Navroya is the capital of the Navroyan Confederation and the largest city on Acetate. An ancient city, Navroya was and is a center for research and development of all things technological, as well as a center of human culture on Acetate. It controls trade running down the Dun River, one of the largest and longest rivers on the continent, and is home to several of Acetate's largest corporations and companies. Though still a proud and impressive place, Navroya has grown a host of issues over the last century that the Acetic leadership can't or won't fix.
History
Early History
Navroya began as a small, unnamed ferry crossing on the Dun River. The territory belonged to dragons at that time, and never prospered while they were free. Being the only river crossing to survive over the years as others grew obsolete, were abandoned, or fell to disease, bandits, dragons, or war, and also the only way to cross the river for several days' travel on horseback either way along the river, the crossing grew into a town in its own right and gained the name Bostra. To the few that remember, the captive electric dragon that provided endless power for experiments and later the palace of the city's rulers was the true reason the city survived where others didn't.
As the town became less of a frontier location, and more aristocrats made it their home, a series of power grabs and house conflicts divided the residents and the town became split into two halves, one on each side of the river. The northern side kept the name Bostra, and the southern half became Malaca. The two cities on the Dun grew into major trade cities over several decades, as everything that came down the river and out to the sea had to pass through them. Feuds between noble houses in each city were very common and more often than not disruptive for townsfolk, and the two cities gained a reputation for gathering eccentrics and nobles willing to act as patrons for mystics and proto-scientists.
Unification
The story of how Bostra and Malaca became the unified city of Navroya is a complicated one, and shrouded with incorrect facts and contradictory sources. What is known for certain is that a combination of disasters set the stage for what happened. First, a deadly plague ravaged the cities, outright killing every single member of Bostra's ruling family, driving the common folk into a panic and causing the nobles to quarantine themselves in their estates or escape to the countryside to wait it out. Second, the nobles that governed Malaca (who hadn't been taken by the plague) were assassinated in an attempted coup that left the city reeling at the loss of leadership. Third, a cult of personality headed by a young noblewoman began to grow in popularity as anger flared over the ineffectiveness of the upper class and clergy to deal with these crises.
The Malacan noblewoman -- Reina Solanaceae, commonly referred to as Lady Solana -- was known even then as a mesmerizing orator who could inspire, intimidate, and incite in equal measure. Seeing how badly the people of her city were doing as efforts to combat the plague were ineffective at every turn and other members of the upper class fled, Lady Solana decided to stay and try to fix it. After gathering her forces and taking temporary control of the city, Solana first instituted effective quarantine measures and then began looking into why the plague was unaffected by any method of healing other than magical ones. While the city recovered from the plague, with no one being let into the city or out of it until it died out, Solana discovered that it was intentionally developed as a weapon through the empowerment of an ordinary disease by several complex rituals and, importantly, the help of a demon. Though originally intended to kill only the Bostran royal family (which it did), the disease mutated and simply targeted Roner in general, leaving monsters and those with monster blood untouched. After forcing the creator (a Bostran noble hiding in his country estate) to produce a cure, Solana ordered him crucified and tied to the front of Malaca's largest clocktower. Due to her enormous public role in stabilizing Malaca and also due to its lack of successors, Solana kept her power and easily toppled Bostra's temporary leadership with the support of a grateful populace. Now the ruler of a unified people, Solana renamed the two cities under one name -- Navroya.
Recovery
Though Navroya and the surrounding lands would take several decades to fully recover from the devastating plague, the severity of its impact was greatly reduced by Lady Solana, who by multiple accounts worked tirelessly to help her people, both by securing aid from other countries and by taking a more direct role in cleanup efforts. It was during this time that she also made sure to spread word of the truth behind the plague; as a result, it became widespread knowledge that meddling with magic and making deals with demons was responsible for the calamity. As a side effect of the disease only targeting Roner, monsters and half-bloods also fell under suspicion, though Lady Solana urged the common people to focus their ire on what she believed to be the true threat -- demons.
Sealing of Demons and the Svodea Genocide
To combat this threat, Solana had no shortage of volunteers, and formed them into an organization of researchers and hunters that called themselves the Solanites in her honor. First spending their efforts searching out demons, but unable to find a way to destroy them, the Solanites figured out the next best way of getting rid of them: imprisonment. Hunting down the demons, one by one, regardless of whether they were harmful or not, the Solanites sealed them away and made sure they would never be freed.
Though the hunt for demons ended in death for many, both Solanite and not, no part of it was as destructive as the destruction of the Rock Kingdom and the People that inhabited it. Upon hearing that the ruler and People of the Rock Kingdom consorted with demons, and fearful of what a demon might do with an army when one had wrought so much havoc with a germ, Solana sent a sizable detachment of soldiers led by a trusted general to investigate and decide whether or not any threat was posed. Instead of following her orders, the general betrayed Solana and completely eradicated the svodea for unknown reasons. Lady Solana rarely spoke of the Crystal Kingdom in public afterwards.
