The Will of Defiance
R A V E L I N
'THE HEART OF THE EMPIRE'
CAPITAL OF THE NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Put NIO’s stamp on Bastion with a fresh sub for Ravelin
- Image Credit:
- Canon: Ravelin
- Permissions: --
- Links:
- Darkness Falls | The Battle of Bastion
- Rage Awakened | The Second Battle of Bastion
- High Patriotic Standards | References to instances of riots and civil unrest in Ravelin
- Deathly Defiance | Terrorist attack targeting Imperator Tavlar and Imperial High Command in Ravelin
- City Name: Ravelin, The Heart of The Empire
- Classification: Urban Eperopolis
- Location: Bastion
- Affiliation:
- New Imperial Order | 'The Empire'
- Population: Heavy
- Estimated to populated close to 3 billion though the recent siege of Bastion and concurrent assault of Bastion has resulted in the evacuation of many Sith Imperial citizens leading up to the repopulation of New Imperial Order citizens and government infrastructure.
- Demographics: The population of Ravelin is mostly Human or Near-Human though certain alien species that have immigrated to the New Imperial Order or occupy surrounding worlds can also be found in pockets of insular communities throughout Ravelin, non-Humans appearing more likely in the city’s lower levels and underworld than otherwise. Aside from smaller pockets of unique immigrated communities throughout Ravelin, a vast majority of the city is culturally homogenous in that it adheres to traditionally ‘Imperial’ customs and etiquette.
- Wealth: High
- Seeing a continuously high level of investment within the city from every government that occupies it as well several different corporations on the periphery, Bastion is the beating heart of the Imperial heartland in the Outer Rim with many economic opportunities coming to play as the strong industrial infrastructure is greatly appealing to outside corporations as well as steady employment opportunities in government employment to the New Imperial Order. In spite of its very large population, income disparity isn’t overly extreme outside of the ‘elite’ strata of the upper class, the middle and lower-income brackets find themselves living in comfort as corporate interests continue to provide ample economic opportunity with governmental investment making for a clean and efficient infrastructure.
- Stability: High
- Though the assault on Ravelin has necessitated a great deal of ‘rebuilding’ efforts within the city, the pseudo-military occupation state has created underlying stability to the city as an otherwise conventional law enforcement has been replaced by contingents of the New Imperial army, Stormtrooper Corps, and COMPFORCE as the city enters a transitionary period before the city enters a state of full civilian management. Otherwise, Bastion has seen a draining of the swamp with the few underworld criminal organizations under the process of being rooted out by New Imperial military assets, bringing the same militancy against crime much like its Sith-Imperial predecessors. However, recent events show that the Empire's Capital is not immune to civil unrest, but attempts to rise up against the government are brought down with swift and harsh efficiency at the hands of New Imperial Security Forces and Military.
- Freedom & Oppression:
- While the Empire once practiced a more relaxed rule over its people, policies enacted following several riots and a terrorist attack in Ravelin have brought security and surveillance to the forefront of the mission of Imperial Security Forces with all public places being heavily monitored by camera placements, Imperial Security Forces and routinely patrolling droids who act as surveillance drones across the city.
- Much akin to modern cities, people can expect a ‘reasonable’ measure of privacy within their residences to say and do as they please however any street, social area, or open forum is under surveillance by the New Imperial Order, making any activity outside of private residences impossible to conceal from broad sweeping surveillance.
- All in all, New Imperial citizens who overtly abide by the laws in place by the New Imperial Order’s government and do not publically espouse ideals which the Imperial regime may designate as 'radical' or 'extremist' will live a safe and easy life.
