Free City

Biodata

History

Annan proposed renaming Gemstone City after hostile noble envoys made clear that not every potential friend would be a suitable partner. “Free City” expressed his aim of a community without divisions by race or class, or war. The others agreed to the name, except Illymoyas 471.

The city grew from the settlement established after refugees from Breeze City and Star-Moon Bay fled the Northern Frontier. Its expansion brought housing shortages: it could accommodate at most ten thousand people before another influx of refugees, and its population approached fifty thousand within its first year 482 497 573. Near the end of Year 1000, permanent residents were invited to register as citizens if they intended to stay and defend the city. More than 46,000 registered in under three days. On January 1, Year 1001, Annan delivered the Declaration of Freedom 603.

Free City’s nature as a Floating City became public before its northern campaign. On August 13, it lifted off from Gem Bay and traveled toward the Graypeak Mountains 849 850. Its mobility later allowed it to evacuate and shelter people during the fighting, though food and water remained major logistical constraints 859 908.

Government and Citizenship

• Civic principles: Residents are to be judged by character rather than race. The city has no hereditary nobility, and its schools admit commoners and members of other races 471 1097 1350.
• Citizenship: Initial registration required a willingness to remain in and protect Free City. As overcrowding worsened, Annan rejected making citizenship itself a privilege; officials instead planned to allocate limited places within the Floating City by talent or contribution 603 1080 1081.
• Law: Free City does not uphold slave contracts. Former nobles receive no special legal standing and must obey the same rules as other residents 1081.
• Administration: Olmedo and Idelia manage much of the city’s planning, finances and internal affairs. As the population of Gem Bay grew, the city expanded schooling to train the officials it could not draw from a noble class 1104 1169.

Infrastructure and Industry

• Arcane Cores: Cores determine how much of Free City can rise. A further core had expanded its liftable area to a diameter of 1,000 meters by Chapter 584; another purchase and the addition of a Small Arcane Core extended its range to 1,500 meters for the first flight. The city remained dependent on Wilhelm’s technology, prompting Annan to pursue domestic research 584 850 1542.
• Mage Tower and defenses: Free City has a Mage Tower, city walls and a mountain-copper layer beneath the Floating City. Its single, unfinished tower initially left it poorly equipped for offensive aerial warfare 850 854.
• Manufacturing: Its workshops produce Magic Muskets, cannons and Golems. A dedicated Golem Factory was established after large orders from allied rulers; later projects included Magic-Powered Trains, airships and prosthetic limbs 1104 1105 1220 1528 1552.
• Trade network: The city uses Magic Films and theaters to support Commercial Streets selling its goods abroad. Its network grew from a quarter of Middle Earth and part of the Northern Frontier to 207 commercial streets 573 1540.
• Public amenities: Schools, a park, a Gladiator Arena, Magic Streetlights and the Pantheon are among its facilities 603 973.

Military

Free City’s forces grew from musketeers, mages and knights into multiple specialized Legions. Its Magic Muskets and cannons let ordinary soldiers threaten opponents who would otherwise outmatch them; the Floating City provides a means of withdrawal when ground defenses fail 504 589. By Chapter 1552, five legions fielded 10,500 battle-ready cavalry, while other forces included the Auxiliary and Disciplinary Legions. The later Deepwinter Legion brought Northern Frontier families and other transcendent fighters into the military structure 910 1552 1701.

Its campaigns have also strained civilian capacity. During the advance on the Rikaner Kingdom’s New Royal Capital, Free City and Gem Bay took in large numbers of captives and newcomers, forcing leaders to reconsider their policy of accepting everyone from occupied territories 1073.

Foreign Relations

• Montablinlock Duchy: Free City allied with Grand Duke Girardi, traded weapons and building materials with his duchy, and later intervened to restore his authority after nobles turned against him 490 549 1105.
• Tartun Empire: Imperial support brought an expectation of military service. Free City contributed troops to the northern coalition, while its leaders continued to seek greater autonomy from the Empire 783 785 1612.
• Elven Royal Court: The court’s alliance drew wider attention to Free City. Negotiations tested whether elves would receive privileges beyond those of ordinary citizens 1091 1097.
• Dimon Kingdom: Free City supplied food and military goods, including purchases made on credit when the kingdom faced shortages and war 1214 1216.
• Western Middle Earth: Olmedo organized a mutual-aid alliance that offered members help against outside threats while securing favorable taxes, movement rights and commercial protections for Free City 1840.