Cornuval

Cornuval is the largest, grandest, and richest city in Copia, so much so that even the most ardent patriot of the other realms will begrudgingly admit it. It was the largest port in Copia during the days of the Gray Empire, and it has been ever since. It sees ships from every other port on the island, and many from far beyond, bearing exotic goods and people from far-off lands the likes of which have never been seen. Over a hundred thousand people make their homes within the Cornuval's walls, and more come to the city every day, seeking riches beyond their wildest imaginations. Every once in a while, one of them actually succeeds and manages to keep it, enough to keep a constant stream of hopeful dreamers coming through its gates.

National Character

Cornuval is ostensibly a representative democracy ruled by 13 Councilors who serve until death or expulsion by a unanimous vote of the other Councilors, with one holding the executive position of Premier, but participation in elections and eligibility for office have a number of strict limitations. All citizens of Cornuval have a vote, but 'citizen' is a distinct class that requires a prospective member to be of an age greater than twenty years, to own a piece of property within Cornuval's city limits, and to be sponsored by another citizen. Anyone else who lives in Cornuval is referred to as a 'resident'.

So in truth, only about one in ten people living in Cornuval are able to exercise the right to vote. On top of that, the actual voting process is outstandingly corrupt. The definition of bribery and coercion under Cornuval's code of law is are so specifically defined that it is trivial to overturn almost any accusation of them. Becoming a citizen requires wealth and connections, and becoming a Councilor requires even more of both.

Because wealth and connections define power in Cornuval, the ones truly running the city are the mercantile associations, which the merchant houses reigning supreme, the artisan guilds not far behind, and the laborer's unions taking up the rest. Besides them, there are also a number of staggeringly wealthy individuals living in Cornuval capable of exerting influence on par with these organizations, though most of them are more concerned with their own eccentric interests, when they are not the head of one of these organizations themselves.

In Cornuval, the wealthy see wealth as something to be displayed and enjoyed, and it shows in their art, dress, and architecture. Polychrome marble facades and elaborate gem-encrusted jewelry can be seen on the buildings and persons of the upper classes all along the clean, paved streets. Dining establishments, theaters, and museums of varying caliber can be found all throughout the city, as well as a plethora of vices openly advertised that would be hidden away or banned anywhere else in Copia. The poorer sections of town, by contrast, are slums and shantytowns built of discarded wood and stones, packed together in dark, muddy alleys.

Most of Cornuval's citizens and residents are completely aware of this situation, and are either completely incapable of doing anything about it or just fine with the way things are, feeling that business acumen and charisma be rewarded with political influence is only just. Who better to keep the city prosperous than the most prosperous among them? Some of the more charitable citizens feel the need to ease the burden of the working poor, establishing boarding houses and tenements to provide more tolerable living conditions at fair prices, but most see poverty as the personal failure of those unwilling to take the necessary steps to change their lot in life.

Despite this blatant class inequality, very few people living in Cornuval go hungry or homeless. This is because there is an option open to the impoverished that many consider to be preferable to starvation or exposure: slavery. Cornuval has strongly enforced laws about the proper treatment and accomodation of slaves, and the opportunity to buy oneself back out of slavery should their fortunes improve is always available. At least, that's what those who support the system tell those who oppose slavery. But to their credit, it is true most of the time. Either way, it is often said it is better to be slave living in Cornuval than a serf living anywhere else, and they are typically common enough to outnumber citizens by at least twofold, the numbers rising in lean times and waning in prosperous days.

International Relations

Cornuval invests a great deal in having good dealings with the other realms of Copia. The human nations are all favored equally in diplomatic and trade negotiations, and Cornuval always has something that makes its neighbors seek to stay in the city's good graces. Thaiune's aristocracy is always looking for more exotic luxuries, Asteral's nobles have need of armaments and men to wield them so they can protect their borders and tame their hinterlands, and the members of the League of Lords are always seeking an advantage over eachother, and often look to Cornuval to find one.

Cornuval is extremely interested in the wealth and craftsmanship that the dwarves of Haz Dolun possess. They have been trying to find some vice or treasure that they can offer them to gain a foothold in Haz Dolun, but the stalwart, wary dwarves have been difficult to coerce. Dwarves tend to prefer simple pleasures, which are difficult to keep a monopoly on. But the merchants of Cornuval continue to try, and trade with the dwarves flourishes because of it.

The elven societies want as little to do with Cornuval as they do with any other humans, but the same cannot be said of Cornuval. Despite numerous refusals, rebukes, and retaliations on the part of the elves, merchants and envoys continue to seek out their clans and enclaves, convinced that the secrets and wonders of the elves offer a fortune to anyone able to convince them to part with them. This belief is only reinforced by the fact that a scarce few have actually succeeded at it.

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