the frontier [Lore] Stalliongrad

[Bellosh]

Stalliongrad - The Jewel of the North

*Extra special thanks to Freddie (Pony_Sage) on the map!

 

Stalliongrad is a veritable microcosm of all Equestria. Established long ago by Pegasi immigrants from Cloudsdale and Canterlot, the Jewel of the North is a mish-mash of old architecture, modern technology and scholarship, and races from all over Equestria. Its social patchwork is comprised of ponies, griffons, zebras, and dragons from all walks of life, making it perhaps the most ethnically diverse region in all Equestria.

 

Key Areas

River Stadia - Stalliongrad straddles the banks of the River Stadia, which flows north, emptying into the Northern Sea. Fed from glaciers high in the mountain ranges to the northeast of Canterlot, the banks of the river are laden with silt drawn from glacial moraine. Periodic swells from snowmelt and rainfall renew the supply yearly, allowing the city's manufacturing output to be supplemented with agriculture. The Stadia is also large and deep enough to carry riverine ships, providing a ready transport corridor for both incoming and outgoing goods.

 

Mostrevii - Massive bridges assembled from carved granite and forged steel, the Mostrevii (maw-STREV-ee) bear testament to the work of the brightest engineering minds in Stalliongrad. Each arm of the Mostrevii contains an integrated railway line as well as conventional road surface for foot and cart traffic. Like the mundane bridges that accompany them, the Mostrevii are elevated far above river level to allow the passage of riverine shipping traffic on the Stadia.

 

Gor Zarya, Lyes Zarya, & Vysokii District - The Mount of Dawn, better known locally as Gor Zarya (GORE ZAR-ya), is a major landmark in the Stalliongrad area. While dwarfed by the dizzying summits of the mountains nearer to Canterlot and rounder than the rocky crags of Roughrider Ridge, the Gor Zarya towers above the alluvial plain. Timber for housing and ship-building is harvested from the surrounding Lyes Zarya (LES ZAR-ya) forest within the district of Vysokii (vee-SOHK-ee), though areas of the wooded highlands are cordoned off for vacation homes for corporate heads and factory bosses. For the more casual vacationer, there are also cabins available for rent in the unspoiled forest high above the hustle and bustle of the industrial districts.

 

Kuznitza District - Kuznitza (kooz-NEET-zah) contains the majority of Stalliongrad's foundries and large factories. Airship parts, arms and armor for both government and private buyers, steam machinery for Griffon cities and ships, and appliances for Equestrian settlements are all made within the smog-veiled factories of the district. Logging roads from the timber areas of Vysokii District worm their way into lumber mills around the outskirts. Myriad working-class tenements ramble in the space between factories, each looming monolithic above the surrounding cityscape. Isolated pockets of block housing and nicer apartments pop up occasionally amid the labyrinth of industrial sprawl. Factories and transport hubs are linked by rail and road. Those factories lucky enough to have airlift contracts are serviced by airships as well.

 

Veya District -Veya (VAY-ah) is primarily known for its textile mills. Veya's plants run the gamut of light industry from precision machine parts to nails to foodstuffs. Reflecting the less grimy nature of its livelihood, housing and business establishments are also noticeably cleaner and generally of more aesthetically pleasing designs-- a far cry from the austere and utilitarian apartment blocks in Kuznitza. Still, Veya is not as upscale as the non-industrial districts.

 

Rasya District - This artisan area is home to small business owners and those who make handcrafting their profession. Rasya's (RAHZ-ya) inhabitants are known for their more relaxed attitude towards both business and pleasure, making it a popular destination for newcomers and those looking to get away from the grittiness that seems to pervade the industrial districts. Among the goods and wares that come from Rasya are Stalliongrad Vodka and the famous Matryoshkah dolls.

 

Chenya District - Home to libraries, archives, various trade schools, and the University of Stalliongrad, the learning district of Chenya (CHEN-ya) contains a wealth of knowledge on all subjects both academic and practical. Students of the university live, work, and learn here.

