Difference between revisions of "Bilming"

'''Bilming''' is a port city in the [[Elendel Basin]] on [[Scadrial]].{{map ref|Elendel Basin}} It is the only major port city in the Basin other than [[Elendel]], and it is a center of industry.{{book ref|mb6|15}} The city's symbol is a tortoise,{{file ref|New Ascendancy broadsheet.jpg|''The New Ascendancy'' broadsheet}} and residents are referred to as "Bilmingers."{{file ref|The_Two_Seasons_broadsheetThe Two Seasons broadsheet.jpg|''The Two Seasons'' broadsheet}} Bilming is the location of the [[Set]]'s base in {{date|348|PC}} when the group aims to destroy the Elendel government and prove themselves to [[Autonomy]].{{book ref|mb7|19}}

Bilming maintains a large fleet of clipper ships and cargo ships in its "impressive" harbor, and around {{date|342|PC}} it hasadds recentlya addednew warshipstype of warship known as "the [[Pewternaut]]s" with armored hulls and gun turrets.{{file ref|New Ascendancy broadsheet.jpg|''The New Ascendancy'' broadsheet}} In addition, the city boasts an elevated rail line which makes it unique among the other parts of the basin.{{book ref|mb7|19}} The rail is an exceptionally quick mode of transportation through the city, and it is equipped with cushioned seats and private compartments.{{book ref|mb7|42}}

The Bilming City Records and Research Building is an example of the modern architecture found in the city. It is madeMade of a silvery metal, andit is constructeddesigned with many windows in the exterior walls asand wellhouses as withnovel glass-walled rooms within.{{book ref|mb7|29}}

TheSince tallestits buildingeconomy inboom, Bilming has become a metropolis with outlying suburbs.{{book ref|mb7|20}} Its tallest building is a skyscraper at the center of the city called Independence Tower, nicknamed the Shaw because it is reminiscent of the spires of [[Kredik Shaw]].{{book ref|mb7|58}} The tower is some seventy or eighty stories high, with continuing construction evident on the top during {{date|348|PC}}.{{book ref|mb7|20}} ItThis tower is the [[Set]]'s central hub of activity and features heavy fortifications with the capability to detect [[Cognitive Shadow]]s.{{book ref|mb7|39}} ThisOriginally, buildingthe wasSet intendedplans to beuse used by the Setit as a launching point for a rocket intended to destroy Elendel.{{book ref|mb7|58}}

Bilming was created as part of the reshaping of Scadrial during the [[Catacendre]].{{book ref|mb6|21}} A little over three hundred years later, its status as an alternative port to Elendel, which had set itself up as the undisputed capital of the basin, began causing some friction between the two cities. Elendel's governor [[Replar Innate]] at one point made hollow promises about raising tariffs on imports that came from Bilming.{{book ref|mb5|5}} In {{date|342|pc}}, Lord [[Bastien Severington]], the mayor of Bilming, invited a number of senators from Elendel to the introduction of the [[Pewternaut]]s as a gesture of friendship, only to have a senator named [[Inis Julien]] publicly call them pointless "toys."{{file ref|New Ascendancy broadsheet.jpg|''The New Ascendancy'' broadsheet}} That same year, [[Devlin Airs]] spoke to [[Waxillium Ladrian]] at [[Kelesina Shores's party]] and warned him that civil war was brewing.{{book ref|mb6|15}} Wax listened to Lord Severington give an anti-Elendel speech at the party and realized that Bilming had enough power to spearhead a conflict.{{book ref|mb6|14}}{{book ref|mb6|15}} The establishment of trade relations with the [[Malwish Consortium]] led Bilming to great prosperity, as most of the trade came in through the city. By {{date|348|PC}}, the economy was booming and there was a large amount of construction.{{book ref|mb7|20}}

InThe [[Set]] began establishing its presence in Bilming at least by {{date|343341|PC}}, in which year it brought [[Allomancer]]s kidnapped from Elendel there to live in the cavern system underneath the city.{{book ref|mb7|56}} residentsResidents of Bilming began noticing earthquakes in {{date|343|PC}}. In explanation, the city published news of a new subway system and began hiking taxes to fund it. However, at the same time theythe Bilming Transportation Authority also expanded the elevated rail system and the highways.{{file ref|The Two Seasons broadsheet.jpg|''The Two Seasons'' broadsheet}} In reality, the tremors were a result of the [[Set]] testing its bombs in the cavern system underneath the citycaverns.{{book ref|mb7|33}} [[Gave Entrone]] became lord mayor of Bilming in {{date|346|pc}}.{{book ref|mb7|27}}

In {{date|348|pc}}, tensionsTensions with Elendel rose even higher with the passage of the [[Elendel Supremacy Bill]] in {{date|348|pc}}.{{file ref|The Two Seasons broadsheet.jpg|''The Two Seasons'' broadsheet}} The same year, [[Marsh]] went to Bilming looking for [[atium]] and heard rumors of some unexpected happenings, such as the disappearance of [[Tobal Copper]], which he later related to Wax and his companions.{{book ref|mb7|28}} Marasi and the Elendel constabulary conducted a sting operation in Bilming, which the Set used as propaganda against Elendel by saying their constabulary was meddling in outer cities affairs.{{book ref|mb7|23}} Local papers inflated the operation's failure, further inflaming people against Elendel.{{book ref|mb7|31}} The Elendel senate formed a council on the Bilming crisis,{{book ref|mb7|31}}{{book ref|mb7|38}} where they shared news of Bilming's efforts regarding railroad blockades, recruitment fliers for "security forces" spread throughout the Roughs, and warships.{{book ref|mb7|38}}

The establishment of trade relations with the [[Malwish Consortium]] leads Bilming to great prosperity, as most of the trade comes in through the city. By {{date|348|PC}}, the economy is booming and there is a large amount of construction.{{book ref|mb7|20}} However, residentsResidents of Bilming hold a deep distrust of Malwish technology, which is pushed by a propaganda campaign in broadsheets such as ''[[The Two Seasons]]''. They consider their unsealed and unkeyed metalminds to be a form of nefarious witchcraft that puts them and their loved ones in danger.{{file ref|The_Two_Seasons_broadsheetThe Two Seasons broadsheet.jpg|text=''The Two Seasons'' broadsheet}}

As one of the [[Elendel_Basin#Outer_Cities|outer cities]], Bilming largely resents the role of Elendel in governing the Basin. Its location as a port city allows it to take a forward role in opposing Elendel's supremacy, and it begins building a fleet of warships even before it can reasonably adopt the guise of defending the basin from the [[Malwish Consortium]].{{file ref|New Ascendancy broadsheet.jpg|''The New Ascendancy'' broadsheet}}{{book ref|mb6|15}}{{book ref|mb7|19}} In addition, the Bilming government employs its own chemists and has its own military.{{book ref|mb7|30}}{{book ref|mb7|33}} By {{date|348|PC}}, Bilming has become the main representative of outer cities interests.{{book ref|mb7|3}}