Lychnis (Lick-niss)

Named for its famous blood roses, the city of Lychnis became an unexpected feather in Camelot's cap very early on in King Ulric's rule - both for its proximity to the pastoral village of Cyneburg and for its incredibly rare flora.

Government

Lychnis is provisionally ruled by the Marquess and Marchioness of House Raisel but The Duke and Lord of House Lufu are beloved by their people, an opinion likely supported by the endorsement of Queen Guinevere, who installed them in Lychnis upon ascension to the throne. Because the city's infrastructure is so rich and stable due to natural resources, particularly in the Age of Enchantment, the import/export business in Lychnis accounts for the small taxation owed to Camelot for its protection and use of its soldiers, allowing the fine citizens of Lychnis to do what they do best: work and craft.

Defences

The Rosewood Forest acts as a natural northern border to the Thorn District of Lychnis, sprawling several acres before it makes contact with the village itself. The Briar and Blush Districts stand to the east and west of each other, each protected by a single portcullis-equipped gate guarded by lesser knights of Camelot. The Rose District is self-contained at the center of Lychnis within a high marble wall covered in ivy and rose vines and a regiment of Knights of Camelot patrol regularly to see to the safety of the Marquess and his subjects.

Industry & Trade

Artisanship is an enormous industry in Lychnis, employing perhaps 25% of its total citizens. Natural resources harvested from the Rosewood Forest are used to create their paints and inks, and they find patronage with ease and regularity in the Rose District. Lychnis is also a city of great labor, and 50% of its inhabitants are either employed by or working in tandem with the government of Lychnis. Major exports include rosewood lumber and rosewood derivatives, rare flora that (according to Lychnisians) can only be propagated in the rich black soil on which the village rests, paints, inks, perfumes, and fine wooden furniture.

Districts

• The Rose district is home to Lychnis' royalty, whose highest ranking members are the Marquess Alastor and Marchioness Tamaska Raisel
• The Thorn district is the industrial district of Lychnis, where rosewood is processed into lumber and blood roses are manufactured into high-quality perfumes
• The Blush district is the tourism district of Lychnis, hallmarked by botanical gardens, wares sold by fine artisans, and public festivals
• The Briar district is home to the commoners of Lychnis as well as being the center of all municipal projects - many public buildings house artisans, engineers, and craftsmen who are working to beautify the city.

By the order of Queen Guinevere Pendragon-Lufu on the professional and entreprenurial recommendation of Duke and Ser Leodegrance Lufu, the city-state of Lychnis shall henceforth be protected by 6 gates:

• The Rosewood Gate to the extreme north,
• The Damask Gate to the northeast,
• The Garden Gate to the east,
• The Ekstase Gate to the southwest,
• The Seileigh Gate to the west,
• The Green Gate to the south

Guilds and Factions

House Lufu

• Queen Guinevere Pendragon-Lufu
• Duke Leodegrance Lufu
• Lord Ser Leodegrance Lufu

House Amere

• Earl Donadei Amere
• Lady Sojourne Amere
• Earl Coeur Amere
• Lord Cousteix Amere
• Lady Bathsheba Amere

History

Lychnis is actually older than the kingdom of Camelot itself. Believed to have been founded somewhere in the region of 4 or 500 Pre Apostasy, Lychnis was originally low country in the south of what would become Camelot in the modern day. Though several small factions lived upon and worked the land, Lychnis largely governed itself and the early people of the city operated on a meritocracy: those who could hold the land did. Lychnisians continued on in this simple, pastoral peace supported by the land's natural resources until 1000 PA, at which time House Pendragon completed its campaign to unite all of the nearby villages into one kingdom: Camelot. As people of the land rather than warriors the Lychnisians put up no protest, and instead sought to make use of their worth to Camelot by industrializing their natural resources.

Points of interest

• The Rosewood is is a sprawling natural forest of rosewood trees that grow in the North of Lychnis - aside from its immense natural beauty, the edges of the forest have been used to make the finest timber in Camelot for more than 100 years.

Tourism

• The Rosarium is a gladiatorial/knightly arena where public games, jousts, and festivals are hosted for the people of Lychnis

Architecture

Lychnis is not only known for its natural resources, but its simple, elegantly constructed buildings. The Rose District tends to favor rosewood and rare white marble as building materials, though many patrons in the district commission fine artisans to then decorate their marble facades with bright, colorful frescoes. Briar District residents tend to seek out the more roughly hewn rosewood constructs, though they also decorate their homes with bright paint (of a markedly lesser quality).

Climate

Weather is typically temperate, sunny, and crisp year round with the occasional rainfall to replenish the land.

Natural Resources

• Bloodrose petals
• Rosewood lumber
• Gallowblooms - only grow where the dead are buried

Founding Date

~4-500 PA

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Roses

Type

Town

Inhabitant Demonym

Lychnisian

Owning Organization

House Pendragon

Related Tradition (Primary)

• Blood Bloom

Related Reports (Primary)

• Session 2.4 - Protectors of the Realm Report

Related Reports (Secondary)

• Session 2.3 - Common Interests Report