Venceia: Difference between revisions

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== Etymology ==

Its name originates from the '''Myth of Erumun''', one of Caphiria's longest surviving creation myths.

The place in which ''Eru'' chose to create the first proper human settlement was named ''Vencei'', after his daughter who was still in Erumun. Vencei would also change over time and evolve into Venceia.

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== History ==

=== Ancient History ===

=== Early Modern History ===

=== Modern History ===

== Geography ==

The circular shape of Venceia, with a radius of 80 km, is the result of a design by Octosius Colus Claurelian in the late 17th century. This figure is physically delineated by the 25 meter tall Livigenui Wall (''Vallum Livigenus'') around its circumference. Fourteen grand city gates (''porta''), including the ''Porta Marina'' near Cælium and ''Porta Capena'' near the Via Aventii, grant passage into the capital city. An individual gate is 10 meters high, built from gold, silver and marbles, and adorned with a golden eagle which is clutching a medallion within which is inscribed RGCP.

Ecologically, Venceia is rife with plant life in its gardens and streets, the emperor's private gardens worthy of mention for its exotic flora and fauna. The only wild animals anywhere in the city are small insects - mosquitoes, black flies and fruit flies having been exterminated - and genetically modified eagles that kill off wild birds. Rats are long absent from Venceia (and virtually all of Caphiria) due to a combination of minimizing possible habitats in buildings, screening shipments entering Cælium's ports and safely exterminating vermin; these protocols have been in place for over a thousand years. Today, biological detectors make the screening of land, sea and air shipments for vermin cheap and effective.

=== Artineo Bay ===

<br />The interior of the Artineo

Aside from going to the beach, people can enter the Artineo by accepting a job as a marine cleaner. While automated boats perform the less intricate cleaning jobs like sucking out what little debris falls in, sometimes a human touch is necessary. The job pays surprisingly well and can be a great way to make a little extra money on the weekend (while sneaking a dip for the purpose of getting a "closer inspection").

=== The Crutaeneya ===

A portion of the Vault of Helleralis

The Crutaeneya's most famous role is being the final stop in a Triumph. This is where the victorious general separates from his legions to be taken by the College of Pontiffs to the Senate for national recognition. The ancient symbolism of the Crutaeneya transcends all its changing appearances and functions.

=== Climate ===

Caphirian weather is naturally Mediterranean - known for its warm and wet winters followed by hot and dry summers. The countryside and cities, like Vicum, around Venceia experience this almost tropical climate. Venceia, however, has a unique climate for itself due to its climate control systems in and around the city.

The preferred temperature in Venceia lies between 10 and 25 °C, with actual temperatures falling outside this range when it is desirable. Even when snow is allowed to fall on the city, aqueducts carry hot water in for heating pipes underneath major roads and turning the fountains into hot springs. Nevertheless, many Caphirians leave on vacation during August or January to escape the seasons' mildly uncomfortable weather.

== Administration ==

Management of a city of Venceia's population size and area is a massive undertaking, as is its logistical maintenance. As the seat of an empire's federal government, Venceia is uniquely suited to handle these challenges. Every specific subject that requires administration - water, food, electricity, cleanliness, public order, etc - has the primary headquarters of a provincial ministry to manage it. The direct control each ministry has in the capital ensures an elevated level of efficiency beyond what is possible in far-off provinces.

Like the rest of the Imperium, Venceia is divided into city districts (''regios'') whose populations are represented by senators. Those of the Capital are geographically determined though most are inhabited by the consistent 900,000 citizens of every ''regio''. Those that are not are compensated in some political way by additional votes for their senator or special treatment in terms of bread and circuses. Thus Venceia avoids some of the pitfalls which plague countries that give special administrative status to their federal capitals.

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=== City Districts ===

City Districts of the capital are the following:

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== City Center ==

The heart of Venceia is its city center, the '''Imperial District''' (''Regias I''). This is the spot on which Caphiria was brought into existence. The modern regional administration system starts here, the first of Venceia's thousand ''regias''. Yet despite its prestige, the district is smallest of all regios at only 11.8 km² and with barely 41,000 citizens. Consequently, residents enjoy more political clout and privileges than any other ''regias'' in the empire.

Therein stand the seats of the Imperator, Senate and Church - the Imperate's three most powerful institutions. More fates are decided here than any other spot in Caphiria. Moreover, the Imperial District features some of the empire's grandest monuments - the ''Basilica of the Archangel Michael'', the ''Alexandrian Mausoleum'', ''Odeon Teslae'' and ''Taberna Dionysi'' - displaying the glory of the empire.

