Bet Seder

At a Glance

The capital city of Bet Seder is situated in the center of the Kingdom of Tokis' coast. Once a magnificent city, the recent economic afflictions have left Bet Seder in a sorry state of disrepair. Bet Seder remains well-fortified due to Imperial aid, however, years of financial neglect have taken their toll within her walls. Since most artisans have left the city in search of greener pastures, there are few left that are skilled enough to repair the aging buildings. The King employs many of the remaining craftsmen to maintain his keep and palace.
Bet Seder's once dazzling marketplace is now home to two-bit merchants, charlatans and thieves. The wares traded are usually of poor quality and workmanship. Most merchants feel it necessary to hire mercenaries to ward off thieves and the corrupt city watch. The streets of Bet Seder are quite dangerous as hunger has turned many once honorable thieves into cutthroats, worried less with style and grace and more with filling their bellies. The city's poor live in sod houses on the eastern side of town. Their homes crowd against the tall city walls, and no paved roads pass through the slum. The homes inside the walls are better, but naked children still play around crowded tenement buildings.
People have a desperate attitude, making the merchants tenacious bargainers, the muggers bolder, and the innkeepers reluctant to extend credit. The citizens welcome strangers with insincere words of welcome, but they treat them fairly enough. In dark taverns late at night, people blame the worsening situation in the city on Adoku's growing concern for his neck.

City Map

Government

Adoku Soriba holds a tight rein on the nobility, since the House of Soriba is the only noble house allowed. All government officials are related to the King in some way, although they know the familial ries are not stronger than the need for results, so they work hard at their given tasks. Adoku has executed several family members, including his youngest brother, for incompetence or sedition. Adoku has been feeling pressure from Kabori and tolerates no resistance.
Adoku's stated heir is his nephew Jaralam, a mean and petty lord whose appeal to Adoku lies in his loyalty. Adoku does not really expect his nephew to handle the kingdom well, but since he'll have to be dead for the youth to see thecrown, he figures it will not be his problem.

Industry & Trade

The Royal Treasury has been depleted in recent years. Adoku's tyranny has eliminated the graft or scared the embezzlers into hiding, however, and recovery might very well be in the near future. For now, the city has little wealth.
Famine or plague has lowered the amount of corn, wool, and other staple crops the kingdom normally relies on For exports. Fortunately, one of the ranchers in the northern fields managed to come across and capture a large herd of horses bearing no brands (there were brands, and the mark belonged to an O'Paran noble family, but Adoku claimed they were trophies taken from Pekal and reported a great victory to Bet Kalamar). Recent naval victories over Pekalese merchants have also kept the city's economy alive, if still weak.

Points of interest

The city encompasses a shrine to Kolokar, former Emperor of Kalamar. The monument depicts Kolokar on a rearing mount. Supposedly, the monument stands on the exact spot where the Emperor was thrown from his horse and killed and later buried, but most historians insist he is buried in the capital with the rest of the emperors.
The Pit is a famous wrestling arena, although its popularity has waned over the past few years. Despite the decline, the annual Frosting Games draw hundreds of competitors and sees thousands of coins trade hands as spectators eat, drink, wager, and fill the local inns. Matches are two falls out of three, and the overall winner receives a purse of 250 gold pieces (down from the top prize of 600 gold some years ago) and a ceremonial mace of silver that could fetch another 100 gold pieces if one were destitute enough to sell it.

Population

47,800 total. The humans are Kalamaran and Dejy. Demihumans, mostly halflings, make up about 15% of the population.

Owner/Ruler

King Adoku Soriba