Vicante

Vicante is the capital city of the Ronao Empire and the seat of power for the Lumari Faith. Known also as the Holy City, it is home to the Lumare Cathedral, the crown jewel of the faith. The city itself is considered one of the great wonders of civilization.

Demographics

Elves: 525,712 (63.8%)
Humans: 193,640 (23.5%)
Dwarves: 104,648 (12.7%)
Total Population: 824,000

Government

Vicante is the capital of the Ronao Empire and as such is led by the Empress herself and her council of advisors. In addition there is a council of elected officials to represent each district of the city that work with the council of advisors to see to the needs of the city's people. This council is in charge of managing their respective districts and bringing all concerns before the council and in turn the Empress.

Defences

The city of Vicante is highly fortified with both physical and magical walls, large military presence, and Magically reinforced gates among other defences of a similar vein. The city is split into three rings, each protected by it's own wall, the young city, old town, and castle town. In addition there are several watch towers along each wall to further bolster defense.
The young city has little in the way of individual defenses beyond the walls and gates. This is primarily do to the newness of the area and the development that is still ongoing. It is believed that more defenses will be added as development continues.
The old town is known for it's primarily narrow streets and winding paths. It is also denoted by it's highly fortified wall and watch towers as well as the strength of the secondary magical wall. It is also protected by cannons and ballistae as well as a concentrated military force.
Castle town is especially well guarded with a triple layer of magical walls in addition to the physical fortified one. It has all of the defenses of the old town, and a higher military presence as well. It is also known for the many choke points in the design of the city and castle itself meant to make it hard for large forced to progress.

Industry & Trade

Due to the high tourism rates as well as the number of religious pilgrimages and its status as the capital of the empire, Vicante serves as a trade hub for Ronao both domestic and foreign. While you can find nearly anything you can imagine in the city, the main industries of note are the hospitality, magical goods and trinkets, and artisan and luxury goods industries.

Infrastructure

Despite it's age the city has an extensive sewer system as well as multiple aqueducts to provide clean water to the people. It's a large part of the reason the city is considered a marvel of civilization, as it was one of the first settlements known to adopt such methods at all let alone successfully.
The roads of the Empire are also great feats of engineering. They are made of a kind of concrete mixture, providing a smooth flat surface that has withstood the ages with very little upkeep. These roads have insured trade routes are easily navigated and that goods are quickly and easily delivered to their destinations.
The city itself is a metropolis of beautiful architecture and planning that has built up and out over the years it has existed into a sprawling complex city housing the largest concentrated population of the empire. History can be seen through the city in the increasing age of the building the deeper into the city you go.
The outer most wall of the city and what lay within is the newest construction, and houses the odifirous industries and the aqueducts and machinery needed to keep them running. While not pretty by any means the engineering behind running the needed infrastructure for this area of the city is impressive. This area is home to the blacksmiths, leather workers, mills, dye works, etc. of the city.
There is also the wonder of architecture and art that is the Lumare Cathedral. The seat of power for the Lumari Faith and the home church of the Celestine. The Lumare Cathedral is a spectacle to see by all accounts.

Districts

Vicante is a large and vibrant city split into twelve districts serving a myriad of purposes. From governmental offices to bustling markets and temples to the gods and goddesses of kingdoms near and far, Vicante has it all.

• Castle Heights

The ancient town surrounding Aldreth Keep, the seat of power for the Ronao Empire and home to the Empress and her family. This town has stood through the ages, seeing the fall of the ancient kingdoms and the rise of the empire in their stead. It's considered primarily a historic landmark though one very much still in use as it holds the governmental offices and court houses as well as the military's training grounds and some of the oldest and most prestigious store fronts and workshops in the city.

• Lumarian Circle

The district serves as the religious hub of not just the city but the empire as a whole. While you will find other churches and temples there, primarily to serve transplants, foreign merchants, and dignitaries, none are as prominent as the crown jewel of the Lumarian Circle the Lumare Cathedral, a sight to behold by all accounts and one that people travel far and wide to see.