=== Forum Magnum ===

Covering the majority of Davoh Hill, the Grand Forum (''Forum Magnum'') is the hub of public business in Venceia and place of assembly for the federal government, greater clergy and voting public due to proximity to their respective structures. Surrounding the Forum are public buildings (''basilicae'') which facilitate local commerce. The '''Basilica of the Archangel Michael''', designed like the keep of a fortress, opens its doors during times of war so that citizens might pray for peace at the '''Ara Pacis''' and, if the Imperial City should be taken, find refuge inside. Most defensive alliances between ''collegia'' are also agreed there.

Farther down the 1 km Forum are the Senatorial reflecting pools, dotted with intricate lights and fountains that spray over 40 meters into the air. From the east end stretches the Sulla Expressway. At the Caesarian Wall, Julia Road ends with the Julia Gate which connects through side streets (''diverticula'') to the Dedio Highway and Salaria Street.

=== Major Plazas ===

While the Forum Magnum is Caphiria's most famous square, smaller plaza squares (''fora'') dot the cityscape. Next most noticeable is the '''Forum Palatinum''', west of Caesar's Palace. A hundred meters on all sides, this plaza has roads of equal width that extend in four directions. East-West is the ''Via Augusta'', going deep into the Transtiberium District across the river; North-South is the '''Via Palatina''', ending at the Forum Magnum. The former's eastern length is lined with ten ''Colossi'' of the greatest Imperators and Caphirian politicians: Martyrius Lux, Darius Lux, Maximus Trebonianus, Bacchis Pavo Rahla, Imperator Galba, Imperator Bethsarabeorth, Caristanius Avitus, Cervianus, Caesar Draco, Caesar Magnus I and, in front of the Palace, Quintus Caphiriasi.

=== Minor Plazas ===

Another popular forum in the Imperial district is the '''Forum Sacrum''', a sacred plaza for the Imperial Church. Within these ecclesiastical grounds are three ancient monuments: the '''Obeliscus Crucifica''', an obelisk stolen from ''Karnak'' and adorned by a three meter golden crucifix; the '''Colossus Apostolus''', a statue of Saint Peter as an apostle and the '''Colossus Pontificus''', a statue of St. Peter in Pontificate-era imperial robes.

The Imperial District's last plaza is the '''Forum Alexandrium''' around the '''Mausoleo Alexandrios''', final resting place of Caesars Alexander VI through XIII. It was built early in the reign of the Alexandrian emperors against the ancient law that forbids burial within the Pomerium - a law that has been waived for many prominent citizens, including Caesar Aegranus, whose body was relocated to a tomb above his original resting place as well as a host of other emperors and Popes over the millennia.

=== Resorts ===

Resorts (''diversoria'') are destinations for tourists from across the empire. Caphirians ''adore'' holidays and it isn't surprising that there are over two dozen national holidays, while some jobs offer six weeks worth of paid vacation. This gives Caphirians plenty of time to visit other provinces and sister nations; and for Caphirians around the world, their holidays are a chance to see their magnificent capital.

The less fortunate, or economically incompetent, also have a home in Venceia. When Magnus II started to reform the empire to accommodate all classes of society, free public houses, ''cauponae'', that offer basic accommodations were built in many of the major cities. An especially large number were built in Caphiria, though many have since been re-purposed due to insufficiency of demand.

=== Monuments ===

Within Venceia there are over 500 monuments, ranging from cenotaphs, mausoleums, columns, colossi or even arches. Here is a list of the primary monuments of the Imperial District, mostly in the form MONUMENT (LOCATION):

* Grand Colossus of Sulla (Forum)

* Equestrian Marcus Aurelius (Forum)

* Saepta Tyrianus (Field of Mars)

* Legacy Palace (Field of Mars)

=== Pomerium ===

From a legal standpoint, the ''Pomerium'' designates the legally and ecclesiastically defined city limits of Venceia. Land outside this zone is territory either owned or not yet owned by Caphiria; everything beyond it is simply territory owned by Caphiria. Officially, this land is the empire's only non-colonial territory, as the rest of the country is under its authority.

A military leader who commands ''imperium'' - Generalissimus, Legatus, Strategoi, Dux, etc- immediately forfeits it to the Imperator upon crossing a gate on the Caesarian Wall. Only victorious generals, returning to Venceia for a Triumph, maintain leadership of their legions but cannot issue orders of violence, e.g. arresting a criminal, quelling a riot or assassinating an official. For the most part, soldiers within the Pomerium are commanded by the Imperator alone. This law has been in effect since the civil war of the 11th century but was an unwritten policy for most of Caphirian history. Non-citizens aren't allowed anywhere near it without permission from the Senate or Imperator.

