  Haven
Neighborhood in the Old Prime district of Aelyria Prime.
Haven is an urban neighborhood in the central northeast of the capital city.
A tranquil whitestone court square surrounded by a serene oakfern park can be found at the intersection of the Portalis Esplanade, Lion Parish, and Solum Promenade. Set amidst the backdrop of the colossal fortified walls of The Castle and the old battlements of the original city walls, Haven is known for its distinctive brightwood benches in the gardens and quaint merchant stands lining the square. Within the park to the south proud trees bow gracefully before magical glades each offering nurture and nourishment for visitors. The square serves as a center for business for this welcoming community, as tall elegant townhouses and old-style residences rise towards the east and west embracing this picturesque segment of the city.
Hearkening back to the earliest days of Colonia, Haven would greet travelers and welcome them to the first city of the Realm, often providing them with their earliest experiences in the capital.
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History
Emerging organically shortly after Colonia opened its Great Gates to the World, Haven was an open meeting space against the graystone city walls and brownrock battlements nearest the main entry where visitors and residents might arrange to meet up before venturing further into the city. Heavily trafficked, guilds began to set up wagons to recruit new adventurers and tradesmen, while merchants prepared stands offering goods for barter and souvenirs for tourists. Following the city's rapid expansion to the west, Haven no longer was the greeting spot and instead was beautified by
Queen Candace with the creation of lush gardens surrounding the less-frequented square. It was during the
First Kingdom that Haven became a favorite spot for meditation of scholars and mages, and outdoor lessons and discussions were regularly held side-by-side with luncheoning patrons and urban revelers.
Nearly forgotten for centuries, Haven re-emerged during the
Third Empire when it was "discovered" by
Senator Cepalico Kiel during her residence in the capital, and she renovated both the gardens and the surrounding clearings by undertaking a massive landscaping project. Lush greenwood trees and tall proud oaks were planted around the small neighborhood bringing much excitement to the several dozen families that called this beautiful and quaint neighborhood their home in Aelyria Prime. At the dawn of the
Second Kingdom, Haven began to see residents from other municipal wards, regional parishes, and urban districts throughout the capital frequenting its tranquil square and serene park, frolicking in its graceful meadows and marveling at its magical glades.
Jurisdiction
Though most of Haven rests within the jurisdictional boundaries of Lion Parish, because it crops out into the Portalis Esplanade and rests against the Solum Promenade, a Junior Aedile is assigned to administer the public works of the neighborhood directly. The assignment, suggested by Senator Kiel, was later approved by
Council President Ariana Kyalis during her leadership over the
City Council of Aelyria Prime. For the purposes of representation in the City Council, Haven contributes two-thirds to the proportional voting power of delegates from Lion Unicorn, one-fourth to the representatives from Portalis Esplanade, and the balance is accorded to Solum Promenade. The neighborhood has a separate guard known as the
Haven Watch that reports into an urban unit of the
Militia and the City
Constabulary.
Linear Mode
