Niure

Niure, the White City, is one of the largest cities on the continent of Antarilion, prized for its pearls, seafood, Antaril woods and fabrics, resins and incense.
Having fallen under imperial rule several hundred years ago, its original tribal leaders were replaced sons of the noble House Krastor, who have continued to govern as Margrave the city since. In the wake of the Fall of the Regalia, the Margrave was able to retain authority through martial law, though that power has waned over the years as the Palatines, commoners with excessive wealth and influence, have begun to exert their own control.

Government

House Krastor governs the city of Niure, inheriting the title since it was awarded to their House by the Emperor of the Regalia. That power is contested, both covertly and openly, by various antaril merchant princes who operate across the continent, but in the letter of the law, the Margrave of Niure ultimately governs the city entirely with absolute authority. In Niure, two Palantine operate openly; Prince Madhuram from the Towers of the Eagle, and Serenity, from the Palace of the Moon.
In reality, the Margrave Araccus Krastor actively manages roughly half of Niure, with the two resident Palantines shouldering the remaining power in the city between them.

Law and Taxes

The Margrave must obey Regal law in all things, but is otherwise free to create and overturn any laws they wish, and as such, judiciary courts fall under the purview of this office, and as a direct consequence, so too does taxation. Businesses must be registered with the Margrave, or with a Palantine who must report on the business independently, but the cultural reaction to taxation is quite favourable, as citizens believe it is their obligation to contribute to a secure and prosperous society. Labourers and production workers are not taxed, but a very low fee is set for any work done for the city. Business owners and merchants are taxed highly, with tax breaks available for contributions to the city.

Treasury

The Margrave also operates the Treasury via the Prefectus , with vaults beneath the Citadel of the Sun set aside for that express purpose. Ledgers of credit and contribution, licences and certificates and records are kept in the Censereum. This data is supplemented by information collected by the local Temple of Clementia, the Temple of the Feast, which provides records of yields year on year of local produce, enabling the Margrave to provide more funding to areas vital to the well-being of the city.

Military

The Margrave also commands the city militiamen, with roughly one hundred guards to patrol walls, streets and guard gates and important locations. This number for a city of 12000 or so is relatively low, because the public guard is supplemented by a force provided by the Palantines.

• Margrave guards are armed with Regal gladius shortswords and pilam javelins and armoured in chain hauberks and scutum shields.

• Skyguards in the employ of Palantine Madhuram are armed with Antaril ballam spears and kukri, along with Regal arcus composite bows, and armoured with eagle tabards and studded leather armour, and they most frequently guard the walls.

• Moonwatchers in the employ of Palantine Serenity are armed with Regal falchions, manuballistae and armoured with lunar tabards and iron breastplates and pteruges, and they most frequently guard the gates of the city, or are stationed in public places like the market square.

All guards, public or private, have the authority to search, seize or arrest at will, though reports of reasonable suspicion must be filed with their superiors, who will police abuses of power.
Beyond this, the Palantine Madhuram maintains a standing group of outriders and rangers that scout, patrol and track passage through the nearby countryside, and they are empowered to seize contraband and make arrests on behalf of Niure while in the field. Palantine Serenity has a similar but smaller force of short-range skimmer vessels called 'perlabors', which are used to police anglers, pearlers, divers and to scout for pirates.

Defences

Margrave Krastor has 16 personal guards, and funds 115 additional guardsmen for the city. Palantine Madhuram funds 162 guardsmen for the city. Palantine Serenity funds 121 guardsmen for the city.
20 foot walls surround the inner city of Niure, treated with a nacre-based glaze to make the exterior smooth and glassy. Each guard tower is fortified, with four scorpio ballista and exploding ammunition, braziers, pitch flasks, and Y-poles to repel ladders. Each gate is outfitted with reinforced doors of ebony and iron, as well as two layers of iron portcullis, murder holes in each side of the passage, fire stations for heating oil, and casks of thick pitch.
At rest, there are two guards at watch on each tower, and four guards at watch on each gate.
Around the Citadel of the Sun, the fortifications are even more intimidating, with walls even higher and thicker than those of the city. The five towers are equipped with larger ballista, as well as each having several additional scorpio ballista in storage, along with dozens of casks of thick, briny oil on top of the defences afforded by the other city towers.
Additionally, Palantine Madhuram funds 92 cavalrymen that act as scouts and outriders, and Palantine Serenity funds 42 light infantry on short-range watercraft that patrol the Shoals of Niure and the rivers.

Industry & Trade

Primary export industries for the city of Niure can be simplified into three simple groups.

• Marine trade consisting of pearls, nacre, coral and seafood.

• Agricultural trade consisting of lumber, resins, incense and spices.

• Artisan trade consisting of furniture, hides, cloth, clothing and jewelry.

Infrastructure

Gutters and grates allow drainage into the sewer system beneath the city, while pumps and aqueducts keep the city watered.
The retractable Widow's Bridge remembers Exemplar Philothei Krastor, and allows medium-sized vessels to pass.

Guilds and Factions

Margrave Krastor

Regal loyalists and conservatives regard the Krastor family to be the rightful governors of the city and people of Niure. Their detractors are most commonly idealistic in nature, as they are a relatively popular family in the region.

Lion's Dawn

Members of the furtive hidden society of leonii malabrandi that believe they should be free to walk in the sun as common citizens of the city, and work towards making that possibility a reality.

Palantine Serenity

Amdaleka Bashahaman, known only as 'Serenity' is a cunning, patient, and resourceful Palantine, who has formed a monopoly on pearls, and is invested heavily in silks, gums, incense and international connections. At the Palace of the Moon in Niure, her representatives make purchases and sales on her behalf, according to her wishes.

Palantine Madhuram Karauyok

Madhuram Karauyok, a conservative, confident and far-sighted Palantine, lives in the bustling city of Niure, where he oversees ventures of woodcutting, carpentry, animal trade, and cultural works from his Qimanasir (Tower of the Eagle in the common tongue), on the southern rise of the city.

Maps

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  City of Niure

  This is a map of the city of Niure, a protected, centralised hub for commerce, material production and luxuries production.

Type

City

Population

Approx 11500

Included Locations

• Temple of the Feast

Characters in Location

• Isamene Krastor