== Demographics ==

As the most populous settlement on the planet, Venceia is home to 55,230,135 citizens or almost 5% of the Imperium. These people are a rather homogeneous group for a Caphirian city - 86% Caphirian, 5% Kiravian, and 5% Urcean- but tourists from across the empire give its streets a color that truly blends cultures. However, non-citizens are a rarity in the imperial city as they are forbidden except by decree of the Senate. When an Urcean ambassador or a Kiravian business mogul visits he can expect dozens of invitations to dinner parties as every patrician get excited when rumors spread of someone exotic walking the streets.

The wealthiest district is ''Regias V'', the Valentissima District, where luxurious mansions for the city's patricians are segregated from the relative poverty of other residents. This ''regias'' has the highest concentration of wealth of any administrative region in any country. Average household income is in the millions and some of the richest individuals in the Imperium own their primary ''palatia'' there. By contrast, the '''Aventine District''' is a dense mass of ''doma'' with few gardens, monuments or public buildings where the average household barely makes more than 4,200₳ in a month.

=== Education ===

Venceia is renowned for the level of education it provides its citizens, as are any other civilized Caphirian cities. Roughly 2,800 public schools and 850 private or religious schools - all known as ''grammatici'' - operate out of there. This is the extent of the city's lower education. In higher education, over 1,730,000 post-minor students attend at least one of either the two universities (''universales'') or four academies (''academiae'') in the University District.

Solitary ''academiae'' offer a more extensive education dedicated to a particular subject-matter. This is the only path to receiving an Academy Degree and being named a Doctor (PhD) of a field. Venceia's academies are the '''Academia Lingua''', for the study of Latin and Latin literature; the '''Academia Artium Prodigialis''', for the study of the plastic and performing arts; the '''Academia Teslae''', for advanced study of mathematics, and the '''Academia Augustana''', for becoming a lawyer or legislative philosopher. Altogether, these academies boast a student body of 420,000. Nevertheless, their campuses, classes, and staff are completely separate.

=== Crime ===

The streets of Venceia are monitored by three policing organizations: the <nowiki>'''</nowiki>Praetorian Guard<nowiki>'''</nowiki>, an ancient order of imperial bodyguards; the '''101st legion''', the Imperator's personal army, and watchmen hired by local collegia.

Crimes rarely happen in Venceia, limited to minor gang violence or rowdy adolescents. Only about 34 homicides, 860 robberies and no counts of arson were reported last year. While the lack of poverty keeps crime rates at a natural minimum, illegal activity is deterred by a prohibition of firearms in the city walls and maintenance of all buildings to a high standard of structural conditions.

== Economy ==

Venceia has the second largest metropolitan economy in the world. The 2025 Census shows that it had a total GDP of US$14.515 trillion. As of 2025, 37 of the top 250 corporations in the world are based in Venceia. Most notable is Quicksilver Industries, the second most valuable company globally, with a revenue last year of US$500 billion. Most companies based here are dedicated to retail as nearly all banking, real estate and investment collegia base themselves in Castra Vetera.

A major national commercial center, Venceia houses the headquarters of several of the empire's largest publishing, transportation, broadcasting and natural resource firms. The focal point of finance in Venceia is its central business district, Regio IX, the aptly-named Golden District (''Praefectura Aura''). Venceia's stock exchange, the CSE however, is situated on the Forum Magnum near the Senate. It is one of ten locations for the CSE, which has the highest market capitalization of any finance medium and is the standard for measuring the empire's GDP, with a total market value of US$256.8 trillion.

=== Corporations ===

Caphiria is credited with creating a unique system of capitalism (''parsimonium''). In ancient Caphiria, commerce was run by organized bodies known as ''collegia'', an equivalent to a guild or corporation. As ''collegia'' expanded themselves to encompass multiple cities worth of business, their influence on national affairs started to be noticed by the Senate. By 848, legislation was coming into existence that regulated the relationships of ''collegia'', effectively creating a national standard for commerce. Included among these regulations was the requirement that a guild openly declared the value of its capital stock as owned by its investors in parts. This facilitated investment in large ''collegia'' by creating the flow of information necessary for an open market of business shares (''partes'').

Other prominent corporations deal directly with the Senate, performing some duties traditionally the responsibility of the government. In the densely populated Regias VII, the Aventine District, the massive Aventine Collegiate keeps the peace with its own law force and distributes the grain ration (''Annona'') and olive oil ration (''Amphora'') that only residents of Venceia are privileged to receive.

== Infrastructure ==

Venceia has always been constantly evolving with construction projects and infrastructure growth. Aqueducts, roads, power lines, transit, telecommunications - these things are as advanced around here as anywhere else in the world.

