Nesseri is the second-oldest city in the archipelago, and the oldest still standing. Once the seat of the royal line of the realm of Napori, Nesseri now serves as the Naporian capital under the plutocracy of the Ailars. A hub of commercial interests, Nesseri is among the wealthiest cities in the archipelago as well, although most of this wealth is more concentrated in the southmost districts of the city.
Geography and Layout[]
Nesseri is located along the western shore of the island of Narada, on the southmost tip of an outcropping from the mainland known as Mendell's Peninsula. Here, the Ronan River splits into Mendell's Delta, atop which Nesseri was built by human settlers around approximately 370 BTN. As the city was expanded, the delta's fertile wetlands gave way more and more to urban sprawl.
Nesseri is approximately 2 miles in distance from North-to-South, and approximately 3 miles from East-to-West.
Architecture[]
Nesseri was originally a wetland delta, but urban expansion saw the waters used more and more for transit than for irrigation as the city aged. The expressways of the city are all canals traversed by gondoliers and airships, but there are still myriad crisscrossing streets and bridges connecting the city for those that travel by foot.
Nesseri itself is built on foundations of volcanic rock, which underly the delta. The buildings and cobbled streets of the city are primarily constructed of granite and marble, which often give way to wood at the second and higher stories of the buildings, due to wood being cheaper and stone no longer necessary without the threat of rotting from the spray of the canals.
Nesseri's architecture is archaic; favoring arches, buttresses and pillars both as flourishes in addition to their uses for supporting large structures on a relatively unstable surface. The canals have been known to flood, and it is also widely known that the city itself is slowly shifting over the edge of the cliffs at a pace of about a foot per five years, due to the silty delta beneath the city slowly churning with the river's currents. As a result, most of the city's expansions are built onto the northeastern edge, as far from the cliffs as possible.
Nesseri also features a network of bell towers that peal during alarms and festivals.
Districts[]
Nesseri is divided into eight districts, listed in order of their establishment.
Port District[]
The Port district contains the majority of docks in the city, and as a result sees most of the imports and exports that pass through the region. A direct result of its traffic is the wealth shared by most residents.
Diamond District[]
Named both for its general shape and the wealth that flows through it on a daily basis, the diamond district was the initial expansion of the city when the Arstellan family made Nesseri the seat of their throne. Various noble houses made their move to the capital district along with their entourage, and the Diamond district remains the most privileged section of Nesseri even over a thousand years later.
Whitewater[]
Whitewater was originally a segregated region of the delta settled primarily by halflings, but eventually saw its own share of prosperity as the races inevitably mingled and traded.
Green District[]
Contrary to popular belief, the green district was not founded by elves, but rather was established by the Arstellans as public park. It eventually became the haunt of a number of retired merchants as the oligarchy took over in later centuries.
Shack[]
Shack was aptly named after the most common form of housing available, as it was established by settling dwarves and even a number of halfbreeds hailing from orcs and elves alike. In more recent decades it has become riddled with warehouses, providing more means for the locals to enjoy some economic importance, even if the district is something of an eyesore still.
The North Quarter[]
Just as often called "New Shack," the North Quarter is another district that was originally a slum, and even managed to stay that way.
Seward District[]
The seaward district was introduced as an expansion to the city primarily for the sake of deepening and extending the city's canals to permit easier launch for airships. This district bears the most streets and bridges for its size due to the currents being almost too fast and close to the edge of the cliffs for gondoliers to safely navigate.
The Slice[]
Essentially just another part of the Seaward District, the slice is named for its distinctive arrowhead shape.
History[]
Approx. 370 BTN: Nesseri is established as a coastal farming village.
Approx. 300 BTN: First sea-level docks are established below Nesseri.
102 BTN: Nesseri is sacked by halflings during the Waterside Wars.
10 BTN: Nesseri is sacked by elves shortly after they settle on Narada.
5 BTN: Nesseri is sacked by Orcs, marking the start of the Great Naporian War.
3 BTN: Marsen Arstellan seizes Nesseri and fortifies the city.
1 BTN: Nesseri is sacked again by Orcs. The elves of the Anorian Forest come to its aid, and the battle of Nesseri begins.
0 BTN: The Treaty of Napori is signed in Nesseri, marking the end of the Great Naporian War.
50 ATN: The Arstellan family names itself the royal bloodline of the realm of Napori.
252 ATN: Asteron Ailar is born in Nesseri.
473 ATN: Asteron Ailar besieges Arstellan Palace and claims Napori by right of conquest. The War of the Commoner Kings begins.
490 ATN: The Battle of the Bulwarks is fought on the waters just south of Nesseri. A decisive victory for Asteron Ailar marks the effective end of feudalism in Ainor.
492 - 700 ATN: Aramil Ailar is Ailar of Napori.
700 - 811 ATN: Berrian Holimion is Ailar of Napori.
811 - 873 ATN: Andron Holimion is Ailar.
873 - 917 ATN: Aseir Mostana is Ailar.
918 - 920 ATN: Martell Averri is Ailar.
920 - 1010 ATN: Taklin Torunn is Ailar.
1011 - 1015 ATN: Bryseis Merlini is Ailar.
1015 - 1066 ATN: Lander Brightwood is Ailar.
1070 - 1118 ATN: Pieron Morivaldo is Ailar.
1118 - 1265 ATN: Thamior Havendell is Ailar.
1265 ATN: Jules Tallow succeeds Havendell as Ailar of Napori.