Sha-Liden
Location: Sha-Liden is on the southern tip of the water continent, just north of Sohar, the former Winglie Kingdom. Sha-Liden rests, geographically, in the center of the Derendil Empire's reach, also being the center and capital of the Empire at the same time.
Description: Sha-Liden, once a horrifically sick and twisted city, now a city that spans the southern tip of Andriath, as well as the northernmost island which lies at the south of the continent. These two sections, bisected by a wall which was erected to push back the plague-ridden citizens of the former Sha-Liden, separate the city into specific districts. The wall, now particularly unnecessary, has had a hole torn into it and a train bridge erected to provide safe and simple passage from the northern to the southern districts of Sha-Liden, also providing a safe and efficient means of exportation from one district to the other in forms of day-to-day technological supplies, to the essentials of living, as well as the basic need of transportation. Of course, the train is somewhat primitive steam engine build, but effective nonetheless. Needless to say, at each end of the bridge lies a train station, for the engine to turn around and make its passage across the bridge in the other direction, as well as for loading and unloading purposes.
The northern district of Sha-Liden is littered with military posts (some towers, some barracks, all occupied at different times by members of the Derendil Empire's militant force). The rest of the town is almost in a sort of squalor, as it's only now on the rise from the once questionable city of murderers and thieves, more attention having been paid to the more bustling, and industrial, southern district of Sha-Liden. This does not deter anyone from choosing this as a place to live, either through sheer nostalgia for the former city, or a want to bring it to the same glory as it's southern district. But for now, it serves mainly as housing for military personnel, as you have to get through the northern district to board the train to the southern.
Now, the southern district is the industrial jewel of the Derendil Empire. It is here where Preliot Red and Ihr Derendil cured the plague victims of Sha-Liden, and brought about a new era for Andriath, and the beginnings of the Derendil Empire as a whole. A guild of machinists has been formed at the center of this district, offering training to those who would like to pick this up as a trade, and as a means to provide a patent office for the Derendil Empire. Who better to issue patents on new technological advancements than machinists themselves? Along with the guildhall, several other buildings rest amidst the center of town, mainly places of business and the like, this is also where the Hall can be found, the meeting place of the Senate that governs the Derendil Empire. This building is the longest building in all of Sha-Liden, and none are allowed to enter save for the Senators and their advisors, when applicable. Many houses line the streets and stretch throughout the entirety of the city, between some being alleyways that are relatively clean, and nearly entirely devoid of homeless folk, as the poverty level is remarkably low.
Simply put, Sha-Liden has come a dramatically long way from the hellhole it was in the past, and is now a bustling, industry-geared city that rarely sleeps. This is made entirely clear by the presence of electricity and light bulbs. Electricity is distributed throughout the city by wires made from copper strung from rooftop to rooftop, feeding the energy into the household. This electricity runs from small, extremely crude underground generators equipped with a large crank. Each morning and night the crank is wound for a few hours (people switch off in intervals) to build enough of a charge to power the entire city for a total of twelve hours each time. This has been a boon to the advancement of technology as a whole, as electricity provides means for powering new inventions, and powering the tools required to build such contraptions.
Government: Twelve men, known as the Senate, rule the entire empire. Each of whom hold their positions, including Trade, Law, and Sin. There even exists a position in which a Senator is responsible for the constant outlawing of magical activity within the Empire, by it's citizens, as jailing a member of another Empire for practicing magic would likely affect the relations between Derendil and whatever Empire that person hailed from. Although each Senator has many advisors and alliances, their voices are the only ones that matter and the people listen. They gather in what they call the Hall, the longest building in Sha-Liden. Before such meetings an agenda is kept, being brought up accordingly during their meetings, each item on such an agenda either being dismissed right off, or discussed and voted for or against. The prosperity of their Empire is their main goal, and they accomplish such a thing to the best of their collective abilities.
Current Leader: The Senate controls all of the goings-on with Sha-Liden, effectively making them the undisputable leaders of this city, as they lead the Empire itself.
History: Sha-Liden's current prosperity was never how the city used to be. It has a much darker past rife with power hungry, money-grubbing nobles by the name of the Do'Meaner family, who taxed the citizens nigh endlessly for whatever would cross their minds. Through this, they built a sizeable fortune wrought of underhanded, devious action. During this time, relations with the winglie kingdom of Sohar were exceptionally good, trade being maintained and a peace between the two communities being established and kept thriving.
But before this, a pirate captain, whose name is now forgotten to the citizens, as most bloodlines had come to a horrible, untimely end, founded the city itself. The citizens, who now focus on the single darkest time of this now-prosperous city, now mainly overlook this past. Now, the point at which the citizens look back upon as the history of Sha-Liden is the coming of the plague.
