Manaia : The City of Shipeva
Shipeva is the new capital of Euchao and the third most populated city in Manaia, being home to over 8 million people.
The city was once poor and housed a significantly lower population. But in the fifth century, the Men of the West, who are believed to have journeyed from Gramar, divided the River Sedes and constructed a 180 mile canal from Kaum to Shipeva. The event is known in history as The Great Siphoning, and the ruler of Euchao whose seat of power was in Peresi at the time of the event, Wayland Winters, is consequently remembered as The Sleeping Magna, having not noticed what was going on until Shipeva had become an established port and thriving city. Magna Wayland had the governor of Kaum and his family executed in response to their well-rewarded betrayal, but was unable to punish the newly established leaders of Shipeva, who had gained a great deal of political power through their now-booming trade routes. The Men of the West would go on to back the Sleeping Magna's competition in Euchao, dethroning Wayland Winters and supporting Albert Fox as the new Magna. The embarrassed ex-ruler was the first ever to be exiled to the Prison Island of Zarakash.
Over the past six centuries, since the Great Siphoning, Shipeva has grown exponentially and become one of the wealthiest cities in the seven continents. It is said that at least once every minute, a ship arrives at, and a ship departs from the harbour of Shipeva, making it the busiest port in Manaia.
On the Northside of the river, the extremely wealthy live in mansions and palaces, including the current ruler of Euchao, Magna Luxlow II, whose newly constructed cathedral can be seen from any standing position in Shipeva. On the Southside of the river, almost 8 million people live in a densely populated slum. Once a year, the Magna awards three exemplary citizens and their families Keepership of a mansion on the Northside of the river. On the same day, he revokes the Keepership status of at least one on the wealthy side of the river, evicting them to the slums. Fear and hope on either side of the river work in unison to provide loyalty to the church, and to the Magna.
The working population of Shipeva mostly earn their silver through fishing, mining, tree-felling, working on ships, at the ports or in the markets - or if they're lucky enough and talented enough, acting in plays at the theatre houses.
The city of Shipeva is also home to over 300 theatre houses, all of which are funded by the church, paid for through taxes. Seven of the theatre houses have been shut down in the past year for exhibiting plays that "insulted God by condoning Atheism." - in the Magna's words.
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