- Description: Largely a result of the monumental efforts undertaken by the Sith Empire upon their initial occupation of Bastion and Ravelin which transformed the small military colony into the continent-spanning city it is today in sprawling stretchs of uniform city blocks interupted only by alterations in income strata, government and administrative infrastructure as well as private corporate and production centers. What changed then was the New Imperial increase in outright military occupation and the outright uprooting of the stranglehold of the Sith Imperial 'ORDIS' over the city in the place of the New Imperial Order's counterpart in 'COMPNOR'. Otherwise, the city is an expansive and wealthy project all the same.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- Administrative Sector
- The Imperial Palace | Fortress Imperator: Re-occupying and re-molding the Sith-Imperial equivalent in Fortress Carnifex, the New Imperial Order has stripped down a great deal of Sith opulence lining the magnificent structure in favor of brutalist pragmatism, making it an un-ignorable landmark, acting as both a nexus point of the government operations of the Order as well as acting as the most fortified hard point within Ravelin, undertaking the task of rebuilding and more intensively fortifying portions ruined during the Battle of Ravelin with Hijarna Stone taken from the 'Hand of Thrawn' Fortress on the New Imperial world of Nirauan, the very place which played host to the foundation of the New Imperial Order. It is a gargantuan complex with several courtyards, fortifications, hangar bays its own accommodating offices and administrative centers as well as a section dedicated to housing the Emperor and other trusted members of his retinue. Since the death of Irveric Tavlar within Fortress Imperator, the Palace's security has only been increased with several strike teams of Imperial Knights dedicated to serve as a royal guard force on constant patrol of the Palace grounds.
- Vaulkhar's Rest: Where there was once a statue and accompanying monolith in veneration to the Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor Carnifex now stands a statue depicting the 'Bloody Handed Bastard' , Vaulkhar Zambrano. Once the right hand and confidant to the Sovereign Imperator Irveric Tavlar, his sacrifice to the New Imperial Order is immortalized in a depiction of the man donning his full, foreboding battle armor at the time of his service to the Order with his characteristic golden skull masque held facing outward over his chest as his hooded head looks down with tearful eyes shut and a faint, forlorn smile painting his lips to signify the peace at the time of his death and his dutiful, thankless service to the New Imperial Order resulting in his death not far from the place of the statue's construction.
- Third Imperial Civil War Monument: A statue re-creating the rise of the Empire's banner over Fortress Carnifex by Ravraa Vyshraal , Tiberius and other troopers of the 501st Legion serves as an ode to the New Imperial Order's struggle to reclaim the Empire from the Sith. Etched into the base of the statue, the names every major engagement fought in the Third Imperial Civil War is etched into the monument along several terminals accessing a holonet database displaying the names of Imperial service members who lost their lives during the war.
- The Imperial Headquarters: Whereas Fortress Imperator is the symbolic center of the New Imperial Order's presence on Bastion, that role more truly fits in the Imperial Headquarters. A complex and structure utilized many times over by Ravelin's rulers, fitted now for the first time in a state most akin to its original aesthetic, once serving as the Headquarters of the Imperial Remnant and later the Fel Empire, it serves its spiritual successor in the New Imperial Order once more. Within the Imperial Headquarters is where the Imperial Assembly, or the Moff Council is assembled to meet and discuss matters of high importance to the Order. In the bowels of the complex is contained the 'war room' where Imperial High Command communes to discuss matters of security pertinent to the entirety of the Order in utmost secrecy.
- Pellaeon Gardens: After it was damaged and nigh destroyed at the Battle of Ravelin, Rurik Fel took great interest and initative in rebuilding the structure and restoring its beauty, repopulating the plants which were damaged or destroyed in the battle with life originating from New Imperial space ranging from tropical flowers from Ajara to cherry blossoms from Carlac. While elements of the garden are personally cared for by Rurik Fel, a majority of the Garden's maintence is left to the Hospitaliers of the New Imperial Order's Force Corps. One of the main objectives in the New Imperial renovation was the once more upheaval of the Sith-Imperial crest at the Garden's center, replacing it with the very same 'Iron Sun' that occupied it at the time of Roan Fel and the Fel Empire.