After the destruction of the Rock Kingdom and the successful campaign against demons, the bulk of everyone's attention turned back to their home. Navroya settled into a time of burgeoning prosperity under the leadership of Lady Solana, and it regained its reputation as a place of experimentation and discovery under her guidance.
Modern History
After these major events, and especially after Lady Solana's death, Navroya became more and more hostile towards non-Roner. Half-blood humans became the targets of pogroms, and were forced to live in a ghetto in the city which remains there to the present day. At this time, Navroya was just one of many powers on the continent, and so half-bloods (and what monsters could) moved out of its reach. However, Navroya kept expanding, by treaty, by war, or by other means, until the entire continent was under its control, and over time the ideals it held spread to the rest of the continent.
In the present day, Navroya is the capital of the Acetic nation, and faces many problems holding it together.
Geography
Topography
Navroya is situated around, above, and under the River Dun, the largest river in eastern Navroya. The land is mostly level, but elevates into hills in the southern reaches. A unique feature of the city is the division between surface and undercity levels, in which the undercity (previously just the city) had a platform built over it, blocking out the sun and leaving most of it to become neglected by the rich and powerful once the surface level and its new, modern buildings were completed.
Climate
Navroya has a temperate climate, though it's renowned for having very hot summers which exacerbate the pollution to dangerous levels. It's generally not a good idea to be outside in the evening without a breathing mask in the summer if you're downtown.
Architecture
Navroyan architecture has gone through countless phases, and incorporates many of Acetate's various human cultures in it, creating a mish-mash of styles ranging from utterly utilitarian to fantastically baroque. The undercity in particular is known for this, since it includes very old construction as well as newer construction. On the surface tier, the architecture is more uniform, and buildings are composed of sleek lines, sharp angles, flashy logos, and lots and lots of glass.
Districts
Undercity
The undercity has two main districts with several smaller ones within them. These two districts conform vaguely to the locations of the two cities Navroya was formed from -- Bostra north of the river, and Malaca south of it. In Bostra, some subdistricts include the subhuman ghetto, Navroya's (in)famous red light district, and a large, busy marketplace called Monument Square, where it's rumored you can find even the most obscure of items if you look in the right places. In Malaca, some subdistricts include Automatown, where the majority of robot and android construction and research in the city is performed, the Dynadigital Arena and Amusement Park (used for a variety of public events and open year-round), and the preserved and restored Old Malaca.
The undercity has large swathes of land in which the police rarely patrol due to gang activity. Checkpoints and warning signs are often set up around these areas to prevent people from entering or exiting, though they seldom function like they're meant to due to a lack of manpower, resources, or interest. These areas are usually ruled by a few rival gangs, though some are firmly under the control of the larger organizations in the city, and enjoy relative peace. Turf wars, shootings, and riots often threaten to spill over the boundaries and into the better areas of the undercity, and the police respond quickly and violently to stop that. Some criminal groups are considered by the people living under them to be better than the Navroyan government, and are especially hard to root out.
Surface
The surface level is less of a sprawl than the undercity, and is loosely separated into a few rings around a central area which contains the largest, tallest, and most important buildings in the city. In the center, situated over both Malaca and Bostra and on top of the river, are the main offices of most of Navroya's most powerful corporations as well as its government. Landscaping in this central area is open and airy, with wide streets, large ponds, fountains, statues, and so on. As you move outwards from the center, the buildings become packed together more densely, with less and less decoration, though parks are still common. Universities, high-rent residential areas and the businesses that service them dominate the inner ring, and the outer ring contains smaller companies and slightly less expensive apartments. At the edges, the surface tier melds into the wealthier areas of the undercity as freeways connect the surface to the outskirts of the city.
Demographics
Navroya is overwhelmingly populated by Roner, with half-blood humans and People consisting of only a tiny fraction of the population. Free half-bloods are required to reside in their designated area in the undercity and to carry identification and a government-issued pass when moving out of it, and People are not allowed free travel anywhere in the city except when traveling with a human that owns them.
Navroya has a wide arrangement of Roner from different places and cultures on Acetate, and while in the past being a native of the city was a point of pride, it's started to become an insult in some places outside the city due to its increasingly cutthroat and rude culture, and especially thanks to the massive amount of gang activity in the undercity.
Economy
Navroya is the center of Acetate's economy and the home of many of its largest banks. Though their manufacturing importance has waned, they still house many of the factories that produce the most advanced and specialized technology in the world. Since such a vast amount of wealth flows in and out of the city and so much business is conducted there, Navroya is one of the most economically important cities on the continent.
Government
Navroya's government could be described as an oligarchy or a plutocracy ruled by a small council of rich and powerful -- mainly Adam Saraf, the owner of one of Navroya's largest corporations, Solcorp. The government does little for the country by its own hand, instead renting out what it needs to do to private contractors (mostly the companies owned by the people running the country). Social services receive little funding, and are mostly dependent on working with private charities, which ironically get a lot of funding from the rich and powerful when it suits them to donate. Taxes are generally low across the board, though they impact the poor far worse than others. Law enforcement and military are both privately contracted, and police can often change loyalties and procedures from block to block since corporate police are afforded the same authority as government ones.
