Warres
The Capital City of the Sampalan Kingdom
Warres is the seat of The Sampalan Kingdom and centre of economic and political power in The Western Peninsula.
It is the hive mind of the operation across the western peninsula to mine bark and sap from the mighty berstock trees.
It sits in the middle of the peninsula, nestled in at mid elevation in the mountain range at the centre of the region.
Although the tremendous wealth of the peninsula is not evident in visiting the more industrial and utilitarian satellite cities, it becomes immediately evident in approaching Warres, with it's beautiful pale stonework, marble and spires, which many say are matched in beauty only by Issoire, the city state of the elves.
The city is the safest haven on the peninsula, although this isn't saying much. Despite it's beauty and wealth, it is still by no means fully secure. The chiefest of it's enemies are the Frost Gians of Thrym, who live atop the cloud piercing snow capped mountains above Warres. Affronted at the human's settlement of their mountains, they have fought a long struggle against them, rejecting any notion of co-habitation despite not having lost any land to them. Their raids are infrequent, but can be devastating.
In the more remote high mountains around Warres can also be found small settlements devoted to the worship of Thor, god of storms. Worship of Thor on any large scale is rare in Timor, owing to his follower's desire to be closer to tempest and storms.
Demographics
Inside it's walls the population of Warres is skewed very much to the upper class, and unlike most of the satellite cities, it attracts the wealthy from all different species, either enjoying the wealth that the bark and sap trade has generated for them, or trying desparately to get a hand in by schmoozing the right people. Priests and clerics of Reorx number amongst these, offering their prayers for eternal wealth and plenty.
The shops and businesses of the city cater to these guests, there are numerous fine tailors and jewellers, as well as lavish bars, restaurants and bathhouses.
The small lower class contingent of it's city - largely working either in the Royal army, private security, or whatever small mining efforts the city makes - live outside the walls, in small clusters of houses interspersed through the mountains surrounding Warres. These small communities on the outskirts are also where food is grown, on the fertile mountain soil.
Government
Absolute control of the city and the peninsula comes from the King & Queen, currently King Guster Sampala II and Queen Karina Sampala. A small council of delegates from the different sectors of Warres, as well as delegates from the satellite cities, meet every month or so to discuss matters outwith Warres, however ultimately control is with the royal family.
The satellite cities are delegated to Governors which are appointed by the royal family, although again ultimately control comes back to the monarchs.
Defences
As mentioned, ringed by mountains Warres is difficult to approach with an army more than a few wide as they march, making it difficult to attack outright, even the small communities outside the walls. Secret passages overlooking the path to the main gates allow defenders to harry attackers with arrows before they have approached.
Vast grain stores in the mountain caverns, and the relatively small population, make it difficult to siege, as the city is well placed to hold out for possibly years.
If ever attackers were to break through, the already doubtlessly tired assailants would need to then deal with the Royal Army, as well as any armies summoned from the satellite cities.
If ever attackers were to break through, the already doubtlessly tired assailants would need to then deal with the Royal Army, as well as any armies summoned from the satellite cities.
Industry & Trade
Although the wealth gained from bark and sap is great, most actual trade is handled outwith the capital, and it's denizens are welcome to relax and enjoy the fruits without needing to do much of the mining themselves.
There is a need to employ people to ensure the safety of caravans transporting money through the continent.
Infrastructure
Employment for the people in city who still require to work comes mainly in the form of either what little mining effort comes from the capital, building caravans for transport, or protecting the bark, sap and the gold as it is moved.
Assets
Most think of gold when Warres' assets are mentioned, but it's placement was also intentional. Not only does it's mid elevation offer some protection from the hostile jungle denizens below them as well as the frost giants above them, but it is also placed on top of vast mountain caverns. These serve as excellent places to store valuables, such as huge stores of food. Some suggest that this is where King Guster keeps his gold.
