~places: the city of neiking~

Overview of Neiking:
As soon as Twall's father, Marcello, took over, the town of Neiking quickly became the one of the biggest cities in the world. Starting out as a small port town, the pirate captain dramatically changed its status. Originally elected as it's mayor but, because of his popularity (and because of some distant royalty in his bloodline,) he was one of the first people to ever be given the title of King. His illegitimate and only child, Prince Twall, continues his legacy by ingeniously fueling the populous' trade and wealth with his openly legal dealings... Mostly though, it's his shady dealings that get the job done. His pirate connections give him a monopoly on all sea trade. It's also the only city in the world that has a port on both the inner and outer seas. This is also one of the only places that promotes trade between all countries. Think New York, think Paris; you have Neiking. Anything and everything in the world can be found here.

It's symbol is the same as Marcello's- a boar's head with the colors; a more dirty green and orange. Its flat farm lands to the south rise in the north to a narrow, almost peninsula-like, mountain region. The two ports are almost directly to the East and West of the castle. There is an upper, secluded, area of the city simply referred to as "Upper Neiking." It's basically its own town but is small enough not to bother with its own Mayor. The few people who live in the 'village' there referred to the main city as Lower Neiking. It's secludedness is due to the fact that you have to get there by a narrow, fairly level, but well maintained and traveled, mountain pass. Beyond this town there is only a small beach port and then dense woodland populated by mountain creatures. Some of the more dangerous varieties would be Manticores. Then the mountains narrow to broken steep cliffs, and there is only a small straight of land that connects it to the Dragon Lands and the area known as the Maw. To the south, past the farmland, lay other kingdom's of the same, Unicorn, country. They are, at best, only on semi-friendly relations (cordial). None of the lords of these regions are happy that a scoundrel has a more wealthy kingdom than themselves.

Neiking unfortunately (mostly because of it's sudden rise from "nothing,") has not yet been granted permission to arm its self. There is a guard which protects the castle and acts as a basic police force- but there is no army or even a real defense-force. Later in his life, Twall, under Dyluck's urging, fortify's the castle and parts of the town. (This happens just days before it was attacked by a unified group of kingdoms from it's southern boarder. The town survived with no change in leadership and the onslaught sparked the king into quickly approving the request he had been so long avoiding out of disinterest.) Twall was always petitioning the king to grant the "town" a higher castle and city status though. There is, however, a Military Academy in the SW corner of the city that was founded by one of the countries greatest generals. Retired generals teach there; it draws in aristocratic children from around the world. It was there before Marcello was elected, as were some "resort" homes for the wealthy. It's beautiful country. These homes are now near the center of the town and form their own little community or district.

Buildings:
Mostly wood frame, plaster, slate roofs with copper gutters. All are fairly ornate. There is some variety in structures. Richer homes are made out of stone- like the castle. Some glass windows can be found in town, just not in the poorer areas; of these there are many varieties and colors. Some are horn, few are paper or are just open with shutters: Upper ones only seeing as how crime can be a problem. Cobblestone streets. Wealthy; fountains and New Orleans-like courtyards litter the city. Because of stony ground, even though it's about sea-level, most buildings have cellars- either just for wine and food storage, or as basements for bars, hideouts, smuggling, or greater storage.

Area's of Interest: More Info Coming Soon. Updated Dec 01, 2008.

1. Rose Square: Although not in the best area, people seem to really enjoy visiting this fun and eclectic part of town.

2. Western Port (?name?) The few outer sea ships can dock here.

3. Eastern Port (Cove of the Boar): All the inner sea ships dock here.

4. The Thieves Quarter: Backs up to the rich estates, it's what you'd expect from the name. the most run down, and chaotic, area of town, if you want to gamble, find someone for unsavory jobs, or get mugged, this would be the place.

