Solar Pyrrhus

Melevorgrad is the Folkscapital and largest city of the Union of Collectivist Council Republics. The city stands between the Saile and Dalach Rivers in Ceiltea with a population of 14 players. Melevorgrad is among one of the world's most developed cities, being the 12th biggest city in the World. Melevorgrad is among the largest and most populous settlements on Western Arith.

Originally founded as the capital city of the High Kingdom of Ceiltea, Ard Saileach (Great Willow), Ard Saileach grew to become a prosperous and powerful city that served as the administrative, regional and legislative capital of the High Kingdom of Ceiltea including the Lordship of Yangtzeguo. When the High Kingdom was overthrown by Collectivists Revolutionaries in the January Revolution, Ard Saileach was renamed to Melevorgrad and remained as the political and economic centre of the new Union of Collectivist Council Republics.

As the historic core of Ceiltea, Melevorgrad serves as the home of numerous artists, scientists and sports figures from all across the Union, due to the presence of its various museums, academic and political institutions and theatres. The city is well known for multiple of its landmarks, particularly its historic Red Square, Tower of the Collectivist Ideal and the Red Citadel, of which the latter serves as the seat of power of the Government of the U.C.C.R. Melevorgrad is home to many Ceiltean and Collectivist industries and is served by a comprehensive transport network, which includes a fully developed road system in and out of the city, and a port. The city is covered by many gardens, making it one of the greenest cities in Arith and the world.

Etymology
The original name of the city, Ard Saileach, was derived from the name of the Saile River, in Common Alathran: Willow River. The city was named as "Great Willow" in homage to the willow trees of the area, and the river which often carried parts, or whole trees down stream, and in-land through Western Arith.

Following the January Revolution, an unanimous decision was made by the Revolutionary Committee of "Red Saileach" - a temporary name of the capital following the Revolution - to rename the city officially, in homage and to glorify Melevor, the new Eternal Leader of the now Union of Collectivist Council Republics. The "grad" section of the name is derived from an old Pyrrhian word for city, adding additional references to the Union's direct descendance from the Pyrrhian Collectivist Council Republic.

Other names
Melevorgrad has acquired a number of epithets, most referring to its size and preeminent status within the nation: The Second Pyrrhus, the Great Seat, and the Leadercity. The demonym for a Melevorgrad resident is "Melevorgradian".

Prehistory
Before the settling of the city, the lands where it now stand were entirely covered by a Dark Oak Forest, which included a peculiar natural phenomenon: a sand flat, which laid in-land. The sand flat was where the Palace of the Collectivists and the Supreme Council building stand now, reaching all the way down to where the walls of the Red Citadel close off. The sand flat had only one connection to water, that being a small pool to it's south, now the corner of the Supreme Council building, which turtles would congregate round.

A small part of the pool remains in the gardens surrounding the Supreme Council, as some turtles remain to live in the city.

Early history
Upon the discovery of the coastline along where the town of Willowglade sat, the refugees from Pyrrhus led by Melevor immediately decided to settle the lands, forming a small bunker where the fountain on the Pavilion of the Union stands. At this time the entirety of what would become Ard Saileach was covered by a dark oak forest. Gathering resources and riches for a time, the survivors from Pyrrhus remained underground until they could officially make their town a reality.

After gathering money and resources a hill was built on top of the bunker, and named the "Liathdruim" - "the grey ridge", which was to be the seat of the new High King's power and a ceremonial hub of the religion of Ceiltean Druidism. The Liathdruim included a large willow tree in the centre, under which the High King would be enthroned and take court in the open air of his land. Surrounding the hill at the top, were statues of Ceiltean Gods and stones thought to empower the great tree and keep the area pure of any dark forces.

Capital of the High Kingdom
With the establishment of Ard Saileach it was only time before the Ceiltean peoples stretched out and claimed more land. This came with the establishment of Rafferty and Carrig, and then the eventual establishment of Doire. During this time the capital under-went major construction efforts, clearing large areas of land of trees, the construction of the famed city walls, the creation of the national road network, the clear of the sand flat and the building both of the Ceiltean National Parliament and the Palace of Kings.

During the so-called "Troubles" in Ceiltea, Ard Saileach remained a neutral and holy ground respected by both sides of the conflict. Housing the Grand College of the Order of the Druids, the city was revered as a holy site used mainly as a grounds for negotiation by both the National Ceiltean Army and the Carrig Defense League.

January Revolution
Trouble started to brew in the city as High King Melevor released his critique of elitism: "Wealth - A critique of Alathran Elitism", which was immediately picked up and praised by intellectuals and academics who resided in the city. The book went down less well with the incumbent government of Dedrich Collins, who resided over a National Conservative agenda, but decided at the time to give the book no attention. With the passing of two weeks the book was being preached on the street corners by formerly mentioned intellectuals and academics, who preached the message of the High King to the masses and which caused various walk-outs of industries across the city. At this point a decision was made by the Collins Government to place the High King under secretive house arrest and to begin censorship and banning of Wealth.

After a few days under house arrest, the High King managed to sneak out information to underground socialist elements in Ard Saileach regarding his condition, which eventually resulted in the skirmishes outside of the Government District and the storming of the National Parliament and Palace of Kings, freeing the High King and overthrowing the Collins Government. During this time the city was provisionally called "Red Saileach" as the Revolution spread throughout the Kingdom and taking over all other settlements including the Lordship of Yangtzeguo.

