New Edinburgh, Stewartshire, Caledonia, Clivilius

Origins and Founding

The story of New Edinburgh begins not in Clivilius but in the smoky wynds of Edinburgh's Old Town, where the Stewart family struggled against poverty following the death of their father, Angus Stewart, in a smithy accident. The four sisters—Elspeth, Euphemia, Katrina, and Violet—found themselves orphaned and destitute, their prospects dimming with each passing season. It was during this period of desperation that Elspeth, the eldest, encountered the mysterious Lizbeth Wilson, who bestowed upon her a Portal Key that would change the course of their lives forever.

On 23 April 1762, Elspeth Stewart became the first of her sisters to receive a Portal Key, opening a doorway between worlds that had remained sealed for generations. Within weeks, her sisters followed: Effie on 28 April, Katrina on 19 May, and Violet on 21 May. Each sister experienced the crossing differently, though Katrina's arrival proved particularly significant. As she stepped through the portal, a disembodied voice welcomed her by name: "Welcome to Clivilius, Katrina Stewart." This acknowledgement by the realm itself would later be interpreted as a sign of the sisters' destined role in shaping the new world.

The official founding of New Edinburgh occurred on 22 May 1762, when the four sisters stood upon the barren plain that would become their home. The land they had chosen appeared inhospitable—a windswept expanse of rocky soil that seemed incapable of supporting life. Yet the sisters, hardened by their experiences in Edinburgh's unforgiving streets, saw potential where others might have seen only desolation. Their choice of name honoured their homeland whilst asserting their determination to build something better than what they had left behind.

The Four Sisters

Elspeth Morag Stewart, born 17 May 1738, emerged as the natural leader of the founding group. The eldest daughter of a blacksmith, she had developed a pragmatic worldview during her years of struggle in Edinburgh, including a period working as a seamstress at Moira MacKenzie's Emporium of Fashion. Her leadership style blended idealism with hard-nosed practicality, and she proved willing to form unconventional alliances when circumstances demanded. Most notably, she established a partnership with William Brodie, a notorious Edinburgh thief and cabinet-maker, whose network of criminals would prove instrumental in the settlement's early defence. Elspeth served as First Guardian from her inauguration on 16 August 1775 until her death on 8 November 1801, at the age of sixty-three.

Euphemia Stewart, known universally as Effie, was born on 3 November 1742 and possessed a natural gift for diplomacy that would prove invaluable to New Edinburgh's growth. Her charm and social intelligence opened doors that might otherwise have remained firmly closed, and she took responsibility for establishing trade networks with neighbouring settlements. In 1764, Effie discovered the settlement that would become known as Bridgetown, located eight kilometres to the south, initiating a relationship that would benefit both communities for generations. She married James Murray in 1768 and bore three children before her death on 19 September 1814, at the age of seventy-one. Her role as Fourth Guardian cemented her legacy as the architect of New Edinburgh's external relations.

Katrina Stewart, born 12 February 1744, possessed a quiet determination that reminded many of their late father. Where her sisters excelled in leadership and diplomacy, Katrina's genius lay in understanding the land itself. She transformed the barren soil that had initially seemed so unpromising, applying techniques she discovered in the ruins of Goldenfields—an ancient settlement located twenty kilometres to the northwest that the sisters explored on 5 April 1763. Her agricultural innovations ensured that New Edinburgh could feed its growing population, and her methods spread throughout the region. Katrina married Lars Torsten Solberg, a Norwegian settler, and raised five children. She served as Second Guardian and died on 27 August 1811, aged sixty-seven.

Violet Stewart, the youngest sister, was born on 8 August 1746 and brought an artistic sensibility that shaped New Edinburgh's physical character. In 1763, she discovered the Whispering Woods, a vast forest twelve kilometres to the east that would provide timber for the settlement's construction. Her architectural vision guided the transformation of a scattered collection of shelters into a coherent urban environment, and her designs incorporated both practical functionality and aesthetic beauty. She married Pieter van der Berg, a Dutch stonemason whose skills complemented her own, and together they raised four children. Violet served as Third Guardian until her death on 14 March 1813, at the age of sixty-six.

Early Development

The settlement's early years demanded constant adaptation and improvisation. The sisters had arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and the Portal Keys around their necks, and every aspect of survival required innovation. Katrina's agricultural breakthroughs, inspired by her study of Goldenfields' ruins, allowed the sisters to coax crops from soil that had initially seemed barren. Her discovery that the rocky surface concealed fertile earth beneath proved transformative, and within two years New Edinburgh was producing surplus food for trade.

The arrival of William Brodie on 9 July 1762 marked a turning point in the settlement's security arrangements. Brodie, who had fled Edinburgh to escape prosecution for his criminal activities, brought with him a network of thieves and ne'er-do-wells who possessed skills that proved surprisingly useful in the frontier environment. He established the military outpost of Chewbathia on a rocky plateau overlooking New Edinburgh, naming it after the Culloden battlefield where so many Scots had fallen. The Chewbathian Hunters, as his defenders came to be known, provided the settlement with a formidable defensive force that deterred potential aggressors.

