Oss
At the confluence of the two forks of the newly named Lifien river many of the refugees, Macauley Reed's party conspicuously absent, gathered. In the large communal hall, Lord Fenton Caius called the first Oss Chamber meeting to order. The refugees, newly named Ossians, watched in rapt silence as the five leaders signed the city charter. Work had already begun on the meticulously designed town, but efforts doubled as excitement spread.Kiran Blackwell-Biography of Lord Fenton Caius
Demographics
Professions
- Shipyard Laborers: 20%
- Skilled Craftsmen: 15%
- Service Industry: (Inns, Taverns, etc.) 10%
- Out of work sailors: 10%
- Day Laborers: 15%
- Farmers: 30%
Wealth Brackets
- Highest: 10%
- Upper Middle: 15%
- Middle: 10%
- Lower Middle: 30%:
- Lowest: 35%
Government
Oss is run by the Oss Chamber, six officials elected from the five main commercial organizations in the city, the shipwrights, the shipping industry, local farmers, craftsmen, and the service industry, as well as the head of the town guard. They make decisions on taxation, tariffs, and city planning.
Defences
The east side of town is protected by a large wooden palisade, but the other sides are protected by the natural barrier of the rivers. The two bridges are constructed with wooden drawbridges in their center to allow larger ships to pass underneath, although in the case of attacks they can be drawn up for protection.
Industry & Trade
Aside from the construction and maintenance of the river-going barges, Oss provides very little in the way of exports. Much of their industry relies on being the center of trade, facilitating the shipment of timber and metals from Zasev, foodstuff from Kor, and refined goods from Vedan.
As an agrarian society, the majority of the inhabitants of the land around Oss farm.
Infrastructure
With square blocks and carefully divided residential and business sections, Oss is the most planned city in the valley. Instead of organically springing up as more inhabitants arrived, it was constructed with a large population already present. The westernmost edge of the town, which is surrounded by the confluence of the north and south branches of the River Lifien, is dominated by shipyards and docks. The main street, crossing from one wide stone arch bridge to another a half-mile above the confluence of the rivers, is lined with businesses and lodgings. This became known as the Old Ward.
As Oss grew in wealth, the richest inhabitants began to build on the hill to the East of the original town, creating the Lofts district. Built on steep ground (and into stone sides of the hill itself, one can either travel downhill through the long, winding switchback road or climb down steep alleyway staircases.
On the far side of the hill, one can find the poorer, less organized parts of town. It is here that many day laborers, farmhands, and out-of-work sailors make their homes.
Guilds and Factions
The Shipbuilders
Farmers
Craftsmen
Hospitaliters
Longshorman
Founding Date
17/5/3
Founders
Type
Town
Inhabitant Demonym
Ossian
Owning Organization
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