Gelgeth

Capital city of the world of Gelgoreg, before the civil war it had a population of over 200,000, though it has dropped drastically since the conflict started. The center of trade and prosperity, rivaling any city built on the home world. It was founded as a colony on the Gelgeth Peninsula, jutting out into the White Sea. To the east by land is the province of North Weshin, to the south across the sea is the Isles of Man, to the southwest across the sea is Eire, and to the northwest across the sea is New Aeosha. Gelgeth serves as a vital hub for trade and administration, both for its central location and that it is the only territory that is directly controlled by the Emperor, now it technically belongs to the military junta that took his place. Before the war Gelgeth's streets were always packed with people, vickers(magic rails that carry carts of goods and people around cities) zoomed down the streets past carriages and pedestrians. Farmers would come into the city to sell their grain, which would be loaded on to void ships at the docks, Gelgeth boasted the largest docks for void ships on world. This grain would be shipped all across the Empire, making Gelgoreg the Empire's breadbasket. When the war began in 510, the Alba Confederacy immediately attacked the city, and after a month of fighting Junta forces had to pull out and consolidate their strength. The next year Lord General Activius Selus defected to the Confederacy, leaving control of the Junta army to General Nellin Fabius. The Second Battle for Gelgeth was fought in 511, the Confederate defenders, composed mostly of the Army of Eire rallied out to meet the Junta army. With support from the Army of New Aeosha from the north, the Junta army was crushed and General Fabius was forced to retreat offworld entirely. As the war progressed, there was some food rationing and a few destroyed buildings but relatively speaking the city was still thriving. But after losing their territory on Yeshi and a colossal defeat on Aitov at the Battle of Herin Hill in 513, the Confederacy was weak. In 514 the Junta launched a massive invasion force against Gelgoreg. House Balish, a royal family with territory on Gelgoreg but had remained neutral for the most part, aligned themselves with the Junta. A combination of Balish and Junta soldiers assaulted Gelgeth. For a month the armies laid siege to the Confederate held city, ships in orbit dropped stones, falling through the atmosphere, destroying whatever they landed on. These stones were very inaccurate, but after the first month a lucky shot hit the walls, smashing them and creating an opening. Once the Junta had gained a foothold in the city, the Confederates inside refused to give them a single street without blood. For several days, the Junta and Confederates fought tooth and nail. Fires ravaged the city, burning dozens of buildings to the ground. After days of fighting, and with 40% of the city destroyed, the Confederate holdouts surrendered, ending the Third Battle for Gelgeth. In 515, former Lord General Activius Selus attempted to retake the city for the Alba Confederacy, but was given a minor defeat by the Junta and was forced to march back north into New Aeosha. When the Alba Confederacy surrendered in 517, Gelgoreg, including Gelgeth, was put under marshal law. The occupation of Gelgeth lasted until 528, and over the next few decades, new buildings were built and people began moving back there, but it never fully recovered from the conflict.

Demographics

40% Cennti, 28% Aeoshan, 18% Rhodenian, 6% Narnin, 6% Wessian, 1% Him, 1% Other

Government

Gelgeth is the official capital of Gelgoreg, the Gelgeth peninsula is the only piece of land directly owned by the state. It is where the World Congress meets, and where the World Governor resides. The city itself is divided into several districts, each with their own representative on the World Congress.

Defences

With no real outside threats to the Empire, most cities don't even bother building walls. The only reason Gelgeth does is because it is the world capital. If a revolt were to ever break out, the Empire would be able to defend Gelgeth and its gigantic port, and use it as a point to send troops and supplies so that the world could be taken back. When the war did break out, it did not pan out that way. The walls were not of the highest quality, and every time one side took the city back from the other, the walls were left a little bit weaker.

Industry & Trade

The most important imports to Gelgeth is iron and other metals, followed by crystal mana and spices from Dorthargond. Gelgeth's primary exports are grain and timber.

