Commercial Neighborhoods of Lorisen

The Commercial Neighborhoods

The city of Lorisen is vast and diverse. As the center of the Empire, there is a significant portion of the city that is taken by commericial businesses, shopping, schools, churches, governmental sectors, and more. Though this list is by no means all inclusive, it is a semi-comprehensive compilation of some of the more major neighborhoods that fall under the category of "commercial."

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Empire Circle

A large circular 'square' that is the center of the city. It is surrounded by three large spires that tower over the area. There is usually a bustling market in the circle for travelling merchants and uncommon goods that rotates often. There is a large balcony on one of the spires for announcements from a herald or, rarely, from the High Chancellor. The most expensive inns are located along the periphery of the circle.

The Spires

This district is home to the Council of Six and the High Chancelor. There are many other government offices located within these three sky scraping spires. Each one is made of white basalt stone and topped with a gilded onion dome. Each dome is cast with a different metal. Each are accented with different colored stones, the designs of which carry forward on to the domes themselves. Each dome is topped with a single, enormous, golden star.

The Jubilee Spire

It is primarily home to the many guilds of the city as well as the offices of various businesses, merchants, and emissaries. It is the second smallest tower. It is topped with a copper dome. The stones are decorated with four bands, one on each cardinal direction side of the tower, in abstract shapes in green, pink, and yellow stones. The Jubilee spire was the first tower completed and was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of Loras' death, hence the name.

The Ascension Spire

The tallest spire in the district. It is where the council of six live with their families, and it is where the high chancellor lives with their family as well. It is where the the functions of the government happen. The lower levels are taken up by city governance offices as well. The mayor of Lorisen additionally lives in this spire. This tower is topped with a golden dome. There are patterns of blue basalt stone that, in the negative spaces, form the tri-star pattern of the Lorasian Empire. This same motif repeats in several bands and spirals upwards like candy stripes from the base to the tower. The stripes continue onto the dome in blue paint. This was the latest spire completed and was finished in 284 A.U.

The Resplendant Spire

This spire is the smallest of the three and is split evenly between four different places. The first fourth is home to the National Museum of Emaniquora. The second fourth is home to the Aayo Memorial Library, one of the greatest collections of texts in the Empire. The third fourth is home to the studios and homes of the greatest artisens in the Empire. The final fourth is home to the various galleries, theaters, and other artistic pursuites of the Empire. This spire is topped with a silver dome. This is the most decorated spire, with more colored stone than white. The intricately placed stones create towering murals of different events throughout the empire's history. There are areas of blank stone where more historical murals can be can be added in the future. This is the second oldest spire and was completed in 149 A.U.

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The United Emaniquora University

Often shortened to U.E.U. (usually slurred together to sound like You-ee-you) this university is the oldest in the Empire and was established by Loras before the end of The Unity Period when the first few nations were united. It has since produced some of the greatest minds and leaders in the Empire. It is located next to Empire Circle along the southwestern side.

The main building is a glass and gold domed building of pink-white stone, tall but miniscule compared to its neighbors, The Spires. Large flying buttresses connect the central dome to several smaller cylindrical domed buildings surrounding it. There are many other buildings and dormitories

Admission is extremely rigorous and difficult and they only accept around 1000 individuals per annum for a usual total enrollment of around 7,000 including staff, undergraduates, graduates, and doctorate candidates.

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National Museum of Emaniquora

A national museum full of art and artifacts from across Emaniquora's storied past. Also contains many artifacts from Pre-Unity and is a major source of cultural knowledge from a time when many recorded histories were lost. Each level is devoted to a different art form, style, or time period. There are several gallery levels that are devoted to the modern arts of Emaniquora that act as a place for new artists to showcase their skills.

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The Shopping Districts

The shopping district is made up of many different neighborhoods that comprise various types of shops. The entire district hugs each side of the river on both banks. Some of the districts are stacked on top of each other in a haphazard network of bridges and stairways. There are numerous cargo lifts along the river to ferry goods from ships to the shops with ease. This area of the city is rarely quiet, for even after hours when most shops are closed, there are various 24-hour shops that are open, most of them in the side streets or slightly seedier areas.

