Korda is the industrial heart of the Selen and its inhabitants. Nestled in the Atikan Valley in the southwestern region of Ussun, Korda is the second oldest city on Selen and has cemented its role at the forefront of industrial manufacture by serving as the home of the Zratis Arms Corporation. This has come at a cost, however. Endless factories and manufacturing plants spew smog and debris, polluting the air in the valley itself, and marring the surrounding countryside. Korda is sometimes referred to as a "basin of black" by the locals. Only the richest of Korda's inhabitants - the industrial bourgeoisie - can afford to live above ground, building their homes on the valley's mountainous edge, given the need for expensive air-filtration systems.
A byproduct of the extravagant wealth enjoyed by its inhabitants, the culture of Upper Korda is one of extravagance and excess — carrying threads of the cultural tapestry of its Selenian founders yet appearing decidedly foreign due to the influences of numerous imported cultures.
Points of Interest
Subterranean Korda
Subterranean Korda, also known as Lower Korda (“LK” for short) houses the poorest and the majority of the city's criminality.
When pollution became such an issue on the surface, many began to look towards underground living to escape the poisonous air. Elevator systems transport inhabitants to specific sections of the city above, with 'work permits' being required to travel between the two districts. Life expectancy is low in Subterranean Korda, with many being lured into prostitution rings and smuggling as an alternative lifestyle. Illness is frequent, and medical facilities are few and far between.
The depravity in Subterranean Korda has seen a huge rise in Ryll distribution and use in recent years, with a move toward semi-permanent, illegal glitterstim manufacture. Many of the clubs and bars in Subterranean Korda act as fronts for this booming Spice business. It is said that Korda and the Dajorran shadowport of Port Ol'val are like cousins; distance may separate them, but they share the family business.
The culture of Lower Korda is one of resilience; many people display uncanny resourcefulness and a charming wit born from the demands of surviving a disenfranchised existence. Literature and cinema performances often have an air of cynicism and bleakness about them, though if one looks hard enough, they can find a thread of cautious hopefulness that weaves through every aspect of Lower Kordan life.
The Subterranean Korda Community Center, frequently referred to as the "SKC", is a modest yet integral piece of life in Subterranean Korda. Located in the heart of the district in a repurposed warehouse, the center offers hot meals, clean drinking water, and a warm, welcoming environment for those in need. In addition to food, the center provides basic medical care, relying on volunteers and the generosity of donors to keep its doors open. The SKC stands as a beacon of hope in a district plagued by poverty and crime, representing a sanctuary where the community can unite to support its most vulnerable members.