Newfaire

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Newfaire

Type	City
Government	Democracy
Location	Northern end of Noma, Osugbo
Inhabiting Race	Human

The city of Newfaire, located in the Northern end of Noma on the continent of Osugbo.

About

Newfaire is a sprawling metropolitan center in the northern reaches of Noma and the nation’s second largest city. Though overshadowed in political authority by Blackspire, the federal capital to the south, Newfaire has long nurtured a lively rivalry with it, contrasting Blackspire’s stern industrial tradition with its own culture of innovation and civic energy. The populace is overwhelmingly human, and encounters with non-human species are almost unheard of, a consequence of the Fracturing of the Weave that pushed the extraordinary out of daily life and left magick remembered only as folklore. The rare stories that surface are treated as urban legends and quickly dismissed as hoaxes, further reinforcing the belief that the age of the arcane has long since passed. Though the movement of Spiritualism taking root in the city would suggest otherwise.

Despite its bustling streets and growing districts, Newfaire has begun to sense the first signs of a shifting age. Beneath the familiar rhythms of urban life lies a subtle unease, a feeling that the certainty of the last century is beginning to thin. As the capital of the Fairelands, the city wields significant regional influence, yet its relationship with Noma’s federal institutions remains distant. Communication flows through a secure telegraph network that most citizens never encounter, reinforcing the sense that decisions guiding their lives are shaped far from Newfaire’s crowded avenues and marketplaces.

In the glow of its streetlamps and the rumble of its rail lines, Newfaire stands poised between the comfort of the mundane and the quiet suspicion that something long suppressed may be stirring again.

History

In the aftermath of the Great No Man’s War of 27 CR, a delicate balance of faith, law and order holds the Fairelands together beneath the watchful eyes of The Primacy, Noma’s Central Government; its presence felt more in decree than in flesh,The Ascendancy, the religion of this area and the Periphery, a militant police force.

Now, in 37 CR, strange happenings have begun to take hold in Newfaire’s streets, the Scarlet Woods, and the Bridleborn mountains surrounding. A realm, completely cut off from all others and having nearly forgotten what dangers they hold, finds itself on the threshold of another plane, The Flare. The Flare has found itself brushing against Newfaire as the boundaries thin, releasing the aberrant and eldritch horrors that those who now occupy the city have long forgotten.

Government

Following entry in the CR era, Newfaire follows the broader provincial model of Noma, where each province is governed by an elected Premier who serves as the highest civil authority. The Premier is chosen directly by the people of the province every five years and may serve no more than two terms in a lifetime. As one of the twelve Premiers who make up the Noman Assembly, Newfaire’s Premier plays an active role in national governance and participates in the closed special session held every five years to elect the Prime Minister, a responsibility overseen by the Grand Magistrate.

The Premier governs through a framework known as the Triumvirate, which consists of the Primacy, the Ascendancy, and the Periphery. The Primacy oversees political administration and the operation of civic institutions. The Ascendancy guides spiritual and ceremonial matters and is centered on the worship of the traditional triad of deities known as the Father, the Mother, and the Child. The Periphery manages public order, policing, and law enforcement. Although these branches share responsibility across different facets of governance, the Premier maintains final authority over provincial affairs.

Supporting the Premier is the Chamber, a body composed of Chamberlains elected from each district of Newfaire. Chamberlains also serve five-year terms, following the same electoral cycle as the Premier and the Prime Minister. After each election, the Chamberlains convene to choose one among them to serve as the Prefect of the Chamber, who represents the entire city before the Premier. The Prefect functions as Newfaire’s civic leader in practice, fulfilling a role similar to a mayor and conveying the collective concerns of the city’s districts. The Chamber manages daily administration, coordinates regional governance, and ensures that Newfaire’s operations remain consistent with national expectations.

Judicial System

Newfaire’s courts are set up in a way that gives each district room to manage its own legal needs while still tying the entire province together under a single, consistent system. At the local level, each district has its own District Court, led by publicly elected judges who handle everything from routine civil disputes to smaller criminal cases. These courts are often the first point of contact for residents, and they help keep justice close to the communities they serve.

More serious cases, as well as appeals from the district level, are handled by the Fairelands Superior Court, which serves as the highest provincial court. Superior Court judges are elected across the entire province and serve five-year terms. Their rulings shape how the law is interpreted throughout Newfaire and the rest of the Fairelands, giving the court a great deal of influence over everyday life. Although the Superior Court technically falls under the broad oversight of the Primacy, it operates independently and is viewed as one of the most stable and respected institutions in the province.

Each district also elects its own District Attorney, who leads a team of Assistant District Attorneys responsible for prosecuting crimes. The DA’s offices work closely with the Periphery during investigations and decide how cases will be charged and brought forward. Because every district has its own legal team, the city is able to respond directly to local issues while still following the same provincial laws and procedures.

Taken together, the District Courts, the Superior Court, and the network of DA offices create a system that is both responsive and cohesive. It gives Newfaire’s residents a meaningful role in choosing the people who interpret and enforce the law, while still maintaining the consistency expected in a major provincial capital.

Notable Places

The Sidle

Cunningham's Delicatessen & Butcher

Situated in the Sidle district of Newfaire, Cunningham’s Delicatessen & Butcher is a longstanding, family-owned market operated by Albert and Linda Cunningham. Renowned for house-cured meats, fresh-cut steaks, imported cheeses, bottled soft drinks, and made-to-order sandwiches, the shop serves both working families and affluent Sidle residents. The delicatessen is particularly noted for Linda Cunningham’s “crisps,” thinly sliced salted potatoes deep fried until golden and crunchy, which originated as a homemade side and have become one of the shop’s most popular offerings. The establishment’s illuminated front windows, hanging sausages, and crowded glass counters have established Cunningham’s as a neighborhood institution for decades, especially during holidays when lines frequently extend onto the sidewalk before sunrise.