5. The Royal Military Academy: One of the older buildings in the area. Founded by a famous general by his retirement estate. Aristocratic children from both the Unicorn and Dragon lands come here to be educated on the art of war, tactics, and law. In front of it, and not marked by a color, are tournament grounds.

6. The lower farming region: This extends to the next kingdom. It's not big compared to other Unicorn Kingdom's farming regions, but it helps keep Neiking from having to import everything.

7. The fisherman's area below the eastern port and sea wall: Most of the fishermen for the city live here. It has the boat building yards too.

8. The stage area and shops at the back of the castle: Part of the old mayor's estate, now it's a great restaurant and more local oriented businesses. Street performers like to work here and in rose square.

9. Trade District: The main street area. [pictured above] The best shops in the world can be found here. It's prime real estate.

10*. The Steps (that dyluck built) A series of defensive walls, with large flat upper levels, (making them look like steps) that reach from the hill in the east and the mountain in the west, by the acadamy. Dyluck encouraged Twall to build. *They're not pictured. They would be on the southern boarder of the town, where the decrepit wall is now.

11*. The Canal (that dyluck built) *Not pictured. It connects the inner and outer sea. It would show how outdated this map is if I were to draw it's path. Neiking is actually much narrower than this and the castle is further back. You can draw a straight line from port to port in front of the castle in reality.

12. The Quarry: To the north, on the West side of the road. This is the active one used for more recent construction. It's kind of cut off on this map.

13. The Old Quarry: now the swimming lake. It's to the north, on the East side of the road. When they were done with it they let it flood. It's now a nice public lake. It's kind of cut off on this map.

14. The Northern "wall" or gate to the city: Not really pictured. It should be just before the two quarries. It's a way to collect tolls.

15. The "suburb" homes on the NW side of the city. These are homes with yards. Not enough of one for a garden to feed a family- but good enough for some food supplementation.

16. The Blue district: The name for the "red light" district.

17. The area where all the rich houses are. this is one of the older area's of Neiking. It used to just be a out of the way resort for aristocrats and a stop over point for pirates.

18. The area where the apartments are: Cheap housing that isn't above a shop- because that's usually inhabited by the shop owners.

19. The farmer's and fish markets: Kind of boarders a few area's on the outside of the town. This also includes markets for people temporarily selling stuff from out of the area.

20. The Lighthouses: One for each port. Eastern Lighthouse and Western Lighthouse.

21. The "Opera House" (?name?) Plays and other theatrical events, for the rich, are held here.

22. The rest is pretty much shops, or guild stuff, -basically commercial property with living apartments above most of the shops.

23. The Castle: Name? Or just Neiking Castle? Click the below image for one with out colored regions.

1. The aqueduct: Not quite in the picture, it would be more to the left of the viewable area but- it comes towards the sunken gardens from the mountains. Brings water to the castle first, then to the town.
2. The sunken gardens: Used to be kind of forest park for the city but, it was too easy to get into, so Twall had it walled off and converted it to a garden with a large pond and entertaining pavilion in that.
3. The old castle section: should have an actual name, it was the mayor's manor long, long ago. Now it's kind of a city hall. There's a public courtyard connected to it where plays or public events are held (Like executions)
4. The ballroom: Name says it all.
5. The military quarter: Where the guard, some students, and most of the castles servants live.
6. The lion quarters: Not drawn in yet. Twall added them under the military quarter: some beautiful chambers made to look like the palace of Uluru. They have archways that overlook the sunken garden. A lot of parties are held there and he staffs them with refugee Lion Landers.
7. Twall's chambers: Right off the ballroom. His bedroom is on the upper level and below that are his audience chambers.
8. The "cathedral" -No real religion is practiced there any more but Marcello's room was up that tower.
9. The green house pavilion: A mostly glass pavilion that over looks the gardens. It's become a kind of guest room.
10. The watch tower. It and the small cathedral tower are the tallest towers, from this one you can see over the rest of the castle. Twall has someone up there watching both ports for early notice of problematic guests.