Tainted meats shipped into the city and passed from person to person in every conceivable way, be it airborne, touch, whatever-have-you, brought about this plague in particular. Rapidly, everyone dwelling in Sha-Liden succumbed to the plague, and their bodies began to decompose, rotting away while they all still lived. The process was entirely terrifying and painful, and there seemed to be no end, no treatment whatsoever. Eventually, the entire city's living inhabitants were pushed to the northern island that composed the kingdom of Sohar, formerly where the race of the winglies dwelled, and a wall was erected along the coastline to prevent their reentry to Sha-Liden. All hope seemed lost, until the day Preliot Red and his group -called The Machinists- came into the midst of the plagued. He brought with him technology, medicine, but mostly he brought with him hope for life.
After much study, Preliot Red was able to cure the plague victims, but chose to turn down any mantle of leadership for them, allowing his friend and subordinate Ihr Derendil to take charge. From this man's leadership sprung the Derendil Empire, and a new, brighter future for Sha-Liden; a future which the now-cured people lent their hands and minds to bring to fruition. The city was rebuilt through teamwork, with technology being the most widely used and accepted tool, magic later being entirely shunned and outlawed through the decree of the Derendil Empire (which now reaches to each end of Andriath). Not only was the city rebuilt, but a steam engine driven train was developed, a bridge was constructed which lead to the former Sha-Liden (now the northern district), and a section of the wall was crumbled, creating a safe means of passage from one district to the other. After the development of the steam engine, cannons were brought into being, then crude (yet entirely effective) muzzle-loaded guns. Indeed, this was the beginning of a new era.
With this act being accomplished, years now passing, a guild of machinists sprang up in the center of the southern district of Sha-Liden, providing a means for patents to be obtained by hopeful and aspiring inventors, as well as tutelage offered in this specific field of expertise. Trade was begun anew, circulating through all of Andriath, even while the Derendil Empire was forged and accepted throughout the continent, laws taking effect in each area (with the slight exception of Conopoco, where magic isn't outlawed, and even while magic is outlawed to be practiced, those who arrive in the reach of the Derendil Empire from other continents are not jailed, but a safe distance is typically maintained. No one wishes to anger the Gods).
Now, in this day and age, Sha-Liden is no longer a murderous, despicable city, but a bustling hubbub of trade, prosperity, and the new era of technology.
Population: The population of Sha-Liden is a roundabout figure of 4.5 to 5 million assorted races. Mainly humans, dwarves, and goblins being the citizens of Sha-Liden, as these races are prone to showing more of an aptitude for the advancement and construction of technology. Minor amounts of elves bringing up the rear of the populace, and ogres tend to be hired on here and there as laborers.
Culture: The current culture of Sha-Liden is entirely based on an industrial decadence. The advancement of technology being a prime goal of the entire city, as well as the overall prosperity involved with such a state of being. Each citizen has a role, be it shopkeeper, machinist, patent officer, or even janitor. Everyone accomplishes their role dutifully and assists other people in the betterment of their own role, and the overall betterment of the city and empire as a whole. Magic is outlawed for practice within Sha-Liden, as well as the Derendil Empire, with the single exception of neighboring Conopoco, and while frowned upon, visitors from other continents with magical abilities are not jailed, and allowed to walk free so long as they don't disturb the overall peace of Sha-Liden. Trade is at an all-time high throughout the city, and as such is maintained in an efficient manner.
Empire: Sha-Liden, as previously mentioned, is the crown jewel and capital of the Derendil Empire.
Military: Most of the military of Sha-Liden resides in the northern district, occupying the several barracks and towers that are placed strategically throughout the city, now rising from a former state of poverty. The military consists of several contingents of infantry, dressed in adequate armor (be it chain or plate) and wielding fine swords, axes, and maces. The less frequent, but equally effective, contingents of archers, which mainly occupy the guard towers, all wear light chain armor, and carry either spring-loaded crossbows or the slightly out-of-date bows. The commanders of such archer contingents, and those of official high rank of the military itself, are each equipped with muzzle-loading rifles, which fire a sizeable ball of lead at frightening velocity. This one aspect alone can strike fear into the hearts of many stalwart warriors and intrepid adventurers, especially those who have seen the after effects of such a dangerous weapon.
Another very frightening aspect to this military is the presence of cannons, which can be spotted at either the tops of guard towers in northern Sha-Liden, or along the coast of the southern district aimed toward the ocean, in the chance that a group of pirates feels the need to attempt a raid on this city. Each cannon is mounted on a wooden or metal base, complete with two wheels mounted on an axle for easy relocation.
