Levalda

As a child, I was told stories of a glistening jewel beckoning to the waves, nestled among endless verdant fields. Of a great citadel of peace standing where a great river met the sea, where all the knowledge in the world was packed into its very foundations. I thought it was a myth... or at the very least over-embellished in its descriptions. But believe my words, when I saw that shining beacon jutting from the hilly coastline like a cluster of crystals for the first time, my doubts evaporated immediately. In all of my travels, never again have I been left with the feeling that it was the stories that were lacking.

Polirro Sialto, Volarri Sociologist and Historian, "A Continent of Wonders"

Annoyingly stubborn, hotheaded, chaotic, unruly, stalwart. These are but a few of the rather colorful terms that have been used to describe the "city of a hundred names", yet none of them fully encapsulate the true spirit of this timeless jewel. 

Levalda is nonethless what some may consider to be somewhat of an 'anomaly' in that it doesn't belong to any member Republic or Commune of The Communal Republics of Lavenna, refusing any traditional geopolitical associations and instead referring to themselves simply as "the city". In practice, however, Levalda governs itself more or less as a voluntary association of the communes and neighborhoods that comprise it. This has made it the gold standard in the eyes of The Liberalists, of whom actually drew much of their original inspiration from the city. This has, naturally, made the city a liberalist stronghold.

Districts

There are three main districts in Levalda:

Marazur

The coastal district of the city, clinging to the steep, rocky slopes of la phare. Tracing its origins back to the orginal trading port established by the Volarra League, it retains its mercantile spirit even today in the communal economy, being home to a vibrant array of communal markets, plazas, parks and garden spaces. It is also home to the majority of the city administration, as well as communal ministries, regional communal services, and transportation infrastructure. Two of the city's three main train stations connected to the The Lavennic High Speed Rail Network are located in the district: Gare de Lavande (left) and Gare de Pierre (right). Lastly, Marazur is highly multicultural, being home to the city's largest Aldanti population, though the Fleurois still account for a slight majority of inhabitants.

Riverefuge

History

Levalda has survived through some of the most destructive events of the millennia. It has stood through the Birthright Wars, the Novosti Conquests, and the Continental War, emerging from all of them with a stalwart resilience that has preserved its countless archives, libraries and depositories. Thousands of exiled scholars, theologians, scientists and political refugees fled to the city and its labyrinthine streets, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge, of which the city would safeguard like a coastal vault. Founded by the Volarra during their era of colonisation, during the Birthright Wars the city became a haven for the heavily persecuted Skyborn people called the Fleurois. Today, they are the majority inhabitants.

Founding Date

120 BA

Alternative Name(s)

"La Phare", "L'Ancre de l'Ardanto", "Le Joyau de Lavenna"

Type

Large city

Population

4.89 million

Inhabitant Demonym

Levaldien(enne)