Serisport
Serisport is the capital of Astoria and the seat of the government. It's known for its industry, and factories belch smoke in the air while poverty runs rampant. For the educated, Serisport is home to a world famous university and research institute-- Royal Hopewell College On the southern edge of the city lies Serisport Academy which is notable for being the school of choice for educating the children of the elite. The southern half of the city is dominated by nobles and the educated elite. The Red River and Red River Delta divides the city. Most of the islands created by the delta are owned by various nobles. Selemys Palace sits on the innermost island while Seris Fort guards the city and shipping up the river. The Royal Port Authority and major dockyards stretch between the southern edge of the delta and Seris Port. The northern banks are dominated by commercial warehouses with factories rising up behind them. There's also a large train station for commercial and industrial goods being transported between Serisport and interior cities and towns. Passenger fare is also cheaper though less luxurious than at Hopewell Station in the south. Some factory owners own property along the northern edges of the city and live in gated compounds. Airship docks dot the city, and electric power is being steadily phased in. Electric street lights exist alongside more traditional oil lamps. Overland telegraph lines stretch across the city.
Demographics
The city is divided between the northern and southern districts. The northern district lies along the northern edges of the delta and consists primarily of industrial factories. Most of the population lives in apartments scattered between industrial buildings or along the wharfs.
The southern shores are dominated by the upper and middle classes. There is a considerable amount of green space, and most people can afford separate homes. The southern shore also hosts the Royal Hopewell College and the only passenger airship dock. The nobility can afford villas on one of the delta's many islands.
Government
Serisport is the seat of Astoria's government and is home to the main royal residence. The city itself is ruled by a magistrate that's elected by Parliament. In turn, the magistrate appoints various officials to lead the main government bodies. Notably, members of Parliament are only voted for by landowners, so the lower classes have very little say in the running of the government.
Defences
Industry & Trade
Infrastructure
Drawbridges are extremely prominent in Serisport. The city is built on a delta, and draw bridges connect the various islands. The roads are all paved with stone. The city's sewage empties into the delta. Factories dominate the northern half of the city, and the naval dockyard lies on the bay just north of the city.
History
Founding Years
Serisport started as a modest town guarding the mouth of the Red River. It was known as Brumans Harbor. The exact date of settlement is unknown, but it is believed that people have inhabited in the region since the time of the Astorian Empire. Sometimes, pieces of building foundations and small artifacts emerge in the river banks or at more modern construction sites. In 3670, Seris the Unifier declared that he would like to build his capital at Brumans Harbor. Five years later, he marched into the city with an army and insisted that the high priest to Kaios, the god of war and kings, crown him as king of the new Astoria. However, construction of what is now the Old City wasn't completed until 3705. The city grew steadily along the banks of the Red River. Selemys Palace was originally constructed on the north shore of the river on what is now known as Monarchs Overlook. It was completed at the end of Seris the Great's reign, and his son took to beautifying the palace and surrounding areas. However, not long after, the palace was abandoned. Osgood the Younger ascended the throne in 3731 and immediately moved to the capital to the more centrally located city of Haverdown. Though the city remained necessary as a port for foreign traders, it lacked a good road network, and a drought in 3769 severely hampered upstream navigation. A mass exodus in 3771 left many districts abandoned, and those who remained lived in a shell of city's former self. Theophilius restored Serisport with life when he made his grand return in 3776. He had converted to Orromy and mandated that the city's temples be requisitioned for the church. He turned the High Temple into a cathedral and outlawed the practice of old beliefs. In 3777, many of the remaining citizens who refused to convert marched on the cathedral. The Royal Guard was stationed outside to guard the king who was worshipping inside. After a great deal of shouting and threats, the Royal Guard opened fire on the old believers. It's said that the blood of pagans still stains the steps of the cathedral. In the years that followed, the old believers harrassed Orromirs and were the cause of frequent civil unrest. It came to a head in 3881 when rioters attacked the palace and burned it. It remains unclear what exactly started the fire. According to history books, rioters intentionally torched the great hall, but new evidence suggests that it may have been completely accidental. A brazier knocked over in the confusion is just as likely to have started the fire. Theophilius was ruthless in response to the riots. He ordered that all old believers be imprisoned. Two years later, a former high priest of Kaios led a group called the Flaming Spear in rebellion. They destroyed bridges and barricaded most of the southern bank. For several months, they held out and brought in support from other areas. Come winter, the Royal Army blocked the roads and cut off further support. The weather proved to be unusually harsh, and the rebellion was forced to surrender due to lack of food and lost motivation. Everyone involved was executed.A Fledgling City
Emma I offered a new start. The city thrived under her gentle hand, and while Orromy remained the dominant religion, she permitted smaller temples to be dedicated to the old gods. Her reign was marked by the city's rapid growth, and she built new theaters and public green spaces. Serisport's prosperity reflected the state of the nation. A fire in 4051 swept through the southern bank and left thousands homeless and believed to have started in the new outer ring which was under construction. The ongoing war with Petrek meant that reconstruction was slow to begin, and when plague broke out ten years later, nearly half of the southern bank was still in ruins. Nearly a third of the city's population died over the next few years as disease ripped through homes. No one was spared regardless of class, and the city wasn't declared plague free until the end of 4065. In 4069, Edony returned to Serisport to be crowned queen after spending most of her childhood further south. She hastened to rebuild the city and relocated the Royal Guard to Seris Fort which had previously fallen into disuse and disrepair. Though Edony is primarily remembered as a general and keen tactician, she was also crucial in seeing the capital's defences strengthened. Under her leadership, the outer ring of fortifications was completed. A second plague broke out in 4098 and lasted three years. The poor were hit hardest as the nobility could afford to import safe water or leave. Afterwards, the city struggled to regrow, and Coelwit I moved the capital back to Haverdown. Once again, fire destroyed much of the city in 4217. Strong winds and wooden scaffolding across two bridges helped the fire jump across the river. Despite the widespread destruction, the city was quick to rebuild, and many of the new buildings were made from stone and clay instead of wood.Serisport Threatened
