San Branik is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Kaskiv. Located in the western steppe region near the border with the Divine Republic of Kresimiria, it serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation.
Historically known as the “Granary City” of the Vosti Empire due to its role in the agricultural trade, San Branik has transformed in the modern era into a hub of energy commerce and secular liberalism. It is the terminus of the Trans-Republic Pipeline, which supplies Kresimirian industry with natural gas.
Politically, San Branik is defined by its secularism and its role as a sanctuary for intellectuals fleeing the authoritarianism of its western neighbor. It is the seat of the Kaskivian Parliament and the residence of Prime Minister Vera Donini.
History
The Imperial Era (1650–1918)
San Branik was founded as a trading post on the steppe rivers during the expansion of the Vosti Empire. By the 19th century, it had become the administrative center of the “Eastern Province.” Unlike the religious fervor of Sinj or the militarism of Vost, San Branik developed a mercantile culture focused on the export of grain.
The Velvet Exit (1918)
The city played a pivotal role in the Collapse of the Vosti Empire. In November 1918, as the empire disintegrated, the local governor in San Branik, Matteo Vorelli, declared the independence of the Republic from the balcony of the Governor’s Palace.
- The Treaty of San Branik (1919): Facing the threat of the Unification War spilling over the border, Vorelli negotiated a non-aggression pact with Kresimirian General Dominik Loncar. Signed in the city, this treaty secured Kaskiv’s neutrality and spared San Branik from the destruction seen in cities like Ravna Skrad.
The Modern Era (1980s–Present)
The discovery of natural gas in the eastern steppe transformed San Branik in the late 20th century. The city became the headquarters for the state energy monopoly.
- The Pipeline: In 1985, the Trans-Republic Pipeline was connected to the city’s distribution hubs, linking San Branik directly to the steelworks of Novi Otonik.
- The Donini Boom: Under the administration of Prime Minister Vera Donini (2018–Present), the city has invested heavily in digital infrastructure, aiming to rival the tech sector of Kromine.
Economy
San Branik’s economy is a mix of traditional agriculture and modern energy finance.
- Energy: The San Branik Gas Exchange sets the regional price for natural gas. The city is home to the Kaskiv State Gas Company.
- Agriculture: The city remains the primary processing center for the grain produced in the surrounding steppe. It competes with Ravna Skrad in the wheat market.
- Media and Exile: Due to Kaskiv’s lack of censorship, San Branik has become a media hub. It hosts the Free Kresimiria Press Office, an organization of exiled journalists who broadcast uncensored news back across the border into Kresimiria.
Cityscape
San Branik is known for its wide, open boulevards and secular architecture, contrasting with the walled, church-dominated cities of Kresimiria.
- The Hall of the Republic: The parliament building, a Neoclassical structure located in Freedom Square.
- The Pipeline Monument: A modernist sculpture marking the start of the gas export line.
- The Diplomatic Quarter: Hosting embassies and trade missions. Kresimiria maintains a large trade mission here, managed by the Council for Foreign Affairs, primarily to coordinate gas shipments.