Wien
Wien is the largest of the towns and cities in Austria. Centuries later it would come to be known a s Vienna. Continuously inhabited, there were originally Neolithic farming communities, before the Halstatt Celts then the La Tene. These were in due course followed by the Romans and then Germanic tribes.
It has now grown to a large city numbering in the thousands, and a bulwark against the Slavs & Avars to the east. This protects the kingdom of the Franks, and Jarl Adalolf Bautosson rules over Austria under his liege Charlemagne.
It is an industrious city with plenty of mined ore, salt, livestock, wool, leather and wood, passing through its markets and specialist workers.
The local Roman Catholic church is run from here under the Austrian Synod headed by Arch Bishop Otbert Richer.
The only city locally that can possibly compete with Wien is Salzburg.
Demographics
Largest city, containing the ruling Jarl and his court of noble are situated here. Many merchants live in the west of the city, and many carpenters (and related trades) & smiths primarily living and working in the east of it. Foundries are also situated in the east of the city too. There is a standing militia of roughly 1000 men, and about 50 professional men-at-arms attached to the nobility.
Dotted around are bakeries, butchers, candlestick makers, and a local brewery. A large Roman Catholic church stands in the west with the Arch Bishop of Austria , and the Austrian Synod also in attendance. Small Germanic shrines and attendant priests are also present.
Dwarves and Gnomes are not an uncommon sight in the city, usually working in the smithies and furnaces, along with stonemasons, and mining operations.
Elves are rarely seen but usually make up parts of the local lumber yards and hunting parties.
Half-Elves are regularly found in positions of diplomacy and different administrative ranks.
A few Halflings are found in different catering and farming roles, including cooks, bakers, and the like.
Government
Ruled over by Jarl Adalolf Bautosson, who in turn reports to King Charlemagne. Rules the court made up of local nobility and representatives from other baronies of Austria. The local arch bishop Otbert Richer usually has a say in local matters too. This usually meets once a month at the main keep of Jarl Bautosson, and allows for an hour to two hours for local citizens to make cases to the court, and / or settle disputes. Criminal proceedings are also carried out at these, and any executions are carried out the following morning before 12 noon. There is a Burgomaster that act acts as mayor, and is a go-between the lower classes and upper classes. His name is Ewald Odiloson.
Taxation is usually measured as a portion of produce levied as to the business and how successful it is. A standing amount of one silver piece or equivalent is the standard, and collected every 3 months.
Military matters are also settled, and can fluctuated according to the needs for protection or war.
Defences
The Keep of Adalolf Bautosson is the most heavily defended part of the city. With its dyke and outer wall, and inner wall surrounding it, and a portcullis in each wall, can make it intimidating to get to. It has a large central hall-like centre with a tower at each corner and at the front entrance a further larger tower stands. The latter also doubles as a guard barracks. Palisades can also be deployed in and around the area to slow down or prevent attacks. The Jarl's own bodyguard, and professional soldiers make up the bulk of these.
The lesser nobility homes and the local Cathedral have defensive walls and small guard groups attached. These are normally hired men and/or militia.
Palisades are easily produced from the wood brought to town from the Bohemian Massif, and a mix of stone & wooden walls are built at regular intervals throughout the city. Small guard towers are attached at strategic points too (usually maintained by militia members).
Militia make up the core troops with about 1000 being the regular. 50 professional men-at-arms are controlled directly by the Jarl.
Many of the adult free men can be called upon too to act as fryd men.
The one main rule of the city for anyone armed is to leave their weapons with the militia, or at the inn they are staying at. If found otherwise they could face a fine of 1 gold piece for the first time, or the stocks for a full day after that.
Industry & Trade
The inhabitants usually work metal ores (magnesite, iron, lignite, anhydrous gypsum, lead, zinc and antimony) in smiths and foundries for local use, and to export to other countries. There is a large amount of smiths and the like doing this work.
Many mines exist in Austria so many people are also drawn to the mines throughout the region, and Wien is a regular stop over. The mines also include salt mines to the east of Wien.
Leather, wool, and different livestock meats (and the still living livestock), are regular commodities.
A small amount of oil is found far to the west in Austria and some have took to try trading in it were possible but not that common.
Wood is also a common export with the southern Bohemian Massif.
Stone is another regularly worked material due to the Alps being nearby.
