Fiction | Fantasy | Gamelit | Shadow Kingdoms

Improving the Imperial City

City plans at the Imperial court (a short story)

This is a fiction story, based on my Shadow Kingdoms game world. Check out other stories in the same setting via the links below.

The Emperor sat back, rubbing his hands together. He glanced around at the other courtiers. Nobles, generals, merchants, librarians — everyone of significance. All were eagerly anticipating the new plan for the Imperial city, Varia. Many were enjoying bowls of steaming gekkota stew.

The chancellor stood by the entrance to the large, opulent hall. “Please welcome the court’s… Imperial Geomancer!” he announced.

“Ahem, yes,” mumbled a stooped and robed figure as he hurried into the centre of the chamber. He was an elderly man with pointed ears that marked him as half-elf. “My name, if you don’t know me, is Lord Bruce. The plan I am about to…”

At this point, Lord Bruce descended into angry whispers, and before long, two goblins hurried to join him, each bearing an armful of scrolls. As the magistrate sighed, tutted and tapped his feet, the goblins contrived to unroll one of these and hold it between them, revealing a huge monochrome map.

“As I was saying,” continued Lord Bruce, pulling out a slender wooden baton, “the new plan for the Imperial city has taken some time to prepare. My acolytes and I have identified, in a scientific way, the most efficient changes to be made.”

“Did you ask any of us?” called out a voice from the back of the court.

The Emperor frowned, but said nothing. His chancellor stepped towards the gathered nobles, frowning, and silence reigned.

Lord Bruce now stepped towards the map, raising his baton. “This plan is scientifically approved. Mathematical calculations have been undertaken.”

“By the goblins?” called out the same heckler, leading to sniggering among the gathering.

At this, the Emperor clapped his hands. One of the generals, a burly woman with cropped hair, narrowed her eyes. She gripped the haft of her sword, then spun to face the gathered worthies.

The crowd settled much more quickly this time.

“…a need for elbow room in the city,” said Lord Bruce, at which point everyone else realized that he had kept talking despite the commotion. “There is a need for what I like to call re-zoning. How can we have peasants milking their goats in the same area that jewellers conduct their trade? How can half-orcs gamble and fight in the same street that scholars are trying to read their books and scrolls?” Each comment was accentuated by a light baton-tap on the map.

Now, everyone was listening, and not just because of the scowling, belligerant general who was now stalking the room like a predator.

Lord Bruce cleared his throat again as the hapless goblins unfurled a second map. “A bit more breathing space. For commerce, and for the Imperial armies. We can’t have our brave troops waiting around to get from here” — he pointed to the main city gates — “to here” — he pointed to the barracks. A much straighter route is required. I’m sure General Tung will agree.”

“Hnmg,” grunted the burly general.

“In addition,” continued the Imperial Geomancer, after a brief wheeze to catch his breath, “this plan will allow for beautification of the city. Some of the buildings are outdated. We need a modern city, worthy of the glory of Emperor Zoltan IV. New buildings will be created with modern conveniences, each one made of sparkling white marble from Perano-Fe. The first will be a grand new headquarters for the Knights of Dawn, on a mighty new grand avenue named Zoltan Way.”

After another prod at the map, Lord Bruce stood back for a moment, now tucking the baton under his armpit, and wiping his sweating brow with the sleeve of his robe. “The Confederacy will weep with jealousy.”

The Emperor inclined his head at this, then pointed to the assembled courtiers. One had raised her hand. “Speak up, Grand Librarian Anita,” he commanded.

“Lord Bruce,” said the woman, lowering her hand and stepping forward. She wore purple robes. “Exactly how is this space to be created? For these new routes, new buildings, and so on. We surely can’t move streets or buildings around.”

The Imperial Geomancer raised his eyebrows, then pointed to the map once more.

“Certain residential areas are not up to the standard of an Imperial city,” he continued in a croaky voice. “The poor quarter, for instance. These buildings here will have to go. And these ones. Old Gods’ Lane… everything from there to Redfish Row. And then, this area here is mostly occupied by half-orcs. They live in squalid conditions. Also unfit for a capital…”

There was some murmuring, but again the gathering stilled when General Tung moved closer to them once again.

“But what about the families?” called a voice from the back.

Lord Bruce licked his teeth, then wiped more sweat from his forehead. “We do feel that many young people of the city are not getting a wholesome life. Grand Librarian Anita will tell you that they need to read, they need to learn. So many of our young people have brains that have failed to develop.”

The purple-robed grand librarian narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

“The parents of such families are of little use to the Empire, either,” said Lord Bruce, speaking more loudly now. “They will be re-educated in new training facilities on the fringes in Slarna Province. A short voyage away, for which they will be charged a very reasonable relocation fee.”

“And the children?” asked the grand librarian.

“Why, the children are Imperial warriors of the future!” exclaimed Lord Bruce. “Citizens. They, too, will be educated out of their slovenly ways. They will have a chance to learn the traditional values of our society in new academies that will be constructed, under the stewardship of General Tung.”

There was considerable muttering about this, though some courtiers stood in stunned silence.

“They will be provided books, of course,” added the Imperial Geomancer, “and learn mathematics. You, Grand Librarian Anita, will be tasked with making the choices of reading matter, and commissioning new works where necessary.”

The grand librarian nodded thoughtfully. “I can see the advantages in your scheme. And about these new buildings…”

“Yes, yes. A new library headquarters will have pride of place on Zoltan Way.”

Thanks for reading! This is part of my Shadow Kingdoms world, and is also in part inspired by real world city plans. Check out this video of how planners decided to destroy much of central Glasgow in the late 1940s:

Check out some of my other fantasy stories below. New to Medium? You can sign up for membership here, and support me at no extra cost.