Telecommunications are carried into the city by varying means. The ''Cratis'' (internet) works over fiber optic cables connected to servers across the entire Imperium, going over the Artineo and beneath Julia Bay. Phones are linked by fiber optic and satellite connections, tying together wireless handhelds and landlines. Subsidiary communications like holographic-calling and telescreen programming are mostly transmitted by satellite.

=== Transportation ===

The Underground Transportation Relay (''Subterra Vectura'') is a 974 km rapid transit network that serves 450 stations, 48% of which is underground. Navigating this complex array of railways can be easily done with the ''Subterra Carta'', an unscaled, simplified map of the system's lines. Six different lines meet at the busy Tesla Station in the Golden District. This massive structure extends 260 meters below ground and one km across at its longest. 11.3 million passengers are served daily, up to a total of 3.9 billion riders in 2020. The farthest station is Julian Station, where the continental rail lines meet and connect to Venceia International Airport.

Traversing the city by road is very popular in the Imperium, a proven method to arrive where you intended without hassle and with improvement to your health. Roads (''Viae'') in Venceia are built to the highest standards of workmanship, some surviving from the 11th century in good condition. After 9 pm and before 7 am, vehicles are allowed through the city gates to deliver goods to shops or ferry residents out. The lack of vehicular street traffic during the day is a classic quality of Caphirian cities, setting them apart from smaller towns.

=== Military ===

Deep in the Imperium, it is unusual for legionaries to be needed but nothing is risked when Venceia is on the line. An entire legion - the 101st - devotes itself to the protection of the city and the Imperator at all costs. One of the foremost fighting forces on the planet, they train in dozens of combat styles and are outfitted with legionary equipment peculiar in both appearance and function. Legionaries of the 101st are unfailingly loyal to their Imperator.

Within its impenetrable walls - the outer fortifications are no less than 3.8 meters of thick granite - are the barracked 3,000 legionaries of the 101st. A bubble of graphenated carbon nanotubes can be projected around the entire citadel by electromagnetic emitters. In extreme circumstances, three high-energy lasers deploy from the roofs to neutralize incoming missiles before impact. The Arx's defenses are so impressive that its ''praefecti'' have proudly boasted that "if Venceia were to fall, the Arx Vaticana would not".

== Culture ==

Global in reach, Caphirian culture influences billions of lives. The two cities that provide the values, beliefs and trends of Caphirian culture are Cariati and Venceia. The Academy of Fine Arts (''Academia Artium Bonum'') one of three imperial academies devoted to the fine arts, was founded in 1508 and remains one of the world's largest school of arts. Talented artists, playwrights, and actors from '''Motias Lugius''', leader of the ''Renascie'' artistic revival movement in theater and music, to '''Quintus Piso''', who painted the ''Ascension of Augustus'', trained there.

The operational center of the '''Lingua Latina''', a language spoken by almost four billion people, is the '''Academia Lingua''' in Venceia. Founded in 1221, the Language Academy was charged by the Senate and Magnus the Great to organize grammatical rules and add words to the language. Over 340,000 distinct terms have been added by the academy and another 17,000 old words modified for simplicity. Nevertheless, its greatest invention was the '''Latin Codex'''. Based on the concept of Korean script, the Codex was completed in 1764 as a means of conveying the maximum amount of information in as small a space as possible. This code consists of 60 ''typolus'' (symbols), representing syllables, combined into words no bigger than Japanese kanji. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, the code has become common on government documents but is never used in public messages or signs as it is only understood by lawyers, doctors, magistrates, and soldiers; hardly enough people for public circulation.

=== Performing Arts ===

The Grand Theater Venceia (''Odeon Magnus'') is the largest theater in the world, with a capacity of 17,530 people. Theatrical pieces are held there weekly by local and traveling groups alike, but the Odeon is most famous for its dozens of weekly, monthly and yearly traditions. Sundays are for screening the latest blockbuster film in the evening and a classic movie in the morning. Wednesdays are days of constant orchestral performances from 10 AM till nightfall. Every January 16 the ''Surgum Augusti'', a legendary play of Motias Lugius, is shown, and on the Imperator's birthday, his choice of play or movie is featured all day. Discluding banquets and other private events, the Odeon Magnus receives close to 11 million visitors a year as measured by ticket sales. Fifteen other theaters can be found around the Imperial City, most of which can hold between 2,000 to 8,000 people. These have their own theatrical events a couple of times a week and often serve as enormous venues for movies, public announcements, concerts and private events. For the less discerning citizens, there are 310 movie theaters around the city with anywhere from one to fifteen screens. The Transtiberium District's massive ''Pinacotheatrum'' is the largest with 22 screens and enough seating for 17,000 patrons in its many rooms.

