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Under construction, but some early lore dump for the folks collabing in our group story.
The city state of Shara-Tel and its surrounding areas.
The city state of Shara-Tel and its surrounding areas.
Founded by pirates about 300 years ago. For a time it was a lawless pirate haven, but as it began shaping into a larger and larger city, adding the keeps, walls, and eventually the Portcullis bridge in its early form, it began changing into a city state. The influence the Portcullis allowed for an increase in trade and political power. With increased trade it became an important trade center of commerce and opportunity. It is still a bit on the rough side, but it is mostly a civilized place to do business.
100,000 + population city state that is located on a large river that empties into the ocean. Surrounded by plains and mountains, with smaller towns that dot the countryside. The towns are held by "barons" of Shara-Tel, but the titles is mostly just a formality and not an actual position of political power. The Barons usually just have a relationship with the city and trade some resources for some treaty and protection rights from the city. They are still very much frontier towns, and the resources from the city are slow to come, and not quite up to the challenges of the wild terrain. This leaves the frontier towns a bit poorer and struggling to ensure their day to day survival.
The city itself has moderately good conditions, with some few areas that are a little worse off. Several of the districts of the city are prosperous and boast lavish storefronts, public and private markets, and a good deal of fairly nice housing, even outside the nobles district.
The city is run by a council that mostly concerns itself with economic issues, and protecting the prospects of the denizens of the city. Their efforts ensure that trade is always booming and their collected military might is used solely to protect those opportunities. Shara-Tel has never initiated military conflict, they maintain their army for defensive purposes only to respond to violence from outside sources.
Locals often just refer to the city as "Shara."
100,000 + population city state that is located on a large river that empties into the ocean. Surrounded by plains and mountains, with smaller towns that dot the countryside. The towns are held by "barons" of Shara-Tel, but the titles is mostly just a formality and not an actual position of political power. The Barons usually just have a relationship with the city and trade some resources for some treaty and protection rights from the city. They are still very much frontier towns, and the resources from the city are slow to come, and not quite up to the challenges of the wild terrain. This leaves the frontier towns a bit poorer and struggling to ensure their day to day survival.
The city itself has moderately good conditions, with some few areas that are a little worse off. Several of the districts of the city are prosperous and boast lavish storefronts, public and private markets, and a good deal of fairly nice housing, even outside the nobles district.
The city is run by a council that mostly concerns itself with economic issues, and protecting the prospects of the denizens of the city. Their efforts ensure that trade is always booming and their collected military might is used solely to protect those opportunities. Shara-Tel has never initiated military conflict, they maintain their army for defensive purposes only to respond to violence from outside sources.
Locals often just refer to the city as "Shara."
The TideWall
This 50' tall towering wall is over 20' thick at the base ground level and tapers upward until it is only 5' tall at the top. Its base is even wider, and extends 2 – 3 floors below the ground, and houses the citys garrisons, and other military facilities. It surrounds the city, towers and even smaller keeps situated along its length. The city's main gates rest within this wall and are almost exclusively the only way of entering the city. The walls, and indeed even the sky above them, are patrolled by soldiers of the military, and the Avian guard.
This 50' tall towering wall is over 20' thick at the base ground level and tapers upward until it is only 5' tall at the top. Its base is even wider, and extends 2 – 3 floors below the ground, and houses the citys garrisons, and other military facilities. It surrounds the city, towers and even smaller keeps situated along its length. The city's main gates rest within this wall and are almost exclusively the only way of entering the city. The walls, and indeed even the sky above them, are patrolled by soldiers of the military, and the Avian guard.
The Portcullis
The mile long bridge spans the narrowest point of the river, and is indeed the reason this site was chosen for the initial keep that was the origin of the city. Steel pylons extend downward from the bottom of the bridge prevent sea passage all across the river, save for the keep set in the center which controls river traffic in one narrow guarded choke point. Tariffs and tolls are collected on all traffic and the security is exceedingly tight. This bridge and gate are the primary reason for the city states influence through it's ability to control all access to he ocean and beyond.
