Nyallshold
Nyallshold is a fortified city on a hilltop in central Colo and is the seat of the Dalnyall Clan. It has a population of just under 18,000 people and is located within an ancient hillfort that has been occupied by the Dalnyall Clan for more than 1,000 years.
Nyallshold is a rebuilding of an ancient hillfort that covers a massive area, totalling more than 480 acres within its massive walls and towers. There are two approach roads leading to the city walls and as the city is located on the crest of a large stony hill, the roads to each of the massive gatehouses hug the edge of the hill. The road leading to the east gate (known locally as the Summer Tower) begins on the southern slopes of the hill, and gradually rises with the hill to approach the Summer Tower. The road leading to the west gate (the Night Tower) begins on the north slope and also rises with the hill as it moves west and south.
The advantage to this intentional design feature is that anyone approaching a gatehouse must do so by exposing themselves to defenders on the walls and towers overlooking the roads all the way around the hill as they make their way to the gates.
Defences
The walls of the city are as much as 30' thick and in places as tall as 50'. Towers in the wall are built in a variety of styles, most being round, squat and thick-walled. The two gatehouses are huge edifices towering over the approach roads and drawbridges, secured with thick oak gates, iron protcullises and dozens of arrow loops and murder holes.
Industry & Trade
Most industry and production is done in the areas outside of the city walls and includes tanneries, pottery shops, weavers, millers and merchants of all sorts. The city itself is rather small (less than a single square mile) and is primarily dedicated to residential and administrative buildings.
Infrastructure
Built over an ancient hillfort, the walls of the city are thick and follow the contours of the original earthen banks employed by the hillfort. There are two massive gatehouses allowing entrance into the hilltop enclosure, and the walls are dotted with many strong, squat towers looking over the slopes of the hill.
Districts
Nyallshold is surrounded by thick, ancient stone and earth walls that date back nearly 1,000 years. These outer walls define the fortified city of Nyallshold as a whole. Within these walls are several more recent walls built on the remains of even older ramparts. These walls no longer serve as defensive features (as they are all located within the city) but do still define areas and neighborhoods within the city.
The longest of these walls splits the city roughly in half, connecting with the northern face of the city walls at roughly the mid-point, and the southern face of the city walls at roughly the one-third point. It is on average about 30' thick at its base, and is still faced in unfinished stone along most of its length. It is broken by a large gatehouse that has not had a gate for at least 350 years, but is still referred to as the "Towers Gate" by the residents. The area defined by this wall extends to the Summer Tower gate and is called "Maiden Green" (a simplification of the Colian phrase mae doon gren, or "great fort meadow").
To the west of Maiden Green is Market Green. This is a large area of the city defined by the north and south exterior city walls and the two interior rampart walls. At its center is Nyalls Bath well, a large walk-in well structure giving access to deep, fresh water all year round. Also in this district are two large market squares, one near the north wall and the other on the south wall. These markets offer a variety of fairs where anything from squash to slaves can be purchased.
The last district seperated by the city's interior walls is Highfield, the heighest (elevation-wise) area in the city. The walls between Market Green and Highfield are older and smaller than those lower down the city, and are mostly just grass-covered banks with an occassional tree growing on them. There are two ancient gate towers on Maiden Street (leading from the Night Tower to the Summer Tower), but any evidence of an actual gate has ceased to exist centuries ago. Highfield is where the richest and most influencial members of Nyallshold society live and work, including the Ryuri, Olan Dalnyall.
Points of interest
The two primary gates into the city are the Summer Tower on the east side of the city and the Night Tower on the west side. The Summer Tower is a large stone bastian consisting of three tall towers defending a double gate through the ancient walls. The approach road, called the New Road, was walled with dressed stone less than 70 years earlier and two smaller towers were built at the lower end of the road. The Night Tower is a much older fortification, but still terribly impressive. The approach road (named the Old Road) comes up the hill from the south and is prtoected by two sets of high, narrow towers. The second inner set are the gate towers, and they flank a huge drawbridge of heavy oak beams that span a deep stone-lined pit. The bridge is more than 30' of span over the 25' pit, and is raiased by chains and windlass winches built into the adjoining towers.
Near the Night Tower gatehouse is Nyallshall, the official residence and seat of authority for the Ryuri, Olan Dalnyall. It is a rambling, ill-planned fortress with (literally) centuries of additions, constructions and repurposing making the hall a confusing maze of rooms and passages.
One of the most amazing features of Nyallshold is called Nyalls Bath, and it is a square pit 35' to a side that functions as a walk-in water well. There are three sets of stone stairs leading down into the well for people to walk right down to the water's surface, as well as two windlass winches for lowering leather containers on strong ropes. This well was dug more than 200 years ago, and has always provided safe, clear and clean drinking water. The structure is well maintained and provides an adequate supply of fresh water by tapping into a deep aquafer.
Architecture
The vast majority of structures in Nyallshold are stone, as the surrounding hills provide an excellent source of quality building materials.
Climate
Hot, humid but short summers followed by long and very cold winters.
Natural Resources
Many of the surrounding hills have proven to be rich in quality coal mines, and it is this resource that has allowed the city to thrive through its long winters. Valleys and bogs provide much peat fuel, and abundant forests allow for the production of charcoal and firewood year-round.
Type
City
Population
17,900
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
