Manaia : Forks - The City of Sin
Forks, also known as the City of Sin, Twin City, The Unseen Lands or the Stairway to Heaven, depending upon who you speak to, is a densely populated city in the South of Aneyes.
The city was founded almost a century ago by self-confessed hedonist and renowned patriarch of the Phoenix family, Phillip Magnuson Phoenix. Prior to that, the lands had been home to the ruins of the ancient city Cyrrpentos. Many of the ancient monoliths from the civilisation of Cyrrpentos still stand within Forks, either preserved of fully restored.
After its founding, Phillip chose to rule over Forks as its King. He reigned over the city for 23 years before dying of syphilis. During his years in the city, he spent much of his and his family's wealth improving Forks, commissioning the erection of many great structures and temples, and a spectacular castle that he unfortunately did not live to see completed.
The Phoenix family still own the entire city of Forks, and consequently receive payment from taxes collected there on a monthly basis. However, their Keepership of the city is not known by most who reside there, and the majority believe that Queen Sadomarrah is Forks' one and only governing power.
It is unknown whether the Phoenix's have been able to recoup the investments made towards the foundation of the city by Phillip, but with a population surpassing 2 million residents, and thousands each day visiting forks for disparate reasons - many of whom leave much of their silver and gold behind upon their departure, it is likely that, if not already, Forks will turn out eventually to be a very profitable income stream for the Phoenix family - just as all other investments made by them have turned out to be.
Due to Forks' location in regards to the path of the sun, its nights are twice as long as its days exactly. All manner of deeds deemed inappropriate elsewhere in Manaia are not only accepted, but encouraged in Forks. Not only are sex and violence recognised as simple commodities in Forks, but the Doctrine of Delilah - an occult text adhered to by many in the city - argues that only in the depths of a man's darkness can he discover the light within. The scriptures essentially condone any type of sin, no matter how despicable, if that sin is committed in pursuit of self-knowledge.
For this reason, the darkest and the sickest minds in Manaia often find their way to Forks, where they say that there is no desire a man can have that cannot be catered to at one place or another within the city.
Twice a day a vessel departs from Shipeva, before making its way to Peresi and then Agamar, then heading south to Navasa where safe passage to Forks can be purchased for a few pieces of silver. The Magna of Euchao has been quoted defending the City of Sin and its occurences, claiming that Sobanite's who return from Forks come back with a heightened commitment to serve God and the church.
While magic is supposed to be outlawed in the city in accordance with the Aneyesian treaty, practitioners of magic are not sought for or punished in Forks, and it is believed that the Queen herself indulges in the hidden arts on occasion. The only crime that is actively enforced in the city is treason, with failure to pay taxes falling under that label.
A tavern in the centre of the city called "The Serpent's Tongue" is frequented by a man known only as The Hand - a man who is said to be able to find anyone or anything for the right price. Some in the city whisper that he has as much power, if not more, than Queen Sadomarrah herself.
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