The mile long bridge spans the narrowest point of the river, and is indeed the reason this site was chosen for the initial keep that was the origin of the city. Steel pylons extend downward from the bottom of the bridge prevent sea passage all across the river, save for the keep set in the center which controls river traffic in one narrow guarded choke point. Tariffs and tolls are collected on all traffic and the security is exceedingly tight. This bridge and gate are the primary reason for the city states influence through it's ability to control all access to he ocean and beyond.
High Garden District
Nobles estates, some temples and embassies, etc. The only district with an underground sewer system. Security into this district is heavier, most travelers will be questioned by guards about their purpose within, and some may be detained if their intentions cannot be confirmed or determined.
Nobles estates, some temples and embassies, etc. The only district with an underground sewer system. Security into this district is heavier, most travelers will be questioned by guards about their purpose within, and some may be detained if their intentions cannot be confirmed or determined.
Redearth district
Taking its name from the red packed earth it sits on and the red bricks made from it that are used in the shops and houses, this district is mostly housing and small service shops(bakeries, butchers, local daily life things), local open markets, some smaller merchant shops, and the infamous bloodbrick alley, a slightly shady alleyway with several prominent businesses and known to have more exotic items in its open market that runs the length of the alley.
Taking its name from the red packed earth it sits on and the red bricks made from it that are used in the shops and houses, this district is mostly housing and small service shops(bakeries, butchers, local daily life things), local open markets, some smaller merchant shops, and the infamous bloodbrick alley, a slightly shady alleyway with several prominent businesses and known to have more exotic items in its open market that runs the length of the alley.
Marbledown
Business district that contains higher class shops such as jewelers and gem dealers, Fine craftsmen, Fine clothiers, high end treats and baked goods, the Everoil guarded reserve, and the Highmarket, a closed market with more dignified vendors that are approved by the city. A local vein of Marble was nearly emptied when using marble for the main buildings in the district came into fashion a hundred or more years ago, and is what gives the district its current namesake. There is very little housing in this district, though many of the merchant businesses have homes built into their shops.
Business district that contains higher class shops such as jewelers and gem dealers, Fine craftsmen, Fine clothiers, high end treats and baked goods, the Everoil guarded reserve, and the Highmarket, a closed market with more dignified vendors that are approved by the city. A local vein of Marble was nearly emptied when using marble for the main buildings in the district came into fashion a hundred or more years ago, and is what gives the district its current namesake. There is very little housing in this district, though many of the merchant businesses have homes built into their shops.
Wavebreak
Sprawling along the riverbank, the wharfs, docks, fish markets, and some trading posts comprise most of this district. There is also a good deal of low quality housing here where not only sailors and fishermen stay, but also many low income city residents that just cant afford the more stable housing elsewhere in the city such as Redearth.
Sprawling along the riverbank, the wharfs, docks, fish markets, and some trading posts comprise most of this district. There is also a good deal of low quality housing here where not only sailors and fishermen stay, but also many low income city residents that just cant afford the more stable housing elsewhere in the city such as Redearth.
Outer Ward
Sitting outside the main walls, the city has swelled in the last 50 years and building has been allowed outside the Tidewall. In places, particularly near the gates, it is organized and well built, but quickly descends into shanties and less permanent housing. Some parts of the outer walls are prone to occasional flooding. This district is filled with poor and desperate people and is a much rougher, crueler area of the city where hope is thin and is crushed easily and often.
Sitting outside the main walls, the city has swelled in the last 50 years and building has been allowed outside the Tidewall. In places, particularly near the gates, it is organized and well built, but quickly descends into shanties and less permanent housing. Some parts of the outer walls are prone to occasional flooding. This district is filled with poor and desperate people and is a much rougher, crueler area of the city where hope is thin and is crushed easily and often.