Sprodvice is the second-largest city in District X (Moraviskameja). Located in the northeast of the district, it sits close to the internal border with District V (Moskiprovac), making it the primary gateway for trade and travel between the Bosken south and the Kresimirian heartland.
Sprodvice is a city defined by trauma and reconstruction. Historically, it was a hotbed of militant activity and the site of the 1953 Attempted Assassination of Chancellor Kresimirovic II. In the modern era, it is best known for the devastation caused by the 2014 Earthquakes and the subsequent corruption scandal surrounding its rebuilding.
Today, the city is physically and socially divided. The state-funded “New Zone”—a gleaming grid of glass and steel built by GradnjaMC—stands in stark contrast to the crumbling, neglected “Old Quarter” where the majority of the Bosken population resides.
History
The Militant Hub (1921–1961)
Following the Unification War, Sprodvice became a center of resistance. Its proximity to the northern border made it a strategic location for BRC-21 smuggling operations. It was the birthplace of Maxi Sauerbeck, the logistical mastermind behind the 1931 Vijrje Attack.
On October 22, 1953, the city was the site of the most audacious operation of the insurgency: the attempted assassination of Chancellor Kresimirovic II. The ambush on King Kresimir IV Boulevard failed to kill the leader but led to the “Sprodvice Lockdown,” a decade-long military occupation that choked the city’s economy until the 1961 Treaty.
The 2014 Disaster
In November 2014, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck just outside the city. The tremor flattened much of the historic center, killing 842 people.
The aftermath became a national scandal. The Council for Internal Affairs initially blockaded aid convoys, fearing AFIM infiltration. When reconstruction funds were finally released via the South Reconstruction Act, they were managed by STP Credit. The bank funneled the money into building a new commercial district on the city’s outskirts, rather than repairing the homes of the survivors.
Geography and Cityscape
Sprodvice is effectively two cities separated by the ruins of the St. Lev Cathedral.
The New Zone (Gradnja District)
Located on stable bedrock to the north, this area looks like a suburb of Sinj. It features modern apartment blocks, a NaroMart supercenter, and the regional offices of Maj Logistics.
- Demographics: Primarily inhabited by Kresimirian civil servants, security personnel, and employees of northern companies.
- Infrastructure: Fully integrated with the KresiX smart grid and patrolled by the Civil Order Force.
The Old Quarter
The historic southern section of the city. More than a decade after the earthquake, many buildings remain damaged or rely on temporary reinforcements provided by the BLF and the Bosken Heritage Foundation.
- Demographics: Almost exclusively ethnic Bosken.
- Economy: Reliance on the informal economy and remittances from the diaspora.
Economy
Sprodvice is a logistical node.
- Trade: It sits on the main rail line connecting Brod Moravice to Vijrje. The Republic Rail marshaling yard is the city’s largest employer.
- Smuggling: Due to the internal border checks imposed by the 1933 National Security Act, Sprodvice has a thriving black market. “Grey goods” (unlicensed electronics, foreign medicine) are moved through the city into the restrictive market of District X.
Politics
The city is a stronghold of the BLF, currently led locally by Mayor Marta Jukic.
- Tension: The presence of a large CIA garrison (legacy of the 1953 assassination attempt) creates constant friction. The “New Zone” is often referred to by locals as “The Settlement” or “Little Sinj.”
- Radicalization: The disparity in reconstruction has made Sprodvice a recruitment ground for AFIM, with graffiti claiming “One City, One Ruin” frequently appearing on the walls of the Gradnja-built apartments.
Notable People
- Maxi Sauerbeck: The BRC-21 terrorist and planner of the 1931 attacks was born and raised here.
- Arno Grunberg: The archaeologist and Director of the Bosken Heritage Foundation, who led the cultural salvage operations after the 2014 earthquake.