- The Great Imperial Library: The vaunted archives of the New Imperial Order, the Great Imperial Library has been restored to its former glory circa the time of the Fel Empire, housing documents, historical texts and published text hailing from the days of the First Galactic Empire and onward, the library serves as all but a monument to the glory of Imperial regimes and realms come and past.
- The Fel Redoubt: Defacing and building over the Royal Academy of the Sith Empire, the Fel Redoubt is the headquarters of the New Imperial Force Corps and the Imperial Knights. Here, the training of New Imperial Knights is carried out on Squires and Knight Errants ranging from all ages as well as making for another strong point within the city's defenses as what were originally academic structures were replaced with militaristic pragmatism. The Fel Redoubt also offers lodging and quarters to all the Imperial Knights of the Order, acting as their home away from home during their tenure in the Heart of the Empire even if most of the Force Corps operate on Crusade Fleets.
- Tracta Hall: Once as the Ascendant Circle Hall, the Grand Moff Tracta Hall of Defiance undoes the original function in serving as the place of stepping stone where Sith Knights would then become Sith Lords and instead carries this process over into the Imperial Force Corps, acting as the place where Knight Errants would be granted the rank of Knight Commander. Lifting the restrictions imposed before, access to the Hall of Defiance is far easier as the name refers to the Ascendant Circle Hall's role in playing venue to the Sovereign Imperator Irveric Tavlar's declaration of treason to the Sith Empire and later exile.
- COMPNOR Headquarters | Harrsk Hall: Where there was once a state media headquarters utilized by the Sith Empire, it has been replaced in full by the headquarters of the Committee for the Preservation of the New Order now resurgent under the rule of the New Imperial Order. Here the city turns crimson once more, with red banners sporting the Imperial Crest lining the complex with images of stark propaganda present in droves. Here, the overall umbrella of COMPNOR operates all of its Committees and subsidiary agencies such as the Imperial Security Bureau
- Fortress Gladius: Named after the vaunted Gladius Company, Fortress Gladius is another military complex located centrally in the city which serves as one of many bases holding the troopers of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion and acts as their divisional headquarters.
- Commercial Sector
- The Imperial Gate: A massive starport complex used as the primary means of entrance and exit of ships and vessels private, commercial, and military arriving and departing Ravelin and the world of Bastion. While the Imperial Gate mainly serves commercial and private transportation, the complex is utilized by several government and military vessels all the same.
- The Free District: Demolishing and building over the immense and decadent Imperial Colisseum, the New Imperial Order has taken the same aim of offering popular respite down a different medium. While the New Imperial Order espouses a philosophy of pragmatism and regimented order, like many cities within the Order, certain districts are reserved for ease of the expected government surveillance and control for the allowance of city nightlife and private commercialism to prosper and all for free market zones with an otherwise hybrid command economy where residents and visitors can take the edge off with an environment contrasting the otherwise orderly Imperial center, opening the flood gates for the free market to fufill the needs and luxuries to the people of the New Imperial Order so long as the district is kept clean and safe, businesses and people here can operate as they would under a conventionally free society with the signal of Imperial control only bleeding through in the occasional sentry or patrol of Imperial law enforcement. Though to note, all entries and exits to the district are stamped by the passing off a citizen's identification to and from the district with each entrance and exit checkpoint halting all going through to search for contraband items. In spite of its more relaxed regulations, Imperial Security Forces and Imperial Security Bureau personnel still operate within its jurisdiction.
- Corporate District: The corporate district is aesthetically nondescript in contrast other equivalent areas of other large cities, serving as the office venues for several corporations operating within the New Imperial Order to act as places of work and business as well as liaisons to the New Imperial Government, corporations included here would be the Trade Federation, Kuat-Entralla Engineering, Technoid Manufactorum, Mythosaur Forge Works, Primo Victoria Shipwrights, Hayata Corporation among others.
