Wofslar
The city of Wofslar is the largest urban center in the Sypi Confederacy. Consisting of members of all of the various tribes and more sedentary representatives of the faiths and cities present, it has also become a popular place for refugees from other nations seeking out a place to lose themselves in a racially diverse crowd of people who have nowhere else to go. It has a reputation for being nearly anarchic in nature and governance, but no other city in all of Emicara is as integrated as the people who live here. There are no distinct neighborhoods of ghettos, and the people of Wofslar live next to each other regardless of race or culture. Crime is common, but the guards and the rumored Hidden Tribe seem to be a constant presence in the streets.
Government
The city of Wofslar has a fairly hands-off style of management. While in theory it is the center of the Wicka Tribe, the nomadic part of the population has long since abandoned any hopes of managing the urban area, choosing instead to focus upon their travels. Therefore, in practice the management of the city has often fallen into the hands of the High Chief and their delegates, attempting to preserve order through mercenary guards and various neighborhood watches. The mercenary group known as the Sypi Unitary Brigade was established to protect the town and and serve the leadership of the tribe. They act as the law enforcement of the city, even meting out justice for those who fall afoul of local laws and social norms.
Defences
The majority of the defenses of Wofslar are handled by the private mercenary company, the Sypi Unitary Brigade, which welcomes people from any tribe or nation into its ranks. Initially it was contracted just to defend the walls by a previous high chief, but they have since become established as both a military force and a police one, granted full authority for enforcing the laws of the Confederacy. They have become forced to become self-financing, and frequently extort fines and protection funds from merchants and businesses, and they number nearly five hundred trained guards in strength.
The walls of Wofslar are another matter, and they have received ample amounts of labor and attention over the centuries. The cornerstone of the Confederacy's defense, Wofslar has had to stand against invaders since the first days of the nation, in addition to the occasional raids by giants. They are reinforced stone walls, and engineers both from dwarven strongholds and the Shin Empire have been applied to improving their stability and strength against assault. Only the Jakonian regiments have ever been able to breach the defenses and take the city during the course of the community's history.
Industry & Trade
The city of Wofslar has rarely been a major center of industry or development, but instead has developed its economy as the political nexus of the Sypi Confederacy. Nearly every tribe sends people and emissaries to discuss affairs with the High Chief, and during times of selection for a new Chief, the streets throng with visitors and inhabitants. Lodgings and entertainment are both incredibly important elements of the Wofslaran economy, and there are no less than five local arenas that offer displays of both magical and mundane combat. The University of Wofslar also offers education for travelers and many businesses have opened to support those who visit. The handful of farms surrounding the city barely meet the needs of both inhabitants and visitors alike.
Infrastructure
Wofslar for its age and size is fairly undeveloped, while being too large for the walls it has. Only the main thoroughfares are paved, and most of the roads through the streets are dirt, or more often, mud. Previous attempts at providing the city with paved roads or sewers were abandoned, but for those who are willing to dig, many of these old efforts can still be found, creating numerous underground passageways throughout the city. The main works of infrastructure are the government meetings and the Hall of Meeting, where representatives of the tribes gather during times of crisis and where the High Chief resides while in the city. These places are maintained by the handful of contributions given to the government by the tribes when they are in a charitable mood, but more often than not these funds have to be dedicated towards guard duty and preserving what infrastructure does exist.
Assets
The city government of Wofslar has very little in its coffers at any given time. Most government functions that would be associated with a city's management elsewhere in Emicara simply do not exist here, and has been delegated out to the tribes or bartered off to commercial interests. The city's main marketplace has been forced to literally move underground as every open space in the city has been taken over by ramshackle housing built to house refugees during the civil war. A portion of an old sewer system was cleared out and cleaned up by local businessmen and the Earth Market has become one of the most popular venues for trading goods and services in the Confederacy. There are nine inns and fifty taverns that cater to both residents of the city and travelers, and many of these have become popular meeting places for shady deals of all types.
The University of Wofslar is the only true center of higher education in the entire Confederacy and offers tutors and scholars of all types, particularly for those interested in the practice of magic. The so-called Hidden Tribe also offers criminal elements a chance for glory and fame through the ranks of the underworld, in addition to providing for the sale of smuggled and stolen items. The other guards and businesses, including numerous high elf banks all offer employment and opportunity to adventurers.
Guilds and Factions
Woflsar crawls with various special interest groups and organizations seeking to sway the situation in the city to their favor. First and foremost among these are the assorted nomadic tribes and sedentary towns within the Sypi Confederacy. Each of these settlements and tribes have a vested interest in controlling affairs within Wofslar, and altering the economic balance to their benefit. Traditionally, the tribe of the High Chief has the greatest advantage in this pursuit, and the High Chief typically appoints members of his tribe to posts within the city, such as magister or steward. Outside of the Chief's tribe, the others seek posts for political advantage and influence, in addition to simply being geographically closer to the center of power in the Confederacy.
The University of Wofslar is in itself a powerful political force in the affairs of the city, and much of the commerce that takes place involves service or support for the University and its students. The Counsel of the University also acts as an advisor on magical or engineering affairs within the Confederacy, and particularly in the construction of new facilities and infrastructure in the city. They frequently consult with the Sypi Unitary Brigade on matters of cooperative defense and the enforcement of laws upon the university campus, making them both contenders for the ear of the High Chief.
The Sypi Unitary Brigade is a faction in itself, constantly negotiating for higher payments from both the Confederate government and local businesses. Although they are in theory an independent mercenary company, in practice they are exclusively employed by the Confederacy for the defense of Wofslar and enforcement of law within the city walls. As they have selective decision in what laws to enforce and how to sentence criminals for crimes, this gives them in inordinate amount of power and influence over the affairs of the city. Since the end of the Sypi Civil War, they have been granted more and more autonomy as a powerful military force, kept only in check by the sheer numbers of the various tribes which would surely crush them should they attempt a coup or larger takeover than within the town limits.
Lastly, the legendary Hidden Tribe works in the shadows and manipulates the tribes and factions for the betterment of the underclass of the Confederacy. Tribal organization in nature, the Hidden Tribe is the Confederate version of organized crime. With hooks in all of the towns and tribes of Confederate control, the Hidden Tribe is an open secret in Wofslar. They frequently step in to resolve affairs to avoid Unitary Brigade involvement and can offer a second chance to many who have come to the city seeking refuge. Although the existence of the Hidden Tribe is completely disavowed by the High Chief and the leaders of the other tribes, they have built a strong and highly loyal following among the outcasts and refugees who belong nowhere else.
Maps
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Wofslar
A map of the city of Wofslar and its immediate surrounding area.
Founding Date
74 AF
Type
City
Population
31,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Wofslaran
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments