the foothills [Lore] Calnais

[Bellosh]

Calnais - A Beacon of Fancy Culture

 

If there is one other locale in Equestria that rivals Canterlot and Manehattan as cultural trendsetters, it would be Calnais (properly pronounced “cal-neigh”) to the southeast. Like its neighbors in the East, Roam and Hoofenheim, Calnais resides far enough from the Equestrian heartland that its residents share customs that are extremely distinct from those of the average pony. In the case of this city, its heritage is that of a bastion of poshness, fine taste, and overall fanciness… or rudeness and aloof snobbishness for those ponies who don't care much for the things enjoyed most by the former group.

Among other things, Calnais is world-renowned for its extremely hospitable climate. Without the interference of pegasi weather-teams, the winters here are never too cold and the summers are never too hot. With only a mild amount of rainfall each year, that leaves Calnais and the surrounding scrubland countryside of maquis as one of the most pleasantly sunny regions in Equestria.

It is no surprise then that anypony with enough wealth would desire a seasonal residence in or around Calnais. Indeed, hereditary royalty, nobility, and gentry have spent summers here for countless generations. A number of these privileged vacationers from throughout the centuries even decided to permanently move to Calnais. It is these ponies who developed the elegant Equestrian dialect known as Prench (or “Fancy” by quaint folksy rabble) and transformed Calnais from a mere seaside town to the cultural powerhouse it is today.

As it should go without saying, the elite residents of Calnais in their secluded seaside and countryside mansions need the employment and businesses of all manner of ponies to sustain their elegant lifestyles. From winemakers and their vineyards, to fashionistas running classy boutiques, and chefs running the most exclusive restaurants in the entire known world, Calnais revolves entirely upon serving the refined needs of the Equestrian elite, and those who desperately wish to emulate them.
 
Elsewhere throughout Calnais, from the broad boulevards filled with ponies walking and talking, to the streetside cafes found in every corner of the city, reflect a preference for having everything out in the open, whether it be art, arguments, or more. Much of what is called 'rudeness' throughout the Prance region stems from this cultural trait; while a Canterlot noble would never even think about kiss a mare in public, a Calnais noble would never think twice about it! And the same goes for every other Calnais citizen.

Of late however, a new force threatens to throw the current bourgeois character of Calnais into complete disarray. This new force: the experimental medium of motion pictures. As it just so happens, Calnais’s sunny climate immensely benefits aspiring filmmakers, and so these creative pioneers banded together to purchase the nearby Applewood orchard from an Apple branch family and convert it into a movie studio. Calnais residents however look on this turn of events with skepticism, worrying that all this unproven industry will bring is needless intrusion by unsophisticated film crews, along with being subjected to torrents of other talent of a disreputable nature. But should Applewood make it big, Calnais will find itself transformed into something anew, no matter how loudly the locals protest.

~Hitchhiker's Guide to Equestria