• Moonlight Corners

Started as a Theological & Magical University that catered to the upper-class for ages, now though it serves as a general hub of knowledge and study for all. With the new age's focus on education Moonlight Corners has seen exponential growth in the last years, something that the empire prides itself on.

• Karthial Park

Beautiful and carefully manicured, the Karthial Park district serves as the home of the rich and influential of the city. While the green spaces are open to the populace the residential areas are locked behind guarded gates and accessible only to those personally invited by the tenants of the mansions beyond. It also serves as the housing district for foreign dignitaries.

• Falollas Bazaar

Likely the most bustling and buzzing of the city's districts, the Falollas Bazaar serves as Vicante's primary trade hub. Full of rich smells and constant music from buskers and the shouts of merchants hawking their wares from near and far, the Bazaar never sleeps and one can find new things to enjoy or buy everyday.

• Cosmorit Boulevard

Bordering the Lumarian Circle, Cosmorit Boulevard serves primarily as the home of the clergy though it's proximity to Falollas Boulevard also makes it an ideal home for the high-class merchants and artisans that are not quite fortunate enough to reside in the illustrious Karthial Park. None-the-less this beautifully designed and maintained district is well known as an enviable address and a sign of fortune and favor.

• Old Town

The historic Old Town is a testament to the resilience of the city having survived the ages, this district is home to many of the oldest workshops, stores, theaters, and homes outside of the Castle Heights. It also plays home to the city's jail and barracks for both the guard and the military.

• Midtown Grove

A fascinating place to be, Midtown Grove is the center of Artisanal crafting for the city. From enchanting blades made by skilled blacksmiths to toy dragons that fly and breathe smoke, it almost all passes through the workshops of Midtown Grove. It is where you will find most of the workshops that make the goods that Vicante is famous for.

• Upper Waterside Road

Waterfront townhouses and properties line the way in Upper Waterside Road. Home to the middle-class denizens of Vicante, many of whom work either on the river or or in the workshops of the nearby Midtown Grove, the area is usually bustling with life and laughter.

• Lower Waterside Road

Home to all the factories, blacksmiths, tanneries, and the shipping port, Lower Waterside Road is a busy industrial park. While not the prettiest or nicest place in the city it can be said that Lower Waterside is the beating heart of what keeps the city running.

• New Town

the largest district by far, people from all over the world gather in New Town. It is home to the average citizen of Vicante. Ever changing and adapting and the most rapidly growing district of the city.

• The Vask District

Full of the downtrodden and poor, the Vask District exists on the fringes of the city. Those who have not yet found their luck and who struggle to make ends meet gather together there in hopes of one day rising above their current circumstances.'

• Faerseton Citadel

A towering fortress built beyond the city walls, Faerseton Citadel serves as the home of the military. Ready to deploy at the first sign of trouble the denizens of the citadel take care to keep a watchful eye over the city. It also serves as a training school for all those from Vicante wishing to enlist into the Ronao Royal Forces.

Tourism

Vicante has a booming tourism and hospitality industry, seeing hundreds if not thousands of religious pilgrims, merchants and tradesmen, adventurers, mercenaries, nobles seeking education or leisure abroad, and every other walk of life imaginable. Many come to see the Lumare Cathedral and hope for a blessing from the Celestine herself, others come for the master craft enchanted weapons and goods, others still come to experience the markets and try their luck for fortune or fame.

Architecture

The city is a mixture of ancient and modern architectural mastery. However a renewed interest for the classical ancient designs that happened in the second age of the Ronao Empire saw that despite the younger age of a large portion of the city it blends well with the ancient wonders of architecture. Domed roofs and columns abound in both new and old designs, brilliant carvings of the history of Vicante can be seen painted across the walls and ceilings of many of the buildings throughout the city. Important buildings denoted by their grandeur and size compared to the smaller, more modest, homes and shops. All built from stone and concrete where applicable, perfectly designed with symmetry and proportionality in mind

Founding Date

18th of Evo, 450 AS

Alternative Name(s)

The Holy City

Population

824,000

Owner/Ruler

Dea Vasari

Ruling/Owning Rank

Empress of Ronao

Owning Organization

Ronao Empire