Perhaps the most civilised of the cities of Rosuto-Shima is Shangti, quaintly referred to as the Imperial City. Here it is quite easy to find foods and places of business from the Civilised Nations beyond the small island, though the native temperament and stoicism permeates the atmosphere. Divided into four districts governed by separate rulers, Shangti is a city of business and entertainment that only barely fits into the ancient city walls.
If one makes an effort, one can imagine the original state of the Imperial Palace, which was the home of an Emperor said to have ruled over the entirety of the island. Sadly, years of war wracked Rosuto-Shima, and much of the original architecture has fallen into a state of disarray. Here and there are remnants, mostly now inhabited by squatters. These bits and pieces reveal what the city of Shangti must have once been, in an age of darkness and superstition.
Now, the buildings that flood Shangti's narrow streets are a hodgepodge of native and foreign design. Many residences and places of business have paper walls, easily moveable to form new rooms, so that one might create a guest room to provide the hospitality the people of Shangti are known for. In a move away from the traditional architecture, many of the roofs are peaked or slanted, imitating the style well known in our own mountain nations. Engineers from the Civilised Nations have begun conversing with the engineers and scholars of the island with the hopes of building one of the sky scrapers now being developed in other parts of the world. The innovations seem endless!
Getting to Shangti
From beyond the island of Rosuto-Shima, the only way to reach Shangti is by boat. Ferries from nearby coasts are popular, and many ocean-liners now offer cruises with Shangti as the destination.
From other cities on the island of Rosuto-Shima, the best way to travel is by rail. The Rosuto-Shima Steam Rail Authority is continually building better vehicles for passenger travel; many of their shipping trains have added passenger cars of high quality. Travel is very affordable for tourists, though sadly, it seems that local currency has yet to catch up with the value of our own, and the trains are largely used by Rosuto-Shima's upper class and foreigners.
Getting around Shangti
The quickest and easiest way to get around Rosuto-Shima is hiring a steam rickshaw. Though these contraptions do not have the same elegance as a horse and carriage, their drivers reliably know their way around the city and can avoid taking travellers into treacherous areas.
Walking around Shangti is inadvisable. Many areas that are perfectly safe butt up against areas where properly civilised travellers would never choose to explore. The city is not laid out upon an intuitive design, and newcomers might easily lose their way and find themselves in one of the city's less reputable neighbourhoods.
Where to Stay and What to See
"Shounin Square," also known as "Merchant's Square," boasts some of the nicest and most prosperous inns in Shangti. Though the prices are higher than one might expect for the limited luxuries provided, these inns provide a measure of security, and crimes rarely befall travellers during their stay in Shounin Square.
A slightly less reputable area with lower pricing is the "Motenashi District," or the "Entertainment District." The Motenashi District offers proximity to the Haimamire Gekijou, the "covered with ashes theater," which houses the best performances of traditional and international plays in Rosuto-Shima. This district contains the most restaurants (though many also provide gambling entertainment and other such disreputable vices), and during the day, the streets are lined with musicians and other performers, hoping to please the audiences that pass by. Should one choose to get one's fortune read or experience other native superstitions, all of these are easily accessible in the Motenashi District. However, walking home at night may be dangerous for travelers, as the streets come alive with disreputable men during the late hours.
Visitors intent on staying for any length of time should consider hiring a bodyguard and guide from Hiromu Sawa's Ronin-for-Hire. These guards are reliable protectors and tend to know more about the city than any foreigners, making them ideal guides to learn the best (and worst!) places to visit in the city.
