Castreleon
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| Population: | c. 1,000,000 Castreleonig | ||
The Capital of Kemr
Location
Administration
The Kemrese government is located in Castreleon and is a bicameral parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister, ill Toisag is a member of the lower house. Kemr is divided up into provinces, based on historic boundaries, each administrated by a provincial council headed by ill Rheithur, 'the governor of a province'.
Local government is provided by a city council, chaired by a mayor. It is one of the most influencial local government organisations in the kingdom, with links with the Kemrese government. It effectively includes approximately a third of the province of Gwent and is contingent with Ciwdad Paes in Termorgan.
Castreleon has a reputation for being a goldfish bowl to implement new technology in the Federated Kingdoms. In 2002 the city council supported the installation of a public bycopel service, as developed in Ireland and successfully implemented in the Armorican Isles. In 2006 the government announced that Castreleon would be first to receive a new telephone network. Critics have argued that the introduction of new technology has made it easier for central government to monitor dissidents in the city and other citizens. Critics also argue that innovation in Castreleon is done at the expense of development in other parts of Kemr Byr and Dumnonia.
Due to the rising landscape of the city Castreleon does not have an underground service. Instead citizens rely on a public transport service of trams, within the city, and buses, in and out of the metropolitan area, and private transport.
History
It's an old place. It used to be known as Castra Legionis. Much of the city is modern, rebuilt after the zeppelin raids of the Second Great War, and still growing.
Miscellaneous
This fine city is host to the endearing movie Amalia of Castreleon, which showcases the city's many religious and touristic icons, as well as the daily life of its citizens.
Greater Castreleon and Environs
The metropolitan area of Castreleon is called ill Tyrdyr, a local dialect word from latin territorium.
The municipal centre is Castrysc, including ill Curth Rhuial, the residence of the Kings of Kemr. The suburb is named for the river Ysc which flows through the city. Eastwards leads to the suburb of Castrwent, which includes Cas Gwent, the residence of the Toisag (First Minister of the Crown), and the houses of the Senad. Castrysc and Castrwent are linked by Ystrad Bredur, the traditional route taken by the King when he addresses the Senad. It is named for the Via Praetoria, as travelling from the Curth Rhuial it looks toward England, formerly the Kemrese traditional foes. It is a historic coincidence that the Curth also looks in the same direction to the Senad.
The route going westward from the palace is named Ystrad Ddegfan (Via Decumana) and leads to Casnew, the docks of the city, and beyond to Ciwdad Paes.
The roads on the banks of the Ysc are major routes for travelling north and south through the city from Casnew and Castrysc to Byr. They are known as llo Raw. (A graw is a sandy or stoney embankment.)
The famous landmark Porthbelin stands in the intersection of the city. The name, the Gate of Belinos was given to the Roman tower that stood in the centre of Castrysc in the early Middle Ages. It was first named such by the historian Gioffri Gwent in the twelfth century. The 'gate' refers to the four archways that provided the foundation of the tower. The original was dismantled for stone, it was already direlict during the lifetime of the historian. The modern construction was built in the 19th Century.
Porthbelin forms part of the square between the east gate of the Curth and the river. Historically the Ysk is navigable by ships to dock at lla Borth Rhuial. The new bridge built in 1910 between Castrysc and Ulltrabont accross the river now prevents this. Access to the Curth is now through the west gate from the boulevard known as ill Camp Orew, the golden field.
The religious centre of Castreleon is the Cathedral of Saint Caddag. The cathedral is attended by the King regularly when he is resident in Castreleon, and used for formal occasions such as Calen Yfern, the First Day of Winter, in November. In 2004 it was used three times for state occasions: the funeral of King Gereint XIII; the marriage of Prince Pedr to his long-time partner, Sarah Pomhui; and their coronation as the new king and consort of Kemr. Other historic churches include the titular Church of Ss Julius and Aaron.
The most recent new project in Castreleon is the bayside development between Casnew and Ciwdad ill Paes. This area of the city has moved from dockside to residential, with openings for bars, restaurants, hotels and offices. It includes the iconic Tyr Califurn which has appeared on television.
Flag
There are several theories as to the design of Castreleon's flag, which goes back in one form or another to the 10th century at least. One is that the three cats represent Morgause, Morgan le Fey and Nimue from the time of King Arthur. Another is that the city chose this sigil in honor of a ratcatcher of vast skill who saved the city from being overrun with vermin. Another is that they represent the castle towers and protect the city. An often-told (but highly unlikely) version is that Castreleon's cats are a mockery of England's leopards. Some scholars theorize it derives from the arms of some now-forgotten favorite son or hero of the city.