Contact with neighbouring settlements expanded New Edinburgh's horizons and resources. On 20 August 1763, trackers from Castellum—a settlement located ten kilometres to the northeast—made first contact with the Edinburgh settlers, initiating a relationship that would prove mutually beneficial. Merchants from Millfield, fifteen kilometres to the north, arrived on 2 September 1764, opening trade routes that brought goods and knowledge from across the region. Monks from Sanctum, twenty-two kilometres to the northwest, arrived on 7 July 1766, introducing spiritual and scholarly traditions that enriched the settlement's cultural life. Perhaps most significantly, refugees from the abandoned settlement of Ironhold, twenty-five kilometres to the southwest, arrived on 18 October 1767, bringing skills in metalworking that would prove essential to New Edinburgh's industrial development.

The First Clivilian Feast, held on 20 February 1765, represented the settlement's first major cultural celebration and established traditions that continue to the present day. The feast brought together settlers from multiple communities, fostering bonds of friendship and cooperation that transcended individual settlement boundaries. It marked the moment when New Edinburgh began to see itself not merely as a refuge for Scottish exiles but as the heart of a new civilisation.

Governmental Evolution

New Edinburgh's governmental structure evolved through several distinct phases, each reflecting the settlement's changing needs and growing population. In the earliest years, the four sisters governed through informal consensus, their complementary skills allowing them to divide responsibilities naturally without requiring formal structures. This arrangement served adequately while the population remained small and decisions could be made through direct consultation.

The establishment of the Directorate on 15 August 1775 marked the first formalisation of governmental authority. The following day, Elspeth Stewart was inaugurated as First Guardian, a title that acknowledged her leadership role whilst emphasising her responsibility to protect and guide rather than merely to rule. The Directorate system assigned specific portfolios to each Guardian, with Katrina as Second Guardian overseeing agriculture and land management, Violet as Third Guardian responsible for infrastructure and construction, Effie as Fourth Guardian handling external relations and trade, and William Brodie as Fifth Guardian commanding defence and security. Simultaneously, the region was formally designated as Stewartshire, establishing administrative boundaries encompassing New Edinburgh, Chewbathia, and the surrounding territories under a unified governance framework. The adoption of the Scottish term "shire" reflected the founders' heritage and signalled the emergence of a distinctly Caledonian administrative tradition.

Elspeth's death on 8 November 1801 necessitated a restructuring of the governmental system. Her funeral, held two days later, drew mourners from across the region and prompted reflection on the settlement's future governance. On 1 March 1802, the Clivilian Assembly was established to provide broader representation in decision-making, acknowledging that the settlement had grown too large for government by a small council of Guardians alone. The following day, the Elspeth Stewart Memorial was unveiled in the settlement's central square, honouring the woman who had guided New Edinburgh through its formative decades. The Assembly's creation coincided with the establishment of Caledonia as a broader regional entity, accommodating several smaller struggling settlements that had sought incorporation under New Edinburgh's protection in the years following Elspeth's death. Some of these communities had lost their final Guardians, severing their direct connection to Earth and leaving them vulnerable without the leadership and Portal access that Guardians provided.

The creation of specialised ministries reflected the increasing complexity of governance. The Ministry of Trade and Commerce was formed on 10 September 1815 to manage the settlement's expanding economic relationships. The Ministry of Knowledge followed on 7 July 1830, recognising the importance of education and information management. The Ministry of Agriculture, established on 3 February 1875, formalised oversight of the agricultural sector that had been so central to New Edinburgh's survival and prosperity.

When New Edinburgh's population exceeded 50,000 residents, the establishment of the High Court on 18 December 1850 provided a formal judicial system capable of handling the disputes and legal matters that inevitably arose in a growing society. The New Scottish Guard, created on 23 April 1790, provided internal security and ceremonial functions distinct from the military role of the Chewbathian Hunters.

The most significant constitutional change came on 11 November 1920, when New Edinburgh adopted a parliamentary system of government. By this time, the population had exceeded 250,000, and the old structures could no longer adequately represent the diverse interests of the citizenry. The Parliament of New Edinburgh, comprising 150 elected members, took over legislative functions, whilst executive authority was vested in a First Minister and cabinet. This system, with modifications, continues to govern the settlement today, with First Minister Fiona MacDonald currently leading the government.

Regional Connections

New Edinburgh's position at the centre of Stewartshire has shaped its development as the administrative and economic hub of Caledonia. Within Stewartshire itself, Chewbathia maintains its own local governance as a military burgh whilst remaining closely integrated with New Edinburgh's broader administrative framework. The closest civilian neighbour, Shepherd's Rest, lies just five kilometres to the west and maintains close economic and cultural ties as part of the Caledonian community.

