Ro-gash
Government
Taxation:
A one-gold tax is obtained per visiting adult passing through the city gates. Taxes levied on merchants are a flat 10% of sales made while in the city. Local, permanent businesses are required to pay a 5% yearly tax though the upkeep of their business location is managed and ensured by the city. Bounty hunters enjoy free passage to and from the city after obtaining an official writ of occupation from the Mayor and are paid from the city's coffers. A high degree of integrity is required to keep this writ and no degree of coercion of the public for additional rewards is to be tolerated.
City Security: The city guard is well compensated from these taxes and, as such, is expansive, well trained, well equipped, and professional.
Businesses: As space at the open-air market is at a premium, stall licenses are on a first-come first-served basis. These licenses are issued on Moondays and last until the following Sunday, at which point they must be returned to the gate-guard and income taxes declared. Merchants who do not wish to or are unable to obtain a license are welcome to set up outside the city walls. These merchants will not be as well protected as those within the walls but the guards at the gate will not allow them to be harassed or harmed as long as it is within their power to stop. As these merchants are not conducting business within the city, they are not responsible for paying income taxes.
Burial Practices (as They Relate to Magical Taboo): As Necromancy is a cultural taboo in Evarra, it is common practice in Ro-gash to cremate the dead and to intermingle their ashes with those of their family members in a family urn. These urns are maintained in a locked grotto behind the Glitteroil, which, in addition to industrial secrets, is the justification for the increased guard presence in the Forge District.
City Security: The city guard is well compensated from these taxes and, as such, is expansive, well trained, well equipped, and professional.
Businesses: As space at the open-air market is at a premium, stall licenses are on a first-come first-served basis. These licenses are issued on Moondays and last until the following Sunday, at which point they must be returned to the gate-guard and income taxes declared. Merchants who do not wish to or are unable to obtain a license are welcome to set up outside the city walls. These merchants will not be as well protected as those within the walls but the guards at the gate will not allow them to be harassed or harmed as long as it is within their power to stop. As these merchants are not conducting business within the city, they are not responsible for paying income taxes.
Burial Practices (as They Relate to Magical Taboo): As Necromancy is a cultural taboo in Evarra, it is common practice in Ro-gash to cremate the dead and to intermingle their ashes with those of their family members in a family urn. These urns are maintained in a locked grotto behind the Glitteroil, which, in addition to industrial secrets, is the justification for the increased guard presence in the Forge District.
Defences
The city guard are proficient in their occupation, assisted greatly by the natural defences created by the cliffs, mountains, and rivers surrounding the city.
Industry & Trade
The mountain stream provides a major source of protein in its trout population, the other source being the mountain goats farmers raise in the foothills of the Garden District. The Garden District's unusually fertile soils provide stable crops in the growing season and the cave system under the city is an ideal environment for fungal cultivation.
The smiths in the Foundry District are purported to be second only to the smiths of the Dwarven Underhold, whose secrets are guarded more closely than a dragon's hoard.
The smiths in the Foundry District are purported to be second only to the smiths of the Dwarven Underhold, whose secrets are guarded more closely than a dragon's hoard.
Infrastructure
The streets of Ro-gash are well-trodden cobblestone. The waterfall, Glitterroil, is the main contributor to the river that runs by Ro-gash. The remaining water is from smaller mountain springs that pepper the mountainside.
Districts
The Forge District lies to the north of the Market District, the Garden District to the East, and the Mayoral Mansion to the West.
Assets
The verdant and fertile fields of Ro-gash make it a valuable source of alchemical creations, and the mines below the mountain have an abnormally high concentration of various metal veins.
Guilds and Factions
Oreshapers United - Based in the Forge District, encompasses smiths, miners, and crafters of metal goods.
Green Thumbs - Based in the Garden District, encompasses arborists, farmers, farmhands, botanists, and alchemists. Elmhewn - No centralized location; encompasses fletchers, bowyers, and carpenters.
Green Thumbs - Based in the Garden District, encompasses arborists, farmers, farmhands, botanists, and alchemists. Elmhewn - No centralized location; encompasses fletchers, bowyers, and carpenters.
History
Originally founded by Hellebora, a religious figure central to the Order of the Embodiment. The history of this sect is largely lost to time due to the mass sacrifice that ended their Order, though it is said that this sacrifice was conducted to create the Mountain of the Exile as a prison for their corrupted priestess. The mountain is considered to be cursed so, understandably, no one risks climbing the chain to the floating island.
Points of interest
The Mountain of the Exile is visible from most places in the city, floating in the distance, its giant chain swaying gently in the vast distance between the island and the flattened mountain top above Ro-gash.
Tourism
The Mountain of the Exile is a fairly common destination for adventurers, scholars, and religious devotees. Additionally, the fine crafted goods of the Oreshapers are often the goal for merchants and adventuring parties or mercenary companies.
Architecture
As the city is rather cosmopolitan, there is no common architectural throughline in terms of cultural origin; however, any building erected here must be approved by the Green Thumbs guild as a priority is placed on the maintenance of the environment.
Geography
The city is built on the foothills of and nestled between the Godsroot Mountains. Various mountain springs, some barely a trickle and one a waterfall, are tributaries to the Ashwend River.
Natural Resources
Mountain sprint water is abundant, and the unusually fertile soils of the valley provide ample opportunity for agricultural abundance.
Founding Date
552
Founders
Type
Large city
Population
3,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Ro-gashans
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Comments