 

Torga District - Larger department stores and businesses vie for customers in the merchant hub of Torga (TOR-gah). Those accustomed to Canterlot or Manehattan will find much to like about Torga District, which combines the convenience and selection of other cities' department stores with Stalliongrad's unique cultural flair.

 

Vsadnika Island & Ostrov District - The island of Vsadnika (ZAHD-nee-kah) occupies the widest point in the river bend. An artifact of flow changes eons ago, Vsadnika is little more than bedrock covered in a fine layer of silt, although engineering efforts have secured the island from further erosion. Still, its central location in the Stadia made it key in the development of Stalliongrad. The Vsadnika of today is occupied by the dense metropolitan zone of Ostrov (AW-strov), skylined by towering skyscrapers of glass and steel interspaced with parks, green space, and monuments to the achievements of the city's inhabitants. Within these towers, ponies, griffons, and dragons alike trade stocks, broker deals, and conduct research on both the arcane and the mundane. Pegasi weather patrols keep the island smog free at all times, reinforcing the image of Ostrov as the gleaming jewel in Stalliongrad's crown. The northern tip of the island holds docks for riverine craft while the southern tip of the island has an extensive network of moorings for airships.

 

Stabil Krasnyi & the Stallian Guard - Stabil Krasnyi (STAH-beel KRAHZ-nee), or "The Stable" as it is colloquially known, is the base of operations of the Stallian Guard. A walled-in fortress, Stabil Krasnyi is seperated from the rest of the city by a barren landscape that locals have dubbed a "no-pony's land". This instillation houses landing areas and hangars for military airships, in addition to a barracks facility and training grounds for soldiers to hone and upkeep their skills. Because Stalliongrad sits at the edge of the unexplored Badlands, the Stallion Guard maintains a substaintial intergrated garrison where ponies, griffons, and even dragons serve alongside each other; something not typically seen anywhere else within the Royal Equestrian Army.

 

Society

Stalliongrad is a study in contrasts. Ostrov is pristine, almost to the point of being sterile whereas Rasya, Torga, Veya and Chenya have a much more well-traveled and well-used feel to them. On the other end of the spectrum, Kuznitza seems to be in a different world smothered in smog and heavy with the scent of metal and fire. Likewise, the social attitudes prevalent in Stalliongrad reflect the realities of life in each district.

 

Wealth is stratified in Stalliongrad. Ostrov is the home to the city's very wealthy, with corporate heads and politicians making their home in townhomes and apartment complexes along the outskirts of the island. High-rises dominate the skyline, dwarfing other structures save the Kuznitza smokestacks and blast furnaces on the East Bank. The streets below are mostly comprised of smaller businesses run by single proprietors, though the homeless and the less than fortunate can be found lurking among them as well.

 

The terrain visibly changes as one enters the twin industrial districts of Veya and Kuznitza. A fine layer of soot from factory smokestacks and foundry blast furnaces covers the myriad brick tenements and concrete apartments that serve as dwellings to the labor class. Above the labyrinthine network of working-class housing loom the massive factories and furnaces that fuel the city's economy. Griffons, ponies, and zebras alike labor in the factories to produce goods both for consumption and trade.

 

Economy

Stalliongrad has a very export-oriented economy. Its location on the River Stadia and abundance of transportation options allow it to ship its goods nearly anywhere in Equestria. The airship and military industry in Kuznitza supplies REA guard units across Equestria with weapons, armor, and mechanical parts. Plant owners and those who broker agreements run a lucrative business in deals with the military-industrial complexes of both Pony and Griffon lands. Textiles from Veya District make their way to Equestrian cities for use in clothing and accessories, ending up as both mass-manufactured general use items and raw materials for handmade items from the likes of fashionable boutique and other specialty stores.

 

Artisan goods are prevalent, but only contribute a small percentage of Stalliongrad GDP compared to the profits of manufacturing. Fields on the outskirts of the city are fed by irrigation canals from the Stadia. Agriculture allows Stalliongrad to reduce its reliance on imported food, but its limited scope prevents it from being truly self-sufficient.

~Stalling in Stalliongrad: An Exposé On the North