The capital of the Regency of Canidium, consisting of a large and sprawling palace atop a barracks. It is well defended and opulent, but not as populous as its sister city Vidugavnia. This was once the Montaigne family estate, and it has expanded to its practical limitations. Once Prima Canidia was known as Dalsmedja, when it was little more than the expeditionary headquarters of Count Victor Montaigne, back when the mountain range itself was known as the Al Safas, and provisionally under Mashaya rule. The estate sits in a valley comparatively shielded from rain, but well supplied with fresh water in spring.
Dalsmedja was for a time a haunted mansion where adventurers would seek treasure and find only death. It was rumored that Count Victor Montaigne found something on his travels that came alive, or produced monsters. However, his daughter Serzy Montaigne has asserted that these are false and libelous rumors. Nowadays, Prima Canidia is a supremely accommodating palace of great proportion, built by tireless adoring subjects in ancient Armorcian style.
The Palace
On each furthest wing of the palace there are chapels to Speed and Karna. Between them there is a vast garden that leads to a marble courtyard and the main apartments. Important members of court are elected to a position that is akin to a lordship. Such elected lords are referred to as a doge, attend to functions of state in the opulent halls of the palace, which has become like a city unto itself. Living quarters for courtiers have an elaborate pecking order, and come at a premium. Quarters for servants are, by contrast, well maintained and very egalitarian. Each day at Prima Canidia is highly ritualized with strong aesthetic standards. Courtiers and doges attend to the queen each morning in elaborate procedures with extremely specific fashions, which change suddenly and operate on rules that it would benefit nobody to explain. It is like performance art, in a way.
The Gardens & Menagerie
The queen is a great lover of animals, and so the courtyard is also home to a menagerie of Welkenlord Eagles, Hadrus, Kroke, Bluff Crawler, and Vvurm. Many of these live freely within the palace walls, and are far from tame. The more dangerous specimens are kept docile with plentiful feed and a steady hand. It is not an easy thing to be a courtier. The only animal that is unwelcome at Prima Canidia are cats. This is a royal decree.
The Rest is Politics
During the day, the queen retires to her laboratory or study, and the court gathers to run the country. Courtiers, both acting on behalf of and in opposition to local barons, arrive at Prima Canidia in hopes of winning the favor of a doge, and gaining some advantage or another. Therefore life as a doge is to be plagued by flatterers and cozeners while trying to run a country that the rest of the continent would rather be rid of. To that end, they oblige courtiers to arrange committees.
Appointment to committee is largely how courtiers are managed. A trifling or unwelcome one will be appointed to dull, senseless, or life-threatening busywork, while useful ones are kept busy with slightly more useful busywork. Those that prove themselves loyal, dependable, and intelligent eventually can eventually be nominated for a dogeship.