In 4398, the Samoran army marched into Serisport. A naval bombardment destroyed Seris Fort, and the city was occupied. The occupation was marked by food shortages for the population and strict military control. Buildings were kept in surprisingly good condition, and Samoran immigrants established the Little Roucen district on the north bank. When the Samoran forces were finally pushed out in 4413, they set the city on fire and razed Selemys Palace. The victorious Astorians rebuilt once again, and the nobility built manor houses on the islands formed by the delta. Selemys Palace was rebuilt in its current location on the innermost island, and Seris Fort was reconstructed. By 4450, the city had nearly doubled in size from its pre-occupation days. During the Baerbella War, the Veronan navy blockaded Serisport in 4488. The Home Fleet was unable to break the blockade, and only the end of the war and subsequent surrender by Astoria lifted the blockade. One of the darkest days in Serisport's history was the Massacre of the Faithful in 4597. A revolutionary inspired by events in Retland exploded several barrels of gunpowder in the cathedral on the holiest feast days. Hundreds died in the blast, and more were injured by falling rubble. The king died only weeks later, allegedly from grief, and left no heir. The next living relative was a Veronan prince who was notoriously unpopular for his reckless behavior and sadistic whims. A civil war between royalists who supported the prince and nationalists who wanted a new dynasty ensued. Serisport was initially under royalist control, but in the 4601, the nationalists breached and sacked the city. Selemys Palace and the cathedral were destroyed.Changing Times
Following the war, Bertrand the Old was coronated. Though his reign was short, he set the wheels in motion for a reunified nation. His son, Bertrand II saw the nation into a new golden age. Serisport prospered and saw improved public infrastructure and better living conditions for the working class. He also established Parliament. The reign of Martin III brought discontent with the monarchy. He stripped Parliament of their powers and drove the country into debt. The 4769 Riots destroyed many buildings, and rioters raised complaints about the king's abuse of power. The Royal Guard was tasked with dispersing the rioters, however, they often resorted to deadly force. This only fueled anger around the country, and many called for the abolition of the monarchy entirely. Protests continued until 4772 when an angry mob marching on the palace accidentally set fire to some warehouses along the southern bank. Several manor houses burned down, and a shift in the wind caused the fire to spread back along the southern half of the city. Casualties numbered in the hundreds, and the nobility turned against the king. They forced him to abdicate and let his nephew, Alaric I succeed him.The Modern Era
With increased industrialization, a group of craftsmen called Reevers stood opposed to factories and mass production. From 4795 through 4806, they sabotaged machinery and burned factories. It would later be known as the Reever Rebellion. Though the Reevers caused significant damage and garnered popular support, their cause ultimately failed. In the years that followed, increased production saw massive growth in Serisport's economy. The population swelled as more people came into the city to work in the factories. Parliament restricted the construction of new factories to the northern bank leading to the districts becoming more cramped and polluted. In 5020, Serisport was chosen to host the second World Exposition in five years time. The city underwent massive reconstruction, and new elaborate buildings were constructed to impress visitors. The Crystal Room, in particular, was the literal and figurative crowning jewel of the event. For five months, people from all over Tamaris flocked to Serisport, and the Exposition covered the entire southern bank. The construction of massive gardens and plazas outside the city walls displaced hundreds of farmers, and roads were rerouted to accommodate increased traffic. The event marked a high point for Serisport and the world as people revelled in splendor. The aftermath of the event left the city in financial straits. Many of the buildings were deemed too expensive to maintain without high volumes of tourism and subsequently abandoned. The gardens became overrun with weeds, and many of the plazas turned into homeless camps uncomfortably close to the middle and upper classes. Factory workers felt cheated by the city's alleged commitment to welfare and improving quality of life for everyone. In 5032, there were widespread strikes by the working class. Many factories shut down for weeks at a time, and Parliament hesitated to take action. Complaints and threats from the factory owners eventually forced the government to call an emergency summer session to resolve the workers' concerns. New laws were enacted limiting how much rent factory owners could charge employees, work hours, and setting up a board to regulate working conditions. Though many lauded the new changes, some felt that Parliament wasn't going far enough. Strikes continued through the rest of the year, though most workers reluctantly went back to work.Architecture
The city is built with a mix of architectural styles. The Old City is built mostly from slate while Selemys Palace, Royal Hopewell College, and many of the government buildings are made from limestone and marble. They are often richly decorated with ornamentation and moulding. Floral and avian motifs are particularly common.
The warehouses along the river are predominately brick and wood and echo the modern trend towards efficiency and simplicity. The factories are built in a similar style with the vast majority being less than 50 years old. The houses vary greatly in style, though the newer industrial area apartments have a fairly uniform mixed brick appearance. Brick is by far the most abundantly available building material, and wood is commonly seen as a material for the upper class.
Geography
The city is built on the banks of the Red River and on the Red River Delta. The soil around the city is fertile, and the river provides all of Serisport's fresh water. The coastline that makes up the eastern edge of the city provides decent fishing. The hills around the city are fairly gentle and mostly now farmland. Corn, vegetables, and berries grow particularly well in the surrounding area.
The climate around Serisport is mild with few extremes in the summer and winter. Short, heavy rainstorms are common, and it is not unusual to see flurries of snow in the winter, though the snow rarely sticks for longer than a day. The summers tend to be extremely humid, and insects are a prevailing nuisance.
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