Basic
What pretty much everyone knows about the place...
- Innerdale is a city-state located in the southern part of the Lowlands
- As the largest metropolis in the world, the city is world famous for being an economic super power, which often attract opportunists from around the world, seeking fortunes and wealth in the 'City of Light'
Advanced
What someone may know through hearsay...
Governance
Like many cultures in the Lowlands, the city is formally ruled by a monarch. The monarch is supported amongst the land owners (nobles) of the lands in- and around the city.
Demographics & Religion
Its population is a mix of many races, humans remain the most represented, especially amongst the nobility.
The city has chosen to remain neutral regarding any religious doctrine, opening the city for all churches and beliefs.
Cultural highlights
While the exact population of Innerdale is unknown, it is widely regarded as the largest city in the world, well exceeding a million inhabitants.
The city is built in layers which are rising higher and higher the further one reaches the city center. There are seven tiers in total, from the top:
- The Pinnacle
- Court 'of Nobles'
- Hightower
- Middlegate
- Commoner's
- Ragtown
- Depths
It is considered prestigious to live as high as possible in the city, as it signifies standing and well being of one's family reputation.
Ragtown is the ground level, where most Innerdalians live. Outside of collecting taxes, the nobility has abandoned the 'governance' of the place to the "Rag Barons", leaving them to uphold the law.
Trade & Expertise
Grain, grain and more grain. The lands around Innerdale has various large manors that harvest the extremely fertile lands surrounding the city. Its food production used to be its greatest export, but given its population, it is also heavily used for internal trade.
While Innerdale is so vast almost everything is traded here, its worth noting that next to the city lies a limestone deposit, which has been used to build the city foundation, giving it its white colour.
Geography
The city is founded next to "Alabaster Ridge", which is a mountain range that contains limestone.
Through the city flows the "Silverglade River", that runs all the way from the middle of the Lowlands, towards the south and into the ocean.
Expert
What you'd likely know if you lived there or studied it somehow...
Summary
Innerdale is a city located within an exceptionally fortunate place in the world. Its surrounding lands are the most fertile in Enochia, rumored to be blessed by ancient forces, though these claims remain unsubstantiated. Over time, it has grown into a tiered metropolis where social standing becomes increasingly significant the higher one ventures. Many inhabitants dream of climbing the ladder, and merely obtaining a small apartment or basement within Middlegate is considered a successful achievement in life by many.
However, ascending the ladder is no easy task, as it requires great skill and a good deal of luck to raise enough money to buy property. As things stand, the surrounding lands are mostly owned by the nobility, who profit greatly from the fertile lands and the abundant harvest, using this wealth to solidify their power at the highest tiers of society.
At the bottom of the city lies Ragtown, a place open to anyone able to find shelter. It serves as a cultural melting pot for migrants striving to establish themselves in the city and pursue a life of greater comfort. Within Ragtown, many laborers work diligently to provide goods for the higher tiers in the city. Notably, the governance of Ragtown is unique. It is overseen by the 'Barons,' who hold sway over specific areas, uphold the law, and collect taxes for the nobility. However, rag-barons also walk a fine line between being tyrannical and compassionate, as they can "disappear" if they cross the king, given the responsibility entrusted to them.
The surrounding lands are covered with farms that work the fertile soil, mostly associated with various mansions guarded by the city's military. However, beyond these nearby mansions and their territories, the city lacks official governance, making it a place many will not venture without protection.
History
The area now known as Innerdale was originally claimed by various human clans, each owning parts of its fertile lands. Following a bloody war between two of the largest clans, the humans eventually united under the first king, 'Argus,' who founded the city of "Innerdale" over 400 years ago as a beacon of unity. The clans became its first nobility.
King Argus, a successful ruler, turned the city-state into an economic powerhouse by cleverly using its enormous food supply for political gains. As rumors of Innerdale's prosperity spread, the city experienced rapid growth as migrants sought safety and refuge within its walls. To manage the expanding population, the ruling elite constructed the first tiers to distinguish native inhabitants from newcomers.
As both tiers and population grew, so did the costs of maintaining order. A generation ago, the father of the current ruler decided to abandon the governance of law and order at the lowest tier, outsourcing it to those willing to uphold it, giving rise to the concept of Ragtown and its Rag barons. Simultaneously, the city's military and guards were relocated to the Commoners' district, reducing the burden on the ruling elite. Hightower became a symbol of ambition, Middlegate a hub for artisans, and Commoners' a melting pot of cultures and aspirations.
Today, under the ongoing governance of King Lucius, who rules from the Pinnacle, Innerdale thrives geopolitically. The Pinnacle, perched atop Innerdale's highest point, serves as the seat of power, symbolizing the visionary leadership of its founder, King Argus.
Areas & Places
The Pinnacle
At the Pinnacle, the king's palace resides at the highest point of Innerdale, representing the epitome of power and governance. It is where crucial decisions shaping the city-state are made, and only trusted individuals are granted entry."
Court of nobles
Situated above Hightower, the Court of Nobles is the embodiment of aristocratic power and influence, where lords, ladies, diplomats, and personal servants convene to deliberate matters of governance and secure alliances.
One can only be granted access here through personal invitation by a member of the nobility.
Hightower
In this closed of district lives those that aspire recognition, social standing, and connections with influential figures. In Hightower, you'll find wealthy merchants dealing in luxury, successful entrepreneurs, influential artists, powerful guild members, and high-ranking officials who indulge in luxury, display opulent lifestyles, and partake in lavish social events.
Middlegate
Middlegate is a district where many skilled artisans, merchants and craftsmen reside, providing a home for those who have risen above menial tasks of the masses.
The only entrances to Middlegate is through its four primary gates, where riff-raff and people without proper business are often shunned away by the guards.
Commoner's
The Commoner's is where many of the city's common tradesmen, shopkeepers and scholars live. It is also the place the military is housed, and the tier and the ones above are governed by the city guard, a subsection of the military.
The tier itself is mostly known for the Great Market, the largest trading hub in Innerdale, where many of its visiting traders venture to sell their goods.
Ragtown
Ragtown, the ground tier of Innerdale, is a cultural melting pot of migrants and natives alike. It is governed by self-proclaimed leaders known as 'Rag-barons' who vie for control of various areas. The inhabitants of Ragtown are considered the lowest working class, and those that aren't simply unemployed are often engaged in menial professions such as farmhands working the fields, mercenaries, street vendors, miners, and lumberjacks.
Ragtown has corridors which provides a direct path that leads through Ragtown into the Commoner's for any visitors having business inside. These corridors are the only place where the city guard patrols in this tier.
Depths
Beneath the surface of Innerdale lies the Depths, a shadowy tunnel network of lawlessness and desperation. Commoner's do not venture here, as it has a reputation of hosting those that thrive in the underbelly of society, This include anything from thieves, smugglers, assassins, and other individuals engaged in illicit activities. In this treacherous underworld, rival factions vie for power, navigating a complex network of illegal trades and hidden alliances.