Gorgotha

Gorgotha is a somewhat well populated city that is ran through by a river, which was first used to provide fish for the growing settlement, then when the inhabitants started to gather the rescources from the area, it became the main channel for trading, and soon the small town started to grow into the size we know today. The main export goods are the various gems and crystals found in the nearby mountain range, and clear glass, along with the newly developed, and highly prized lenses that has made Gorgotha be known as the City of Glasses. There are countless spectacle makers in the craftsman's quarter, so much that they procured a whole street for themselves, right next to the glassblowers street of course, and because of the sudden demand, and thus high price for their product, the mayors of the city are considering a lucrative tax to be imposed upon them, a threat that's been lingering over many, not so prominent shops in the district. Many of the spectacle makers are thus considering to move to the nearby town, to avoid such burden, which is the main reason why it hasn't been imposed yet. The city is ruled by the twelve mayors, six of which are also high ranking officials from the church, which results in a unified front that usually gets the majority of votes when decisions has to be made. The church thus is very powerful in the area, so powerful that unlike in most other cities and towns, the inquisition still has a foothold in the area, and many citizens have been abducted, or threatened to be so, if not comply with their demands. This is one of the stigmas that are keeping the city from growing faster.

Geography

The city was founded near a river, that flows from the nearby mountain range, though the city now borders both that, and a small forest. The river now runs through the city, with most of the houses being built on the western side, where the forest is located, while most stone structures, like the different manufactures located north, where the mountain range is closer. Though the forest is small, the trees grow near each other, and thus has been providing enough lumber to supply the expansion of the city, and been a successfull barrier to fend off the occasional raiding party, as the settlement doesn't have any walls. The mountains to the north are vast, and provide quite the lookout post for the city, so they can prepare if danger is coming, though in the New Age such threats are history. Multiple mines and quarries have been built, and quite the amount of gems, quartz, and stone has been carved out of them.

Fauna & Flora

The nearby forest gives an ever decreasing habitat for smaller game, with the occasional sight of wolves, of which the hunters are taking care of. The forest is composed of mostly Robinia and Willow trees. Shrubs are rare, due to the small amount of light reaching the forest floor.

Natural Resources

The forest provides mainly lumber, with a small amount of food, procured as game and berries. The mountains are rich in low price gems and quartz, and is also mined for stone, and iron, though the latter is quite scarcely found. The river once supplied the settlement with fish, but is now used by narrow boats and ferries to ship goods and people across it. The nearby towns and villages send foodstuff and general use tools, while the city provides them with cheap luxuries, while the lenses and spectacles are shipped to other larger settlements. There are some fields nearby the city, tended by citizens that are fed up with the risks of imported food.

Alternative Name(s)

City of Glass

Type

Highlands