Altdorf
Altdorf no not that one was/is the capital of The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy) and Reikland. It was known as Kor Vanaeth back when the High Elves colonized the old world. Sitting on the banks of the river Reik and Talabec Altdorf serves as a massive center for trade and is easily the wealthiest and largest city of the entire Empire, possibly even rivaling Marienburg in wealth. It is also olde English for “Old Dwarf”…what? It isn’t? Well, it should be (it's actually German for "Old Village" because Empire ist Deutch).
The Imperial Tourist industry would describe Altdorf as a beautiful city protected by high white walls that protect a bustling metropolis full of old, stylish architecture. A cultural melting pot, where people from all the provinces of the Empire can meet, mingle and trade. Important landmarks include the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Engineers School and The Colleges of Magic.
In reality, Altdorf is a Feudal World's idea of a Hive City - that is to say, it's cramped, no one living can learn all the alleys, quarters and districts as they keep getting changed, built over or demolished, and there's the general, quaint aroma of smoke, dung and sewage in all but the most prosperous areas. Buildings are regularly built on top of each-other with no regard for whatever might be below them. The Imperial Palace itself is so absolutely-fuck-huge that there is no accurate map of it, because every Emperor adds more shit to it like a seven layer cake made of architectural fever dreams. The Colleges of Magic use warding magic from the Grey Wind to hide themselves to properly culturally posture themselves like Elves that founded them. There's a ton of guilds that keep the city wealthy, but they tend to act like the unions of Republican propaganda pieces, being all-controlling conglomerates filled with middle-management misery and overzealous lower-class political fervour.
But all that said, like all real world cities that suck to live in, the locals have a love/hate relationship to it and wouldn't live anywhere else - least of all the rest of the Empire, who they see as backwards and uncultured. So, it's fantasy New York, with architecture from Copenhagen and London, and the pervasive smell piss from Paris.
In short, it's pretty much a more Imperial and somewhat less savory version of Ankh Morpork.
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A guild giving the wrong sort of vibe
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| Provinces of the Empire |
|---|
| Reikland - Averland - Hochland - Middenland - Nordland - Ostland - Ostermark - Stirland - Talabecland - Wissenland |
| Cities: Altdorf - Averheim - Middenheim - Mordheim - Talabheim - Nuln |
| Lost Provinces: Solland - Drakwald |
| Independent Provinces: The Moot - Marienburg - Sylvania |