Korentis (/ korentɪs /)
Ξωρεντις
The city of Korentis is an old city, with many dilapidated constructs, remnants of the Old Empire scattered around its outskirts. As you approach you pass many of these ruins. Coming to the walls however, you find a different situation, The defenses are new, decked out with the best weaponry available, and guarded by many watchful eyes. So too is the interior of the city more vibrant, but with more than a few worn out edifices still peaking through the lively cityscape.The city of Korentis, located on the southern coast of Aeilla, is the second-largest city of the Exarchate of the same name, and, at least nominally, the capital of the Exarchate. It is, however, the centerpiece of an internal power struggle between the Exarch, and the Tourmarch of Antiokus who helms the other major city of the nation.
Wards of Korentis
There are 8 wards in the city of Korentis; 4 of which are in the old city walls, and 5 of which are outside them. Most of the wealthier districts, except the estates, are located within the city walls; and the poorer districts to the south of the city's walls.Palace Ward: Located between the palace and the Temple of Kategothea, the Palace Ward serves as the center of government, as well as homes for most of the city's nobility.
Denarium: Home to the agora, and most of the mercantile and trading classes, the Denarium is still one of the most prosperous parts of the city despite the decline of Korentis in recent years.
North Ward: Formerly a fairly robust residential neighborhood, the Northward is gone into a steady decline even as the city has placed a larger and larger portion of the district under the control of the military. It has stabilized somewhat as a mixed residential and military space with houses interspersed with armories and barracks.
Docks Ward: Surrounding the city docks is a complex of warehouses, bunkhouses, and shipyards that make up the Docks Ward, which has increasingly become the economic lifeblood of the city as the surrounding countryside becomes more unsafe.
South Ward: Interspersed between the walls of the city, and the outer ward, the South Ward is a mixed residential neighborhood with a fair number of skilled craftspeople mixed in with the urban poor.
The Estates: An extremely wealthy outer district, the Estates are home to the nobility and their servants; as well as relatively well-off yeoman farmers, both of whom are given duopoly control over the farmlands immediately surrounding Korentis.
Transcorsourm: Also built up at the sides of the wall, the Toanscorsourm is a heavily militarized district, host to stores for the artillery on the walls.
Ragtown: A deeply impoverished district clinging to the lands outside the city, Ragtown is a troubled district and a hotbed for crime and dissent.
New Korentis: A small but growing district that was built up around the mercantile houses from Artenos that have established a presence trading weapons to the Korentines.
Important Locations
House Alimentus Company Branch Office: Home to the local branch office for the House Alimentus Company, mercenary work can often be found here, as can a fair bit of trade if one does not venture into the city proper.The Temple of Kategothea: A place of penance and punishment, the Temple of Kategothea is the largest and most influential in the city, though clerical services can be obtained it, many look to the smaller temples due to the harsh countenance of the priesthood here.
Origarium: A massive food emporium close to the agora; the Origarium (named for its owner Orestes Origarios) has a reputation for luxury and decadence that has been maintained even in the late unpleasantness.
The Captain's Privy: A well-known tavern for mercenaries, this is considered the local hub to pick up contracts outside the Artenesian company's strictures.
Demographics
The city of Korentis has a population of 50,478, making it the second-largest city in the whole of the Exarchate of Korentis. Most of the population (32,152) consists of non-citizen freemen, with relatively small numbers of slaves (1,542), and the rest of the population being citizens of the Exarchate. Most of the population consists of Aeillan humans, primarily Ilosi Aeillans with a fair number of Tyroi and Spartharoi peoples, and small minorities of Gallegan and Hadar peoples.
Government
The city is governed by the Exarch of Korentis who maintains the city as his capital. Beneath the Exarch is a modest and predominantly military-oriented civil service. The civil service maintains the, fairly rudimentary infrastructure of the city as well as collecting taxes and enforcing laws. Overall, state bureaucracy in Korentis is fairly underdeveloped and comparable more to Gallaca or Merida, than other Aeillan states.
Defences
The city of Korentis does possess a wall around its more important parts. This wall is fairly well maintained and possesses a goodly number of ballistae to secure against air attack. Additionally, two bandons of Akritae secure the city in addition to the city watch. Sometimes the Korentine Exarch hires mercenaries or bases Penandroi if Korentis seems under threat of attack.
Industry & Trade
Korentis is, compared to Artenos, a relatively small city economically. With no large organized manufactories, the city's industrial output is reliant almost entirely on the abilities of its skilled craftspeople. The surrounding lands are fertile enough to provide ample food to sell on the markets in exchange for foreign manufactured goods. Most trade is conducted via Artenesian merchant houses with the local agora serving primarily as a grain exchange.
Infrastructure
Despite the relatively rudimentary state bureaucracy, the city of Korentis does maintain fairly impressive, if decaying sewer systems, and indeed the Temple of Kategothea does maintain streetlights in the walled-off sections in the city, only to assist in keeping order. Such systems are increasingly difficult to maintain, however, and the Exarch has sought outside help to keep them up.
Guilds and Factions
Power in the city of Korentis is only loosely held by the regnant Exarch, as the forces of the Tourmarch launch efforts to destabilize the Exarch's efforts to maintain control of the city. The nobles likewise wish to have a piece of the pie for themselves. Lastly, Artenos' corporate enterprises have increasingly taken control over the outskirts of the city, exchanging influence for greater economic prosperity.
History
The city of Korentis is one of the older Aeillan cities having been founded during the forging era. While always comparatively small in terms of raw population size, it maintained a commanding position near the mouth of the Artenesian sound. It was initially one of the more powerful and influential cities on the southern coast and managed to be a city that resisted the efforts of the early Ilosi Republic to incorporate nearby Aeillan poleis into their state. It was eventually swept up in the unification of Aeilla, becoming a major outpost during the conquest of the Tyros.
During the Imperial period, the city of Korentis lost much of its importance as other cities, closer to the periphery became more important trade hubs and received greater investment from the Empire. It as a result languished. During the Later Imperial, Korentis regained some of its importance especially towards the end of the fifty years of crisis, when it became the capital of the Exarchate of Korentis. During the Feloran Period, the cities of Korentis and Antiokus became the most important cities to the Feloran invaders, having numerous irrigation systems and canals put into place. Unlike Antiokus, much of this infrastructure wasn't destroyed by Aeillan war mages; the population, however, was not so lucky, with nearly 3,000 Felorans slaughtered as part of the purge after the end of the Feloran invasions.
During the post-Imperial; Korentis and Antiokus became two poles of the newly independent Exarchate of Korentis. Increasing tensions between the two led to infrequent skirmishes, and eventually the breaking away of the city of Troinae and a sizable chunk of territory. Generally, these power struggles have benefitted Antiokus, but in recent years that city has gone into decline and Korentis has been courting the ascendant coastal powers for support in crushing the other faction once and for all.
Geography
The city of Korentis is situated on a flat plane, mostly on the northern bank of the River Iltis where it meets the sea. The river delta itself was drained out providing plenty of usable lands and reducing the threat of infectious disease. Korentis' most important districts are on relative highlands, with the walls being constructed on the plains beneath the hill. Korentis was built up along the coast, with a modest natural harbor being one of the more important features of the city.
Map of Korentis by Javak
Founding Date
EF 222
Type
Large city
Population
50,478
Inhabitant Demonym
Korentine, Korentines
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
