Morosea

Morosea's Prabitulan Hill, as seen from the west

**Morosea** is the capital city of the Empire of Sevicia, located in the Easterlands on the eastern coast of Sevicia. It is located to the east of Meirum, at the mouth of the River Mir, and is south of the Ida marshlands. With a population of one million (city proper) and approximately five million (Morosea and surrounding environs). The city proper is protected by a wall to the north, south, and west and is naturally defended by the Anaean Sea to the east. Known as the crown jewel of the Sevician Empire for almost eight centuries, Morosea is the most populous city in Truyea, and likely the world. The Morosean harbour is one of the most visited on the continent, and the city is known for its sprawling mass and incredible diversity.

## History

Morosea was founded thirteen centuries ago, almost 500 years before the founding of Sevicia. By the third century B.S it had grown in size from a small trader town in a bountiful location at the mouth of the Mir River to a great city, with a population of more than quarter of a million. Since then it has grown steadily. The quality of life in Morosea is lower than other similar cities, such as Meirum or Ostar, due to its size and cramped conditions. The divide comes mainly between the affluent patricians' quarter to the northeast, especially along the Prabitulan Hill, and the rest of the city. Off the coast of Morosea harbour, to the southeast, stands the Great Guard, a 120-metre tall stone statue of a Sevician guard, build over a thirty-year period from 182 to 212.

Since its founding, Morosea has been sacked on three separate occasions; by Itrusic forces during the Itruso-Plataean War, during the Great Separation, and in the year 99, during the Lowtown Rebellion. It has been occupied by military forces a further three times; each during the Year of Five, amid the Crisis of the Fifth Century (452 - 453). The official language of Morosea is Sevician, though there are a significant number of native Itrusic and Jastian speakers, most commonly in the Downwater region and around the southernmost point of the city proper.

## Government and politics

The city is ruled and overseen by the Senate of Sevicia, who convene in the House of Nyx, known colloquially as the senate house. Sevicia is home to the Eagle Palace, the personal quarters of the Imperator of Sevicia, the Forefathers Mausoleum, and several other notable monuments. The official demonym for its inhabitants is "Morosean." Morosea has stood as the central of Sevician governmental power since the Empire's founding.

## Geography

Morosea is naturally defended on its eastern coast by the Anaean Sea and in its 1000 year-plus history has never been invaded from the east. On the remaining three sides, the city is protected by a series of walls and gatehouses, and is one of the most heavily fortified locations in all of Sevicia, including more than ten miles of guardposts and sentry bases to the west and north of the city proper.

The city is separated into ten distinct geographical and administrative regions, each overseen by a *polos,* or district governor, who oversees daily operations within the region. These are:

* **New Market.** Located in the upper westernmost corner of the city, by the Merchant's Gate, New Market is Morosea's most popular district for commerce and trade, home to the vast Golden Market, where tens of thousands buy, sell, and barter goods daily.
* **Westtown.** The westernmost district, and home to Morosea's great Main Gates, Westtown is one of the busiest regions in the city. In its northeastern corner it boasts the enormous Great Arena, where games of bloodsport and entertainment are played almost daily in front of a capacity crowd well north of 50,000 people. The Great Arena, and therefore Westtown, sees visitors from all corners of the city and far beyond.
* **Senigar.** The southwestern region of the city proper, and home to the Southern Gate, Senigar is one of the more affluent areas of Morosea, sporting streets upon streets of villas and noble houses. It also plays host to the Shrine of Dio, one of the capital's most popular religious destinations.
* **Salttown.** Salttown is the beating heart of Morosea, the home of traders of alcohol, fish salesmen and women, and all manner of blacksmiths and forgers. The faint salty smell of the Anaean Sea is at its strongest here, where the packed streets and narrow alleys play host to a cacophany of sights and sounds, including the famous Rose Petal Amphitheatre, one of Sevicia's most popular theatre attractions, where legendary playwrights such as Jane of Hearts and Porsa first began their careers.
* **Blacktower.** At the centre-north of Morosea lies Blacktower, a district of relative quietude compared to other parts of the city. The district's most notable feature is the Monument to Ascillion, a 30-foot marble statue of Ascillion the Great, one of Sevicia's four great monarchs.
* **Ryst.** Nowhere in Morosea is there more danger than in Ryst, the northernmost district of the city. Around the Northern Gate, commerce is booming and the crowds are sensible, but Ryst's backstreets and alleyways, cramped and overcrowded, are the most perilous in all of Morosea. Home to a thriving adult district, cutpurses, thieves, mercenaries, gamblers, and all manner of other unwantables, Ryst is where rumours go to die.
* **Goldenharbour.** Senigar's sister district on the eastern reaches of the city, Goldenharbour is famous for its vast, sweeping docks - where Morosea receives more naval traffic than any other city in Sevicia - and its golden-sand beaches along the uppermost regions of the district.
* **Downwater.** Host to the Harbour Gate in the southeastern flank of the city, Downwater is much like Salttown - a district of frequent commerce and trade, known for its quantity of street vendors and salesmen.
* **Prabitularam.** Morosea's most premium real estate, Prabitularam is located on the hilly rise to the southeast of the city. Isolated from much of the rest of the city by the incline, it is home to vast sprawling villas and houses for the Empire's wealthiest elites. It was named after the Prabitulia dynasty, who founded Sevicia in the year 0 and ruled for almost a century.
* **Sunset Cliffs.** Located just to the east of Prabitularam, on the cliffs overlooking the Anaean Sea far below, Sunset Cliffs is Morosea's royal district, and the location of many of its most important landmarks, including the House of Nyx (the gathering place of Sevicia's Senate), the Forefathers Mausoleum, the Eagle Palace, and the Arnaca.

## Notable inhabitants

* Sarsia Engarden
* Osric Engarden
* Melia Farlan
* Marek Kyos, the reigning Imperator of Sevicia
* Silvio Ueristor
* Ernan Lowe
* Joren Resteven
* Cyppian of Esta

## See also

The Empire of Sevicia

Imperator, the office of rule of Sevicia