[Urbis] Help me make more of these cities!

[Jürgen Hubert]

As pointed out in this thread, I am currently trying to come up with "themes" for cities which help me bring them into the proper focus. In particular, I want to develop the Flannish Cities region of my Urbis setting further, and I want to develop an overall theme for each of the major cities which help me generate further ideas.

To give you a general idea of the background (without forcing you to read through the entire setting), the Flannish Cities are essentially the most "modern" region of what used to be a fairly typical fantasy world. They are currently going through a Magical Industrial Revolution quite deliberately similar to what happened in late 19th century Western Europe, except that a merchant class has taken over the role of the aristocracy and instead of nations the most powerful political unit are vast city-states with populations in the hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people. And, of course, they use magic instead of steam as a power source.

Here is a map of this region:



The whole region is about 600 to 700 miles wide from East to West.

I already have themes for some of the cities: "City of Adventure" (Dartmouth), "Government Conspiracy" (Hogenrood), "Hidden Fear" (Hollowhill), "Corruption" (Nimdenthal), "City of Tomorrow" (Praxus), "Military-Industrial Complex" (Zuidenstadt).

Here are the others:


Bodenwald

"Population: 1,837,284

In Bodenwald, the Astromantic Society was founded, and the city still serves as its headquarters. Thus, Bodenwald serves as the center of most activities involving the exploration and colonization of other planets, and many people who hope to start over on a new world come here. The city has become rich by trading exotic goods and minerals from the colonies, and its zoological gardens, which feature many creatures from other worlds, attract many scholars.

Bodenwald is one of the few Flannish cities with a surviving aristocracy, and despite the fact that an elected parliament governs the city, the eccentric and wildly popular King Maximilian III can certainly influence politics when he puts his mind to it. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Astromantic Society, and the riches its efforts bring to the city have reflected well on him as well."

Think of Bodenwald as 19th century Bavaria in general and Munich in particular - except that it managed to establish some small but very lucrative interplanetary colonies via magical gates. These are some good elements which will no doubt generate lots of ideas, but I'd like the theme for this city to be summed up in fewer words.


Grüngarten

Population: 614,327

"During the Liberation War, the city of Holzau was conquered by an eldarin prince of neighboring Avareen after the city's rulers had inadvertently insulted him. He became bored of ruling a human city after a century or so, but a strong elven influence persists even today. As a result, the city (now named "Grüngarten" or "green garden") is renowned for its many gardens and greenhouses (many of which are located at the top of its tall buildings to catch as much sunlight as possible), which provide the city with most of its food. The agricultural specialists of Grüngarten are highly regarded even in far-off regions, and can command high salaries. Eating any kind of meat is strictly illegal in this city, which has lead to the establishment of underground "meat parlors" where customers can enjoy steaks, sausages, and other meat products of usually inferior qualities. Organized crime in Grüngarten is firmly in the hands of the "Butchers' Guild", which controls most of the meat parlors."

For this city some sort of garden or plant metaphor would likely work well, but so far I haven't come up with any.


Gorok-kar

"Population: 519,849

This dwarfhold has the distinction of having the only major seaport of the dwarven people. It is located within a long and mountainous fjord, which allows them to both engage in mining and selling the ore and finished products to human merchant ships. Some of the younger dwarves have even started to build their own ships, an activity which is frowned upon by their more conservative elders.

Gorok-kar used to be merely the southernmost of the many dwarfholds of the Norfjell Wastes, but it rose to prominence after Negroth the Doombringer besieged and plundered the others one by one during his early conquests in order to gain their secrets and potent artifacts. Gorok-kar was the last dwarfhold to hold out - and hold out it did through several years of siege, causing a horrific toll on the population as starvation and disease weakened the normally hardy dwarves. The only reason the city was able to hold out at all was that the dwarves managed to build artifact underwater vehicles which were able to get past the blockade and trade with enterprising smugglers from the rest of the Flannish Cities. Even so, some outlying quarters of the city were overrun, and even today some older parts of the city are sealed up because of the undead abominations still lurking there.

