Polograd is the administrative capital and largest city of District III (Pologradska). Located in the sweeping eastern plains of the Divine Republic, it is a city of immense historical and economic significance.
Polograd holds a “Special Status of Divinity” under the Constitution, recognized as one of the ancient seats of Kresimirian culture. It is the home of the Grand Library, the nation’s greatest repository of pre-Republican knowledge, and it remains the most politically conservative major city in the country. It serves as the spiritual heartland of the Sons of Kresimir party and the corporate headquarters of the immense Maj Holdings conglomerate.
Polograd is the only city in the Republic to have ever elected a monarchist government. From 2002 to 2008, the mayoralty was held by Viktor von Kres of the Imperial Heritage Party. While his tenure was marked by eccentric attempts to restore imperial aesthetics, he was eventually ousted by a coalition of the Sons of Kresimir and Vjetrusa, returning the city to orthodox conservative rule.
Geography and Cityscape
Polograd is built on a slight elevation overlooking the vast agricultural flatlands of District III. Unlike the industrial smog of Novi Otonik or the modern concrete of Sinj, Polograd has preserved much of its Vosti-era architecture.
- The Old City: Enclosed by 18th-century stone walls, this district is a maze of archives, quiet squares, and ancient temples. It is dominated by the dome of the Grand Library.
- Maj District: To the south of the historic center lies the modern business district. It is anchored by the Maj Tower, a glass skyscraper that serves as the global headquarters for Bran Maj’s empire. Critics often point to the tower overshadowing the city’s clocktower as a symbol of the shift from tradition to corporate oligarchy.
History
The Keeper of Records
Before the Unification, Polograd was the administrative hub for the Vosti Empire’s eastern grain trade. However, its primary fame came from its monasteries, which preserved Kresimirian literature during centuries of foreign rule.
During the Unification War, the city surrendered early to the Centralist Faction to avoid bombardment, preserving its architecture. This survivalist pragmatism has defined the city’s character ever since.
The Conservative Stronghold (1921–Present)
In the Republican era, Polograd became the bastion of the “Old Right.” It was the home base of Divine Founder Eward Matek, though the city eventually turned against his liberalism.
From 1962 to 2012, the city’s politics were defined by Senator Tihomir Bran, the leader of the Sons of Kresimir. Bran used his influence to turn Polograd into a “moral fortress,” resisting the cultural liberalization spreading from the capital. Even today, public displays of “immorality” (such as alcohol consumption near temples) are strictly policed by the municipal guard.
Economy
Polograd is one of the wealthiest cities in the Republic, though the wealth is concentrated in old families and corporate executives.
- Corporate HQ: The presence of Maj Holdings makes the city a financial powerhouse. Decisions affecting the nation’s steel and logistics industries are made in the Maj Tower.
- Agriculture: As the capital of Pologradska, the city is the trading hub for the district’s massive grain output. The Polograd Commodities Exchange sets the price for non-state agricultural goods.
- Cultural Tourism: Scholars and tourists visit the Grand Library, although access to the “Restricted Stacks” is tightly controlled by the Council for Education.
Politics
Polograd is the safest conservative seat in Kresimiria.
From 2008 to 2022, the city was led by Mayor Kiel Turundzhov, a polarizing figure who defected from Vjetrusa to Blue Dawn. Turundzhov is credited with the construction of the modern business district but was reviled by religious conservatives for secularizing city institutions. He was succeeded in 2022 by Ivan Bran of the Sons of Kresimir.
- Sons of Kresimir: The party holds the mayoralty and one of the two Senate seats (currently Malik Kondratiev). The local SoK chapter is highly organized, running youth groups and charitable foundations.
- Vjetrusa: The second seat is held by Bran Maj. His influence ensures that the city remains business-friendly despite the SoK’s religious rhetoric.
- The Opposition: The CRF has a negligible presence, mostly limited to a small circle of intellectuals and writers.
Culture
The atmosphere in Polograd is somber, intellectual, and traditional.
- The Silence: A local custom (and noise ordinance) discourages loud music or shouting in the streets of the Old City out of respect for the scholars in the Library.
- Literature: Despite its conservatism, the city is a haven for writers who prefer the quiet of the provinces to the bustle of Sinj.
- The Procession of the Scrolls: An annual festival where replicas of the ancient texts are paraded through the streets.