Farms are common around settlements but the city regularly imports many different fruits & vegetables that they can't grow naturally. Wine is another import, usually from Western Europe and the Italian States.
Fish is uncommon, and sometimes imported.
Infrastructure
Major roads run throughout the city, usually heading west and south. These link up with the greater Frankish territories, while also linking up with towns in the Alps to the south and Saltsburg too. Many smaller roads also run from the city and used for travel back & forth to the logging camps in the southern Bohemian Massif.
The eastern part of Wien is primarily given over to the smelters, blast furnaces and smithies of the metal workers who live in close proximity to these. Plenty of wood working professions are spread out amongst these too. There is minor business here too, mainly dyers, wool & flax producers / clothiers etc, leather workers. Many of these are found near the banks of rivers & tributaries of the Danube, with the housing either attached to the business for high ranking business owners & employers. The lower workers are found in enclaves at the edge of these. Also a local brewery stands.
Numerous bridges cover the waterways allowing for good to cross over between the businesses.
To the west, the higher ranking members of society live. These include the merchants and their businesses at the bottom of the rung, separating the east and west of the city. The types of business include: candlestick makers, butchers, bakers, fishmongers, some clothiers, and the like.
The Roman Catholic church has a large cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary next to the business side. The Arch Bishop resides on the grounds and is protected by both a fortified wall, and a small personal guard within. A grave yard also surrounds the Cathedral. A monk's retreat also stands on the ground with a small brewery also stands there operating. A few small Germanic shrines are found as well throughout the city too.
A small amount of nobility live in ornate housing made of wood and stone between the cathedral and the Jarl. These buildings are surrounded by small fortified walls, and the grounds usually cover an acre or two in size. The houses are large multi-storeyed, and multiroomed. Usual nobles here consist of high ranking military men and their family, relations of the Jarl or Arch Bishop, major business or land owners (usually holding the business or land in perpetuity for the crown). The are usually referred to as Captain or Sir.
Finally, the Keep of Wien towers over all. Built on a hill and surrounded a dyke with walls around the top of it. The Keep has a further heavily fortified wall & ramparts surrounding it. This is usually manned with guards at all times. A set of portcullis lets for access to the Keep's grounds. The Keep itself has a large central hall-like centre with a tower at each corner and at the front entrance a further larger tower stands. The latter also doubles as a guard barracks. The Jarl and his family live in lavish quarters at the back of the Keep. It also has its own well.
There is one Burgomaster (mayor)governing the city on behalf of the Jarl and acts as an intermediary on behalf of the latter.
Small wells exist throughout the city allowing access to ground water.
A set of sewers exist below the majority of the city and is constantly being added to as the city expands.
Guilds and Factions
Guilds exist to set prices and/or income, act like a bank and look after its members and their immediate families. The latter if the member is sick, injured or dies. They usually have a small building each near the Cathedral, and also maintain high standards and additional training for members. The leaders can act as a go-between the guild members and the burgomaster.
The merchants guild, stonemasons guild, miners guild and the smiths guild have strong presence in the city. The dyers guild and leather workers guild are small in general and don't carry too much weight.
There is talk of three underground guilds: a magic guild, assassin guild and a thieves guild. Its generally believed that the latter two act in concert and no proof has ever been presented.
Architecture
The city has a mix of wood and stone, with the lower classes relying more on wood to build their living quarters and businesses. The upper classes rely more on stone with some wood mixed in.
Most design features have a strong Gothic Germanic theme, with a bit of Latin mixed in.
Geography
Wien is found in the lowlands of Austria to the north east. It is surrounded by farmland, and on the river Danube. It has one main hill that the Jarl's keep is and the rest is low lying. Because of the Danube it has a major source of fresh water and small boats going up and down it.
Natural Resources
Magnesite, iron, lignite, anhydrous gypsum, lead, zinc and antimony are all mined in the mountainous parts of the region with mining communities near these sites.
Oil and natural gas is found in the northeast of the country, not as much as some countries but still useable.
Coal, mainly bituminous, is found in small quantities.
Conifers (mainly spruce at 70%), and broad-leaved trees (mainly beech at 30%) is another resource that's exploited.
Salt mines also exist.
Maps
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Wien Sewer Map 1
This is a basic map of the sewers under Wien. The players may need to spend some time down in them.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
N/A
Founding Date
500 BC
Alternative Name(s)
Vienna
Type
Large city
Population
225,000
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
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