Shenendehowa Bay

Cenendovia, officially the City of Cenendovia, and also known as Shenendehowa Bay, is an international charter city and Overseas Possession of Caphiria located off the southwest coast the Nysdra Sea in northern Crona.

The Venua'tino area has been inhabited since at least 1000 BC, however the modern history of Cenendovia traces to the Polar Captaincy of the 18th century. The Captaincy was a loose confederation of tributary cities and tribes to Varshan, and due to significant economic disruption and conflict between the native tributaries, the Captaincy collapsed in the mid-20th century. Following the collapse, the global community expressed concern about the state of affairs in the region, and in 1967, the entire region was made into a mandate by the League of Nations - known as Mandatory Venua'tino. The League-established Commission for Venua'tino was established to administer the territory and was based in Shenendehowa Bay, which became one of the most important ports of the late-20th and early 21st-centuries. However, due to the Deluge conflict in the early 2010s, the Venua'tino area was to be partitioned and the Caphirian government was interested in acquiring territory in Crona as part of its "Nidos" foreign policy strategy. In 2017, a charter agreement was signed and the City of Shenendehowa Bay became an international charter city under the jurisdiction of Caphiria through an administrative special joint structure between the Caphirian Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Quicksilver Industries, the largest company in Caphiria. In 2026, the Executive Board voted unanimously to fully integrate into Caphiria's civil administration, renaming itself as the City of Cenendovia.

Cenendovia is governed by the Executive Board of Special Governance, consisting of many "managing directors" who have the power to administer in various functions and roles. In addition to the managing directors, there are several dozen non-managing members who serve as minor magistrates. The Executive Board is nominally led by QSI's Chief Executive Alexandus Venio II but the Chairman of the Executive Board, Caran Cacello, is the operational leader of the Executive Board. Cacello is also the League of Nations Chair of the Commission for Cenendovia and therefore wields significant influence over Cenendovia in both an administrative and political role.

Cenendovia is a member of the Nysdra Sea Treaty Association, the headquarters of multiple Crona-based corporations, and is also the home of the League of Nations' Commission for Mandatory Venua'tino. As of 2030, it was ranked the "richest city in north-northwestern Crona" by the Bureau of International Statistics.

Etymology
The word "Cenendovia " is the Caphiric Latin transliteration of "Shenendehowa", itself the Occidental transliteration of "Shen'endehowa", a term of ancient Cronite origin meaning "great plains", most likely referring to the flat plains extending out east from the bay which have since been used to refer to the bay itself. Until the contemporary period, the city has been referred to as Shenendehowa or Shenendehowa Bay since at least the Medieval period, and it is accepted that Cenendovia is purely a political term.

As such, the names are interchangeable but it is understood that "Shenendehowa/Shenendehowa Bay" refers to the historical place and "Cenendovia" to the present-day political territory as part of Caphiria.

Geography
As the name of the city might suggest, Shenendehowa Bay sits at the eastern end of a large bay off the Nysdra Sea approximately thirty five in width (north to south) and thirty seven miles deep (from west to east). This bay is among the largest natural harbors in the world, forming a natural near half-circle shape with significantly calmer waters than the Nysdra. The Bay's depth within five miles of the city is no more than 100 feet deep. This Bay has long been admired as one of the most favorable trading ports in the world for maritime travel and has been used for mercantile and fishing purposes since antiquity. The city state itself extends approximately thirty miles inland, encompassing largely flat plains which, since the dawn of the 20th century, have been dotted with proto-suburban settlements.

