Defense
The Hall of Brass and Ruby is ringed by a series of concentric defensive walls, growing older as you head towards the city center. This is because each wall once marked the city borders, but as the Hall expanded and built outside these walls, newer walls were erected to protect the new inhabitants. Although there are over a dozen different walls within the city, there are really only three that are of any note.
The Outer Wall, sometimes known as the Red Wall, began construction in 2632 PAC, and did not see completion until nearly a hundred years later in 2725 PAC. It was an ambitious project, an attempt to encircle the entire city. Twenty years after construction began, it had already fallen short of that aim, as a massive influx of immigrants from the east began building outside the walls. However, the Outer Wall continues to be used today by the military, as it provides significant vantage points from the fortresses, and the gates were some of the most sophisticated technology of their time, and have proved useful in the even of sieges in the past.
Within the Outer Wall lies the Butcher's Wall, so named because it is most intact around the livestock processing and distribution district of the city. The Butcher's Wall was once part of a lengthy section of wall to the west of the Hall of Brass and Ruby, which was built in the late 2100s to defend the newly-developed districts of the city. However, in the intervening centuries, almost two thirds of the wall were torn down or knocked through, so that now only the Butcher's Wall and a few free-standing gates remain.
The innermost wall still standing, usually called the Brass Wall, encircles the governmental district of the city, where the Capitol and Chambers of Parliament are built, as well as several government offices, a number of ancestral houses belonging to the Ruby families, and a few parks. It is believed that the Brass Wall once marked the city limits; however, now it seems to solely protect the most powerful members of the Hall.
Bridges
There are fourteen major wagon-carrying bridges within the Hall of Brass and Ruby which span the
River Name and Wittern Rivers; four of these cross the
River Name, while the remaining ten span the Wittern. Most of these bridges are very old, going back to the Great Arcane Era; however, they have all been rebuilt many times. They are primarily maintined by the Ministry of the Hall.
The bridge which has remained unchanged the longest in the Hall is the Fifth Street Bridge, which crosses the
River Name river at Fifth Street. It is a stone bridge with one central arch large enough for riverboats to pass beneath, and two smaller arches on either side for support. The Fifth Street Bridge was last rebuilt in the 23rd century PAC, and it is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the city.
In addition to the wagon-bridges, there are a few footbridges, the most famous of which is the Spider's Bridge, situated in the northern part of the city, crossing the Wittern River. Historically, this bridge was actually called the Espier's Bridge, as it was once the first bridge which boats from the north would have to pass under to enter the Hall, and guards were stationed there. However, as the Hall expanded and the bridge became less important, the locals began referring to it as the "Spider's Bridge" due to the numerous population of orb weaver spiders that have taken up residence along the railings of the bridge.
Watermills
Since the Hall of Brass and Ruby is located at the intersection of two major rivers, the inhabitants have taken advantage of the plentiful waterpower available. The two best-known watermills in the Hall are known simply as the Old Mill and the New Mill, and both were built and are still currently run by the Ministry of the Hall. The Old Mill is a gristmill, used for processing grains such as wheat, barley, and rye, while the New Mill is a saw mill and mostly powers lumber.
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