City Center

Description - The City Center is the origins of Blackrock. The place where humans first settled on the protected rock, to the south of the River Muir, millennia ago.

Of course, none of the buildings from back then remain, with all parts of the city having been rebuilt many times. As the city grew, beyond the confines of the rock, it opened up and integrated non-humans. And so has the Center, though humans do remain the largest population group within it, if no longer a majority.

The Center is a diverse and dense district. Hemmed in by the outer districts, the people here built higher and denser, to make room for the ever growing population. As the oldest district too, many buildings here date back far into the city's past - with some segments of its last protective walls also still standing - and now find themselves next to modern structures, only enabled to be built by magic. It is a place of great contrast, where poor people live, crammed into tiny apartments and tenements, in buildings that date back centuries, minutes away from nobility living on large and newly renovated estates. Where masses crowd into the city's trains, while the wealthy industrialists pass by in carriages, outside.

Its architecture is a blend of styles throughout the centuries, with most of the Center's buildings constructed from the dark stone quarried out from underneath them, in the process. As a result of this, much of the original rock the city was named for, has been quarried and repurposed.

About the City Center

Main Inhabitants - Humans, all of races and peoples found within Blackrock, in smaller numbers
Reputation - Opinions on the Center are as diverse as its people. Many of the non-humans within Blackrock have a poor view of humanity, due to the many crimes of the Imperium, though most are able to separate those loyal to the Imperium, from Blackrock's general human citizenry. All districts deal with the Center, as it is a hub for politics and transport, and a center of business too.
Economy - Politics, courts, guard forces, military, business, industry, transportation
Geography - Alongside the south bank of the River Muir, rising up onto the remnants of the titular Blackrock, then desending again towards the east, south and west; towards Goblintown, the Beastfolk-Territories and The Bubble. The Center is separated from the Hillside and Necropolis by the river. The Dreamlands float above it, around the Great Vortex. The Subs extend into the Blackrock, and under the city.

Central Park

Lying slightly to the north of the city's geographic centre, Central Park is the district's green lung, built between many of its most important administrative buildings, after a great fire claimed much of the area. At the centre of the park, and symbolically of the city itself, is a statue to the great Black Dragon Oryx, the city's patron god and the so called "Guardian of the Rock."

Around the park, many tall buildings reach high into the sky - a great collection of government and private offices, stores and restaurants, luxurious apartment complexes and townhouses of the city's elite. Political power resides in this part of the district, for it and the city whole.

Many of the city's more wealthy residents live north of the park. Some of across the river, in the nearest part of the Hillside as well. This part of the district is a mass of townhouses and a few more open and sprawling estates, with some larger apartment buildings sprinkled in.

Faith and Organisations

The Church of Oryx - worshippers of the patron god of Blackrock, the great Black Dragon
Blackguard - the city government's and council's guard force, and investigative body
City Council - the city's government
Formerly: Arken's Heirs - a group of technocrats who attempted to take over the city

Key Buildings

Arken's Tower - Tallest structure in the Centre, drawing cosmic magics from the skies above, powering the city
City Hall - The major's offices and offices of other city officials, under construction
Grand Central - The city's central railway terminal, enabled by Arken's magics
Great Council Hall - Large domed hall, where the city council and inner council meet, to govern and rule
The Obsidian Tower - Near windowless black tower, headquarters of the Blackguard

July 6th, 2026 August 19th, 2026

Judicial Quarter

Blackrock's Judicial Quarter is a hub of courthouses, law offices, prisons and of residences for the individuals involved in the process of passing justice, and maintaining order. It is located to the east of Central Park, starting in close proximity to the Great Council Hall.

The Judicial Quarter, and the City Centre as a whole, handle many of the affairs of the outer districts, which they are less equipped to deal with. For instance, the guard force of all Blackrock is headquartered in the Judicial Quarter, at Blackrock Castle.

As one heads further out from the centre, towards the castle and Goblintown, the quarter's townhouses are gradually displaced by apartment buildings and the offices of private investigators. The quarter itself is separated from Goblintown by a thin stone wall, with entrance points tightly controlled by guards, who keep a close eye on all those leaving, and especially entering.

