Setrak, Seat of the Emperor

The demographics amongst the population of Setrak is dominantly human, making up near 50% of the population, yet elves and dwarves do endure in respectable and notable quantities, specifically dwarves making up 22% and elves making up 23% of the population. Both are indeed respected, but due to the general nature of humans and the raw amount of them, Setrak bears a largely human population. This is not to say that elves or dwarves are not rare. A 5% concentration brings up the rear of barely accepted species that barely pass the checks of purity. Those are halflings, gnomes, genasi, furbolgs, and few other even less notable subspecies.

Setrak is governed by the Setrakian Council, a group of noble born men and women from all across the immense city that convene at the Setrakian City Council Building for meetings of all sorts to discuss matters of economy, business, magic, crime, and anything else that might peak the council's interest. They vote upon legislation that is overseen by the mayor of Setrak. The current mayor of Setrak is one Garenal Tyres. The mayor is elected every 5 years and is voted upon by the 'worthy'.   The Setrakian Council is determined via vote amongst lesser nobles regarding greater nobles in who should become a part of this storied coucil. Those elected nobles are purely elected as a result of their proposed policy as to the course of Setrak and its nobility (and people as a last feature).   It is not unheard of for prominent civilian 'plebian' members of Setrakian society that achieve great things in their city and obtain a measure of political clout to obtain one of the coveted 'Open Seats'. These are seats designed for non noble born individuals to acquire. Yet despite this honor, these Open Seats are seen as more of a gesture of 'respect' than a genuine political appointment. Nevertheless, those that obtain the positions are respected amongst their fellow commoners and oftentimes are enabled to engage in business ventures and other actions that might not be available to one that is just simply a common man.   The city is governed under the standard set of codified and precedent based law. A thousand years of detailed legal proceedings for crimes committed have resulted in a thorough, yet more often than not unfairly applied legal system. The culture of the Empire is certainly alive and well with its ruthless culture of advancement and hatred based rivalries. The Empire as a whole has categorized murder into two categories: Warranted and Unwarranted.

The defenses of Setrak are legendary. The Emperor's Walls are the massive, five hundred feet curtain walls that line the outside of Setrak's farthest official reaches. Truly titantic, towering over the land, these walls are themselves again almost miniature cities. Rail lines internally transport soldiers, servants, and civilians across the massive system of walls.    Even behind this wall at key intersections, district points, highways and more massive bastions are established to ensure that points of command and defense are maintained and sturdy, excellent defenses can be offered in the event of an invasion of Setrak. A legion of 3,000 Immortals is garrisoned in the city at all times, guarding the most important assets of the city, and of course the Imperial Palace and the Emperor himself obviously. Massive siege weapons built into retractable sections of ground or wall can be deployed at a moments notice, bringing to bear esoteric and ancient weaponry that can barely be replicated. Hordes of loyal conscripted and professional soldiers dot the walls, man the watches, and are prepared at any time for an invasion of their precious capital.

Setrak, being the size that it is, is a massive trading destination. Merchants, hawkers of goods, purveyors of fineries travel from not just all over Edrias, but the world to trade, sell, and buy in what is considered by many to be the ultimate market in The Empire. Goods from truly nearly anywhere can be located if one knows the markets to look in, and some truly interesting characters make their ways into Setrak for monetary gain selling off their goods.   The industry of Setrak is one of intense heavy lifting. Producing nearly everything The Empire needs to funcion both militarily and civilian wise. Producing everything from heavy armaments, armor, to clothing, toys, and more.

The infrastructure in Setrak is regarded as a modern marvel. The greatest engineers, mathematicians, resource managers and more labored for hundreds of years to construct the capital to its god's approval. A truly horizon to horizon spanning city of cloud touching spires, multi-mile factory complexes, all encompassing military bastions and redoubts, the city of Setrak is a behemoth that the world is welcoming as the new, modern city.   As such its infrastructure must grow. Gone are the days of simple dirt or cobble stone streets. Workers commute en masse to their hard work locations on mana-lev trains, utilizing a natural repelling force between two direct contact beams of magical energy which is augmented through channeling from metal. These trains move at extreme speeds and can cross the truly absurd city within minutes.   Ground trollies utilizing the same technology transport individuals more locally in their neighborhood, still at great speeds relative to the ground. And yet stil there are massive, truly absurdly wide thoroughfares, intersections and roads. Wide enough to ferry the millions and millions of inhabitants and their carts, barrels, beasts of burden, and themselves through to their chosen destination.   A massive sewer system criss crosses underneath the capital, rumored to house even millions more of condemned and hated unclean and banished commoners, turning the wretched place into a city of its own.    From the street one may look up to nearly get vertigo at seeing the gigantic towers of brick, concrete, and iron that loom over the city and any who walk beneath their shadows, housing innumerable citizens, businesses, manufacturing sites, and so much more.

