Brensa

Brensa is the capital of Akre Brensa and its largest city; the city is home to approximately 167 thousand residents, though this fluxes with the seasons.

Since the earliest days of the north, Brensa has been the single most important settlement in all of the Inner World. Though not the seat of a great empire, it entirely controls all trade moving north beyond or south into the Inner World. This has always made it a coveted location for conquest, but due to the physical barriers of the Aves to the south, the Rasah Mountains to the west, and the seas all around it, Brensa has been able to hold off every would-be conquering army to date. However, the newest invasion, one of radical political thoughts and novel ideas, has thrown Brensa onto the brink of civil war.

Brensa is governed by the House of Commons, a democratic body composed of 251 citizens of the city that meets at the Agra, a large hill in the centre of the city. Each representative serves for a term of 3 years, and there are elections once every year to replace 1/3rd of the represenative body.

Quarters

For administrative and taxation purposes, Brensa is divided into 10 quarters: Besoid, Canalsid, Carness, Cathair Thuaidh, Dwarfhil, Eastock, Porta Ora, and Theyton-Enustran. With the exception of Dwarfhil and Porta Ora, none of the quarters have any actual autonomy from the city.

Besoid

The name Besoid is of uncertain orgins, possibly meaning either "Meetingplace on the Hill" or "Site of Burials", as the quarter is both dominated by a large hill and has a number of tombs and catacombs. Having a elevation that dominates over the rest of the city, it has become prime real estate for the rich nobles of the city. Due to taboos against demolishing burial grounds or gravestones, however, the little land on the Besoid Hill is worth a heavy weight in gold. Newer aristocratic families have even their palatial estates in the middle of the cemetaries themselves, though remaining careful not to exhume any graves.

Canalsid

Canalsid is home to most of the city's guildhalls, established artisans, and wealthy merchants.

Carness

Carness, meaning "Fortified Cape", gains its name due to it being centered around a fortified hill that juts out into the Platt.

Cathair Thuaidh

Cathair Thuaidh, meaning "Northern City" in Ribhlar, is the original site of the modern city. It gained its name due to the high number of Imperian traders and merchants who settled and operated from the quarter.

The Red Councilhouse is the seat of government records for Akre Brensa, and is thus one of the central hubs of the city bureaucracy. Built of striking red brickwork, the Red Councilhouse dominates the Citizen's Forum of Cathair Thuadh.

Dwarfhil

Built not long after the establishment of Cathair Thuaidh by miners from the Donnerclere Mountains, Dwarfhil was originally independent of Brensa, until opting to join Akre Brensa at the time of its establishment.

Eastock

Eastock, meaning "Meetingplace on the River," is the commercial hub of the city due to both its central location and it being located directly between Brensa old town and Porta Ora.

Naval Habor

The Men's Naval Department Station is a massive complex situated along the banks of the River Platt just outside of the city walls. The station is the headquarters for the Brensatic Navy, as well as serving as the the chief naval school for all new naval officers for Akre Brensa. As well, the Men's Naval Department Station is the headquarters of the XVIII Army. Detachments of the XVIII Marine Here man the city walls, as well as police the city and board and examine all incoming and outgoing merchant ships.

Porta Ora

Porta Ora was once a seperate town from Brensa, acting as it's main habor. However, as the city of Brensa gradually grew, Porta Ora was eventually incorporated into the city. Due to its past history of being an independent town, it has been given autonomous rights making its status somewhere between that of another quarter of the city and an independent city in its own right. The most notable of these rights is the fact that Judges are not allowed to operate in Porta Ora. This has given rise to a corrupt government of plutocratic oligarchs, with pirates and thieves purchasing their way above the law. All attempts of the city of Brensa reversing this policy have ended in bribery, assassination, and general riots. As such, an unsteady alliance exists between Porta Ora and Brensa, with the oligarchs of Porta Ora being able to operate as they please, but may not enter or operate in Brensa itself. For the most part, this is followed.

Theyton-Enustran

Originally simply called Enustran after the major traderoad that runs through the quarter, it became the center of a massive wave of Theyan immigration to the city. Due to the low value of the land amongst the dockyards, Theyton-Enustran hosts a number of slums.