Saarmen
Demographics
In Anuirean architecture, all major homes and businesses contain two or more apartments. Depending upon the desires of the owner, the smaller rooms with streetside openings are rented either to businesses or to members of the social class just below the owner’s.
Most of the businesses along any fairly prominent street specialize in one craft or product, or are related to the manufacture or servicing of that craft or product. This specialty often gives the street its name. The craftsmen or store owners and their families generally live above or behind the shop to save rent and reduce their losses from theft.
Government
Syndir Morningsteel is the silent lord of Saarmen. He rarely makes it into the public
eye, but he is never missed. His excellent aides have a series of contingency plans at hand to
take care of anything that may go wrong. The lord genuinely cares about the people in his
city, and they know it—he just prefers to operate from “behind the scenes.” Any time someone reports an infringement of a citizen’s rights, his aides immediately bring the matter to the attention of the militia and call for a cease and desist order.
At night, local government provides torch - carrying watchmen who patrol the streets to deter criminal activity, monitor after-dark goings-on, and escort people on their way home. This service is funded by city fines and fees.
Defences
Saarmen is a semi-fortified installation, though its defenses could be much improved with a suitable appropriation of funds. A wall was built completely around it in the hope that 50,000 people would one day call the city home.
Industry & Trade
Most of Müden’s goods are exported through Saarmen harbor facilities. The wealthy mines from Archestüel and the rich farms of the domain transport their goods here as the first step on the way to far-flung destinations.
Infrastructure
The city is built at the mouth of the Forisain River, with approximately half the settlement located on either side of the flow. The wall was 10 built above the river (over an island), with an iron portcullis placed in the water to keep enemy vessels from entering the city via the river.
The sewer system, designed to handle the waste of as many as 100,000 city inhabitants, is
still in perfect working condition. The main sewer tunnels are large enough for a man to stand, while the lesser ones require one to travel on foot bent nearly double. Plans are underway to bring sewerworks to the outlying communities that recently have cropped up not far from the city walls; city planners are hoping to have the system installed and integrated into the existing sewers within five years.
Saarmen’s water system is a thing of great pride for residents, for few Brecht cities have
the luxury of pressurised indoor plumbing. Aqueducts and well-placed cisterns give almost every house and business access to water for drinking, cooking, bathing, firefighting, and other needs.
Guilds and Factions
Éla’s Suppression of Shadows: The temple to the goddess Éla is the largest synagogue in the city and hosts public services three times a week.
In Müden, the church of Éla openly worships the goddess of night and shadows for her ability to control passages between Cerilia and the Shadow World. (Most Müdenites, in unspoken accord, worship the Sister of Thieves more to protect themselves from the rogues of this world than from the unknown beasts of the other.)
Sailing Song of Neira: Brechlen’s other significant temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. All merchants, marines, naval officers, and shipwrights come to the Lady of Mourning to appease the superstitions of sailors. This particular church is located near the main docks, to give all who rely on the sea easy access to their deity.
This temple, as well as the others like it throughout Müden, is controlled by Chanty Emma Trulacht (FBr; P6; Ma minor, 20). She is the parson at this particular branch and is known for charismatic sermons that cause the followers to break into tears and rend their clothing.
Old Father of Forests: Old Father of Forests is a teaching that brings people to realize the tranquility and peace one can find in nature. Erik’s priests, all of whom work under the druid Pieter Astridsen (MRj/Br; Dr5, Erik; An minor, 15), are vassals of tolerance and acceptance, using themselves as examples for their devoted followers. These temple holdings are located only in the southern most forested sections of Müden.
Celestic Radiance: Helmut Vehen (MBr;W10; Br, minor 12)is the master of the Celestic Radiance and takes great pride in his work.
Being the premier instructor of the magical arts in Müden has placed Helmut in the sphere of
some of the most important people in Müden, and, from all indications, he enjoys the view.
Recent graduate Elsa Darindorf, daughter of a prominent local furrier, was one of his finest
pupils (see her description in the “Notable Citizens” section). Helmut charges 2,000 gold marcks per experience level a pupil wishes to achieve and requires at minimum six month’s training for each level. Seventy-five percent of his students achieve their goals.
Haelyn's Might: Found in the Iron Place district with a dwarven priest leading the church. His name is Keg Strongarm.
History
The city of Saarmen is a proud relic from the age of Anuirean occupation. The optimistic city planners, hoping to one day accommodate up to 50,000 inhabitants, set the city walls far back from the original settlement. Today, 40,859 persons live in Saarmen, and there is still room to grow. Though this is not the most populous city in Müden, it is considered the finest city in which to raise children.
Architecture
The quality of the architecture and amount of planning involved in designing this city remain evident even today.
Geography
Plains that border on a river and the sea. To the east are mountains and forest.
Type
City
Population
40,859
Related Ethnicities
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
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