The name Iryna refers to an island of the Corvidan Archipelago as well as the city which takes up the entirety of its landmass. Iryna is the foremost cultural and economic power in the Archipelago, with the largest population by an order of magnitude than the next most populous island, despite its location on a landmass only 2 chases wide.
Main article: History of Iryna
Of the Corvidan Archipelago's constituent islands, Iryna was the last major island settled, approximately 300 years after the first refugees landed on Ardenei. Few facts remain regarding the city's founding or its alleged founder, Irynaeus. Iryna grew slowly from a marine outpost to a metropolis over the next 200 years, eventually attracting the attention of that era's major political power, the island of Oxana. The Champions War was fought between Oxana and Iryna for control over the fledgling city, with Iryna successfully defending itself against its foreign invaders in the year 522. With no further fears of conquest and no need to devote further resources to warfare, Iryna's development greatly accelerated, as did increasing social pressures such as overcrowding and income disparity. In the early 900s, the city's powerful social elite, led by the Kor'onen sisters, took bold action to remedy these issues. The city was nearly rebuilt from its foundations, with entire neighborhoods razed and a platform constructed to support a second level of development. This period of aggressive growth was immediately followed by an economic slump, remedied only when new leaders shifted the city towards more sustainable reforms rather than destructive upheaval. Among these reforms was investment in nascent magitech inventions; magitech soon became one of the city's largest industries and integral to Irynian identity. However, with the return of exponential population growth also came the return of as-yet-unresolved social issues. The late 1010s saw a significant shift in the political status quo, with non-elite Irynians taking over major government positions and dedicating resources to long-term solutions for Irynian inequality.
Further information: Parliament, Governor's Mansion, and Justice in Iryna
Iryna is a republican city-state. Its government is divided into two branches, which hold equivalent political power. Parliament is the legislative and judicial branch, creating and interpreting laws. The Governor’s Mansion is the executive and administrative branch, implementing and enforcing those laws. Parliament Representatives and the Governor are chosen through direct elections, which are open to anyone over the age of 15 who has continually resided in Iryna for the past 2 years. All elections take place on Day 30 of Month 12, with votes tallied during the intercalary days, and the victor taking office on Day 1 of Month 1 of the following year. Candidates are permitted to campaign for up to 6 months prior to election day, and can be any Irynian resident, so long as they are themselves eligible to vote. To ensure neutrality, Parliament oversees gubernatorial elections and the Governor’s Mansion oversees parliamentary elections. All other government positions are appointed by Parliament or the Governor’s Mansion, including the position of Champion, the Governor's second-in-command. There are no political parties or coalitions.
Main article: Districts of Iryna
The city of Iryna is too populous and complex to be efficiently governed as a single unit; as such, since the city's early history, Iryna has been broken up into subdivisions called districts to ensure a more direct approach to local government. Before the construction of Iryna's upper platform, there were 6 districts, but the current number[needs update] is 12. Each district is subject to the same laws and fees, but contains courts, schools, and other public services which exclusively serve residents of that district. The cultural identity of each district exists in a cyclical relationship with their officially-defined boundaries - although the borders were defined by pre-existing neighborhoods, each district has attained a unique identity as a result of their explicit distinction from one another. Many people define themselves as residents of their district nearly as much as they identify as Irynians, although district divisions are ultimately arbitrary.
Main article: Economy of Iryna
Iryna has a highly developed economy, with industries such as magitech engineering and public transporation that do not exist on other islands in the Archipelago. Large companies, commercial collectives, and independently-owned businesses coexist in Iryna, filling different niches of the economic landscape. Iryna uses the Corvidan Archipelago's standard currency, coin-gold or CG, with smaller denominations such as copper or silver having been made obsolete due to inflation. The top five most common jobs are retail employees, construction workers, maritime laborers, healthcare practitioners, and government bureaucrats. Irynian employees work on a per-job, per-day, or per-hour basis, depending on their industry. Irynians largely spend their incomes on fees that cover basic needs such as housing, utilities, and public infrastructure. Those with disposable income patronize the arts and purchase magitech devices.
