Ti'Ciuda, Gem of the Sea
Overview
Seated in the caldera of a dead undersea volcano, Ti’Ciuda is perhaps the largest single Kivren settlement in the known world. It is dominated by sharp, towering spires and colorful corals that blend seamlessly with the natural rock, and it is near enough to the surface that light is dim but not absent. Founded by Queen Ti’Ciawa ages ago as a place of security and refuge for then-wandering Kiva, it has grown into an impressive city that has, until recently, remained hidden from the surface world.
Two years ago the Queen declared semi-open trade and travel between Ti’Ciuda and the surface world. Surface dwellers, if they prove deserving and can be of use to the city, are granted air and accommodations for their stay. This may take the form of a breathing enchantment from one of the Kivren seers, mechanical gear, or a modest apartment with air pumped in from the surface.
Two years ago the Queen declared semi-open trade and travel between Ti’Ciuda and the surface world. Surface dwellers, if they prove deserving and can be of use to the city, are granted air and accommodations for their stay. This may take the form of a breathing enchantment from one of the Kivren seers, mechanical gear, or a modest apartment with air pumped in from the surface.
Demographic
Over 90% of Ti'Ciuda's inhabitants are Kiva. This normally nomadic aquatic race has found a permanent sanctuary within the seamount and the culture has exploded into a vibrant and dazzling array of ocean wonders. While hunters and warriors are still present, artists, vendors, and politicians have emerged as well. The society is matriarchal, though it has become a bit more egalitarian than most of the wandering tribes of kiva beyond the city.
The other 10% of Ti'Ciuda's population is made up of lesser known sea races and a smattering of surface races, thanks to the recent decree by the Queen. Of the surface races, dwarves make up the largest percentage, having taken quite well to the dim light of the depths and developed sophisticated diving suits.
The other 10% of Ti'Ciuda's population is made up of lesser known sea races and a smattering of surface races, thanks to the recent decree by the Queen. Of the surface races, dwarves make up the largest percentage, having taken quite well to the dim light of the depths and developed sophisticated diving suits.
Architecture
Carved into the cooled magma of the dead caldera. What wasn’t carved was brought in from the rim and surrounding reefs. Coral, obsidian, kelp, and heavy stones are staple building materials. Towers are tall and thin and entrances are often placed throughout the structures to provide multiple access points via swimming.
Points of Interest
Obsidian Palace - The seat of governance and the home of the Queen, the Obsidian Palace has been described as “terrifying” and “a macabre beauty” by the first visitors from the surface. Carved entirely from the natural obsidian at the caldera’s center, the palace is a large pitch-black structure that gleams ominously beneath the waves. The spires are razor sharp, and the architecture is stark and angular. Very few are permitted entry to the palace’s inner chambers.
Coral Palace - A much more inviting building, the Coral Palace was erected as a place to receive and entertain visitors from neighboring tribes and, recently, the surface. The Kivren definition of “entertaining” has more to do with militaristic posturing and the exchange of goods than it does food and drink, but the Coral Palace is a kinder, prettier, and less secretive place for such meetings. The building itself was constructed from living coral gathered from local reefs and imported from far-off seas, and exists now as a thing of kaleidoscopic beauty. An entire ecosystem of reef-dwelling sea creatures has formed along and within its walls.
The Vents - As with any prosperous kingdom, the means of prosperity is less than glamorous. While the great volcano is long dead, there are nearby lava tracts in the seabed that give rise to copious thermal vents in the immediate area. The waters around these vents are rich in minerals, and the heat they produce has just begun to be harnessed for fantastic mechanical advances.
The vents are managed by a working class of kivren charged with maintaining the city’s collection systems. A massive network of pipes and magically directed currents funnels the vents’ products towards the city itself. Working in the boiling, pressurized systems is dangerous, and accidents are frustratingly common.
As a place not frequented by the upper classes nor law enforcement, and with some collection sites miles from the city proper, the vents have dual purpose as an industrial lifeline and blackmarket network.