Becoming Melevorgrad
With the establishment of a provisional Government over the former territories of Ceiltea and Yangtzeguo, an ad-hoc committee was established in Red Saileach headed by former High King Melevor, who in turn wrote the Collectivist Charter leading to the foundation of the Union of Collectivist Council Republics on January 10th 2022. To honour the new Eternal Leader of Collectivism, the Union and the Revolution, the provisional Government voted unanimously to rename the old capital in his honour, leading to the birth of Melevorgrad.

Building Collectivism
Since the rise of the National Collectivist League the capital city has undergone massive transformation as the heart of the leading socialist state of the world, and the heart of the U.C.C.R.

Farm Collectivization
Outside Melevorgrad there was formerly a large jungle, but under the efforts of creating a large plot of land for public farming by the people of the capital the entire jungle was cut down and replaced with fertile land for wheat production.

Refurbishment of the City Centre
In the centre of the city formerly stood the Liathdruim and religious Grand College of the Order of Druids, which was moved to the south of the city with the discovery of classified religious items. With the vacation of the Druids the entire centre of the city was redesigned to fit with the new Union, a large public square with a fountain in the centre representing the new three positions: the Workers - represented in work overalls -, the vanguard (National Collectivist League) - represented in gold armour-, and the Leader - represented in diamond armour-. Along with this large birch trees were planted around where the hill used to be and banners were placed at the four entrances to the square with the words: "Peace", "Glory", "Order", and "Labor".

The Grand Saile River Monument and Revolutionary Museum
Towards the Eastern gate of the city a square was built with a large statue of Melevor supported in the background by the front entrance to the Melevorgrad Revolutionary Museum, iconic for it's mosaic of the cobble cities of Ceiltea on the front. Flowers which adjourn the square were donated by regions all across the Union.

Red Citadel
The former Government District was refitted to become the new "Red Citadel", the seat of the All-Union Government and Supreme Council of the U.C.C.R. Walls were built around the Citadel to protect it from any attempts to siege the capital and to grant those who live within those inner-walls, such as the Eternal Leader and the Folkscommissar of State Security, a level of privacy from public eyes.

Red Square
To the West of the Red Citadel construction has begun on the Red Square, intended to eventually become the largest parade square in the world and an icon of the city.

Island of Collectivists
To the North of the City Centre land was claimed and bridged across to, making space for the Collectivist Tower and Arch of Triumph on the newly named Island of Collectivists.

Location
Melevorgrad is situated between the banks of the Saile and Darach Rivers, both of which flow further in-land, with the Saile ending at the swamps of Mud Town and the Darach ending near the Temple of Pater Carnis. Two bridges in the city cross the Saile, connecting the city to the Island of Collectivists, while further east a large bridge crosses the Darach and connects the Ceiltean C.C.R. with the Honseguoan C.C.C.R. The city is also connected in the west by a small bridge connecting the island of Willowglade and the Willowgladian C.C.R. to the Ceiltean C.C.R. The city is flanked to the south by a large dark oak forest, which originally stretched up to the Saile where the city now stands but was cut down.

Time
Melevorgrad serves as the reference point used for the time zone used in most of Western Arith and parts of Moria. The areas operate in what is referred to in international standards as Melevorgrad Standard Time (MVG), which is 10 hours behind of UTC, or UTC-10.

Climate
Melevorgrad's position is a peculiar one regarding climate, with large snow-covered mountains to the south which often blow north into the city causing sleet and snow, and with tropic waters to the west which also blow a warmly westerly breeze through the cities at times. During Fall and Winter the city, which is mostly built on top of a former dark oak forest, is affected by southerly winds and weather conditions including much rain and snow, which has helped produce the extremely green and fertile soil on the lands outside the city. During Summer and Spring the city enjoys clear and warm weather, affected by westerly winds and heatwaves coming from the west and from Willowglade in. Weather can fluctuate widely, with temperatures ranging from -10°C (14 °F) during Winter to up to 35°C (95 °F) during the Summer.

Typical high temperatures in the warm months of June, July, and August are around a comfortable 20 to 26 °C (68 to 79 °F), but during heat waves (which can occur between May and September), daytime high temperatures often exceed 30 °C (86 °F), sometimes for a week or two at a time. In the winter, average temperatures normally drop to approximately −10 °C (14 °F), though almost every winter there are periods of warmth with day temperatures rising above 0 °C (32 °F), and periods of cooling with night temperatures falling below −20 °C (−4 °F). These periods usually last about a week or two. The growing season in Melevorgrad normally lasts from the start of Spring in March to the middle of Fall in September.

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Population
The city of Melevorgrad is 100% ethnically homogenous, being the heart of the Ceiltean nation. The city is populated with a few Ceilteans who moved from Red Carrig for work and positions in Government.

Religion
Druids form the majority of the city's population; most of whom adhere to the doctrines of the Grand College of Druids, which is located to the south of the city. The Arch-Druid serves as the head of the church and resides south of the city alongside the Grand College. Melevorgrad is Ceiltea's capital of Druidism, which has been the country's traditional religion

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