Riga
Demographics
The city of Riga has a population of 44 thousand this is a mix of humans, beastmen and dwarves. Two fifths of the city’s population are part of the army and all patrons are required to do a two year tenure. There is 98% employment in the city and because of this crime is scarce.
Government
The Senate of Riga is a political institution.The senate directs magistrates, especially the Consul the
chief-magistrate, in their prosecution of criminals and the upholding of civil laws. The senate also
manages the city finances and public spending.
Senators can come from any walk of life, although it is more likely that they are crafters, merchants, preists and mages. It is often rare that a soldier is on the senate, due to mititary and politics not mixing, after all the Army is the hammer of the senate.
There are 21 members of the Rigan senate, ten from the towns of the state, ten from Riga itself and a Pro Consul. The Pro Consul is the voted leader of the senate and has overall control of the city.
In 1117 the Drow Vampire Lord Taras Schwarzengle was made the Lord of Riga, effectively taking the role of Pro Consul permanently.
Schwarzengle immediately disbanded the Senate, claimed the title of Prince Elector, and has crushed any kind of dissent with brutal force.
Senators can come from any walk of life, although it is more likely that they are crafters, merchants, preists and mages. It is often rare that a soldier is on the senate, due to mititary and politics not mixing, after all the Army is the hammer of the senate.
There are 21 members of the Rigan senate, ten from the towns of the state, ten from Riga itself and a Pro Consul. The Pro Consul is the voted leader of the senate and has overall control of the city.
In 1117 the Drow Vampire Lord Taras Schwarzengle was made the Lord of Riga, effectively taking the role of Pro Consul permanently.
Schwarzengle immediately disbanded the Senate, claimed the title of Prince Elector, and has crushed any kind of dissent with brutal force.
Defences
The Army of Riga is a well trained and disciplined force split into three, strength, Wisdom and Cunning. The total military strength of the state is 90,000 soldiers.
Warriors make up the strength of Riga, which is in turn divided into different groups.
The legionaries are the back bone and bulk of the Rigan army, usually in heavy armour and armed with sword and shield. The bilk of the Rigan army are stern, rigidly militaristic fighters, with large square shields, chainmail or segmented plate armour and steel helemts, these men are the front line troops of Riga. Legionaries are found in units of 5,000 known as legions. 4 legions protect the state, with a 5th acting as a veteran special legion utilised by the nation. Each Legion is led by a legate, below him are 5 tribunes each leading a cohort. Below each tribune are 7 centurions leading a century of men, with an Opio as his second in command.
Barbarians are tough skirmishers that batter the flanks of an opposing army, their free fighting style is not suited to traditional teutonic shield wall fighting.
Beastmen are huge creatures of chaos, with a mix of natural and steel armour, these are used to break the spirit of opposing armies with the strength and ferocity of their attacks.
The Wisdom branch of the military is made up of priests and mages, light to heavy armoured with hammer or sword. The priest and mages are battle hardened, known to have offensive magic’s which they channel from the gods and often use mighty war hammers to attack their foes. It is not uncommon to see a priest from Riga leading a charge in battle.
The Cunning branch of the Rigan military is made up of rangers, lightly armoured with swords. These are the information gathers of the army.
Industry & Trade
Since taking over the region, Prince Elector Taras von Schwarzengel has turned the around around Riga into a food-production powerhouse. During the invasion of Sable, much of the nation depended on the food produced around Riga and this has continued to the current day. The Prince Elector has used this dependance to leverage a considerable amount of political power over the other ruling cities.
History
The remote City of Riga is situated in the North Eastern Coast of Teutonia.
Riga has always been a Cobra stronghold and like it’s neighbour Murmansk is responsible for
producing most of the Cobra soldiers and weaponry of the last several Snake wars.
Cobras and Vipers lived in the city together albeit with tensions the political diversions that wacked the whole country was apparent in Riga as well. To ease this tension a Senate was formed to control the city. It was made up of vipers and cobras from all walks of life, voted from the people by the people.
Under the rule of the senate the City thrived becoming a beacon to the smaller towns around it. One by one they came under the protection of the senate, and the City of Riga. Over the years Riga became a City State
During the Reign of King Wilhelm (990-992), Riga came under the control of the vipers that subjugated the cobras in the city to their rule, and disbanded the senate. Within a year as the city floundered with the King away from his lands and the threat of invasion from the Norseman Wolves, the Rigans reinstated the senate and removed the viper nobles in charge from the city.
This threat of invasion became a pivotal point in Riga’s history as the First Legion of Riga was created from the standing militia. Warriors came from all over the city state to enrol in this modern army. Rigan craftsmen quickly created the armour and weapons and a General was put in place to Command this Army. His name ‘Marcus Lucius Apostis’
As the wolves landed 10,000 men in Parna to the East of Riga destroying half the town. General Apostis marched his Legion of 4,000 men and 1,000 ancillaries made up of beast men and dwarves to the plains of Ogre. When the two armies met the Rigans formed a square and allowed the barbaric wolves to fall upon the shield wall wave after wave. Although heavily outnumbered 2-1 the shield wall held and the unbreakable will of the Rigan legionnaires force the wolves back eventually routing them from the field and chasing them back to their boats.