Guilds and Factions
The most prominent organisation in Warres is The Merchant Guild, formed by the royal family and directly answerable to them. They have been delegated the task of mining, transporting, processing and distributing bark and sap, as well as the gold associated with this. Their headquarters are in Warres, but they have a significant presence throughout the peninsula, mostly in the satellite cities which act as processing centres.
Naturally, the guild has become a massive, sprawling, multi-faceted organisation difficult to control, with numerous leaders and deputies through leadership chains which all eventually lead back to the King.
King Guster realised this, and also realised the potential for local corruption at the various different points of the supply line. The illicit trade of bark and sap for the production of narcotics was well known, but small (or even large) leaks were difficult to plug in such a large operation. It was impossible to know each member well enough to trust them. Ever terrified of missing out on profit, King Guster commissioned The Inquisitors, the newer major faction in Warres, also directly answerable to him. The new organisation is a group of the most highly trusted, suspicious and often downright paranoid members of the army and the guard, ones who are cherrypicked as being unblinkingly royal to the crown. With this new secret service, King Guster intends on plugging leaks in the guild, and bringing the trade of bark and sap back under closer control. Lastly, an old and proud organisation known as The Mountain Lions have existed since the old days of the settlement. These warriors are trained as giant hunters, and have been trained in the ways of war to defend the city against the frost giants. Attacks are infrequent and rarely affect the people of the walled inner city however, and so it can be difficult for them to attain the respect and funding that they need and deserve.
King Guster realised this, and also realised the potential for local corruption at the various different points of the supply line. The illicit trade of bark and sap for the production of narcotics was well known, but small (or even large) leaks were difficult to plug in such a large operation. It was impossible to know each member well enough to trust them. Ever terrified of missing out on profit, King Guster commissioned The Inquisitors, the newer major faction in Warres, also directly answerable to him. The new organisation is a group of the most highly trusted, suspicious and often downright paranoid members of the army and the guard, ones who are cherrypicked as being unblinkingly royal to the crown. With this new secret service, King Guster intends on plugging leaks in the guild, and bringing the trade of bark and sap back under closer control. Lastly, an old and proud organisation known as The Mountain Lions have existed since the old days of the settlement. These warriors are trained as giant hunters, and have been trained in the ways of war to defend the city against the frost giants. Attacks are infrequent and rarely affect the people of the walled inner city however, and so it can be difficult for them to attain the respect and funding that they need and deserve.
History
The city has been directly built up around the site where it now sits, as this was the site of the small mountain tribe which eventually became the Sampalan kingdom. As towns and cities built up around the peninsula, the tactical advantages afforded by such a location gave the Sampala family a great advantage and allowed them to thrive, and eventually contributed to the amalgamation of human groups in the area under one banner.
The main difficulty which is unique to the city compared to the others on the peninsula, is the conflict with the frost giants, denizens of the high mountains above. It has never been clear to the humans why the giants have taken such umbridge to their inhabiting the mountain range, as they have never displaced any giants in doing so. Any attempt to negotiate with them has been summarily dismissed.
And so, since it's establishment the citizens have long had to deal with not infrequent attacks from the giants who live above them.
Luckily for the nobles of the walled city, the giants generally get to the smaller communities of the working class before they ever get to the city walls, meaning that this is generally where their attacks are concentrated. The mountain lions have established frequent outposts in the hills between these settlements, hoping to either draw giant attacks directly, or be able to respond to attacks as they come up.
Warres has not had to deal with any significant threats from without it's walls however. Despite the Sampalan kingdom technically being involved in The Surdonian War, the armistace was signed three days following their declaration of war, so no fighting ever saw the peninsula itself.
As such, the citizens of the walled city have been largely un-interrupted in their lavish enjoyment of wealth.
As such, the citizens of the walled city have been largely un-interrupted in their lavish enjoyment of wealth.
Alternative Name(s)
The Western Jewel
Type
City
Population
~150,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Warresian
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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