=== Cuisine ===

Venceia has earned itself a reputation as a nexus of culinary innovation that stems from its ethnic diversity and number of rich patrons of ambitious chefs. No other city can boast about as varied a palette of foods as Venceia. While its ''tabernae'' tend only to serve Caphirian dishes, there are countless restaurants serving Latin, Kiravian, Vannosian, or other exotic foods. Likewise, the markets in Venceia sell foods from across the empire and beyond so that the tastes of even the most peculiar Caphirians can be satisfied. Public restaurants are only known to serve two meals - according to time of day - ''prandium'', a sort of brunch, and ''cena'', the infamous Caphirian dinner. Nearly all imperial cities follow this pattern. Delis in Venceia, as in Cariati and Carrhae, are uniquely known for their policies of hosting lavish dinner parties for the nobility. Here alone, some restaurants display a plaque stating that '''IMPERTATOR HIC EDIT''' (''Imperator ate here''), regardless of its truth.

=== Tourism ===

A national crossroads for nearly two millennia, Venceia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, exceeding those cities that do not restrict visitors by citizenship. Last year saw the arrival of 102 million tourists in Venceia, 10% of which came from the Audonia. While the city's cultural and historical destinations attract tens of millions of people on their own, the numerous museums, theaters, churches, hotels, restaurants and arenas are equally as attractive for people living anywhere the empire. On any given day, Venceia's population swells by up to 4 million from the tourists visiting its sights.

Despite its attractiveness to tourists, most of Venceia is catered towards its residents and very few establishments have appeared to take advantage of the tourist industry since doing so is looked down upon by patricians and equestrians, and is frowned on by the municipal and federal governments. This attitude to non-residents actually enhances the appeal of Venceia, ensuring an authentic local experience for every visitor.

=== Sports ===

The apogee of sports in Venceia is the '''Great Colosseum''' (''Colosseum Ingens'') or Aelian Amphitheater in the Imperial District. Every day around ten separate events takes place in this gigantic stadium. Announcements to the public, religious festivals and sports matches can all be watched there. While some events are regular, every day has its peculiar schedule. The only daily event, occurring without fail, is the morning announcement by a Consul that declares the day's activities.

The forum around the Colosseum is one of Venceia's busiest plazas, just behind the Forum Magnum. Entry to the base of the Colosseum from its forum is through any of its 720 ground-level archways. Contestants enter the arena directly from underground passages (a ''hypogeum'') and when a home team is playing, it enters through the Imperator's private entrance from his ''Palatia''. From ground level, four staircases lead into the different classes of seating and with any of the priced seats, patrons can stay inside for as long as desired but must pay again if they return to ground level.

* The ''Sedis Vilis'' are entered by the south staircase and are free for everyone. The stairs finish at a hallway on the top floor of the Colosseum where the marble benches are situated, farthest from the arena. The Sedis Villis supports 200,000 spectators.

* The most expensive seating are the 500 arena-side ''Cubicula''. Every room features ''lecti'' for four people and a table where meals are served over the day - the perfect location for a small dinner gathering. These must be reserved ahead of time with an immediate payment of ₳2000. Lastly, the Imperator owns a personal stand on the west side with couches, chairs and a beautiful throne right at its center.

Gladiatorial combat remains the most popular sport in the Colosseum though it has been toned down from the bloody deathmatches of ancient Venceia. Modern gladiators come in three varieties: martial artists, actors staging spectacles between anachronistic warriors - a monthly occurrence - and classical gladiators, fitted with advanced armor which locks up after a "killing" blow. Actual fights to the death between slaves became impossible following the emancipation of the slaves in 1449. However, it was not difficult to find citizens willing to risk their lives for glory in the arena and gladiatorial combat was reinstated in 1467. Mixed with the seekers of fame and fortune were criminals sentenced to death, the arena being a common choice for those who were going to be executed. Seven victories meant a public pardon.

Besides sports and gladiatorial games, numerous other activities take place in the Aelian Amphitheater. Mock naval battles may be among the most spectacular but the Caphirian public enjoys plays and concerts there as well. Other days, the Colosseum is used for state funerals, technology exhibitions or showing a movie to the Imperator. A final use for the Aelian Amphitheater is an arena for track events of the Great Capital Games (''Ludi Capitolini''), a national event that takes place in major cities all over the Imperium and culminates with an extravagant event in Venceia to celebrate the winners of the events.

== See also ==

[[Category:Caphiria]]