Main Sights and Tourism
Navroya is a semi-popular attraction for tourism, though it can be somewhat dangerous and travelers are advised to stay out of most of the undercity. However, there are many museums, universities, film studios, parks, theatres, and buildings of historical importance in the city. Tours around the city are popular for tourists, and some companies even offer 'adventures' with armed guards into the more fantastical and dangerous parts of the undercity, with a chance to get into a real gunfight with real gangs.
Transportation
Most transportation in Navroya is done in private vehicles or taxis, which makes the traffic hellish most of the time. However, there is also a robust public transport system of subways and trains which alleviate it somewhat. Travel by helicopter on the surface level is also common, but heavily regulated and unavailable to most people. Foot travel in the city is very common, though generally a poor choice if you need to get anywhere fast.
Culture
Navroya's culture is one of xenophobia, distrust, fear, and keeping your head down. Most people living there distrust others on the basic principle that they're looking for an opportunity to further themselves at any cost, and most of them also distrust monsters and half-blood humans due to an upbringing which teaches them that those people are lesser creatures that want to steal their livelihood and trick them. Aside from hate directed outwards, many Navroyans fear retribution from those in charge of them, as many people know at least one person that had their life destroyed for angering someone higher up the social ladder than them. Because of this, and the increasingly forceful crackdowns on dissent and movements for change, dissent has been growing among the populace, though not many are willing to risk what they have to actively resist.
In general, the culture is materialistic and not spiritual, and few people are religious or even know about religion in the first place.
Libraries
Libraries are rather common in Navroya, though they're more common in the undercity than the surface. While many are private, the Navroya Library Association runs many of its own and is constantly working to bring private libraries into their fold. The largest and oldest library in the city are the Zenith Archives, which are located in the undercity and which house many pieces of literature both new and ancient. Parts of the Archives are so seldom browsed that the contents of the shelves still haven't been put into the library's computer system, and it's rumored that there are vaults of ancient tomes that got walled off during one of the many renovations the Archives have undergone.
Theaters
There are many theaters in Navroya, for movies, plays, musicals, opera, and other forms of performance. Most are indoors, though there are a few amphitheaters as well. Some notable examples include the Aster, which mostly hosts live performances of classic plays and musicals, the Northrop, which shows independent films on actual vintage film, and the Silverscreen chain, which shows popular motion pictures in affordable and comfortable style.
Festivals
Festivals are a common sight in Navroya, though they usually are restricted to small areas where they're relevant, such as a literature festival being held near the Archives.
However, there is one festival that occurs annually throughout the entire city: The Nights of Crystal. This festival, dating to just after the formation of the city, used to commemorate the people that died in the quartzpike disaster, but morphed into a festival celebrating the survival and prosperity of humanity against forces that want to harm it, and then into a big party that just celebrates the founding of the city. The festival runs for three nights, features many things being set on fire both legally and illegally, a service in Monument Square honoring Lady Solana, a massive parade, free food courtesy of your benevolent overlord Adam Saraf, lots of masks that look like monsters, music, salary bonuses, cheap jewelry, riots, and police brutality.
Fashion
Fashion in Navroya varies depending on social class and the price of the clothing. Most people wear clothing mass-produced in factories, typically made of cotton or synthetic fabric, which is not specifically tailored for their bodies. Cheap, baggy clothing are quite popular, and most people will choose comfort over function for everyday wear. Clothing in bright colors are easily obtainable for everyone. The more money one has to spend, however, the stranger the clothing starts to become, though overly complex outfits are not in style. Currently, modern formal wear is centered around suits with oblique angles and well-defined lines that give an appearance of rigidity and structure to the wearer, with the extreme being clothing that look polygonal.
Media
Navroyan media is flashy, loud, and omnipresent. Advertisements and product placement are seeded throughout almost everything, and the narrative that news outlets have usually align with whatever the people in power want them to say. Pirate radio and television stations are common, and are a source of news with a bias opposite of the mainstream. It is difficult to find anyone that reports news with no bias at all, or that reports the full story.
Cuisine
Navroyan cuisine used to be centered around lightly spiced dishes using small game, fish, and local vegetation, but the term holds little meaning at this point. It's possible to find food from almost every corner of the world in Navroya, and fusions of them too, in new and tasty combinations. Navroya is mostly famous in the culinary world for the incredibly excessive dishes to come out of it, and for a style of bread with a buttery crust and a soft, sour inside.
Education
Education in Navroya is all private, and usually paid for by the parents or guardians of the student. Though schools differ in curriculum and quality, once one earns a universally recognized general education degree, they can move on to higher education if they choose, and attend one of the many prestigious universities the city has to offer. Most of the city's universities are located in Malaca, in the undercity, though they sprout up into the surface tier above.
Education in Navroya focuses on science and 'hard' subjects rather than subjects like literature or music, though classier schools tend to put just as much emphasis on those subjects as the rest to provide a more rounded education.
As an alternative to attending a university or school, a person can apprentice with a skilled mentor to learn a trade or an art. This is usually cheaper, but may not be as easy or good as an education at a school, and may not qualify one for a certificate or degree at the end.
Characters