Pegerms
Pegerms | |
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Flag of Pegerms Flag | |
| Nickname: Fi oydesde sdad des laans (The oldest town in the land) | |
| Motto: Yses sdad vro ohltoid (Our city forever) | |
| Country | File:Flag vyv.png Vyvland |
| Province | Pegerm |
| Parliament constituency | Pegerms |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Karol Sdoinden (Liberal) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 73,225 |
| Demonym | Pegrez |
| Time zone | UTC-6 |
| Postcode | J2000-J2999 |
| Phone code | 734 (PEG) |
| Elevation | 46m |
| Website | www.pegerms.vy |
Pegerms (/pə'geːɾmz/) is a historic city and municipality in south-central Vyvland, situated on the western flank of the Fijral Volcano and in the province of Pegerm, of which it is the capital. It is best known as the site of the ancient city of Pegerms, which was the de facto capital of Vyvland from 790 AD until the eruption of the Fijral Volcano in 1037. Today the ancient city is a popular tourist attraction, while the modern town which has grown up down the mountain from the volcano is a bustling town and one of the richest in the region.
History
The first evidence of settlement in Pegerms dates from around 600 AD, with crude artefacts of pottery in addition to fossilised remains found on a hill above the ancient town. Growth increased substantially after this, with settlement being concentrated in the short east-west valley. Pegerms had soon become one of the largest settlements in Vyvland, and by far the most technologically advanced. Excavations in the ancient city have shown evidence of underfloor heating and running water in addition to the grand architecture, which used marble and granite from mines in the area. The growth of Pegerms only accelerated when it became the seat of the Old Confederacy tribal leaders' meetings, in which tribal leaders from across Vyvland would come to the city annually. Pegerms was able to profit and grow from the incoming wealth this brought, building lavish bathhouses and temples. Much of Pegerms's architecture took inspiration from Iglesian architecture during the period.
Despite Pegerm's status as the most technologically advanced city in Vyvland and one of the most advanced in Western Esquarium, it was not able to withstand the eruption of the Fijral Volcano in 1037. The only eruption of the volcano ever recorded in human history, it sent multiple cubic kilometres of lava running down its western flank and right through Pegerms's valley, covering the city to a depth of 30 metres above street level. Due to the eruption's devastation, in the following years Pegerms was eclipsed by Lorence on the other side of the volcano. Although a new town was built on the edge of the valley further down, Pegerms did not recover from the disaster. Pegerms remained a small town, albeit a relatively wealthy one, throughout the middle ages.
However, Pegerms began to grow again in the late nineteenth century, mostly due to wealthy migrants from the nearby cities of Lorence, Niyport and to a lesser extent Jesel. Excavations on Ancient Pegerms began in 1910, with the ancient town having become a major tourist attraction by the middle of the following decade. The town was viewed as a desirable residency location for many of the higher-ups in the regimes of Admiral Jueves and Erman Sanker, although the presence of and contempt from important Nationalist Movement officials was greatly resented in the town. Since Vyvlander reunification, Pegerms has benefitted from a massive boost to the economy of the local area, which has encouraged more migration, despite the increased house prices and cost of living.
Geography
Pegerms today is situated at a curve in the River Pegerms valley, which runs westwards down from the Fijral Volcano and then turns northwards towards the River Ryzer, into which it was naturally diverted after the 1037 eruption; it originally fed into the River Fule, Vyvland's longest. The centre of the modern city is approximately two kilometres downstream on the fast-flowing river from the core of the ancient city. The current city is situated atop the lava at the bottom of the river valley, which has caused significant subsidence problems in the past, most notably on the Elisejerj on the northern side of the valley, which is well-known for its wonky spire. The Pegerms municipality also incudes a significant proportion of the Fijral National Park and two suburban villages to the west of the town, Klenden and Jelengsdal.
Economy
Pegerms's economy is based largely around tourism; despite its relatively small population, Pegerms receives the fourth-largest number of visitors of any city in Vyvland. Those who are not employed in tourism are mainly employed in Lorence, which is a twenty-minute train journey away; many ambassadors with embassies in Lorence live in the upmarket Elvroter district in the north of the city.
Transport
Pegerms Cenjral station is situated on a short spur of the Lorence-Niyport line, although the city also has a mainline station on its edge, Pegerms Norfdal. Both have frequent services to Lorence Vlut station. The A2 motorway runs to the north of the town, with the more minor A36 motorway running to the south.