Several settlements within Caledonia have historical relationships predating the region's formal establishment. Bridgetown, eight kilometres to the south and discovered by Effie Stewart in 1764, serves as a crucial trading partner. Castellum, ten kilometres to the northeast, provides military cooperation through the descendants of those original trackers who made contact in 1763. Millfield to the north remains an important agricultural partner, and Stillwater, eighteen kilometres to the southeast, supplies fish and other aquatic resources. The ruins of Goldenfields, where Katrina discovered the agricultural techniques that saved the early settlement, are now preserved as a historical site and research facility within Caledonian territory.

The Whispering Woods, discovered by Violet Stewart in 1763, continue to provide timber and other forest resources essential to the region's construction industry. Sanctum, twenty-two kilometres to the northwest, maintains its independence as a monastic community whilst enjoying close spiritual and scholarly ties with New Edinburgh's educational institutions. The abandoned settlement of Ironhold, twenty-five kilometres to the southwest, stands as a reminder of the challenges faced by communities that lost their Guardian connection—its refugees having long since integrated into New Edinburgh's population.

Beyond Caledonia's borders, more distant settlements have established formal diplomatic relations with New Edinburgh over the centuries. Theopolis, an ancient Greek settlement founded around 300 BCE and located seventy-five kilometres to the southeast, provides a connection to classical Mediterranean civilisation and operates under its own distinct governance traditions. Xin Tian, a Chinese settlement established in 720 CE and situated one hundred kilometres to the east, offers access to Asian technologies and cultural traditions developed over more than a millennium of relative isolation. Nocturn, a Romanian citadel founded in 1350 CE some 120 kilometres to the southwest, maintains commercial relations despite its reputation for insularity. Each of these distant settlements represents a different Earth culture preserved and evolved in Clivilius, their governance structures reflecting their origins and the centuries of independent development that followed.

Cultural Heritage

New Edinburgh's cultural identity reflects its Scottish origins whilst incorporating influences from across Caledonia and the broader Clivilian world. The settlement's founders brought with them the traditions, values, and memories of eighteenth-century Scotland, and these continue to shape local customs and celebrations. The thistle and the saltire feature prominently in official symbols throughout Stewartshire, and Scottish Gaelic remains widely understood even as English has become the dominant language of daily commerce.

Educational institutions have played a central role in transmitting and developing New Edinburgh's cultural heritage. The University of New Edinburgh, established on 12 April 1832, has produced generations of scholars, scientists, and leaders, including the physicist Dr. Eliza Hamilton and the architect John Stirling. The Lyceum Academy, founded on 1 September 1855, provides advanced learning opportunities and has trained notable figures such as the historian Dr. Meredith Collins. Both institutions weathered significant challenges—the university survived an academic fraud scandal in 1927, whilst the Lyceum faced student protests in 1968—emerging stronger for having addressed internal conflicts openly.

The Story of the Stewart Sisters has achieved near-mythical status in Caledonian collective memory, taught to children from their earliest years and commemorated in art, literature, and public monuments. The sisters' complementary talents—Elspeth's leadership, Effie's diplomacy, Katrina's agricultural genius, and Violet's architectural vision—are held up as models of cooperation and specialisation, demonstrating how individuals with different gifts can achieve together what none could accomplish alone.

Modern Era

Today's New Edinburgh bears little physical resemblance to the windswept plain where four desperate sisters made their stand in 1762, yet the values they established continue to guide Stewartshire and Caledonia's development. The Parliament oversees a complex modern society through specialised ministries: Duncan Alexander Robertson, born 12 April 1965 and educated at the University of St Andrews, serves as Minister of Trade and Commerce; Hamish Scott, born 15 May 1984, leads the Ministry of Knowledge with a focus on education and environmental preservation; additional ministries handle agriculture, health, foreign affairs, infrastructure, education, and justice.

Security remains a priority, with the Chewbathian Hunters continuing their traditional defensive role under evolved organisational structures. The Clivilius Secret Service, led by Chief Marcus Alexander Lane, handles intelligence matters, whilst the New Scottish Guard maintains internal security and ceremonial functions. Eilidh Robertson, born 8 March 1992, serves as a spotter in the Chewbathian Hunters' Squad 11 Shadow Division, representing the new generation of defenders who carry on traditions established by William Brodie over 260 years ago.

New Edinburgh's influence extends throughout Caledonia and beyond, shaping regional politics, trade, and culture. The settlement serves as the de facto capital of the Scottish diaspora in Clivilius, maintaining connections with other communities founded by Earth emigrants whilst forging new relationships with settlements of diverse origins. The Clivilius Atlas, the definitive guide to the realm's settlements, recognises New Edinburgh as the preeminent urban centre in Caledonia, a status earned through centuries of growth, adaptation, and leadership.

As New Edinburgh enters its fourth century, it faces challenges that its founders could scarcely have imagined—environmental concerns, technological change, and the complex politics of an interconnected world. Yet the settlement approaches these challenges with the same combination of pragmatism and idealism that characterised the four sisters who built a civilisation from nothing but determination and hope. Their legacy endures not merely in monuments and institutions but in the spirit of a people who continue to believe that a better world is possible and worth fighting for.