During the reign of King Harrietta, The City of Riga was allowed to prosper. Harrietta although hated the Cobra’s was too busy fighting several enemies had no time to fight on yet another front and also knew that he needed the Rigan Legions to hold the North eastern border. It was during this time that the Rigan II Legion made a name for itself at the Siege of Murmansk, destroying the Green skin army outside the city walls.
When the latest snake war started between Krueger and Duke Kainum, the Rigans once again answered their masters’ call, removing the vipers from their city and once again flying the Striking Cobra from the city walls. Although this alliance was short lived,Once the Senate found out the Krueger was perverting the use of undead on the battlefield instead of the purity of fighting men.
After the death of the latest Krueger pretender to the crown, an uneasy front was established on the borders of the City State south of the seaport of Liepaja when Annalise von Heidelberg leader of the Cobra forces and King Frederick von Hapsburg arrived and signed a treaty in front of the commanders of both armies.
Vipers were allowed back into the city, and both the Cobra and Viper flags flew under the combined flag of King Frederick von Hapsburg.
Cobras and Vipers lived in the city together albeit with tensions the political diversions that wacked the whole country was apparent in Riga as well. To ease this tension a Senate was formed to control the city. It was made up of vipers and cobras from all walks of life, voted from the people by the people.
Under the rule of the senate the City thrived becoming a beacon to the smaller towns around it. One by one they came under the protection of the senate, and the City of Riga. Over the years Riga became a City State
During the Reign of King Wilhelm (990-992), Riga came under the control of the vipers that subjugated the cobras in the city to their rule, and disbanded the senate. Within a year as the city floundered with the King away from his lands and the threat of invasion from the Norseman Wolves, the Rigans reinstated the senate and removed the viper nobles in charge from the city.
This threat of invasion became a pivotal point in Riga’s history as the First Legion of Riga was created from the standing militia. Warriors came from all over the city state to enrol in this modern army. Rigan craftsmen quickly created the armour and weapons and a General was put in place to Command this Army. His name ‘Marcus Lucius Apostis’
As the wolves landed 10,000 men in Parna to the East of Riga destroying half the town. General Apostis marched his Legion of 4,000 men and 1,000 ancillaries made up of beast men and dwarves to the plains of Ogre. When the two armies met the Rigans formed a square and allowed the barbaric wolves to fall upon the shield wall wave after wave. Although heavily outnumbered 2-1 the shield wall held and the unbreakable will of the Rigan legionnaires force the wolves back eventually routing them from the field and chasing them back to their boats.
During the reign of King Harrietta, The City of Riga was allowed to prosper. Harrietta although hated the Cobra’s was too busy fighting several enemies had no time to fight on yet another front and also knew that he needed the Rigan Legions to hold the North eastern border. It was during this time that the Rigan II Legion made a name for itself at the Siege of Murmansk, destroying the Green skin army outside the city walls.
When the latest snake war started between Krueger and Duke Kainum, the Rigans once again answered their masters’ call, removing the vipers from their city and once again flying the Striking Cobra from the city walls. Although this alliance was short lived,Once the Senate found out the Krueger was perverting the use of undead on the battlefield instead of the purity of fighting men.
After the death of the latest Krueger pretender to the crown, an uneasy front was established on the borders of the City State south of the seaport of Liepaja when Annalise von Heidelberg leader of the Cobra forces and King Frederick von Hapsburg arrived and signed a treaty in front of the commanders of both armies.
Vipers were allowed back into the city, and both the Cobra and Viper flags flew under the combined flag of King Frederick von Hapsburg.
Architecture
Riga is situated on the west bank of the River Gauja. The river gives ample protection from any attacks from the east and is crossed via two wooden bridges. Entrance to the city is through 6 large gates in the 20 foot tall outer stone walls. The City itself is split into two sections, the outer city and the Castle.
Just north-west of the City is the Ritual circle of Riga, a stone circle thousands of years old, watched over by Riga’s powerful ritualists and a garrison of soldiers within a small stone keep. Also outside the city wall’s are several farms for the growing of crops and livestock, providing the city with the ready supply of fish and other fresh food.