Infrastructure

Gelgeth has many shipyards, both for naval ships heading out to fish in the White Sea, and void ships taking goods and people to and from the world. Gelgeth boasts the largest port for void ships on Gelgoreg, the Donnoth Void Port. King Donnoth the Wise was king of the Cennti before Marcus the Great, and was the one who discovered magically powered flight. Built into the roads of Gelgeth are metal rails covered in runes and enchantments. The rails carry carts of goods and people across the city with speed and ease. Invented by a merchant named Martin Eloviks in 286 AU, the common people have taken to calling these magical rails and the carts that move on them "vickers". Vickers can be found on almost every city on Eot, the homeworld, but only the biggest cities on the colonized worlds can boast such infrastructure, and Gelgeth is one of them.

Guilds and Factions

Before the war many logging companies, merchant guilds, and shipping companies vied for power in one of the most important cities off of Eot. This mattered little when the Junta and Confederates began fighting over the city. Both sides took gold and goods from these guilds and corporations "for the war effort". All that mattered then as a citizen was whether you were a Confederate boy, a Junta loyalist, or one of the few who pledged their allegiance to the Bastard King Sulla halfway across the Empire. When the Confederates took the city, civilians loyal to the Junta burned buildings and lynched Confederate officials. When the Junta took the city, and later put in under marshal law, Confederate diehards would ambush Junta patrols. After the public execution of Confederate leaders after their surrender, the fire in peoples hearts died down a little bit.

History

Gelgeth began its life as an outpost, created in 33 AU by order of Marcus the Third. Over time it expanded, as people on Eot learned of this new world, untouched by civilization. Noble houses and corporations were quick to carve out pieces of this new world for themselves, hoping to create their own kingdoms independent of the Cennti controlled Eot. This was not to be, in 90 AU Marcus the Fourth declared all of Gelgoreg belonged to the Cennti Empire, and made Gelgeth its capital. At this time Gelgeth had a population of 6,000, with a total population of 50,000 across the whole world. In 208, Marcus the Eighth launched the OuterWorld Initiative. Every world would have a World Congress like the one on Eot, with one representative for every 50,000 people. Gelgoreg had a population of 7 million at the time, and the 140 representatives all met in Gelgeth. Over the centuries, other cities on Gelgoreg gained prominence, such as Alba and Eire, these cities came close to rivaling Gelgeth in size and influence, but Gelgeth always remained number one. After the war Eire became the largest city on Gelgoreg, with Gelgeth becoming the fourth largest in population after it was rebuilt.

Architecture

When it comes to cities built off of Eot, the architecture would most often reflect the largest ethnic group among the colonists. In the case of Gelgeth, it was the Cennti, albeit with some changes in style due to the nature of Gelgoreg. Cennti roofs were slanted due to winter snows on Eot, snow is very rare on Gelgoreg, so the roofs became less steep. Due to the bountiful forests untouched by man, wood for building was cheap and durable. Stone was rarely used for construction save for as a foundation or for fortifications. Influence from Aeoshan colonists did sneak into the local architecture, with orange tiled roofs dotting the cityscape.

Geography

The terrain of the Gelgeth peninsula is smooth rolling hills with patches of trees here and there. Creeks run through the countryside, and the city is built on a river running out into the White Sea. To the east into the province of North Weshin the terrain becomes rockier, leading into the mountains, the source of the river running through Gelgeth.

Natural Resources

Gelgoreg as a whole is known for its bountiful harvests and timber. Gelgeth serves as the trading hub where farmers sell their grain and logging companies sell their timber. Gelgeth is also the place where the inhabitants of Gelgoreg have access to all the other goods produced on other worlds. The metals of Briathone, the spices of Dorthargond, the crystal mana of Yeshi. On Gelgoreg, Gelgeth is the place to go for these goods.

Type

Large city

Population

200,000(Prewar), 120,000(Postwar)

Inhabitant Demonym

Gelger