Imperial City

The Imperial City, known in Atarlied as Amuncaras is the capital city of the Atarlie Empire as well as its Imperial Province. The city is a metropolis, with a mixed population of mostly Atarlie elves, but with a strong minority presence of halflings, gnomes, humans, and latterly Carcolie elves. As the seat of the empire it occupies a high place in both the politics and faith of the Atarlie Empire. Some refer to the city as the Cradle of Civilization.

Geography

The city has enormous sprawl, and given its relatively isolated and protected position is largely unwalled, with extensive neighbourhoods known as boroughs that exist entirely outside its walls. Increasingly inward districts of the city are more fortified, though mostly these fortifications are magical in nature, and the city therefore has a parklike appearance compared to the more stark cities of Bastonia. At the heart of the city is its Celestial Quarter, with the Imperial Palace and the key temples of most of the dieties of the High Elven Pantheon. A spring runs out from the Imperial Palace and ultimately becomes the Rophalin River, which goes on to join the North Sea.

Economy

Unsurprisingly for a metropolis, provincial, and Imperial Capital, the Imperial City is arguably the most materially wealthy city in the whole empire, with the economy to match. Much of trade throughout the entire empire is centred around acquiring luxury goods, essential arcane materials, and religious necessities from across Wisteria (and indeed, abroad yet further) and trading them, ultimately all the way up to the Imperial City.

As with all cities of this scale there is significant wealth disparity, especially with the underclasses, non-citizens, and refugees in the boroughs. This leads to a criminal undercurrent, often discounted, which preys in particular on traders attempting to enter or leave the city, and results in crackdowns as necessary.

Politics

Amuncaras is the secular and religious seat of power within the Atarlie Empire, with temples representing all 10 gods of their pantheon available, along with both the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Senate, and the headquarters of the Imperial Legion all present here. The city is defended by the Atarlie elves above all other holdings, and the whole city has an aura of sacredness about it, having its legendary founding at the hands of Rophalin Imperitor, the God-Emperor of the elves who is second only to Pyria Valeptor in the rankings of the Gods.

While Senatorial position (and imperial families) can naturally only be of Atarlie bloodlines, the Imperial Legion is open to all citizens, and members of other races in important social and economic positions host lavish parties to promote the causes of their cousins in the Legion or lobby the senators they can best charm to act in their own interest.