The Outer City
The Outer city of Riga is split into 5 districts by a series of inner connecting walls and towers. The North-East district is a residential and learning area. Several schools and libraries, as well as large villas are found in this area. It is home to the more affluent citizens of Riga. There are two large parks, a lake and also two magnificent squares, holding the statues of Syth and Mortis in one and a fountain in the other. The fountain is of particular interest as it depicts two Teutonian brothers fighting in the name of Cobra and Viper. This district is the only area that has two exits from the city in the North and the East. It also has an entrance to the Castle in the South Western Inner Wall. The South-east district once held the Coliseum, which stood 100 ft high, 500 feet long and 250 ft wide. However this large building was torn down to make way for granaries and food warehouse in 1117 by the newly appointed Lord of Riga, Lord Schwartengel. The district still retains its ‘Walk of Hero’s,’ mighty warriors of Riga who fought for Teutonia and in the Snake Wars, whether they be Cobra or Viper, human or beastmen. This area is also where the many blacksmiths, weapons smiths, armourers and alchemists play their trade. In the South-west district is the magnificent forum, a huge market place built to provide a meeting place for, merchants, farmers, and citizens to get together and to buy and sell their wares. Also within this area, are several warehouses, animal stockades and taverns. This is the business hub of Riga and the surrounding area. All trade in the State of Riga comes through the forum. Including that of prostitution, which is legal in the city. The western district is the second of the residential areas. Similar to the North-eastern District, but this is where the poorer citizens of Riga reside. Half the size of the other district it also has half the amenities. There is a lake, park and square and several smaller state schools. This area has several taverns and boarding houses. The North West district is the Temple district. This large area has been set aside to the pursuit of wisdom through prayer and meditation. This area is filled with beautiful temples, shrines and statures of all the gods of Teutonia. It is the only area which is completely grassed, except for the road and many pathways. Two lakes are situated in this beautiful area of the city.
The Castle
The Castle of Riga has a 40ft high wall which tower over the Outer city. Within the Castle are sour significant buildings; the Keep, the towers of Wisdom, the senate building and the barracks and training grounds. The Keep, is the central building of Riga. Sat atop a small manmade hillock and surrounded by a mote and lake, its seventy foot high walls are an imposing sight to any would be conqueror. Four towers support the inner keep which house the Lord of Riga. The Towers of Wisdom are two towers joined by a small bridge mark the presence of magery and spell casting in Riga. These magnificent white towers house the school of mages in Riga. The Senate building, is where all decisions on the sunning of the State are made. Representatives from the ruler of Teutonia can be heard in the Senate, whilst traditionally Riga has also been governed by the senate, the appointment of Lord Schwartengel as resulted in the the senate loosing significant power over the state. Also within the castle are the army barracks and training ground. The barracks hold a large garrison of the standing army, but there are also watch houses dotted about the whole city.
The Outer City
The Outer city of Riga is split into 5 districts by a series of inner connecting walls and towers. The North-East district is a residential and learning area. Several schools and libraries, as well as large villas are found in this area. It is home to the more affluent citizens of Riga. There are two large parks, a lake and also two magnificent squares, holding the statues of Syth and Mortis in one and a fountain in the other. The fountain is of particular interest as it depicts two Teutonian brothers fighting in the name of Cobra and Viper. This district is the only area that has two exits from the city in the North and the East. It also has an entrance to the Castle in the South Western Inner Wall. The South-east district once held the Coliseum, which stood 100 ft high, 500 feet long and 250 ft wide. However this large building was torn down to make way for granaries and food warehouse in 1117 by the newly appointed Lord of Riga, Lord Schwartengel. The district still retains its ‘Walk of Hero’s,’ mighty warriors of Riga who fought for Teutonia and in the Snake Wars, whether they be Cobra or Viper, human or beastmen. This area is also where the many blacksmiths, weapons smiths, armourers and alchemists play their trade. In the South-west district is the magnificent forum, a huge market place built to provide a meeting place for, merchants, farmers, and citizens to get together and to buy and sell their wares. Also within this area, are several warehouses, animal stockades and taverns. This is the business hub of Riga and the surrounding area. All trade in the State of Riga comes through the forum. Including that of prostitution, which is legal in the city. The western district is the second of the residential areas. Similar to the North-eastern District, but this is where the poorer citizens of Riga reside. Half the size of the other district it also has half the amenities. There is a lake, park and square and several smaller state schools. This area has several taverns and boarding houses. The North West district is the Temple district. This large area has been set aside to the pursuit of wisdom through prayer and meditation. This area is filled with beautiful temples, shrines and statures of all the gods of Teutonia. It is the only area which is completely grassed, except for the road and many pathways. Two lakes are situated in this beautiful area of the city.
The Castle
The Castle of Riga has a 40ft high wall which tower over the Outer city. Within the Castle are sour significant buildings; the Keep, the towers of Wisdom, the senate building and the barracks and training grounds. The Keep, is the central building of Riga. Sat atop a small manmade hillock and surrounded by a mote and lake, its seventy foot high walls are an imposing sight to any would be conqueror. Four towers support the inner keep which house the Lord of Riga. The Towers of Wisdom are two towers joined by a small bridge mark the presence of magery and spell casting in Riga. These magnificent white towers house the school of mages in Riga. The Senate building, is where all decisions on the sunning of the State are made. Representatives from the ruler of Teutonia can be heard in the Senate, whilst traditionally Riga has also been governed by the senate, the appointment of Lord Schwartengel as resulted in the the senate loosing significant power over the state. Also within the castle are the army barracks and training ground. The barracks hold a large garrison of the standing army, but there are also watch houses dotted about the whole city.
Type
City
Population
41 thousand (as of 1120)
Inhabitant Demonym
Rigan
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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