Gondolin
| Gondolin Imperial City and Citadel of Gondolin | |||
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| The Palace of Gondolin, one of the two official residences of the Emperor. | |||
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| Map versions | Status in 1675 AN | ||
| Official language(s) | Draconic (official) Menelmacari, Istvanistani, Haifan, Jingdaoese, others | ||
| Demonym | Gondoliner; Imperial | ||
| - Adjective | Gondolinian | ||
| Government | Capital City | ||
| Duke of Gondolin | Nikamura Hawkins III | ||
| Legislature | City Council | ||
| Establishment | 1675 AN | ||
| Area | 87.0 km2 | ||
| Population | approx. 10 million in metropolis; ~ 1 million within demarcated city limits (1730 AN | ||
| Currency | Guilder | ||
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| Patron | Thr'or God of the Universe and Creation | ||
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Gondolin is one of the two capitals of the Imperial Federation and the chief city of its empire on both the mainland and fringes of Keltia. Both the city and metropolitan area are synonymous, although the Citadel officially refers to the planned, greenery-heavy inner city. In regards to the so-called Citadel, most refer to this important area of Gondolin as the Inner City, due to the presence of all of the Imperial Federation's governing institutions there, as well as the site of its upper class residences, and the heart of the region's bureaucratic and transportation infrastructure (much of which is situated underground). Due to strict zoning laws in the Inner City, by both area and population even this sprawling complex refers only to a smaller portion of the metropolis (which is also referred to as Gondolin, with the Inner City labelled more simply as the Capital, or to locals as the Citadel).
The population of the metropolis is some 10 million persons as of 1730 AN, with the inner city housing close to one million. Despite its spacious layout, the inner city has a high population density, due to most of these being government workers or otherwise attached to the many noble and imperial persons living in the city's extremely wealthy core. The city has a reputation of being extremely clean and orderly, although an affordability crisis has gripped the city's outer areas since around 1715 AN due to strict zoning laws even in the outer fringes, in a bid to permanently control pollution and overcrowding in vital areas.
It is one of the two political, economic, cultural, and religious centers of the empire. It holds the seat of most of the Imperial Government, and its gilded palace in its heart serves as one of the two official residences of the Emperor. The city is not home to the legislature and the high court, however, these being located in Glacier City instead, along with the most sacred religious sites. While Gondolin has its own high temples, it still pales in comparison to the ancient shrines and temples housed in its sister city. Instead, the city is known for its wealth, splendor, and attention to harmony with both the environment and the needs of the wealthy denizens in the core. The city is also home to several universities, including the prestigious University of Gondolin and the heart of the University of Adrestia system.
Gondolin is connected to the rest of of the Imperial Federation by both land and sea by a network of roads, railways, ports, waterways, and multiple international airports. As the city possesses many navigable waterways, it is also served by a very large number of passenger boat services, trams, light rail, bus systems, and other means of transport meant to ease the burden on average citizens of moving between the spread-out metropolis either for commuting or other purposes.
Notable Districts
Central Gondolin
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Founded in 1675 AN, it is one of the wealthiest places in all of Micras. It was discovered in that year by explorers from the Holy Ralgon Empire, during its initial wave of colonization. Due to the paradise the explorers found themselves in, their leaders invested every ounce of wealth to securing the territory as personal property. The entire city was built with strict zoning laws to enhance the magnitude of natural wealth the place offered, turning the city into one of the wonders of Micras in the following decades. Despite highly strict zoning laws, Central Gondolin is one of the most populated places in Micras. With many mundane buildings kept underground, the city's aboveground buildings focus on residences, temples, and political infrastructure instead.
Strict laws on vehicles and industrial waste keep the air pristine and clear. Life expectancy in the central city is among the highest across all ethnicities in the Imperial Federation.
Guilin Hills
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Guilin Hills was built near the eponymous Guilin Hills, considered one of the natural wonders of the world. The true extent of the hills themselves offers a staggering vista from any height (although all tall buildings are strictly regulated in the entire region), inviting room for many wealthy satellite towns to form around the urban sprawl. Like many others, the district offers a level of seclusion from the outside world due to the hills breaking up other centers of urban or suburban settlements. Discreetly placed highways, canals, and natural river channels connect it to the rest of the city.
Guilin Hills is considered a Jingtown in a loose sense of the word. It is populated primarily by Jing-descended Ralgonese people, from the days when Jingdao and the Holy Ralgon Empire were allies within the USSO. Even after the ending of that era in 1706 AN, the Jing community continued to exercise influence and intermingle with the Ralgonese of the surrounding settlements. As Gondolin and its wealth grew meteorically, so did the city of Guilin Hills. The settlement eventually became one of the wealthiest per capita in all of Micras, and commands high economic power even by Gondolin's astronomic standards.
While it has gradually lost some of the strictly Jingtown characteristics due to its heavily mixed heritage, the city remains attractive to both the Jing founders and Ralgonese descendants of these people. Access to the city is restricted to sufficiently wealthy Jing people, Ralgonese of high status, and those of mixed descent who qualify under both criteria. As with the rest of Gondolin, new building is stringently regulated and investment-based housing is forbidden, along with second homes. This has pushed less obviously wealthy (and enterprising) persons to other areas of Adrestia, particularly Nobunag'an City, where real estate is far less regulated.
