River Delta

The River Delta is far from Idiari's largest city, but it is quite possibly its richest. Most of the city's population consists of wealthy families, their servants, and the vendors who cater to them.   True to the name, the River Delta is built on a river delta where the southeastern river meets the sea. The water runs all through the city in natural channels which have been reinforced with masonry to keep them steady. This is because of how land is partitioned: the segments of land naturally cut out by the water form the plots and properties to own, buy, and sell.   Most of the wealthy build their estates on such a plot. Thus, the size of an estate is dependent on the size of the island, or rather, the distance between channels. Most of the largest, however, are rented out as the homes and businesses of the River Delta's working class. Few in the River Delta could be called "lower-class," as those without the means to support themselves most often work as servants for a wealthier family.   The wealthy population of the River Delta has been slowly shrinking in recent years, it has been infused with the adult children of many "new money" Muhafsh who have married into River Delta families.   While the River Delta is known for its choking humidity, the water keeps the air slightly more bearable and swimming is a common entertainment. The city is dotted with thousands of bridges and citizens learn to instinctively keep track of bridges and channels to make their way around.   Something which frequently takes visitors and newcomers off-guard is how reliant the River Delta diet is on fish. Eating a different fish for each meal of the day is common, almost expected. Naturally there's an array of other foodstuffs as side dishes, non-main courses, and garnishes, and a good cook will know a dozen different recipes for a given type of fish. Still, it can certainly take its toll on the stomachs of the unprepared. Game animals, shellfish, fruits, and dairy litter their meals here and there, but beef, pork, mutton, and poultry are often regarded as novelties.   Beyond its wealth and climate, the River Delta's claim to fame is that it is the location of both the academy and the archives. This has resulted in the stereotype that the Fouransh have a natural aptitude for magic, though the truth of this statement is disputed. This is also a point of contention, as the humidity of the Delta is far from the ideal conditions for storing Idiari's Relic Texts and the expense incurred in climate control could be spent elsewhere.   The river delta is surrounded on both sides by low rocky ridges. Outside of that, fields host orchards, primarily olive orchards. Some wealthier estates grow some olives and grapes as well, or raise small herds of goats.