The district system that most major Imperial towns and cities follow originated inside of Setrak's original design. The center core of the city is the Imperial District. Home to such incredibly important buildings such as the Imperial Library of Knowledge, the Vrellman Inquisitorial Academy, the Magi University of Kala-tari, the Sept of Harbinger, the Ventari Empire Strategium, The Assembly, the Senate Building, and of course, the Imperial Palace. Each are cornerstones of Setrak and The Empire's functionality, the center point from which policy, knowledge, military strategy, and more flow from. It is truly the focal point of not just Setrak, but The Empire itself.   One of the next most famous districts would be The Ring. A bit of a break from form in the typical city structure of The Empire, The Ring is a massive ring like zone that fully encompasses the Imperial District. A massive set of curtain walls, defenses, moats, traps, kill boxes and more it is essentially one absurdly large circular fort that surrounds the most important part of the city. Never having fallen, The Ring guards the most valuable assets of Setrak, and The Empire. A miniature city in it of itself, The Ring houses civilians and soldiers alike, as well as its own restaurants, businesses, factories and more built into the overwhelming amounts of forts, redoubts, bunkers, trench lines, and more. This is to ensure that the soldiers stationed here maintain some manner of a normal life, and so these niceities were added afterwards, melded into the heavy oppressive military style fortress design, creating an odd and often rather confusing and lackluster design. Signs are absent from handing arms, doors often times do not outwardly display the locale's name. It is often up to the residents of this near maze-like structure to help those non-native to it. This confusion is also seen as a bonus in the event of invader's ever reaching The Ring, for surely they would become confused and twisted up in the confusing, non-descript massive roadways.   Another large district is that of the Arts District. A massive district of leisure, exploration, and knowledge, the Arts District houses the immensely talented of Setrak as they create their next poems, plays, sonnets, dramas and more. Musicians compose symphonies, painters put brush to canvas, and so many more. Massive operas of titanic build host thousands to witness fine performances of sadness, intrigue, drama and romance. Fanciful eateries can be heard being seranaded with the sounds of beautiful voices that soothe the ears and move the soul. It is a newer district emerging from recent newer trends and beliefs amongst Setrakian elites.   The Factorum district is one of the largest districts physically as well as population wise. The glory of the capital can seem far and distant from this dirty, hard-working, intense district. Every day millions of civilians rise from their limited sleep and dress to ride their trains or trolleys to their assigned factories. Here they produce any number of goods. Weapons, civilian consumer items, vehicles, armor, pieces to any and all of these goods, and more. Their jobs are harsh, intense, and brutal. Limited breaks for bathroom usage or war provide no time to relax and slow down, leading to lives of high stress and expectation placed upon them by their factory oversees. Those that do not meet their quotas are subject to... punishment.   The Invention District is a district dedicated to intense scientific research about nearly and and all facets of science. Other planes, enemy creatures of The Empire, technological advancement in vehicle and train technologly, advancement in weapons technology, and so so much more. Unmolested here, these scientists are allowed to pursue whatever goals and ideals they have, as long as they retain their true allegiance and loyalty to Harbinger and his empire.

The assets of Setrak are nigh unlimited. Any and all of the best technology, best trained soldiers, most powerful magics, and endless storages of weaponry are able of being accessed at a seconds notice.

The guilds and factions both above and below board vie for power in a never ending game of rivalries, soft gang/corporate/guild wars, political intrigue and power brokering, and general territorial control. A few of the multitudinous guilds and factions are as follows.  

The Imperial Banking Guild: A guild comprised of upper level banking managers and executives, these individuals reside on or help influence through 'funding', policies that better benefit the banks themselves. More favorable interest rates for them, more aggressive reposession policies, more leeway regarding violence in competing with one another, and much much more.

The Imperial Science Initiative: A coalition of scientists and other intellectuals that coordinate and cooperate regarding scientific innovation across the many countless labs of varying subjects. Coordinating funding, trading information, specimens, studies and more the Science Iniative controls a large amount of the intellectual base in Setrak.

The Blackpath Coalition: An 'illegal' guild that is more or less openly accepted in all but announcement, the coalition would of course bear great focus and population in the capital of the Empire itself. In fact it is rumored that the headquarters of the Blackpath Coalition lies in a resplendant hidden base in the sewers, and that only the most elite and respected of members of the Coalition have access to it. From this central node of their illegal web of drug, weapons, illegal items and other paraphenalia, the Coalition sells these items to curious citizens, ill-intentioned nobles, and anyone else that might desire to seek such black market goods.

The Church of Harbinger: A massive player in the societal and cultural structuring of The Empire, the Church holds massive sway and ensures its presence is felt. Preachers roam the streets, religious purity squads 'educate' and 'liberate' those of not 'sufficient' religious fervor. Alms are handed out, sermons are delivered in public. The Church in its integral part of the civilian life utilizes its immense involvement to pressure politicians into granting it its desired goals. Lower taxes upon the church, less oversight, more religious institutions built and more required religious reverence in the population, through re-education or force.

The Assembly: Of course present in the capital, The Assembly both oversees many other factions and maintains order, as well as pursues agendas of its own through the usage of its agents, political tools, and its militant arm. The Assembly is greatly powerful in Setrak and its name brings fear to whomever is unfortunate enough to be on the other end of the threat.