The vents are managed by a working class of kivren charged with maintaining the city’s collection systems. A massive network of pipes and magically directed currents funnels the vents’ products towards the city itself. Working in the boiling, pressurized systems is dangerous, and accidents are frustratingly common.
As a place not frequented by the upper classes nor law enforcement, and with some collection sites miles from the city proper, the vents have dual purpose as an industrial lifeline and blackmarket network.
History
For as long as any can remember the Kiva have lived as nomads. They follow the currents and their game, and the harshness of this life keep their numbers small and their clans close. Ti’Ciawa, matron of her clan, had grown tired of this life. She longed for a place where her people could settle and be assured steady food and shelter. Perhaps, she reasoned, if they were not always moving, not always worrying about their next meal, they would be able to grow beyond simple hunters.
She found her wish at the northern edge of the Eye of Kiva. A dead volcano, safe to live by but still rimmed by the living fire current of the earth, would provide everything they needed. The volcano itself offered shelter, and the thermal vents around it provided nutrient rich waters that brought more game than they would ever need. Rich vegetation promoted farming, and within only a few generations, the settlement had ballooned into a true city.
Ti’Ciawa’s descendents still rule the city, but there are other prominent and noble families that have risen over time. Complex social structure, industry, farming, and now tourism are all nearly unheard of in lesser villages. In Ti’Ciuda, they are commonplace.
Ti'Ciuda is unusual for its size, being more of a metropolis than a tribal village. The protection granted by the caldera’s rim, along with the mineral-rich waters from the nearby thermal vents made nomadic existence unnecessary, and promoted local expansion. The city has enjoyed prosperity with a minimum of conflict. It is nearly impossible to invade, and those who do not harm the city are often granted entry. To preserve this peace, crime is punished harshly.
Within the last two years the Queen issued a proclamation opening the city to the surface world. No longer can they ignore the events of the world above, for the seas are changing, and isolation will no longer serve Ti’Ciuda. Still, Kiva are naturally distrustful of outsiders, and while Ti’Ciuda offers more tolerance than most, surface beings are watched more closely and punished more savagely. Travelers are granted enchantments or gear that provide them with air and protection from the crushing water (if they can prove their value to the city), and are sometimes granted dry living accommodations with air pumped from the surface. It is well known that these gifts can be taken away just as easily, and just as abruptly.
She found her wish at the northern edge of the Eye of Kiva. A dead volcano, safe to live by but still rimmed by the living fire current of the earth, would provide everything they needed. The volcano itself offered shelter, and the thermal vents around it provided nutrient rich waters that brought more game than they would ever need. Rich vegetation promoted farming, and within only a few generations, the settlement had ballooned into a true city.
Ti’Ciawa’s descendents still rule the city, but there are other prominent and noble families that have risen over time. Complex social structure, industry, farming, and now tourism are all nearly unheard of in lesser villages. In Ti’Ciuda, they are commonplace.
Ti'Ciuda is unusual for its size, being more of a metropolis than a tribal village. The protection granted by the caldera’s rim, along with the mineral-rich waters from the nearby thermal vents made nomadic existence unnecessary, and promoted local expansion. The city has enjoyed prosperity with a minimum of conflict. It is nearly impossible to invade, and those who do not harm the city are often granted entry. To preserve this peace, crime is punished harshly.
Within the last two years the Queen issued a proclamation opening the city to the surface world. No longer can they ignore the events of the world above, for the seas are changing, and isolation will no longer serve Ti’Ciuda. Still, Kiva are naturally distrustful of outsiders, and while Ti’Ciuda offers more tolerance than most, surface beings are watched more closely and punished more savagely. Travelers are granted enchantments or gear that provide them with air and protection from the crushing water (if they can prove their value to the city), and are sometimes granted dry living accommodations with air pumped from the surface. It is well known that these gifts can be taken away just as easily, and just as abruptly.