- Residential Sector
- The Maximilian Heights: With the Sith Knights and other members of the Sith Brotherhood occupying the Sith Heights either killed or evacuated prior or during the New Imperial invasion of Bastion, the residential district has been reworked, now accommodating retired and active service combat veterans of the New Imperial Order as well as their families and loved ones, extending the offer even the kin of those who died in service to the New Imperial Order. Offering free housing, utilities and pension to all those who qualify with a partially manned and automated support staff present within the district to help with the day-to-day activities and rehabilitation of the gravely wounded, both physically and mentally. The name 'Maximilian' is in reference and honoring Maximilian Veers, a once Imperial Armored General who was grievously wounded on the field of battle before being demoted at the onset of a suicide mission in service to the Dark Empire, a Palpatine led Imperial Remnant. The name is in dedication to him with the aims of righting the wrongs done to his legacy by a Sith-led Imperial regime long past.
SECURITY: Maximum
The beginning of New Imperial control in Ravelin was ushered with a strong military presence as the city was all but under full occupation in the months following the battle at Bastion. All the same, the tense and fortified front between the New Imperial Order and Sith Empire incurred an increased military presence in Ravelin with the establishment of both a COMPFORCE unit and a detachment of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion stationed into the city and Bastion proper to fortify and protect the city along its strategic position both on a hostile front and at the end tip of the Braxant Run.
Following the terrorist attack carried out by the Brotherhood of The Maw within the Imperial Palace, security has been increased with military presence ruling the streets and travel ways of Ravelin, the nature of a surveillance state has returned in earnest to Bastion.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
What was once the Heart of the Empire was beating once more. It was the headquarters of the Imperial Remnant before it eventually became the crowning jewel as the ruling seat of the Fel Empire, enduring as such until even some point after the emergence from the Dark Ages at the dawning of the Gulag Plague. Until it was then occupied by the Primeval and then fell into the hands of the Sith Empire. The Sith Empire greatly expanded the city as it funneled its financial and political interests into the realm, utilizing it once more as it the Empire's throne. Under its rule, the Sith expanded and built up upon the city of Ravelin greatly, investing a great deal into the city's growth and infrastructure as it laid the foundation for both a wealthy and powerful hub at the end of the Braxant run.
Some time into the Third Imperial Civil War, the New Imperial Order's campaign along the Braxant Run eventually reached the Sith-Imperial Throne World of Bastion were then the New Imperial Order embarked on an all-out siege and assault of the city, incurring great damage unto nearly every district of Ravelin before emerging victorious, with the 'Iron Sun' of the Imperial Crest flying over the Imperial Palace once more at the coming of dusk, signaling the turning point in the battle before eventually, the New Imperial Order claimed victory in Ravelin and not long after began establishing its own presence over the city.
What came next was a process of 'New Imperializing' Ravelin, removing a great deal of the Sith influence to replace many names and icons with that more fitting of the New Order though otherwise, while the boot of government surveillance and control imposed by the Sith was loosened only slightly, after a time of rebuilding, life for the remaining citizens, now made New Imperial and those who had begun to immigrate to the city from New Imperial and surrounding space remained similar to Ravelin under Sith-Imperial world in that the streets were clean and safe with criminal activity largely stamped out into only the deepest underbelly of the city. Eventual government reforms by the change of regime following the death of Irveric Tavlar further stamped down on these policies, the Fel Emperorship using the attack on Fortress Imperator to justify the greater presence of Imperial Security Forces across Ravelin.
Though the New Imperial Order was able to bring peace back to Ravelin, that did not remain for long as such came a vicious Sith Imperial counter-attack, fended off by the arrival of now Imperator Rurik Fel leading the Empire's forces to the defense of Ravelin. Since it has been all but repaired and returned to its state as the crown jewel of the Empire.
Notes: Big ups to
Darth Carnifex
for crafting the TSE's Ravelin sub which is a beautiful and meticulously crafted contribution to the lore of Chaos that I can only hope to add on to in contribution to making one of the site's more fleshed out cities as time goes on.
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