Ismene
The City of Ink is a beauty of architecture. Built on a hill sits the city with its thirteen layers, each one thinner and smaller than the former, with the most complex set of protections that have been ever seen inlaid into its walls.
Demographics
The city is mainly formed of humans and with almost every member of the city serving in a public role of some kind, there are no true wealth classes, as any one person can quickly fall and rise within the Secretariat.
Government
The governing body of Ismene is the Secretariat. A somewhat complex system of tiers in which people are frequently moved, with the highest-ranking members known as the Askretis. These individuals are distinguished by tattooed lines on their faces with fewer lines indicating a higher rank.
Defences
The main defense of the city is the massive curtain walls surrounding it. Standing nearly sixty feet tall and with more abjuration magic laid into it than any other known structure making it nearly unbreakable.
Industry & Trade
The City of Ink is known for two exports in particular though one is more of an open secret. The first and most well-known one is their scribes as the city produces the best ones on the continent bar none, and it isn't uncommon for lords are wealthy merchants to hire scribes from Ismene to handle their books. The second, and less well-known one, is their spies and assassins. Those who are in the know will nearly almost go to the city if they want someone gone without anyone knowing of it. This isn't an industry that is owned by the Secretariat, but it flourishes nonetheless.
Districts
There are 13 districts within Ismene. The lower the district goes, the large they become and the more people live there. The 13th and highest of the districts holds only one building. The House of Ink and Parchment, the central government building for the Secretariat. As any one individual's position within the Secretariat shifts, so does the district in which they live, and they can petition to change district based on their performance once a month.
Points of interest
Though one might find it extremely difficult to actually reach them, it would be a shame not to see the House of Ink and Parchment as well as the University of Order. The former is located in the 13th district and is a true beauty of efficiency unrivaled by anything else in creation. Thousands of Scribes and Secretaries work tirelessly to pass laws and write down anything from the smallest exports to the details of historical battles.
The latter is located in the 7th district and is the premier learning place for those who should seek to learn from the protective school of magic. Mages who attend the University live permanently within the 7th district and often go on to join the Secretariat as the fee for attending the school can be lessened severely with the oath to participate in the organization after one's study is over.
Architecture
One will notice that all architecture within the city has very clearly been planned as every building fits perfectly where it should and that there isn't any wasted space anywhere.
Geography
Located on a hill, the very reason for the city's many districts, the city is surrounded by similarly hilly terain on all sides.
Founding Date
175
Alternative Name(s)
City of Ink
Type
Large city
Population
13764
Inhabitant Demonym
Ismen
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments