Magnimar
| Magnimar | |
|---|---|
| |
| (City) | |
| Titles | City of Monuments |
| Region | Varisia |
| Size | Large city |
| Population | 16,428 |
| Demographics | 13,307 humans, 821 halflings, 659 dwarves, 655 elves, 493 gnomes, 166 half-elves, 164 half-orcs, 163 others |
| Government | Autocracy (lord-mayor) |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Leader | Lord-Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras |
| Source: Magnimar, City of Monuments, pg(s). 4-5 | |
The city of Magnimar[1] (pronounced MAG-nih-mahr)[2] stands as one of the two major city-states of southern Varisia.[3] Founded by Korvosan dissenters in 4608 AR, the City of Monuments now stands as a rival to Korvosa in an open war of coin and words. The people of the city are termed 'Magnimarians' and they call Korvosa: 'Little Cheliax'. The adjective used to describe something of Magnimar is 'Magnimarian'.[4]
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Contents |
Geography
Magnimar is a large city located on the southwestern coast of Varisia where the Yondabakari River empties into the Varisian Gulf. The city is surrounded by the mostly inhospitable Mushfens.[5] The city itself is defined by two colossal landmarks which predate modern civilization by thousands of years or more. The Irespan is an ancient Thassilonian ruin, the easternmost end of a giant bridge which has now crumbled into the sea. This enormous relic stretched from Magnimar's other most noticeable feature, the three-hundred-foot tall cliff which cuts the city in two known as the Seacleft.[6]
City Districts
While these unavoidable monuments provide natural dividers to the city's three major districts (the Summit atop the cliff, the Shore below, and the Shadow under the Irespan, residents recognize nine city districts within Magnimar.
The Summit
The wealthiest communities in Magnimar are located in the Summit atop the rise of the Seacleft, as are the city's centers of government, education, and arts. The Summit contains the following three city districts:
- Alabaster District, incorporating the neighbourhoods of Marble District and the Stylobate
- Capital District, incorporating the neighbourhood of Bridgeward
- Naos, incorporating the neighbourhoods of Grand Arch and Vista
The Shore
Home to the majority of Magnimar's working class, the Shore contains Magnimar's coasts and docks, and the following five city districts:
- Beacon's Point, incorporating the neighbourhood of Rag's End
- Dockway
- Keystone, incorporating the neighbourhoods of The Marches and Silver Shore
- Lowcleft
- Ordellia, incorporating Kyver's Islet
The Shadow
The Shadow district is the most derelict in the city and houses only the single city district of Underbridge. It is home to the seediest of Magnimar's inhabitants and most members of the government take an "out of sight, out of mind" approach to the district's problems.[7]
Holdings
Magnimar has begun to slowly expand her sphere of influence to encompass many nearby settlements and communities.[8] This is a list of but a few that have come under the jurisdiction of Magnimar.
Government
Magnimar is ruled by two official political bodies—the Council of Ushers and the Office of the Lord-Mayor. This two-tiered system was established at the city's founding to ensure that no single person ever had too much control. Despite the idealist intentions of the city's founders, over the last century, both offices have become more power-hungry and less effective at representing the needs of the city-state's citizens.[6]
The Council of Ushers
Full article: Council of Ushers
The Council of Ushers serves as the legislature of Magnimar and currently contains 117 members. Of these, many are nobles whose families have held seats for generations, back to the time when the Council was but fifteen members large. With many more seats now that there are noble families, dozens of seats are filled with scheming merchants and greedy power-seekers, as well as a frustrated number of genuinely altruistic activists and honest merchants all vying to have their personal causes (many of which are entirely self-serving) heard and passed into law. The Council meets in austere Usher's Hall in Capital District.[6]
The Office of the Lord-Mayor
Full article: Office of the Lord-Mayor
In theory restricted by the council of Ushers the Lord-Mayor is by far the most powerful person in Magnimar. This immense power normally result in a corruption and the current Lord-Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras is no exception. Many of Magnimar's political matters are determined not by who is right or at least most persuasive but who brings the Lord-Mayor the most lavish and impressive gift (bribe). While in theory the Lord-Mayor must uphold the mandates of the Council of Ushers Grobaras has frequently ignored them when they have not been to his liking.[6]
Justice Court
Full article: Justice Court
When legal arbitration is needed above and beyond what the city guard themselves can handle, the legal system of Magnimar calls upong the Justice Court. This body of thirteen Justices is the highest court in the city state and rules on disagreements as well as the guilt or innocent of those accused of particularly heinous crimes. The Court meets in the Pediment Building also serves as a prison for the city's most hardened criminals, located in a dungeon deep beneath the building called "the Hells."[9]
History
Timeline[10]
- 4584 AR - Alcaydian Indros, a Knight of Aroden, leads an expedition into western Varisia, discovering the Irespan.
- 4608 AR - Indros, disgusted with Korvosa, leads thousands of pilgrims to the Irespan, founding Magnimar.
- 4611 AR - Magnimar annexes Wartle.
- 4619 AR - Varnagan Draston-Meir becomes the second lord-mayor.
- 4623 AR - Dread spider-like creatures are loosed from the Giant's Bridge by workers quarrying for stone to be used for building monuments.
- 4629 AR - The Twilight Academy, and Galduria by extension, is founded by Galdurin Barmier.
- 4641 AR - Nybor is founded.
- 4666 AR - Sandpoint is founded.
- 4671 AR - Magnimar annexes Wolf's Ear.
- 4693 AR - Magnimar annexes Ravenmoor.
- 4700 AR - Haldmeer Grobaras becomes lord-mayor.
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Religion
Temples exist to Calistria, Desna, Erastil, Iomedae, Norgorber, Pharasma, and Sarenrae. Some Empyreal lords are worshiped, but not in formal temples. Private meeting places revere Arshea, Ashava, Ragathiel, Sinashakti, Soralyon, and Ylimancha.[11]
References
- ↑ A large poster map of the city can be found in the Shattered Star Poster Map Folio
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 247. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2007). Magnimar. The Skinsaw Murders, p. 56. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-037-7
- ↑ Adam Daigle and James Jacobs. (2012). Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 4. Paizo Publishing, LLC.
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 145. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 F. Wesley Schneider. (2007). Magnimar. The Skinsaw Murders, p. 57. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-037-7
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2007). Magnimar. The Skinsaw Murders, p. 65. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-037-7
- ↑ James L. Sutter. (2007). Varisia. The Hook Mountain Massacre, p. 69. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-038-4
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2007). Magnimar. The Skinsaw Murders, p. 58. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-037-7
- ↑ Adam Daigle and James Jacobs. (2012). Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC.
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider, Amber E. Scott, Tork Shaw, James L. Sutter, and Jerome Virnich. (2012). Varisia, Birthplace of Legends, p. 13. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-453-5
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