Ishiq

Ishiq
Ishiq
	The emblem of Ishiq.
City
Country	T'vaqi
Established	1-2 244 TT
Government ; • № Magisters ; • % Est. Population	; 544 ; 0.058%
Area (km2) ; • Total	; 441
Est. Population ; • Total ; • Density	; 1,031,000 ; 2,337.9
Nickname	City of Sunshine
Motto	Ever Outward
Demonym	Ishiqi

Ishiq is the capital city of T'vaqi.

History

Prior to 244 TT, the land area of Ishiq was home to a number of smaller settlements, showing evidence of continued human habitation as far back as 1800 TT. Remnants of buildings possibly dating back to the Factions of T'vaqi exist in the area, though their purpose remains unclear; the origin and function of the buildings has become a common subject of scholarly debate. The city was formally founded and established as the capital of T'vaqi following the island's second unification in 244 TT. Ishiq was chosen as the capital of the new nation for its diversity and location. Located on the geographic center of the island, Ishiq received much more sunlight than areas closer to the coast, which were more affected by the Storm. This made Ishiq an agricultural hotspot, and the rapid development of the city would only grow faster once industrial manufacturing became commonplace.

The city today boasts the highest population density on the island, standing at roughly 2,131.5 individuals per square kilometer. The high density of the city has rendered cars and other similar methods of transport non-viable; bikes, trains, buses, and foot traffic account for the majority of transport in the city. Post-Calming, Ishiq was initially chosen to represent the Nation of T'vaqi, though the constant presence of smoke and the general difficulty of navigation left a negative impression on foreign ambassadors; the majority of meetings with foreign parties now take place in the calmer city of Mholos.

Geography

Ishiq is situated on the geographic center of T'vaqi. It possesses a lower average elevation than neighboring settlements, due to the majority of its land being situated within a valley.

Climate

Ishiq has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and damp, while winters are generally cold and wet. Ishiq does, however, experience slightly warmer temperatures than less-developed cities nearby due to its extensive urbanization; the prevalence of asphalt and other heat-retaining surfaces combined with a comparative lack of foliage and plant life warms the city by an average of 0.064 Common Degrees (4.3 °C) each night. Powerful thunderstorms are uncommon in Ishiq due to its inland location, and the abundance of sunlight compared to other settlements only increased post-Calming. Certain areas on the outskirts of Ishiq still possess fertile soil, though most dirt has been rendered either infertile due to pollution or inaccessible due to construction.

Districts

Ishiq is occasionally referred to as the Three Sets, as it can be divided into three distinct districts.

Natho is the smallest and most densely populated of the three, and is home to the High Institute of the Arts and Sciences, in addition to several major companies based in the city. Natho occupies 64.0 km² of land, mostly in central Ishiq.

The Riqha district is home to a dense array of small businesses; numerous "store complexes", which feature grids of small shops accessible by narrow walkways, have been constructed within the area. The origins of Rosi can be traced back to Riqha; several storefronts claim to be the original vendor of the food, though it is not known which, if any, is actually responsible for its creation. Riqha occupies 150.1 km² of land, and a majority of northwestern Ishiq.

Lia is the largest district in the city, possessing a total area of 226.9 km². Lia boasts several interconnected housing complexes, often stitched together with midair hallways and stairwells. Entire neighborhoods are sometimes contained within a single building. Despite this, it is the least densely populated district in the city, and occupies southern and eastern Ishiq. Notably, most of Ishiq's remaining fertile soil can be found in Lia.

Transportation

While complex road systems exist throughout the city, these are mainly used by those passing through the area; bikes and buses are generally accepted as the de facto method of road transport throughout the city. Post-Calming tourism has caused foot traffic and Apasa Viti Ishiqi to become more popular in Ishiq as easy, foreigner-friendly means of transport.

Apasa Viti Ishiqi

Apasa Viti Ishiqi (commonly referred to as the AVI) is a public transit system operating throughout Ishiq. The AVI uses high-speed trains traveling through a complex network of tunnels around the city. The majority of AVI tunnels are underground. Trains stop at designated stations at regular intervals; trains with different routes are differentiated by color. A simplified list of the most common train colors and their routes is as follows:

Red trains primarily travel throughout the Natho district. Red trains typically offer discounts to students of the High Institutes, due to the high volume of student traffic in the area.
Yellow trains primarily travel throughout the Riqha district.
Blue trains primarily travel throughout the Lia district. Some Blue trains offer "sleeping cars" for an extra fee, where an individual may rest overnight.
Purple trains typically serve as connecting trains between each of the three districts.
White trains travel in and out of the city. White trains with corporate emblems on the sides of each car are privately owned.

Emblem

The emblem of Ishiq depicts a set of three buildings, representing its three districts. A small four-pointed star, part of Aqali iconography, is positioned next to the buildings.