Centwerp

Centwerp is a city in the Tasnica Republic. It is located near the Upperland forsest and the Pandoran border, making it the 'upper right corner' of the Quad. As the home of the Web Stock Exchange, it is one of the Web's major financial centers. Originally a "canal city", it sits on a major river junction, the Great Mittel Lake, on the Euser continent.

The Hub

Literally trillions of GP flow Centwerp, through trades on the Web Stock Exchange and through its banks (of which Republic Interdimensional is the largest). Several Tasnican AAA corporations are headquartered in the city, and virtually every major business in the Web has an office here. Most governments have a consulate here; after all, it's not everywhere one can get a multi-billion geld line of credit. The city is so important to the Web's economy that the Omnisent launched a Cylinder attack on the Web Stock Exchange; a worldwide economic crash resulted.

The city's wealth attracts a lot of culture, and the city certainly sees itself as the Republic's most sophisticated city, boasting an excellent symphony orchestra, theater companies, and art galleries. Not surprisingly, Centwerp is the center of style and fashion for the rest of Tasnica, especially since the most successful designers from Orlean move here when they decide it's time to make money.

Although river transportation is less important in modern times, the rivers are still used as an inexpensive means of moving bulk goods, especially between Pandora and Tasnica.

All this leads to a stereotype of Centwerpers as condescending, especially to people from other cities in the Quad. Tasnicaport is too absorbed in the blah, unglamorous work of politics, Egmont too noveau riche and desperate to be liked, and Olivawk too poor to be cities of the same quality.

History

One of the oldest surviving cities of the Mana Dimension, Centwerp was founded by Taznikanze or Ingrish traders thousands of years ago. As the Serenissima Centwerp, the cities was one of the largest centers of trade in the ancient world. It was led by a succession of merchant princes until it was conquered by the rapidly growing Tasnica Republic around 1200 years ago. Around 1000 years ago, the First Mana War caused the rivers to dry up, which led the city to believe the Republic had fallen. It forged an alliance with the nearby dwarves of Gaia's Navel, the Union of Justinya. They created a knightly order, the Rittersbruder, to protect the city; the order soon became the real political power in the region. The city rejoined the Republic around 700 years ago and once again became a center of trade.

Local charm

The population of the city is mostly humans, nekos, and dwarves; Centwerp has the highest dwarven population of any city in the Quad. There are a smattering of krydions, moogles, Matangans, and other races of the Republic. Of course, extremely wealthy sapients of any species can make their home here; just ask Lofwyr.

The city is a prime example of the 'neo-gothic' style of Tasnican architecture, mixing flying buttresses and pointed arches with dabs of high technology. The prime example is the Web Stock Exchange itself, resembling a giant cathedral right down to the statue of Rainere, Goddess of Trade, but featuring holo-projectors that shine the latest stock information into the sky.

Since Centwerp was built on a river junction, canals took the place of roads for much of the city's existence. Although monorails and other modern modes of conveyance are more prominent in the city now, in older sections of the city getting around on boat taxi is still relatively common. The Serenissima is a section of the city lovingly re-created to have 'old continental charm', and a torch-lit gondola ride still has an air of romance.

The city is also justly famous for its nightlife, if one can afford it. After all, the city is filled with some of the wealthiest people in the Web and their spoiled brats, all wanting to act out, as well as people hoping to "make it", and meet wealthy and famous people.

The Darkfin Syndicate has organized crime in the city on lockdown. Attempts to gain territory in the city from other crime syndicates have all failed. The city's connections to the rest of the Web, as well as its enormous wealth, make Darkfin's operations extremely lucrative.

Centwerp has a distinctive local cuisine, characterized by the heavy use of a diverse variety of spices.