Illustra

### Area

City; 12.71sq mi (32.92sq km) | City-State including City; 58.2sq mi (150.73sq km)

### Population

103,811

**Illustra** is a city-state located to the east of the Kingdom of Voyage in the Iridescent Basin. The city itself has a small river that runs from the nearby mountains to the north and into the city before terminating in a small artificial lake in the city center.

In the Year 440 census the population of Illustra was totalled to 103,811, making it one of the largest city states on the western reaches of the continent.

## **Name**

The name of Illustra was first used in the year 68 (six whole years after the city was founded) when the then current de facto head of the city started a state wide push for mining in the nearby mountains. Previously the area that would become the city of Illustra was simply named Riverfall as it was constructed along the eastern bank of the river.

## **History**

#### **Pre-Founding**

Before the city was founded in the year 62, it was a small town called Riverfall that made its trade in the abundant fish stock that could be found in the river.

#### **Post-Founding, Pre-Council**

In the year 62, following the subsequent founding and newly acquired city status, Riverfall was lead by Governer Alman - a stout chap whos family had been among the first to settle Riverfall decades ago. In the year 68 Alman renamed the City Illustra after the fish stock began to dwindle and a new trade was needed; this trade of course was the trade of Gemstones and Rare Earth Minerals from the surounding area as it was very quickly discovered that there was a huge amount of high quality material to be exploited. This continued for another two decades before a Ruling Council was setup.

#### **Post Council, City-State Status**

It was in the year 93 that Governer Alman fell deathly ill and it was clear that he would not recover. Following this news, notable families from the city including House Mirendil, House Vaan, House Erun and House Llain convened for a meeting in the City Hall and a council comprising of a member of each of their houses would succeed the Governer. This was welcomed by the people of the city as while Alman was a fair and honorable man he simply did not have the manpower to devote to ruling a city of the size that Illustra had become (which was likely one of the causes of his demise). The years following this were relatively uneventful other than in the year 146 when the Council put plans in motion for major expansion work in the city turning it into what it is to this day, as well as staking a claim for the surrounding territory and becoming a bonafide City-State.

## **Geography**

The city of Illustra itself sits on a relatively flat area nestled into the foothills of the mountains that border it on the north and the west. A river flows from the mountains in the north, supplying the city with much of its fresh water, as well as previously teeming with fish although the stocks have dwindled to a dangerously low number. The area surrounding the city is as one could guess very hilly in the immediate area in the north and west, which in turn become mountains, while the south and eastern expanses are simlarly flat grassy areas that are litered with quarries and mines.

## **Government**

The council that currently oversees the everyday running of the city is comprised of members from the following Noble Houses; Mirendil, Vaan, Erun, Llain, Amarr, Jyn and Polt. The current members from each family have been part of the council for between 20 and 40 years. They oversee everything from the gem trade, to the provision of housing and amenities, to farming control in the surrounding area.

## **Economy**

Illustra is a relatively wealthy city, thanks to its very highly demanded supply of quality Gemstones and Rare Earth Minerals that are used everywhere from the furthest west reaches of the continent, to the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Voyage. While traders are strictly forbidden from crossing the border into the Empire via the Kingdom (and with the current war it would be almost impossible anyway), some traders do make the long journey through the Northern Expanses to ply their trade there. This abundant wealth has meant that the city is one of the rare cases of a city without a slum district as even the poorest families are able to afford reasonable housing and day to day supplies.

## **Landmarks**

*There are many landmarks and notable locations within the city and its surrounding area. Some of the most important ones are as follows:*

* Gemling Square
* The Riverrun Inn
* The Mirendil Estate
* The Vaan Estate
* The Amarr Manor
* The Crossroads
* Malak's Emporium
* The Vanadium Mines