Thaum

The Free city of Thaum is the centerpiece of the setting. It has many names, among which is the City of Miracles, referring both to its name (Thauma = miracle in the ancient tongue) and the long history of high-quality alchemists that the city's academy produces.

Thaum is located within the large Empire, and ruled by the ducal house of vis Ahn os Thauma (from Ahn, at Thauma), one of three branches of the now extinct vis Ahn dynasty.

General information
The free city of Thaum is made up of several regions. The city itself, home to the absolute majority of the population, stretches across several islands and small peninsulas located by the outlet of a river. Parts of the city are not under the direct control of the duchy, but by traditional vassal barons, of which there are 6. The city is also surrounded to its north and west by countryside, under the control of two counts under the ducal throne. Out in the water, connected by a large bride, are the 5 islands of Scion, ruled by tradition by the alchemical guild. There is only one city (Thaum) in the territory, but there are villages and a handful of small towns located in the lands of the counts.

Thaum does in fact keep a military at hand: the Ducal City Guard, under the direct control of the ducal throne. The city guard is a form of gendarme, performing both policing duties across the entire territory, as well as being trained for warfare should it be necessary to defend the state. They are the most common police unit in the state, but most barons keep their own police forces for their districts.

The current monarch, Duchess Cestine, was never meant to be ruler of Thaum. But due to the death of her father and older brother in an accident at sea, she becomes the new duchess.

The City Baronies
While a large part of the city is directly ruled by the ducal family, there are 6 general districts of the city that are ruled by barons under the ducal throne. These districts have over time become somewhat specialised in their purpose, something which has been encouraged by the barons. Since the "districts" are themselves the lands belonging to said barons, it also includes enclaves and exclaves that do not fit into the general district region.

Dyna
The Dyna district is ruled by the Dayard family and is split in two, with a northern and southern part. The southern part includes dense residential neighborhoods of mostly middle-class citizens, giving ample tax income to the baron - the northern part is more diverse, and includes the grounds for distilleries, wineries, and breweries owned by the Dayard family.

Elysos
The "black sheep" of the city districts, Elysos is where to go for entertainment. The baronic family Lacarde makes a lot of money from pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, and even more questionable places such as drug dens and brothels that they have successfully kept afloat in spite of the ducal family and the city guard.

Jovi
Under the rule of the Fernos family, it is the youngest district of the city, where the Fernos family expanded the first railway networks, awarding them the title of Barons. Rather than infringing on other baron's lands, the Fernos house was awarded unspecified lands around the railway directly from the then duke, which has been regulated and changed over time to accommodate newly constructed neighborhoods. The district was named after Jovi Fernos, the first Baron of the family.

Triskarmis
Home to banks, stock markets, and exclusive auctions, the Triskarmis finance district under the Peutris family is the center of Thaums economy and the home to many of the city's wealthy non-noble families.

Eurom
Unfazed by the industrial revolution, this district of artisans is home to creators of high-quality goods and art coveted by people around the empire, and the ruling vis Steiram barons are all too happy to support the arts. Probably the classiest district.

Lodriboerg
The industrial heart of Thaum, the house of Ione-Lodriboerg is more akin to a classical capitalist dynasty, but has in fact been the rulers of this district for centuries. The center of the district by the ancient and massive Lodri castle, who's ruins encompasses the mansion of the family.

The Lands of the Counts
The lands just outside of the city, mostly dominated by the Thaumic plain, is split between two counts whose families have long been rivals.

Bintac
A large agricultural region, Bintac (with its capital town of the same name, and ruled by the house vis Bintac) is by far the largest part of the free city's territory. While Bintac alone cannot grow enough food for the city, it produces well-known wines that are highly regarded both inside and outside the Empire

Ampour
Not as large nor as flat as Bintac, the lands of the counts of Karpe are instead covered in lush forests and hilly terrain. Some mineral mines are found here, giving the count an important source of income.

Isles of Scion
Unlike the other parts of Thaum, the isles of Scion are not ruled by nobility but by a guild - the Alchemists' guild to be exact. Here you will find the Thaumic Academy of the Material Arts (colloquially known as "Tam"), also run by the guild.