The neighborhoods are as follows: The textile district, the gem district, the food markets, the armory district, the weapons district, the luxury streets, the shopfronts (general stores), the scholar's walk (books and other erudite accoutremont), the flower market, the arts quarter, medicinal market (including alchemical, medicinal, and herbal remedies), and several others. Each neighborhood is comprised of anywhere between one street to several blocks.

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The Maw

The docks that jut out from either side of the city are often referred to as "The Maw." The multitude of piers and docks resemble jagged teeth. The northern docks are referred to as "The Maxilla" while the southern docks are called "The Mandible."

The Maxilla Docks

The Maxilla docks, sometimes called "The Max," are home to most mercantile and trade ships. Many stop for a few nights before making their way to the lifts to go further upstream. Passanger ships often stop here as well.

The Mandible Docks

These docks, sometimes called "The Jawbone," are where the Empire's naval fleet often port. It is additionally where ships from other lands usually dock. Ships that cannot afford to pay the lift fee often stay here until they can raise the funds or find another way.

Brilanthir

Translated from elven to common, this waterfall is called "The Glittering Waterfall" but is usually called "The Bril" by most residents. It is approximately 2,000 ft tall and is a straight vertical drop down. The neighborhood of Cliffside is located to the south of the waterfall. Next to the waterfall on the southern side is an intricate series of pulleys, platforms, and lifts that are able to transport small to medium sized ships up the side of the cliff into a small man-made pool of water at the top. These ships can then continue down the river to deliver goods. This journey upwards usually costs around 5% of the monetary worth of the goods being carried in the ship, which can quickly become very expensive.

The Sea Spire

The sea spire is a relatively new addition to the city. It is a much smaller spire, perhaps twice as tall as the tallest lighthouse. It is striped in light blue and topped with an aged teal copper dome. It lies on the north shore at the top of the falls and acts as a beacon to show sailors the way to the capital

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The Hearthstone

This area of the city is noted for the multitude of forges throughout it interspersed with shops selling goods smithed in those forges. Those making and selling weapons, armor, and other metalworks make their home here. A thin layer of soot and ash often covers this area due to the density of fires happening here. Due to this, the Hearthstone is located along the south bank along the river. All buildings are required to be made from stone and each household is limited in how many flammable materials are allowed inside. There is a stone wall surrounding this area to help contain fires should one break out. In times of peace, there are often fewer forges being used at any given time. However, when conflict breaks out, it has been said that half of the New City can be covered in ash from the constant fires burning as armor and weapons are made. It is during times such as these that the sound of hammering can be so cacophanous that it has caused the areas of the New City that directly surround the Hearthstone to become abandoned.

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Inns, Taverns, and Other Entertainment

There are certain businesses which are not relegated to a specific neighborhood. Inns, taverns, bars, brothels and other pleasure houses, casinos and gambling dens, and stables among several others are spread out throughout the city. The quality varies wildly depending on where it is located. The most expensive are often located nearer to the Spires while the least expensive can be found on the edges of the city.

Sanctuary Stadium

A large stadium inset into the earth in the New City. Pre-Unity, it was an ancient hexagonal cathedral located in the country before the New City was built. The cathedral was eventually destroyed and the large underground structures of the building were converted into a stadium. It is used for gladatorial-like contests, melee fights, large concerts and plays, and in times of plague, a makeshift hospital.

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The Parks

There are many parks and green spaces located throughout the city. Though there are dozens, the five largest, in order, are as follows: Naeryndrm Green, named after the formal royal family of the nation of Athelian; The Hunting Grounds, which used to be the hunting lands of the royal house prior to the rise of the Lorasian Empire; Luthyra Park, named after one of the first great houses of the Empire; The Green, the park closest to The Spires, which is often used for events; and The Tracks, where the racing tracks are for those who wish to gamble.

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The Bridges

This area is located on the sprawling bridges that soar over the Ansklere River. There are some areas where the bridges are so thick side-by-side that they nearly obscure the river below them. Some are small where only a few people can walk next to each other. Some are so thick that entire neighborhoods are built on them.

Brightstone Bridges

Much of the city's entertainment industry is located in the Brightstone Bridges. It is named for the fact that lanterns are kept burning almsot 24/7 as there is always something happening here. There are theatres, casinos, clubs, and much more.

Lorisen

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The capital city of the Lorasian Empire and ostensibly Emaniquora