The Imperial City
Contents
Overview
The Imperial City is the capital of the Scarlet Empire, largest urban settlement in all Creation and a center of both trade and political power. Over two million mortals dwell and work in the City. It is abutted to the North by the Imperial Palace (A), residence of the Scarlet Empress, across the banks of the Thousand Waterfalls Creek (the most famed crossing of which are the Five Dragon Bridges (1)). Powerful walls surround broad boulevards and cramped networks of alleys and wards, overcrowded tenements and markets filling vast swathes while others are home to beautiful temples and the luxurious villas of the Princes of the Earth, many powerful manses fed by the confluence of Dragon Lines which flow into the area from across the world.
The Boulevards
Suzaku Boulevard
Suzaku Boulevard (C) is the central boulevard of the Imperial City. One hundred meters in width, paved with Marble tiles. In places, tiles have cracked or weeds are springing up. On Suzaku, and the other Five Boulevards, the Scarlet Empress banned Dynasts from moving on foot: they were required to take rickshaws or palanquins (with notable exceptions for Imperial Legion officers and monks of the Immaculate Order). It was said that the City’s labour force of bearers was riddled with agents of the All-Seeing Eye, so the Empress always knew which of her nobles had gone where.
The Five Boulevards
Like Suzaku, the Five Boulevards (Nijo (D), Gojo (E), Kujo (F), Higashi (G), & Nishi (H)) are Marble-paved, fifty metres wide, though the marble is showing many signs of wear and tear... on Higashi, there are even tiles missing where thieves have pried them up at night. Their names are mysterious, with legends saying that they are named for Shoguns of old. With Suzaku as the centre, the three roads running perpendicular are divided into 'Eastern' and 'Western' halves, but while the Gojo Boulevard divides the eastmost and westmost boulevards into 'north' and 'South', none would dare suggest it divides Suzaku.
Great Square of the Realm
A massive Marble-paved square at the head of the Suzaku Boulevard where it meets Nijo Boulevard and the gates of the Imperial Palace. Said, likely inaccurately, to be a place where every resident of the City could assemble before the Scarlet Empress, the Square has been most commonly used for the drills and parades of the Imperial Legions during the Parade of Seven Shattered Helms. Rumours amongst some of the common folk speak that once this was not always an open space, but that it was here before the Palace gates that the traitor Manosque Viridian and his army, along with the surrounding villas of disloyal aristocrats, were cast into the sky by the Empress' all-powerful hand.
Gates & Fortifications of the Imperial City
Gate of Eternal Harmony: (8) A massive stone gate, seemingly made of poured granite, the main entrance into the City. Its massive Bronze doors are carved with entwined dragons, and its parapets support catapults and scorpion-ballistae. All Dynasts who enter the city are registered at the Gate, though peasants are left to pass unhindered.
Gate of Tranquil Rest: (13) A squat gate, seemingly made of poured granite, whose bronze doors are carved with images of prosperous and fulfilling lives, heroes receiving accolades, and children fondly remembering deceased parents. It is said to encourage the ghosts of Toribeno (L) to remain at rest.
Watchful Stronghold: (9) A squat tower, seemingly made of poured granite, housing Imperial troops. Located in the southwest corner of the City. Formerly served as headquarters for the 1st Imperial Legion.
Iron Stronghold: (10) A squat tower, seemingly made of poured granite, housing Imperial troops. A roof of alchemically-treated Iron covers its parapets, with wall slits for the firing of ballistae. The Black Helms of the City are headquartered here. Located in the northwest corner of the City.
Broken Stronghold: (12) A squat tower, seemingly made of poured granite. A third of its upper part was shattered ages ago, and was never successfully repaired, leaving areas patched with thick stone and iron bracings. The Stronghold houses Imperial troops, including soldiers levied from the Mountain Folk. Located in the southeast corner of the City.
Brazen Stronghold: (11) A squat tower, seemingly made of poured granite, hung with gold and orange hangings that billow in the wind. It was nominally a Legion fortification, but its commander was always chosen from House Sesus, producing a tradition of using the Stronghold for wild parties and hedonism inappropriate for the Sesus wing of the palace. Located in the northeast corner of the City. Currently serving as headquarters for the 4th Imperial Legion.