The history of Setrak is long and storied. Said to once be a small town prior to the War of Consolidation, Setrak was chosne by Harbinger for a strange and still unknown reason. It is believed perhaps it felt like the 'center of the world' from which to build his glorious capital upon, but it is known he wished for the capital of his empire to be uniquely his. Built in his vision, not coopted off of the now subjugated countries cities.   And so it was to be. Setrak was built and was continued being built in major construction until roughly 183 years ago, when it was declared 'vision complete', according to Immortal General Shakan, speaking for the emperor himself.    The city has endured hardships though, certainly. The demonic horde that threatened to overcome the cities defenses if not for the valiant efforts of Imperial Defenders, the Immortals and the Red Circle and of course Harbinger himself. The Age of Drying, where for 100 years not a single drop of rain fell upon the great city. The Red Streets, an event of immense civilian upheaval caused by an immensely widespread gang war between two now extinct gangs, The Unsaid Wraiths and The Clegans. Setrak itself was sent into martial law for four years while the gangs were utterly exterminated by the Immortals, Imperial forces, and the Bloody Ten.    Yes indeed the history of Setrak is one of glory, of achievement and accomplishment of science, engineering, mortal willpower, and more, but it is also one of long and storied suffering.

The points of interest of Setrak are so many it is difficult to place into a single document.  

The Imperial Palace: A truly massive, beautiful structure of opulent yet toned beauty, it is a sight to behold and even more amazingly, a sight to tour. Indeed the Palace bears a guided tour due to the fact that Harbinger rarely stalks the halls of his own palace, and of course has no family to speak of that inhabit it. This means that it more serves as a diplomatic housing area and a tour ground where those lucky few fortunate enough to walk the ground where their own god likely walked not too long before. Artifacts of the war, pieces of Imperial history personal to Harbinger are displayed and explained on the walking tour.

The Imperial Library of Knowledge: Another gargantuan structure, a compilation of all known and acknowledged knowledge that The Empire views as true, valid, and safe to view. Despite this... rather closed minded approach, the library is a titantic building that covers blocks and blocks of land. Sections on entire areas of land, creatures, famous Imperial peoples, weather, any and everything one could ask questions for, the Imperial Library likely has an answer in its grand halls.

The Grand Circle: A massive circular clearing with only a single stone spire sharpened to a point that rises 500 feet into the air, and a a single, stone pedastal. On this pedastal lies Harbinger's very own sword. Placed there in the Era of Great Peace that now has taken the Empire, the pedastal's inscription declares that one who can withstand the weight of the blade may take it. The blade, known as Shy'rakar or 'Blade of Sorrow', is a weapon of true might, and a weight of immense, incomprehensible intensity. On the pedastal below it are inscribed the words 'That who may lift this blade, may wield it.' The story goes that Harbinger placed the blade there so that all may come and attempt to lift his burden given physical form. None have ever done so. So it is a ritual of honor for any truly pious individuals to journey to Setra, to the Grand Circle, and cut themselves upon the great blade of their god. Bottling their blood, the pious journey then across the Ionthar Ocean and through the Hallowed Sea, venturing to The Hallowed City and to the Basilica of Hate into the the Blood Floor of Harbinger, to pour their

The Imperial Gardens: Tended to by the minor guild of the Imperial Botanists Guild, the Imperial Gardens are a massive, sprawling park-garden that sees the beauty that the Empire can cultivate. Beautiful flowers, trees, ferns, other flora and various kinds of fauna all live in harmony here in this perfect space of green grass, tall trees. Scents of flowers and freshly cut grass flow through here and an aura of great peace is noted here.

And many, many, many more. This list may be added to in due time.

Tourism is high in Setrak, due to it being the capital of the Empire. Not just tourism, but business ventures, religious pilgrimages, military exercises. The inflow and outflow of outsiders and non residents into Setrak is very high.   True tourists, those who can afford such luxuries in The Empire see all they can. The legendary Imperial Palace, the Blood-Hate Games, a beautiful opera performed in the Arts District. They eat some of the best food, drink some of the best wine and liquor.

The architecture of Setrak is not entirely unique, but it is at its greatest in the capital. Soaring gothic style arches with inspiration taken from the ancient Ulrea peoples of long old, believed to be one of the first peoples in the world of Meria to form an empire. Heavyset, brooding, dark buildings forged of immense combinations of brick, steel, iron and concrete that tower high up into the sky, capable of supporting such massive structures.   Floating buildings supported by unique mana-lev technology strafe the sky, small guard outposts, sky merchants, and others who can afford and utilize such sacred and utterly valuable technology.    Wide flat streets of gray stone or concrete with sidewalks of similar design lead to the base of these buildings of immense size. Metal inlaid into doors that outline their entrances and filligreed writing or stone carvings that state the names.

The climate of Setrak is one of typically temperate demeanor, yet it rains rather often in the capital city. Every so often a storm of incredible wrath will descend upon the city. These are called by locals, 'Harbinger's Tears'. Stated that they only occur when a true servant of the Empire dies. Recently, after Immortal Hvest's death, there was a mighty storm of Harbinger's Tears... so perhaps the rumor holds weight.    Normally though, Setrak is temperate and follows the typical four season structure that is familiar to most of Edrian citizens.