Opal
The first of the Jeweled Cities and the polis that served as the model by which the others organized themselves, Opal has prestige even if it is no longer the largest of the Jeweled Cities nor the richest.
Demographics
Most citizens of Opal are descended from the people that dwelled in the Gold Coast during the days of the Old Iron Empire. They were the first to return to the city following the Age of Storms and claim its walls. There is a sizable population of Imperial Exiles whose ancestors had fled to the Jeweled Cities, enough so that there is a district in the city called the Iron District, where these refugees and their descendants outnumber the citizens of Opal.
Government
Opal's Prince is forced to share his power with the Great Council, a republican body composed of members taken from the nobility (primarily the Merchant Families of Opal). While the Prince, like the other Jeweled Cities, is on paper an autocrat, when a new Prince takes power over the city, they must swear a public oath of office of allegiance to Opal over any lesser allegiances (such as family) but also to abide by certain restrictions 'willingly'. In effect, the Prince must abide by and execute the deliberations made by the Great Council. Even direct correspondence with foreign powers by the Prince is prohibited in Opal. These restrictions on the part of the Prince has led to many games of power between the Prince and individual Councilmembers, trying to use their many agents to gain influence or control over others in the government to enforce their will on the decision making progress.
The Prince and the Council both have permission to veto the other, though a Prince who is too inflexible to the Council's wishes often finds themselves with a short reign and replaced by a more agreeable successor. As such, deliberation on new laws and foreign policy can often take time as the different members of the Council and the Prince vie for influence or leverage to get their desired outcome. For situations that require immediate and quick response, the Prince is provided an annual budget to be used for the good of the city, whether that is to pay for mercenaries in the face of an attack or to buy food abroad due to famine. Should the Prince run out of funds, he must request additional resources from the Council, often with concessions to satisfy their own interests.
Defences
The walls of Opal have stood since the days of the Old Iron Empire, though they have been repaired and improved since those days. There are two gates to the city when approaching by land and then the Rivergate, the gate that is built around where the Horsetail passes through the walls. The Rivergate is watched at all times by the Opal Guard as it remains open at all times, except in times of war, to allow ships to travel to and from Opal along the horsetail. As a coastal city, Opal also is approachable by sea, but Opal has built itself so that the docks and wharfs are at the lowest level of the city, allowing defenders to shoot arrows down at assailants should they attempt a naval assault.
There is a Sea Wall that is built on a foundation of rocks at the entrance to the harbor. This limits how many ships may enter or exit the harbor at once, while not inconveniencing the day-to-day schedules of the harbor too greatly. There are two towers, armed with artillery that face outwards, ready to defend the port.
Industry & Trade
Opal, like its sister cities, thrives on trade with other nations and cities all along the Shimmering Sea. The Gold Coast is rich with natural resources such as precious metals, exotic animals that dwell in the rainforests to the south and spices that are desired throughout the northern realms. Opal competes with its sister cities for claims to the supplies of these resources, often going to war to protect their interests. The Merchant Families are particularly strong in Opal due to the influence of the Great Council and so most of the people of Opal are in their employ in one way or another.
What Opal is known for throughout the Shimmering Sea, as their product of excellence, is the fine cloths that they weave. The Prince and the Great Council consider the dye recipes to be state secrets as they spin silk, wool, and linen into colorful but soft threads. While the craftsmanship itself is famed, people from the Iron Empire know Opal textiles to be of the highest quality and often unscrupulous merchants will try to raise the prices of fabrics by claiming they are from Opal, when they are not. The dyes that the people of Opal use holds its color for many many years and they are reluctant to let merchants sell it in any quantity but the smallest of vials, commanding high prices for it.
Infrastructure
The Prince and the Council have worked to maintain the main roads and provide clean fountains in the market and noble districts of the city. There is a large park near the Halls of Iridescence that is open to the public, with carefully maintained lakes that are fed by canals drawing water from the Horsetail River. The park is considered property of the Prince though there is a long standing tradition that beggars may take food from its orchards. The Prince maintains a small guard to patrol but it is well known that should one enter the Park after dark, they are risking danger.
