Mesa

Mesa is the capital of the Shan, otherwise known as the Mountain Dwarves. It is the seat of power of the Shan and located on and in the tallest of the mountains in the Shan Mountain range. It is split into 8 districts with some areas unofficially calling themselves districts. Known as one of the 13 mega cities of the world and its extreme xenophobia.

## Geography

The city is located on and in the tallest mountain of the Shan Mountain range known as the Gongga. The city's tunnels reach to the base of the mountain and to the very tip. Some say that the mountain is hollow due to the city's growth.

## Districts

The city is split into 8 distinct and separate districts within the mountain. Two unofficial districts are on the mountain were many The 8 official districts are split up into 6 levels of the mountain.

### Official Districts

* **School of the Iron Fern** - The only official district to be located on the mountain instead of in. It sits at the peak of the Gongga. The district is ruled by the School of the Iron Fern, a university of sorts dedicated to all manner of learning. Any and all religious ceremonies that would take place is held within the walls of the school.
* **Jian** - This district is the highest point inside of the mountain only below the School of Iron. The house of the standing army of Mesa. All five branches are headquartered in the this district. The district is unique in that it connects to every other district and to the surface via straight shafts that cut vertically through the mountain. If any disturbance occurs within the city, the military will be able to move immediately through the shafts.
* **Garden of Lotus**- Sharing the same level of the Zhengfu district, The Garden is the district were all nobles, aristocrats, and any person that helps run the city is housed. Notoriously difficult to get into and even harder to leave. It is said that those born in the walls of the district can never leave it. Only those that were born outside of it, can leave the Garden. For they are weeds making a visit to see true flowers.
* **Zhengfu** - Shares the same level as the Garden and the district where all government affairs are handled. The residents of the garden are allowed to go to the outer walls of this district to hear the petitions of the residents of the city, carry out orders of the Emperor, or any government activity. However, their faces cannot be shown to those who petition.
* **Red Sphere** - The house of power in the city and where the royalty of the Shan live. The level between levels of the mountain and a perfect sphere that lays in the absolute middle of the mountain. The Sphere houses the imperial castle that floats in the middle of the sphere with the use of gravity magic. Only those welcomed to the palace can enter this district. Rumors say that the sphere was discovered first and the city built around it.
* **Merchant** - The second lowest of all of the levels but by far the largest. This level is filled with all means of merchants, craftsmen, and tradesmen.
* **Common** - A district that houses the commoners of the city.

### Unofficial Districts

* **The Han District** - Between all of the levels exist space where the servants of the Shan live, the shapshifting Han. When not being used for chores, the Han are allowed to live in these spaces. It is filled with squalor and crime.
* **Overmountain** - A town formed by those who could not get into the city. With the formation of the town, those within Mesa began to trade with the settlers. It has become the unofficial first step in getting into the city.