Faith and Organisations

The Cult of Imperia - Cult to the patron goddess of the Imperium, the "Matron of War"
City Watch - The city's guard force, headquartered at Blackrock Castle
Imperial Army - Maintain a recruitment and training centre, at Blackrock Castle
Imperialists - A cult of imperial loyalists, seeking to revoke Blackrock's special status within the Imperium
Inspectorate - The city's investigative body, often rely on third party contractors

Locations

Courthouses - in various states of grandeur and decoration, some heavily run down. Different courts serve different matters. The Grandest is the Imperial Court. The most important - but less grand - the Iron Court, handling high and violent crimes.
Blackrock Castle - Large fortress complex, with few original pieces remaining. Shared between City Watch and Imperial Army.
Iron Tower - Round towering structure, banded in iron. Headquarters of the Inspectorate
Law Offices - often in new buildings, constructed using magic. Status symbols for the various different lawyers.

August 17th, 2026 August 22nd, 2026

Downtown

Downtown is the quarter of the Centre located closest to the Bubble, its port, and the bay. It is Blackrock's business district, being where many of the guilds are headquartered, and serving as a place for them to coordinate and collude. It also handles much of the trade flowing into and out of the city from the port, and to the other districts.

The quarter is a vast collection of newly constructed buildings, crammed in between the narrow old streets, and other apartment buildings, of people working for the guilds and other businesses. Most of the new buildings have intentional been built as status symbols, for the guilds or other wealthy patrons. Most other buildings, such as restaurants and shops, cater to them.

In addition to the old money in town, newly rich industrialists have begun moving in, maintaining offices in the Downtown. This is despite them mostly operating out in the other districts, mainly Goblintown. The reason for these offices is competition, among the industrialists and the city's older institutions, such as the guilds and the nobility.

Faiths and Organisations

Mercantile God - TBD
Guilder's Council - Collection of Guildmasters, of the most important and wealthy guilds
- Bankers' Guild
- Merchants' Guild
- ...
Industrialists - A loose connection of wealthy industrialists, who've established offices in the district
Smugglers - Offshoot of the Underworld, who bypass the guilds and supply the industralists

Buildings

August 17th, 2026 August 22nd, 2026

Uptown

Located further south of Central Park, beyond Grand Central Station, and on the southern side of the rock is Uptown, the city's cultural and artistic core. It contains most of the city's museums and art galleries, as well as theatres and old academies, colleges and universities, from before the Dreamlands were raised into the sky.

Among all this are artists, students and regular citizens, who are often less well of than those of other parts of the Centre. Though the far southern reaches of Uptown, where the district crosses over into the Beastfolk-Territories are known to be home to many of the more artistic wealthy, who spend their time producing their own attempts at art, and collecting and admiring the works of others. Many of which belong the city's old nobility and wealth.

Uptown is a quarter of learning and experimentation, of arts and craft, and of freedom. It is one of the most diverse and free-spirited parts of Blackrock. Old Institutions stand here, strong and everlasting. Yet somehow, most of them manage to breath fresh air, and fresh life, into this ancient city.

Faith and Organisations

The Faithful of Agalma - Worshippers of a goddess of the arts, bringing praise to her through theirs
The Bards - A network of information brokers, with unknown motives. Not officially associated with any college
Fraternities and Sororities - Diverse groups among the quarter's various colleges and universities. Often pursuing chaotic goals, in an attempt to rebel.
Society of the High Arts - Wealthy collectors of fine art, based out of the wealthy parts of Uptown
The Officers - atypical for the quarter, troublemakers from the local imperial Officer's Academy

Locations

Carlon's Keep - Old fortress complex, home to an Officers Academy of The Imperium
Della Roggia Bardic Academy - Newly formed academy, took over buildings of an ancient university
Galleries - Most famously the Nouvelle, come in many shapes and sizes, dedicated to many different forms of art
Gannon University - The city's former main university, now more open to the less wealthy
Imperial History Museum - Modern and massive building, a showcase of imperial power

August 17th, 2026 August 22nd, 2026

About the City Center

Central Park

Faith and Organisations

Key Buildings

Judicial Quarter

Faith and Organisations

Locations

Downtown

Faiths and Organisations

Buildings

Uptown

Faith and Organisations

Locations

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