Vijrje is the administrative capital and largest city of District V (Moskiprovac). Located west of the capital district of Sinj and east of the Moraviski city Sprodvice, it serves as a critical logistical node and commuter hub for the central Republic.
Unlike the historic grandeur of Sinj or the grim industrial might of Novi Otonik, Vijrje is often characterized by its nondescript, utilitarian character. It is a city of function rather than form, defined by its sprawling mid-century suburbs, concrete high-rise apartment blocks, and the scattered campus of Vijrje City University (VCU).
Historically, the city is famous as the home of Divine Founder Nika Radman, who represented the district for sixty years. It was also the site of the 1931 Terrorist Attack, an event that led to the demolition of its small “Old Town” and its replacement with modern, securitized avenues.
History
The Commuter Hub (1921–1931)
Following the establishment of the Republic, Vijrje grew rapidly as a satellite city for the capital. Its location on the main rail line heading south made it an ideal location for the middle-class civil servants who could not afford to live in Sinj’s “Gold District.”
The 1931 Attack and Reconstruction
In 1931, the city was chosen to host the 10th Anniversary of the Republic celebrations. The festivities turned into a tragedy when BRC-21 operatives detonated bombs in the city center, killing 7 civilians.
In the aftermath, the Council for Development razed the damaged medieval quarter, arguing it was a security risk due to its narrow streets. It was replaced by the Metro Center, a grid of wide boulevards and brutalist concrete ministries designed to be easily patrolled by the Civil Order Force.
The Radman and Wrba Eras (1931–1992)
For decades, the city was the personal fiefdom of Senator Nika Radman. Radman secured federal funding to expand the city’s tram network, making it one of the most efficient in the country.
In the 1980s, Radman’s successor, Mlada Wrba, promised to beautify the concrete city. She secured funds for the “Heritage Restoration Project.” However, the Vijrje Restoration Scandal revealed that Wrba had embezzled the money to build a private villa, leaving the city’s public squares half-finished and covered in scaffolding for years.
Geography and Cityscape
Vijrje is a flat city, built on the drying plains south of the Kambel River basin.
- Metro Center: The downtown area is dominated by 20-story concrete apartment towers and government offices. It lacks a traditional “center,” instead revolving around the major tram interchanges.
- The Sprawl: Surrounding the center are miles of identical suburban housing developments. These “Bedroom Boroughs” empty out during the day as residents commute to Sinj or the local administrative offices.
- University District: Unlike the enclosed campuses of other cities, VCU buildings are integrated into the city blocks, often occupying converted office towers.
Economy
Vijrje’s economy is service-based and bureaucratic.
- Administration: It houses the overflow offices for several Federal Councils, particularly the Council for Health’s data processing centers.
- Education: VCU is the largest employer, driving a local economy of cheap bars, print shops, and rental housing.
- Logistics: As the gateway to the south, the city hosts several distribution centers for NaroMart.
Politics
Vijrje is a swing city that reflects the national mood.
- Establishment Roots: For sixty years, it was a Blue Dawn stronghold under Radman.
- The Populist Turn: Following the Wrba scandal, the city swung violently to the right, electing Bozidarka Borsa (Vjetrusa) in 1992, followed by the economic liberal Florijan Kostic (CRF), who appealed to the city’s small business owners.
- Return to Blue Dawn: In 2022, the city returned to the establishment fold, electing Dino Colic and Ivana Bogdan, driven by a desire for stability and better funding from the Stov administration.
Culture
- The Radman House: The modest suburban home where Nika Radman lived for 80 years is now a museum. It is kept exactly as it was in the 1920s, serving as a shrine to the “austere virtues” of the Founders.
- Tram Culture: The city’s social life revolves around the “Tram Bars”—pubs located near major stops on the Number 4 Line, frequented by VCU students and civil servants after work.
- The “Unfinished Square”: The central plaza, meant to be restored by Mlada Wrba, remains a patchwork of concrete and gravel. Locals have ironically adopted it as a venue for flea markets and skate parks.