Districts
The District of the Lady Venta
This is the heart of Opal. It is where the Halls of Iridescence stand and where the council building is. This district is on the east side of the Horsetail River and is shielded from the harsher winds, making it an area where many will go during the heat of the day to sit by the river. The District of the Lady Venta borders the Lower Harbors, but it is separated from the dockside neighborhood by a wall that is patrolled at all times, to prevent any untoward behavior to the nobility that reside within from sailors from abroad. This is also where the seat of culture is in Opal, where plays and musical performances are put on for the crowd.The Lower Harbors
The Lower Harbors is the seaside port of Opal. This is where ships can enter the harbor and unload and load their cargo. It is also where many of the storehouses are, and so it is rife with thieves and guards hired by the Merchant Families to protect their goods. There are a few workshops that are located here, but they tend to be of those who are too poor (or for those workshops that are inherently unpleasant to have nearby such as tanneries) to afford the rent in the less crowded and better patrolled Arete's Square district. The people who live and work in the Lower Harbors tend to be those who wish to live in the walls but cannot afford anywhere else or those who are transient like sailors looking for new crews to take them on. This is also where the fish market is in the early mornings, which means it often has many people coming through and causing noise before the break of dawn.The Prince's Garden
The Prince's Garden is a small district where the Merchant Families have their estates. It is also where the Prince's Palace is built. This area is built atop a hill and is separated from the rest of Opal with a wall and gate, left over from the days when this was a city of the Iron Empire. The Prince's Garden is called such for the beautiful green parks and colorful flowers that line its boulevards. To get into this district, one must be either a member of the Merchant Families of Opal or one of their guests, escorted by their guards at all times.Loreto's Bridge
Loreto's Bridge is named as such for it is the large public square near the bridge that spans the width of the Horsetail. The market in the square is named for the god, Loreto, and his statue stands proudly in the center. On the bridge itself are several statues of former princes who have ruled. The bridge is tall enough for river ships to pass through without much trouble. Loreto's market is the largest market in Opal (but far from the only one) and much of the area around it are residential homes.Arete's Square
Arete's Square is the industrial district on the other side of the Horsetail from the District of the Lady Venta. This is where the craftsmen and artisans work, either for their own benefit if they can afford it, or in the employ of the Merchant Families. Many of its workers reside either in the top floors of their workshops or in the nearby Loreto's Bridge.The Rivergate Harbors
The Rivergate Harbors are the harbors in the south of Opal, near the Rivergate. This harbor is far smaller than the Lower Harbors, and each berth is owned by a different Merchant Family. They use this harbor less for their trade with the rest of the Shimmering Sea and more for goods they intend for local distribution. This harbor sees far less use than its larger counterpart, but it is often good for making hand offs between families that they would rather others not know occurred. Goods are often loaded from the Lower Harbors of Opal to be sent up the Horsetail to Jade, Garnet, and Moonstone, and even further to the Southlands. Goods are often loaded from the Rivergate Harbor to be sent up the Horsetail to Jade, Garnet, and Moonstone, and even further to the Southlands.The Iron District
The Iron District is an area within the old walls of Opal, not far from the Lower Harbors, where large numbers of Imperial Exiles or Ceralan Refugees reside. There are more speakers of the Irontongue in these neighborhoods than there are Gemspeakers. Many of the people in this district are the descendants of those who fled the Empress's conquest and so there are strong anti-Imperialist sentiment among many, making it fertile ground for the Broken Crown to recruit.Guilds and Factions
The Merchant Families of Opal can all trace their lineages back to their founding matriarch, some predating even the Final Storm. The Merchant Families vary in size and influence, with four claiming the 'title' of Great Family and the smaller ones tending to be clients of these powerful houses. The Merchant Families control authorize all trade and ensure that what is sold in the marketplace matches an acceptable standard of quality. Each Merchant Family negotiates with the Council and the Prince to be granted authority over different markets or specific trades within Opal, to be reviewed and renewed on a three year basis. While others not in the family may sell goods that fall under a protected trade or do business in a specific market, they are expected to pay the relevant Family for the sanction to operate their business. Should a merchant be operating without paying the Family their fee, it can often result in a seizure of their property, heavy fines (that are designed to drive the offender into debt), or even bodily harm or death depending on how much offense the Family has taken.
Points of interest
The Halls of Iridescence is a temple built over the caves that housed the colorful crystal opals that gave the city its name. The Halls have a public courtyard with two pools of water and arches that provide shade from the sun. Tiles line the path that leads to the main temple building, which has a rectangular floor plan that climbs higher and higher until it reaches a golden dome at its top. Statues of famous citizens and cultural heroes line the pillars supporting the arches, paid for by their wealthy relatives. Inside the temple tower, there is a marble staircase that goes down to the caves below. The temple serves as a pilgrimage site for many of the Jeweled Cities, as it is why Opal has its name and why the Jeweled Cities are named as such. The Brotherhood of the Seven Facets has been given the rights by the Council of Opal to use the Halls of Iridescence as a place of congregation for their services.
Another landmark in the city are the three tall statues that were erected to the three "Divine Patrons" of the Jeweled Cities: Lady Venta, Loreto, and Arete. Each one of these is in the district to which they lend their name. Lady Venta's statue stands in the square in front of the Council Building, Loreto's in the market, and Arete's in the square in the center of the district. They are each carved from marble and painted to make them as lifelike as they can be.
Architecture
Stone is used for the buildings in the oldest and richest districts, while most other buildings are built of wood. Outside the city, there are entire 'neighborhoods' made of colorful tents. Inside the city, the citizens use colorful stones cut into small squares to make beautiful mosaics that decorate their neighborhoods. In the center of the city, the streets are paved with stone, but as one moves further towards the walls, the old roads are not maintained and many have become simply dirt. There are avenues off the river that are lined with the statues of the gods worshipped in the Jeweled Cities and the ancestors of many an influential citizen.
Geography
The Horse Tail River cuts Opal into two, with Loreto's Bridge being what connects them. It is a coastal city, with one side of the city sloped up atop a hill. From the top of this hill (which is where the Prince's Garden is), one can get a good look at the beauty of Opal, the oldest of the Jeweled Cities.
Natural Resources
Besides its gems from the Halls of Iridescence, Opal has access to quarries of marble that it ships around the Sea. Being on the Horsetail, they also are able to make use of the fertile land and grow food that they will often trade to other cities or nations. All of the Jeweled Cities have access to coal. Of course, there is also the bountiful Shimmering Sea to provide the people fish.
Founding Date
53
Alternative Name(s)
The First City, The City of Statues
Type
City
Related Ethnicities
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