The day the Siege of Gorok-kar was lifted is still celebrated by dwarves of the region as the Day of Heroes. After the war, the city was able to regain its former population by welcoming dwarfish refugees from the other, now empty holds of the Norfjell Wastes (some of which had been enslaved, while others had simply been hiding out). After this close brush with annihilation, Gorok-kar joined the Treaty of Praxus, becoming a new member of the Flannish Cities. It serves as a major manufacturing center of metal goods for the region to this day.

Currently, most of the resources of Gorok-kar are tied up in the reclamation of the Lost Holds of the Norfjell Wastes - its rulers dream of the day when all those holds are restored and given back to dwarfdom - and linked via underground railroads. This is a monumental task, however, and as there are simply not enough dwarves available for this Gorok-kar has resorted to hiring mercenaries of other races. Furthermore, anyone who serves for at least 10 years in the guard of Gorok-kar will attain citizenship as a reward. An increasing number of humans and members of other races have accepted that offer despite the harsh conditions of that service period, and some dwarves already worry that the faster-breeding humans will one day outnumber them in "their" own nation. As a result, there have been increasing efforts to recruit city-dwelling dwarves from the other Flannish Cities - which does not go over well with some of the local Hidden Kings, who fear that their own communities will shrink rapidly if permitted."

There are elments of national pride and dwarf determination here... but what could truly sum up the essence of this city?


Oldenheim

"Population: 348,232

Ever since this city's merchant council slighted a powerful wizard more than three centuries ago, its inhabitants have suffered under a terrible curse: If they don't talk for at least one hour every day, their innermost thoughts and secrets will be broadcast to everyone in the vicinity. As a result, the citizens of Oldenheim are renowned for their talkativeness, and even those away from Oldenheim will tend to talk about any possible subject at great length. Visitors to Oldenheim should be aware that the curse affects all who are within the boundaries of the city."

This is the city where I am most tempted to do a complete rewrite. I think this curse could be a fun thing to explore, but on the other hand I am worried that this might be too silly. Can anyone come up with a good theme and its implication that might make this (or a different but similar) concept work?


Rondhaven

"Population: 2,538,757

Much of this wealthy coastal city lies at or below the sea level. Its neighborhoods are protected by several dikes of titanic proportions. Rondhaven is considered to be relatively "liberal", as far as Flannish cities are concerned, and many artists and free thinkers flock here."[/link]

This is intended to be the premier naval power of the region, and in atmosphere similar to the great Dutch port towns.


Svardholm

"Population: 430,383

This northern city-state is built on multiple small islands scattered along the coast. Svardholm is generally considered to be the last outpost of civilization before heading into the northern wastelands.

In the last decade, a popular (among the upper classes, at least) eugenics movement has influenced politics in the city council. People who get high marks on certain intelligence tests that every public official is required to take (though everyone can attempt them) are encouraged to have as many children as possible, and receive generous cash bonuses for each child they have. The poor and unemployed, on the other hand, receive a small sum of money if they allow themselves to be permanently sterilized via alchemical potions. The criminal and insane are automatically sterilized without their consent.

Svardholm also has to deal with an increasing stream of dwarven refugees arriving via the Great Lake from Gol Grungor. Until recently, Svardholm merely encouraged them to move to other cities quickly - sometimes deporting them forcibly via train - but the local dwarven community has taken to hiding them in the underground portions of their ghettos, often significantly expanding them. As a result, the city authorities now move all new arrivals from the east to one of the large islands along the coast until they can figure out how to deal with them. The conditions on this island have become very squalid because of the lack of infrastructure."

This city is otherwise somewhat similar in atmosphere to Stockholm.


Torburg

"Population: 2,167,529

This city seems to be determined to beat Rondhaven as the premier naval power among the Flannish cities. Its city council council has commissioned the creation of a fleet of merchantmen and warships that exceed any other ships ever built in sheer size. Whether these monstrosities will actually help Torburg achieve its goals is some matter of dispute, but all observers agree that the first finished ships are very impressive to behold."


These are all the cities which I need themes for. So, does anyone here have any suggestions?