Common City

**Common City**, also known as **Animal City,** is the capital of the Southern Animal Country. It is also the second-most populated settlement on Letina after Tropilshaed and location of many stories. It is located in the north-western part of Amaruzja. It was created in 21 822 PCE with the signing of an agreement between several animal species, who collectively decided to bury the hatchet after thousands of years of wars and isolation to create a united discrimination-free society. With the passing time, the bulk of existing species went on to put their names in the Pact of Species Harmony, while the growing city was divided into districts which best suited specific species. Sustaining the existence of most of the known world's biomes in the same location and right next to each other was initially only possible via the use of magic, but more recently some of the newest technologies have been implemented to aid the powerful spells. Currently the population of the city itself is nearly 20 million.

### Key facilities

* Magical Institute
* Alchemical Institute
* Narwhal Horn
* Main Bank of Common City
* Presidential Tower

### **City districts**

**Water Houses** - An underwater district located on the border of the city. It is inhabited by marine mammals such as seals, narwhals, walruses and less commonly sealions and otters. Most of the residences are fully submerged in the water and only the entry/exit hatches are above the surface. It is the current place of residence of Nelson Polycarp, Milkella Fysheng and their families.

**Swamppolis** - A humid swamp district, mostly inhabited by reptilians and amphibians.

**Las Precipas** - One of the four primary districts of the city. It is inhabited by typically rainforest species. It has a very humid micro-climate and features multiple levels of wooden roads and walkways simply hung on the branches of massive trees. Another means of transport is via a cable car, also using ropes attached to trees. It is the place of residence of Nash and the family of Blubber Stern. Also located here is a sightseeing spot called the April Retreat.

**Rodentium** - A small, smelly and trashed district which makes for a home for rodents, mainly mouses and rats. It is squeezed between Las Precipas and the Downtown.

**Downtown** - The most important district. It is a business and commercial hub, visited by multiple species of animals, but because of its function not a lot of actual living residences can be found here. It is the location of all the most important facilities such as headquarters of large companies, sport centers, government buildings, universities and factories.

**Heated Desert** - District dedicated to desert and otherwise warmth-loving species. It is one of the four primary districts. It is the location of the Aquaterminal and a sightseeing spot called the Oasis.

**Tundrarea** - Another one of the four primary districts, inhabited by typically polar animals - narwhals, killer whales and bears of all types (not just polar ones). It has a smaller recognized district contained in itself, called Frostpolis, mostly inhabited by penguins. Nelson Polycarp's aunt lives in this district.

**Dead District** - A district traditionally circled all around it on all maps using thick yellow linings. It used to be an industrial area inhabited nearly exclusively by the lower working class. Around 50 years ago, a severe government-classified incident occurred in it, killing most of the inhabitants and leading to an instant evacuation of the survivors. Most of the buildings have survived to this day in a surprisingly good state, but majority of surfaces are covered by a deep layer of sand. At least 4 crackors are known to have stalked the area, it is also the location of the Great Chasm - a huge hole in the ground supposedly drilled through all of Letina right to the bottom of it. This is probably the only direct lead remaining of the incident. Entering the Dead District is strictly forbidden. It is unclear whether the ban is because of it still being contaminated, or because of the government being desperate to not let anyone find out more about the incident.

**Boiling Cape**

**Homedistrict** - Borders Boiling Cape and Meadowlands. It is inhabited by domestic and farm animal species, mainly emigrants from the Animal Country.

**Meadowlands** - A carefree, green area of meadows and prairies, bordering with Tundrarea and New Taiga. It is inhabited by geese, caribous, sheep, ducks, rabbits and the less numerous manatees.

**New Taiga** - A home for animals from cooler regions, mainly tigers and reindeers. Most of it is covered in a coniferous forest, many of the trees being thick enough for the living residences to be located in their roots and the lower parts of the barks. Just like Las Precipas, it also features numerous wooden roads and walkways stretched between the trees.

**Canyonland** - The mountain district. Mainly inhabited by chamois and different kinds of birds. It is the location of a major resort called the Valley of Silence.

**Alone Isle**

**Urban Lake** - A landlocked lake located half in Swamppolis and half in the Heated Desert in the northern part of the city. It has several gated communities of marine mammals located in its middle part. It is the current residence of the parents of Nelson Polycarp and Milkella Fysheng and this is where both of them grew up.

### **Mass transport**

The Common City has a range of different modes of transport. Not only does it have efficient city-wide communication systems, most districts also have their own means of transport. The oldest and most basic means of transport are always crowded trams. Trams deliver passengers to each of the city's 13 districts, including Alone Isle. There are over 30 tram lines in the city. Tram lines are available for every size of animal, from a small mouse to an elephant. Inside there are comfortable armchairs in several sizes, useful for various species of animals. Common City also has a subway system operating in the area of four main districts (Downtown, Las Precipas, Heated Desert, Tundrarea), as well as two smaller ones located on their outskirts (Water Houses, Rodentium). There are 12 color-coded metro lines in the city. Unlike trams, they have greater restrictions, for example they do not transport animals larger than a young rhinoceros. The city also has a general taxi system running throughout the city. The standard of taxis varies quite a bit.