Canlinet

Canlinet is commonly called multicultural, but that not quite incorrect. Pockets of other cultures exist within the city walls, but generally speaking, the culture of Canlinet is unique to the city. People came to Canlinet with a purpose in mind, united under the ideals of self-governance and independence.

Canlinet is run by an extensive bureaucracy. A vast network of clerks, scribes, emissaries, and secretaries supports the Board of Ministers. Each Minister oversees a broad department, managing personnel to handle the day-to-day requirements of the city. The current departments are Defense, Public Works, Justice, Arts & Culture, Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Finance, Labor, Health, and Arcane Practice.

Canlinet is best known for its three walls. The concentric curtain walls were built during the War of Freedoms and are a source of civic pride for the citizens of Canlinet.

The nature of the bureaucracy welcomes the existence of special-interest groups. There are dozens—if not hundreds—of organizations devoted to ensuring their goals are represented in the government. Lobbying is severely regulated within Canlinet, so the majority of these groups have a patron within the bureaucracy—typically a lower-level emissary or clerk—to raise their concerns to the secretaries.

Canlinet, the oldest of the Free Cities, began as well-fortified civilian settlement during the War of Freedoms. Folks who were tired of the centuries of illithid control and wanted no part in further bloodshed flocked to the settlement. Eventually, what would become the Inner Wall was built. As more and more soldiers grew weary of the fighting, they came to Canlinet. They built encampments around the Inner Wall and protected the civilians inside. Those civilians were able form the beginnings of diplomacy and began receiving supplies from the burgeoning Mountain Kingdoms, allowing the ex-soldiers to build the Middle Wall.   When the war ended and the treaties signed, thousands of people were left with nowhere to go. Two groups went to opposite coasts to found Irostone and Haversea, and the rest began building outside Canlinet. To this point, Canlinet's government had been a small council of engineers, diplomats, and former generals. As the city expanded, the Board was formed to better represent citizen interests.   The Outer Wall was constructed when the first reports of infernal madness came from the Ummiati Kinngait. Canlinet did not suffer the brunt of hordes and the Outer Wall was more than enough to protect its citizens and any refugees who made it that far.

Canlinet is home to dozens of museums and unique merchants. Most travellers along the Long Road stop at Canlinet at least to rest, though many journey there specifically to visit the Museum of Arcane Warfare or the Grandjean Market.

The rings of Canlinet each bear a distinct style. The inner ring is full of murals, decorative columns, and recreational parks; during the War of Freedoms, the civilians inside encouraged art projects to stave off the cabin fever of being stuck inside the wall.   The middle ring is a unique blend of precise, military utilitarianism and masterful carpentry and masonry. Some folks were still active soldiers, treating the encampments as temporary military bases. Others were deserters, or those who had lost their units and wanted to begin an entirely new life. The latter group dedicated themselves to crafting homes and businesses that would stand as works of art.   The outer ring is a charming ramshackle of different styles. People from all over the continent settled in the outer ring and built what they knew within the confines of Canlinet's laws and regulations. Each builder's interpretation of those regulations was different based on their background, and every building in the outer ring is unique.