The Districts
North Districts
The north districts house the private manors of the Dragonblooded, along with the most wealthy or powerful Patrician families. Though not officially differentiated, the eastern part of the Districts (I), home to temples, sorcerers, and patricians, is generally considered lesser than the western part of the Districts (2), home to the Deliberative Palace... though few other Dynasts would risk a Mnemon's ire by saying so too loudly.
-- Five Dragons Courtyard:
(15) Pentagon-shaped space, paved with multicoloured jade tiles depicting a giant mosaic of the five Immaculate Dragons intertwined. The Five Dragons Courtyard is home to dozens of different temples maintained by the Immaculate Order, both to the Immaculate Dragons and to lesser deities. Sometimes called the 'Temple District'. The grandest temples include the Temple of the Reciter of Loud Hymns and Prayers (16), the Temple of He who hath Strewn much Grass (17), the Temple of the Petitioner of Clouds accordant to the Call of Battle (18), the Temple of He who Illuminates both Worlds with Majesty and Power (19), and the Temple of the Arbiter of the Immaculate Complaint (20).
-- Kuwanan District:
The Kuwanan district lies on the Northwestern edge of the North Districts, in close proximity to the Imperial Palace and the main boulevards leading to the City gates and Deliberative. Those who manage to secure dwellings here are usually of substantial influence.
-- Seven Sages District:
(26) Part of the North Districts, near the Gate of Tranquil Rest. Home to the residences of many Imperial City sorcerers, and the cursed villa known as Kawaronin.
-- Rokkaku District:
Part of the North Districts. Cathak Okubo was killed on the edge of the Rokkaku district.
-- The Crystal Palace (14)
-- Academy for Cultivation of Youthful Talents (3)
East Districts
(J) Patrician houses and high tenements for the urban citizenry. Most of the area is divided into walled sections, the Ward Districts of the Imperial City.
-- Eastern Market:
(5) The Merchants’s Market. Officially open from noon until sunset, with opening and closing marked by the striking of a large drum three times. Thieves and criminals are subject to public flogging in a square here, which can be witnessed regularly throughout the day. The Empress, in a move to force House Cynis out of its traditional holdings in the Red Lantern District, restricted the buying and selling of slaves in the City to the East Market.
--- Onyx Curtain District The Theater District, home to a number of stages and playhouses.
-- Toji Temple (23)
-- Eastern Embassy (7)
West Districts
(K) As the East, but on average a higher proportion of peasants and the impoverished, as the land tends to be more swampy and damp. In the spring, the stench which settles in many of the West District's alleys keeps most who can away.
-- Western Market:
(4) The Farmer’s Market. Open from noon until sunset, with opening and closing marked by the ringing of a large gong three times. The Empress, in a move to counter some of House Ragara’s banking dominance, restricted all banking and money-lending in the city to the West Market... though the House has attempted to improve conditions for its new holdings, the stench and filth still irks them to no end, especially as the city’s slaughterhouses are also found in the Western Market.
--- Iwakunin Temple (25)
-- Red Lantern District: (21) Part of the West Districts. A place of brothels and bordellos, where any carnal lust or delight can be satisfied. Massive braziers burn sweet incense to cover the stench of the West District, while the area is illuminated constantly by ten thousand red paper lanterns and hung with sapphire streamers. House Cynis has fingers stuck deep in many of the District’s... err, pies.
--- House of Ten Thousand Ecstatic Moments (27)
--- Beach of Blowdarts: Colloquial term for a particular block within the Red Lantern District, home to brothels and catamitariums of male prostitutes specializing in male clientele. While this appeals to certain tastes, it also draws the custom of Dynastic and patrician bachelors who wish the pleasures of the flesh without the risks (such as silencing bribes or marital entanglements) from unwanted pregnancy.
-- Western Embassy (6)
-- Saiji Temple (22)
