ALCANA
Alcana (Alcan Island), is a city-state built around a natural cove formed from a river mouth at the base of a mountain. The river running through the city divides the western and eastern quarters. The western side of the cove mouth has a sheer cliff-face and rocks facing the water, whereas the eastern side of the mouth has a harbour, these are respectively known as Westcliff and Eastcliff.
The cove itself is settled and inhabited by mermaids and other marine species such as serpents/dragons and nymphs. The mouth of the cove is closed off by an immense wall and securely warded by mermaid acolytes, though it has a main gate to allow ships and mermaids entry.
An incomplete list of districts:
- Eastcliff, the harbour (Eastern Quarter): Not actually a cliff, Eastcliff is the public-facing harbour for the city (there are further domestic docks within the cove), flanked by the city walls. The harbour's always bustling! While you'll find the fishmarkets and the occasionally stall here, the vast majority of trade and business is conducted within the city.
- The Market District (Eastern Quarter): The marketplace is the first district you enter entering the harbour gates, it has business going 24/7 and wares from all reaches of the verse.
- The Iron District (Eastern Quarter): North of the market district is the craftsman district, full of smog and fire.
- The Silver Gardens (Western Quarter): The mage quarter, the silver gardens lead up the slope to the Keep and is comprised of mageschools, crafthalls, libraries, etc.
- Alcan Keep & the Steel District (Western Quarter): At the peak of Westcliff, overlooking the mouth of the cove is the city castle.
- The Water District: Though it takes up a lot of space, the water district is much less densely populated than the above-water districts - mermaids generally don't really like living in shallow waters, so it's rare for them to take up permanent residence in Alcana - most of the mermaids you'll find here are mercenaries or soldiers, or just popping in on the way to somewhere else. Otherwise there're seaweed farms, fish farms, yeah...
- Serpentsmouth (Water District): Found between the Steel District and the Silver Gardens is probably the only surface-breaching spire in the ocean where land-walkers can come see mermaid priests/oracles for guidance.
Culture
- IT'S YET ANOTHER CULTURAL MELTING POT I'M VERY GOMEN
- Despite mermaids residing in the city, there is a lot of anti-mermaid sentiment (and anti-human sentiment amongst the mermaids). It wasn't so long ago that mermaids and humans were practically at war - actually, I wouldn't call it war so much as mermaids shoving human boats around for fun, so... There's a lot of simmering resentment from the humans and elitism from the mermaids. That said, being strong mages and the first line of defense, the mermaids take a leading role in the protection of the city, which I imagine they're not very happy about.
- Also despite taking the islands under their wing, there's still a very pronounced distinction in culture between civilian islanders and pirates. Recently there's been a lot of glorification of seafarers but the older generations of islanders probably despise the pirates.
- As far as seafaring culture goes, it's a lot about um. Killing and taking, survival of the strong, etc., they're very brutal. Though they spend a lot of time fucking around, when it comes to the water they're very strict and have an emphasis on discipline.
- A lot of seafarers have a strong disdain for civilians. There's a stigma on farming or academics, which are seen as "herbivore" jobs.
- Literacy rates are low. The only reason you learn how to read/write is if you're a mage or a noble.
- Quite superstitious. They think that magic's bad luck - they do use it but prefer to keep it very compartmentalised / kept away from other things so it doesn't jinx things.
Economy
- Not a great place for agriculture, though there're a lot of trees and mines / rock quarries and they keep livestock & fish farms.
- They import a lot of everything. Though they do produce a lot of metal, stone and lumber, there's a strong domestic demand for the materials for ships and weapons so they don't actually export that much. The vast majority of the country's income comes from taxes and tithes - if a boat wants to cross the sea and go basically anywhere, they need to pay Alcana and the Black Sea.
- Nothing is illegal to trade in Alcana, though dangerous or controversial goods may draw exorbitant taxes.
Government
Under the leadership of Luce, the pirate queen... Probably a council or something... I tend to like trade cities being run by representatives from guildhalls. There's probably also a mermaid representative... I"LL FIGURE IT OUT AS I GO