, running their territory and streets like a mini-kingdom within the confines of Alqua. A lot of unlawful substances and criminals hide in the run down area that borders the train yard, on the south side of an area called the Pig Garden. This is an area that even the public works of Zhu'Thlach have abandoned, largely because it doesn't seem like the locals want them there. The perceived desire for chaos and crime isn't worth the effort for the small contingent to combat and there is an ever political song-and-dance between Zhu'Thlach and the nobility in the city when it comes to procuring anything when it comes to help - be it supplies or man power.

Pig Garden / Northern Green

While officially and in polite company known as Northern Green, most residents will refer to the farmed northern area of the city as Pig Garden. This stems from an old derogatory reference to the privileged and protected position many farmers enjoyed for much of Alqua's history - and many still enjoy to this day. Some keep their claim to their land in Pig Garden as a matter of familial pride while the have-nots in the middle and lower class find the pigs of Pig Garden almost as repulsive as the Electors in Golden End.

Mould's Gate

This is the small area on the south eastern side of the city where the bulk of the train yard is located. Frequently mislabeled or misspelled in documentation as Mold Gate, Mould's Gate is named for the vnou who had sponsored the construction some generations past. While the yard has passed ownership since and the origin of the name has been lost, noble documentation has ensured that the name Mould persists - if only because that's what it is actually called and specifics matter to them.

Factions

Shpacchad Kalerilosa vs Sampirson

Shpacchad Kalerilosa is presently run by Rodeuskiss Kalerilosa and backed by Zhu'Drahinuaw, though no one knows about the latter. Notably, Alqua is known to have two rulers. The Shpacchad is a highly organized crime family that has their hands in nearly every industry in Alqua, with roots spreading out through the rail network and the information network through Drahinuaw. While most would readily admit that the crime family has a strangle-hold on the city, there is a rougher gang that runs a portion of the streets simply known as Sampirson. Depending on who is asked, the existence of Sampirson is either an allowance the Shpacchad has made for the common vnou or it's the lower class striking back and bucking the laws of the city. Of course the Sampirson is unaware of the vnou nobility but they have inadvertently pitted themselves against them - both Drahinuaw through the Shpacchad and Thlach in the flagrant disregard for the city's laws and their participation in harassing the normal residents.
Sampirson is hardly an anomaly when it comes to gangs or factions being created in large cities that don't involve the nobility at all. So long as the common vnou don't really hinder the nobility, they're allowed to exist. The eradication of such a group is a major effort that requires a lot of paperwork that most nobility don't deem worth it - and then another pops up anyway.

Nobility vs Zhu'Thlach

The presence of Zhu'Thlach, or Pra'Viyk, in a large city is almost a guarantee. As one of the families who sees themselves responsible for the well-being of the common vnou, they are the true representative of the residents of Alqua. The phony elections for the Electors and Mayor mean very little to them. Rather, they are a constant thorn in the side of the Shpacchad and Pra'Stazrach - the true rulers of the city - and an irritation that cannot be easily dismissed. While most noble families will recognize that the presence of Zhu'Thlach, or Pra'Viyk, tends to be good for the over all health and well-being of the populous, none of them tend to enjoy actually dealing with Zhu'Thlach or acquiescing to their demands. The full weight of the vnou bureaucracy is often used to bludgeon each family into some manner of submission - either to comply with requests or drag out a process for so long someone invariably gives up or a mistake is made and the process must either start all over again, or be dropped in its entirety. It is not uncommon for members of Zhu'Thlach to be tied up in grant requests for years.

Shpacchad vs Pra'Stazrach

The Republic of Tory, and thus all the major cities within it, are technically the property and domain of the noble family, Pra'Stazrach. The Electors and Mayor of the city are almost always connected to the family, either through Fa or some other manner of business. However, none of the nobility knows just who backs the Shpacchad. It is widely believed that they are all fronts for different families, a rumor that Drahinuaw persists. So Stazrach is aware that another noble family has instilled themselves in their Republic Capitol, they just don't know who.