(KAL-sin-um) Capital city of [[Northern Bloc]] and home of the [[Corporate Park]] ###### **Location** [[Aracosa Island]] / [[Ludrasaria]] / [[Ares]] ###### **Population** 172,786,900 ###### **Land area** 157,079 km$^2$ ###### **Density** ~1100 km$^2$ %%400x500%% ###### **Demonym** Calcinamite ###### **History** Calcinam was the first place where the colony ships touched down during the [[Great Confluence]]. After [[The Collapse]], it was one of the first cities to rise from its pre-industrial slump. %%~~It is also the birthplace of the [[Gnaltic Empire]].~~%% Calcinam and Highland were the preeminent city-states in the early years. If not for the ambitions and hunger of their Acendancist (Totalitarian) leaders, they may have set the human species on a different path. As such, they (and Northern Bloc as a whole) are looked down upon as untrustworthy and controlling, always looking for the next opportunity to seize more power for themselves. This has caused the city to be a target for groups like the [[Freeworlders]]. There is more terrorism on Aracosa Island than anywhere else on Ares. Fortunately for the city, those freedom groups are small in number and their attacks are rarely garner the attention of the population at large. So the citizens of Calcinam continue about their lives, feeling great pride in the glorious (and sordid) past. >[!danger]- Secrets >*In truth, Northern Bloc performs some false flag attack against itself. The attacks are sensationalized on the national NewsNet, but hold very little actual value. Leading to a sense that the terrorists are ineffective and/or incompetent, while still fulfilling the role of boogeyman.* Much of the positive attitude is due to Northern Bloc's endless stream of propaganda throughout the city. Both on their portion of the NewsNet and on their own national NewsNet. Live posters adorn the various public spaces, swirling with images of national pride. Very few who live in the conurbation have become disillusioned with the national message. With the establishment of the [[Aracosa Autonomous Zone]] in 2029 PC - 229 NDZ, Northern Bloc was able to court all manner of organizations, corporations and even foreign governments to establish roots on the island. This has worked as a boon to both sides, each believing they are gaining an advantage over the other. All the while, foreign money flows into Northern Bloc's coffers. There is also a hope that eventually Northern Bloc may shake the shadow of its past and Calcinam may become the shining city that everyone had hoped it would be. %% >[!warning] Spoilers for the [[Imperium - Schattenkrieg]] novel >This was not to be, however. Senator Montgomery's ambitions led to what many had long feared. Northern Bloc, once again, became the instrument of humanity's downfall. %% ###### Post-[[Holoscaral Outbreak]] The city itself would survive mostly unscathed. With some of its infrastructure damaged, it could not fully support its tremendous population, and a minor exodus began. It remains the capital of the restructured [[Northern Bloc]] after the [[Years Of Strife]]. But the new government is struggling to hold the system together. Reconstruction efforts have hit financial roadblocks, as other nations have diverted their resources away from the [[Aracosa Autonomous Zone|Auzo]] to their own troubles. %%More on this later as the second novel works its way through this.%% ###### Images ![[Calcinam.jpeg]] Aracosa Island Map ![[Calcinam-Highland Detail Labeled.jpg]] Detail Map ![[Calcinam-Highland Detail Graphic (small).jpg]]