Cardengate

## Climate

The summers are hot and muggy, the winters are very cold and windy, and it is partly cloudy year-round. The average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences mild seasonal variation over the course of the year; The clearer part of the year begins around June and lasts for 5 months, ending around November. Rain falls throughout the year, the most rain falls during the 31 days centered around May.

## Background

#### History

Cardengate is one of the oldest human settlements in the Eastern Reach. It is built between two rivers, making it the most accessible and self-sufficient amongst its neighbors. It features massive ports and shipyards and a vast series of underground catacombs capable of holding food enough to feed the city for a year. In upholding tradition, Cardengate has become a strong historical destination for tourists and scholars alike. The great wealth this provides encourages cultural and architectural preservation, subsequently furthering wage gaps and disunity between the city and its affiliated country.

Before the founding of the Reach, Cardengate homed the wealthiest of Concordia’s businessmen. Ordene natives designated top representatives to oversee the former city-state as a global capital for trade. The council would convene in Cardengate and held dominion over all economic pursuits held near local waters. During the golden age of Ordene’s hold on Gaia, it was the capital of the known world. Ruled by the powerful council and traders, the city was, for nearly hundreds of years, the greatest and wealthiest city in the world. Guarded by high walls, rivers, and powerful militaries, the city is a lasting symbol of global economic glory, with structures built with jet spireglass during its time of greeted abundance.

As the Welkin Republic evolved into that of the Eastern Reach, generals and traders sought greater pursuits in their travels north into the new lands. Cardengate was surrendered by Ordene as a symbol of peace towards the newly founded ministry, who in turn allowed the city to retain its trading and cultural practices. It remains as a sign of the Reach’s global neutrality, acting as the heart of tradition and historical wealth.

#### Culture

Aside from the general prosperity and beauty of Cardengate, its most notable societal oddities reside in Moorfold Yard, home of some of the wealthiest men, women and children in Eastern Reach. As one gets closer and closer to its heart, buildings grow cleaner and statelier, as do the people. The city's emphasis on preserving its history is stronger nowhere else. The popular fashions date back centuries; men wear tailored suits and women fashionable day gowns. Long white gloves are seen everywhere. In fact, there is a strong emphasis on beauty, cleanliness, and tidiness. To be sloppy is to be impure and the *last* thing a Cardengate native desires is to be impure.

Consistent with the Eastern Reach's overarching belief that the remnants of decisions made in life will linger after death, Moorfold yard has found itself in a decades-long resurgence of an emphasis on purity and righteousness, a life lived perfectly. Thus, there is an emphasis on its people to live perfectly as well. Laws of etiquette abound and the extremely rigid societal expectations leave no room for even the smallest of errors. Things such as drinking in excess and promiscuity are heavily frowned upon, as are nontraditional family structures.

The perfect Cardengatian is beautiful, well-ornamented and well-dressed, keeps their emotions in check, respects those above them, and pays heed to their purity and the purity of those associated with them at all times. Things such as liquor and card games are reserved for older gentlemen, and then only in moderation. Divorce is unheard of, as is remarrying. Young women are encouraged to be well-read, fluent in music, mild-mannered, and deferential to their mothers and fathers. Young men must be sportsmanlike, educated, and ambitious. Many of these young men are groomed to be the successors of their fathers' business and, subsequently, vast sums of money; therefore, they are thoroughly schooled in subjects such as economics and mathematics. These young men and women are expected to be wed before they reach the age of twenty.

Hypocriticalness abounds in Moorfold Yard. Despite their puritanical nature, they keep each other in check through gossip and scorn. If one has committed a grievance that enough people in Cardengate think irredeemable, that person is excommunicated and cast aside. Anyone that associates with them from that point on is considered just as disgraceful. It is also incredibly difficult for a person born into the Cardengate elite to leave the Cardengate elite. They turn their backs on those they consider outsiders and look down scornfully upon those who depart from the community. The same sentiment is applied to anyone they consider beneath them; elitism and classism are pillars of the city's foundation.

There is only one political party of note in Cardengate: the United Homeland League, or UML. Its policies enforce mercantilism, purity, and family values. Its current spokesperson is Sir Constantine Price.

## Places

**Moorfold Yard –** Cardengate society is notoriously decadent yet also takes great pride in their history and achievements beyond the Eastern Reach. The natives treasure their past and preserves it, as indicated that everything they've built has been carefully maintained and renovated. Ambition, bloodline, and economic ability are the hallmarks of its prominent elite, the nobles. In fact, said nobility has become quite insular over the years, building a small community that is quite at odds with the city at large.

**Dundan District –** All common citizens of Dundan are considered part of Cardengate’s middle social class. Often they are found to be merchants, beckoning the eyes of wandering tourists.

**Ilholm Plaza–** Dense with museums and tourist traps, the plaza merchandises Cardengate’s history. The markets take much pride in being culturally diverse, catering to those from all countries.

**Ordenan Embassy –** home of some Council of Ascension representatives, it historically remains as a pilgrimage hub for those who wish to touch Ordene history.

## Trivia

* Moorfold Yard is strongly inspired by Regency era London via and the biographical content of Cicero Alesandro Price
* The only city that was owned by all three countries at one point
* The wealthy entertain themselves through various means, primarily courting, hunting, and promenading
* Moorfold Yard natives often have a breathy accent: they have a tendency to raise the ends of their sentences and linger on vowels