History
Historical evidence suggests human activity began in Shenendehowa Bay immediately following the end of the last ice age; fishing implements and various refuse have been found in archaeological expeditions within city limits. While the precise date is unknown, the site was settled and abandoned by seasonal fishing and hunting groups until approximately 950 BC, when it was permanently settled by ancestors of modern Venua'tinoi and has remained settled since. It is most likely the first example of organized civilization in Mandatory Venua'tino and is certainly the oldest continuously inhabited city within the region. The Bay's large natural harbor and access to the Unnuaq Strait made it not only the best trading and resting port in far northern Crona, it additionally gave the city's residents the edge in whalefishing. The city's immense wealth relative to nearly all of Crona in the period of antiquity has lead to the development of a minority position among historians that, like Adonerum, Shenendehowa Bay was responsible for placing city-colonies throughout much of Inner Crona. This position, first formulated in the 1980s, proposes that the city was the "wellspring of most or all" civilization in northern Crona, including the ancestors of all of the tribes of the Northern Confederation. The Shenendehowa Genesis Hypothesis is heavily debated and has not received support from a consensus of scholars, though acceptance in the theory has grown with new scholarship resulting from The Deluge.

Government
The City of Cenendovia operates under a unique governance system established through an administrative special joint structure between the Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Quicksilver Industries, the largest company in Caphiria and who is at the apex of the Caphirian military-industrial complex. Governed by the Executive Board of Special Governance, Cenendovia follows a distinct model of administration that combines public and private sector involvement. The Operating Charter serves as a "constitution" for the city.

Cenendovia places great importance on civic engagement and public participation in the decision-making process. The city encourages active involvement from its residents, providing platforms for their voices to be heard and their concerns to be addressed. Public consultations, town hall meetings, and community forums are organized to gather feedback and ideas from the local population, fostering a sense of ownership and shared responsibility.

The Executive Board also maintains close collaboration with local businesses, community organizations, and civil society groups, recognizing their valuable contributions to the city's development. Through partnerships and public-private cooperation, Cenendovia seeks to harness the collective wisdom and resources of all stakeholders to create a vibrant and inclusive city.

Executive Board of Special Governance
The Executive Board of Special Governance serves as the central governing body of Cenendovia, responsible for the overall management and administration of the city. Composed of numerous "managing directors" representing different sectors and functions, the Executive Board holds significant decision-making power in shaping Cenendovia's policies and initiatives. The administrative structure of Cenendovia is designed to ensure effective governance and the delivery of essential services to its residents. The Executive Board is supported by a team of non-managing members who serve as minor magistrates. The city's administration is organized into various departments and offices, each responsible for specific functions and services. These departments encompass areas such as infrastructure development, urban planning, public utilities, social services, education, healthcare, culture, and more. The administrative structure allows for efficient coordination and implementation of policies and initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of Cenendovia's population.

The board is nominally led by the Chief Executive of Quicksilver Industries, Alexandus Venio II, who represents the private sector's interests in the governance structure as Chairman Emeritus. However, the operational leadership of the Executive Board lies with the Chairman of the Executive Board, Caran Cacello. Per the Operating Charter, the Chairman must always be a Caphirian politician. As such, it is typically sought after by Senators or Consuls. As Chairman, Cacello holds a dual role as the League of Nations Chair of the Commission for Cenendovia, further augmenting their influence and authority over the city's administrative and political affairs.

Managing Directors
Within the Executive Board of Special Governance, the Managing Directors play a vital role in the governance and administration of Cenendovia. Each Managing Director represents a specific sector or function, ensuring comprehensive coverage and expertise across various areas of governance. These positions are filled through a democratic election process, allowing residents of Cenendovia to directly participate in shaping the city's policies and initiatives. The election of Managing Directors is conducted every lustrum (five-year-period), providing an opportunity for eligible candidates to campaign and present their vision for the respective sectors they aim to represent. Midterm elections are held every 30 months to ensure a periodic evaluation of their performance and provide an opportunity for residents to express their preferences and concerns. Public participation mechanisms, such as town hall meetings and public consultations, allow residents to voice their opinions and contribute to decision-making processes.

Once elected, Managing Directors assume their roles and responsibilities, working collaboratively with other Managing Directors, the Chairman of the Executive Board, and Chairman Emeritus. Together, they develop strategic plans, set goals, and execute initiatives for the city's development.

Religion
The Venua Faith, the historic religious tradition of Venua'tino, is still a major force within Shenendehowan society.