Main article: Housing in Iryna
Irynian housing is wholly controlled by the Irynian government, which manages properties and collects residency fees as well as providing utility access. The vast majority of Irynians live in shared housing, with at least some if not all of their living spaces being communal. Irynians move frequently between housing as their needs and circumstances change. The very wealthiest and most influential families of Upper Old Iryna are able to occupy estates, large homes surrounded by private land. Conversely, homelessness is a serious and enduring issue in Iryna; many Irynians, unable to afford residency fees, are forced to find other methods of sheltering themselves. Some of these homeless Irynians group together into makeshift communities, the most prominent of which is a collection of raft-houses known as the raft city. Homeless Irynians are unable to access certain city services and are at increased risk of injury, illness, or even death from inclement weather, industrial accidents, criminal activity, and other dangers. The current Irynian government has made remedying this situation a high priority.
Main article: Agriculture in Iryna
The diversity of Irynians' diets is restricted by the lack of arable land on the island itself. The city government imports most of the food consumed by Irynian residents, but technological innovations have allowed a growing percentage of food to be produced within Irynian borders. Aquaculture and commercial fishing are a major factor in domestic Irynian food production, and seafood is a large component of the typical Irynian diet. Meat and other animal products are rarer, being perceived as gourmet or decadent ingredients. Greenhouse galleys are specially-designed watercraft of massive scale where crops can be grown without sacrificing valuable land; the increased production of these galleys has marginally improved Irynian nutritional diversification.
Main article: Ecology of Iryna
Iryna is unique in the Corvidan Archipelago for its entirely urban environment. Before its settlement, Iryna was a rocky landmass with little animal or plant life; the vast majority of species, excepting birds, were brought to Iryna by its residents. The only existing green spaces are intentionally landscaped parks, with Highpark being the only one of significant size. As such, the animals living on the island have had to adapt to its specific niche. Although Iryna has limited ecological diversity in relation to other islands in the Archipelago, many of those species are capable of thriving in an urban setting. Synanthropy is necessary for survival, with some species living inside Irynian residences. Many species are also kept as pets or working animals.
Main article: Education in Iryna
Iryna is a highly-educated society with near-universal literacy. Education is mandatory for all children under the age of 16, with many parents enrolling their children in education programs before the required age, and many adults continuing their education for many years afterwards. Mandatory schooling is broken up into primary and secondary schools. Primary school educates younger children on every potential academic subject, while secondary school allows older children to select the subjects on which they would like to focus their efforts. Subjects include math, science, trade skills, the arts, language, literature, spellcasting, and history. Educational administration is organized on a per-district basis, but students can apply to attend school in a different district if it is deemed more convenient or compatible for them. The city's largest and most prestigious institution of higher education is Iryna Magitech Institute, also known as IMI.
Further information: Entertainment in Iryna and Fashion in Iryna
Irynian society places high value in personal aesthetic individuality and artistic expression. The arts are present in many aspects of everyday life in Iryna: fashion, visual arts, theater, written narratives, and more are easily accessible and enjoyed by people of all social classes. Irynian buildings are decorated with murals, graffiti, and other types of street art. Commercial areas are typically dotted with street performers who entertain passers-by. Some mages, most notably bards, integrate artistic practices into their spellcasting, and incoporate magic into their artistic creations. Many residents of other islands travel to Iryna as tourists to experience its culture, with some becoming residents of Iryna to contribute to its arts scene. As an increasing amount of Irynians gain access to the IrynaNet and SmartStones, new mediums that take advantage of their interfaces have become popular, such as text adventures and arcade games.
Main article: Transportation in Iryna
Despite its relatively small size, Iryna's extremely dense urban design necessitates a variety of transportation options for its residents to travel efficiently around the city. All transportation is privately-operated, with the exception of the government-run subway system. The most common personal vehicle is the rickshaw, which can be either manual or motorized, although some high-speed designs are restricted by law due to their perceived risk of injury. For those who wish to enter or leave Iryna, the Port of Iryna houses many types of boats and ships suitable for different types of ocean voyages. These watercraft have transitioned towards the use of magitech engines. Some watercraft are used for purposes other than travel, including agriculture and housing.