Despite its positive reputation, the delicatessen occupies a somber place in recent Newfaire history as the location of Marie Chen’s murder, an event later associated with the phenomenon known as The Shadow Man. The subsequent death of Marie Chen and the wrongful arrest of former employee Artie Lemmon attracted considerable public attention during the widely publicized investigation and ensuing trial.

Verbatim

Located in Orbach neighborhood the Sidle district of Newfaire, Verbatim is an independent bookstore owned and operated by author Lincoln Renfield-Murray and his wife, retired Candela investigator Nesta Archeron. Recognized for its towering shelves, narrow aisles, warm reading lamps, and the persistent scent of old paper, Verbatim specializes in rare and antique books, while also offering used novels, academic texts, local publications, and newly released works from across the Known World. The shop’s front counter and daily customer operations are primarily overseen by Lincoln’s younger sister, Eleanor Abernathy, whose approachable manner and extensive knowledge of the store’s inventory have made her well known among regular patrons. Verbatim serves as a favored gathering place for students, researchers, journalists, and occult scholars, with many visitors asserting that Eleanor can locate nearly any book in the store from memory.

South Soffit

The Grease and Griddle Diner

Located in South Soffit within Newfaire, The Grease and Griddle Diner is a compact, unadorned neighborhood establishment recognized for affordable coffee, hearty breakfasts, and generous portions of chicken fried steak served with thick gravy and potatoes. Open nearly around the clock, the diner primarily serves factory workers, cab drivers, night laborers, and students seeking an inexpensive hot meal. The booths creak, the floor consistently carries the scent of frying oil, and the neon sign emits a noticeable buzz audible from a distance, features that many South Soffit locals consider integral to its appeal.

Lemmon's Lemon Bakery

Located in South Soffit, Lemmon’s Lemon Bakery is a family-owned establishment operated by Joshua Lemmon and the Lemmon family, including his daughter, Riley Lemmon. Although modest in appearance, the bakery supplies breads, pastries, and desserts to grocers, cafés, and markets throughout the city. It is particularly renowned for its lemon-filled donuts, which have become a popular comfort food among Newfaire residents.

Stevenson's

Situated in South Soffit within Newfaire, Stevenson’s is a multi-generational eatery originally established by Harold Stevenson during Newfaire’s industrial expansion and currently operated by his son, Martin Stevenson. Noted for its classic flat-top hamburgers, thick-cut fries, extended late-night hours, and crowded counter seating, the restaurant has become a neighborhood institution. The establishment is recognized for the persistent haze of smoke and aroma of sizzling onions that permeate the street late into the night. Among its most notable menu items is The Hellcat, a spicy, heavily stacked double cheeseburger named after the vigilante Hellcat, who prevented the restaurant from being destroyed after Harold Stevenson refused to pay extortion money to the gang Rybeck’s Razors.

Notable Events

34 CR Sluggers Championship

The 34 CR World Series is still remembered as one of South Soffit's proudest moments. The South Soffit Sluggers beat the Chin Saigo Tigers, a top team from Troverth, in six games to win their first-ever championship. Their manager, Nomi Ibata, was a coach from Troverth who took a small salary to join the struggling Sluggers after meeting some of the players during an earlier exhibition series. While the Sluggers were often overlooked in Newfaire, they quietly earned a lot of respect in Troverth for their grit, discipline, and loyalty to South Soffit, qualities that Ibata admired.

With Ibata in charge, the Sluggers finished the regular season at 97-57 and then dominated the playoffs with strong pitching and smart, aggressive offense. Their star pitcher, Marco “Lefty” Serrano, threw two complete games in the series and had a combined ERA of 1.42. Rookie second baseman Eli Mercer hit .381 and stole seven bases during the championship run. In Game 6 at Worthington Field, the Sluggers won 4-2 in front of a crowd that celebrated in the streets for hours. Even now, this championship is a key part of Soffit’s identity, and Worthington Field is so respected that even rival gangs and vandals avoid damaging it.

Notable Publications

 The Civil Tribune

The Civil Tribune is the largest paper in the city and widely seen as the unofficial propaganda arm of the Primacy. Its long history gives it easy access to politicians who are more than willing to pay for favorable coverage, and the paper rarely turns them down. Because of its loose relationship with the truth, few outside Noma consider the Civil Tribune a reliable source for news about Nomann affairs.

The Halen Star News

The most notable progressive paper with enough money and establishment support to feasibly compete with the Civil Tribune. This paper is known for its wide array of international journalists, and is often at odds with the Periphery. This paper is the most likely to report on any magickal phenomena with any degree of truth. Local investigative reporters include one, Elizabeth Nightshade.

The South Soffit Defender

The South Soffit Defender is a respected progressive paper known for its commitment to straightforward reporting and its focus on the concerns of the working class. Although it lacks the resources of the city’s larger publications, it has a loyal readership in the Soffit and the Sidle, where its coverage of labor issues and everyday life resonates most strongly. The paper is also remembered for the tragic loss of several staff members in 37 CR, including its editor in chief, Ruth Calder, whose death remains an important part of its identity. Despite these hardships, the South Soffit Defender continues to serve as a steady, honest voice for the people it represents.