Paix
Paix is a city of approximately 100,000 people situated at the confluence of the Sineuse River and the Great River. It is the diplomatic capital of Montaigne, where L'Empereur Leon XVIII has had constructed an enormous palace - called Le Labyrinthe - where all the diplomats of Theah come to treat with each other.
Districts
Palais Hill -- The Palais du Labyrinthe (just Le Labyrinthe to most) sits atop a gentle hill overlooking the confluence. The palace itself is a sprawling edifice surrounded by immaculately manicured lawns and gardens; surrounding those gardens in turn are the expensive apartments and small palaces of the rich and powerful. The Palais hill and Le Labyrinthe itself are well-patrolled by the Marquis' men.
Le Cage -- Southwest of Le Labyrinthe is the worst slum in the city, nicknamed "Le Cage" - the Cage - by its inhabitants. Its twisting, narrow streets are sandwiched between the Palais hill and the swampy marshland at the join of the confluence. Smugglers from Castille and elsewhere sometimes put in at the swamps near Le Cage - while navigating the islands in the channel is difficult, experienced river-men are happy to avoid L'Empereur's tax men. As a consequence, the portions of Le Cage closer to the swamp have a more nautical feel, while deeper into the slum they become poorer and meaner.
Quadrant Mercantile -- Surrounding the Great Square and continuing down to the quays, the Mercantile Quarter is home to Great River trading concerns, their warehouses and no few inns and flophouses for sailors. The sailors' district is southwest of the Great Square, and the smarter sailors do their carousing there instead of traveling for somewhat less safe thrills to Le Cage.
Old Paix -- The oldest part of the city, Old Paix is northeast of Palais Hill and based around a small spring-fed pond (the Etang Ancien) that flows to a marshy region below Palais Hill. Now home to artisans and Paix's middle class, it can vary from rather staid streets to Bohemian artists' neighborhoods. Some young gentry maintain apartments in the artistic areas of Old Paix, either unable to afford homes on Palais Hill, uninterested in Le Labyrinthe's particular brand of decadence or merely seeking a place for a second apartment for less appropriate liasons.
Landmarks
Fort Paix -- A star fort built by Leon's father, the Fort watches over the quays and eyes the Castillian forest on the other side of the river. It has a detachment of regular troops stationed there, usually rotated back from the front into a reserve position. The posting is widely considered to be one of the best in Montaigne, given Paix's dissolute reputation.
Cathedral du Sainte-Michelle -- The cathedral not just of Paix but all of the duchy of Surlign is often empty, given Leon's dislike of the Vaticine Church and people's consequent fear of being seen as devout. The Bishop - Henri Duval - has not been seen for over a year. Officially, the cathedral is under the care of Archdeacon Monsignor Jacques du Matise in the bishop's absence, but he is from a noble family and has embraced the life of Le Labryinthe. Consequently, the day-to-day operations of the cathedral are overseen by Bishop Henri's assistant, a young woman named Sister Martine Hunot. The cathedral sits on the southeast corner of Palais Hill atop a cliff that overlooks the city.