This also came to mind for me. Since the etymology of clepsydra literally means "water thief", if the rivers are actually the "river of time" in some sense, then perhpas some variant of thief of time "kleftis the chronou". That sounds long to the Anglic ear, so perhaps "Chronoucleftis"?
The neighborhood of Tangent. The neighborhood sits right next to the river and to one side on its own level. Looking at the neighborhood from higher levels there doesn't appear to be any route into Tangent, yet people tend to find their way there, but only if they are merely wondering within the city. Once there, they always find something to do. The neighborhood is absolutely bustling with activity, but upon finishing the task they found themselves focused on upon entering, just a few steps later they find themselves back at the place they were last at outside of Tangent. Interestingly, it appears that no time will have passed between leaving and returning.
Those that live in Tangent were those that had no real home or job within the city when they entered, but find life in Tangent perfect for themselves. There are always lots of customers for their shops, and plenty of down time as well to enjoy many of the entertainment venues scattered around Tangent.
No one really knows when Tangent was started, or by whom. The oldest families in the city tell the same story--it's always been there.
Description: New construction, natural erosion, magical interference, for whatever reason sometimes the river of time shifts its course, leaving dry or damp canal beds empty. This network of ditches and tunnels has become home to the poor and downtrodden of the city. Digging their homes and businesses into the sides of the canals the often unearthed treasures of the past and future, though most of what was there to find has long been ecscavated. These peculiar anachronism, when too complicated or large to be sold to or stolen by the city's elites have become part of the architechture of the Warrens.
Bargetown: A teeming and fetid favela of hundreds of rotting barges, tied together. Houses, shops, taverns and hulks all intertwined. A place of first refuge for migrants and those fleeing from the law, or many other things.
True Name: The Holds: Where the real rulers of Bargetown reside, often in hidden splendour. Only emerging at night to go about their business
Pools and pipes. The mingling smells of sewage and sterility. Uniformed workers in hard hats, goggles, and rubber waders. Takes in brown water and makes it gray. Steam jets, winding paths, man-made fog. Pools of red and yellow light cast from safety instruments.
Near the docks of the city you find the shipyards, workshops, and foundries of Brasspool. Here artisans, inventors, and engineers craft exotic airships, yachts, and submersibles for wealthy citizens, bold adventurers, and curious scientists. Here also are the rows of brick tenements housing metal workers, carpenters, and sail makers who give solid shape to innovation with their labor.
The secret name of Brasspool is found in the ceaseless clangor of metal on metal and the susurrus of the canals.
A city's names - Nham Sin by the old pump-guard families down in the deep, Khim Sin-har by the brass lords of the upper strata, Turnwater by the traders of the night roads, Trickstream by the knaves of the dusklight eaves, Hanam by the records of the empire of the dead.
In this neighbourhood the streams of time have formed a whirlpool, and the area exists in a cyclical state, rotating through different functions/styles throughout the day.
Can I suggest "Delta", being both the landmass that forms at the mouth of a river as it meets the sea and the symbol for change over time?
Some variation of clepsydra, the Greek word for water clock, might make sense for the name.
This also came to mind for me. Since the etymology of clepsydra literally means "water thief", if the rivers are actually the "river of time" in some sense, then perhpas some variant of thief of time "kleftis the chronou". That sounds long to the Anglic ear, so perhaps "Chronoucleftis"?
The neighborhood of Tangent. The neighborhood sits right next to the river and to one side on its own level. Looking at the neighborhood from higher levels there doesn't appear to be any route into Tangent, yet people tend to find their way there, but only if they are merely wondering within the city. Once there, they always find something to do. The neighborhood is absolutely bustling with activity, but upon finishing the task they found themselves focused on upon entering, just a few steps later they find themselves back at the place they were last at outside of Tangent. Interestingly, it appears that no time will have passed between leaving and returning.
Those that live in Tangent were those that had no real home or job within the city when they entered, but find life in Tangent perfect for themselves. There are always lots of customers for their shops, and plenty of down time as well to enjoy many of the entertainment venues scattered around Tangent.
No one really knows when Tangent was started, or by whom. The oldest families in the city tell the same story--it's always been there.
Neighborhood: The Warrens
Description: New construction, natural erosion, magical interference, for whatever reason sometimes the river of time shifts its course, leaving dry or damp canal beds empty. This network of ditches and tunnels has become home to the poor and downtrodden of the city. Digging their homes and businesses into the sides of the canals the often unearthed treasures of the past and future, though most of what was there to find has long been ecscavated. These peculiar anachronism, when too complicated or large to be sold to or stolen by the city's elites have become part of the architechture of the Warrens.
True name: Deep Burroughs, shadowed anachronism.
Neighbourhood: (I'm a Brit :-) )
Bargetown: A teeming and fetid favela of hundreds of rotting barges, tied together. Houses, shops, taverns and hulks all intertwined. A place of first refuge for migrants and those fleeing from the law, or many other things.
True Name: The Holds: Where the real rulers of Bargetown reside, often in hidden splendour. Only emerging at night to go about their business
City name: Anareste.
Fugit
Neighborhood/area of each neighborhood:
WWTZ - Waste Water Treatment Zone
Pools and pipes. The mingling smells of sewage and sterility. Uniformed workers in hard hats, goggles, and rubber waders. Takes in brown water and makes it gray. Steam jets, winding paths, man-made fog. Pools of red and yellow light cast from safety instruments.
True name: The Sieve
City name: Tsaganos.
Why? Tsag is the Mongolian word for time (цаг). The “a” is derived from alwaqt, Arabic for time (الوقت). The “nos” is derived from Chronos (χρόνος).
цаг ا νος
Clog Uisce might be cool. It’s Irish Gaelic for water clock.
The neighborhood of Brasspool
Near the docks of the city you find the shipyards, workshops, and foundries of Brasspool. Here artisans, inventors, and engineers craft exotic airships, yachts, and submersibles for wealthy citizens, bold adventurers, and curious scientists. Here also are the rows of brick tenements housing metal workers, carpenters, and sail makers who give solid shape to innovation with their labor.
The secret name of Brasspool is found in the ceaseless clangor of metal on metal and the susurrus of the canals.
Immoria, but with fantasy apostrophes strewn about where appropriate
A city's names - Nham Sin by the old pump-guard families down in the deep, Khim Sin-har by the brass lords of the upper strata, Turnwater by the traders of the night roads, Trickstream by the knaves of the dusklight eaves, Hanam by the records of the empire of the dead.
Chronocleftis, as I mention in my reply to Charles Wotton's comment.
The Eddies:
In this neighbourhood the streams of time have formed a whirlpool, and the area exists in a cyclical state, rotating through different functions/styles throughout the day.
That description sounds epic! I’m so excited 💃🏻