Re: FOUNDATION DOC: The City

From: jeffrichard68 <richj_at_...>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 17:12:49 -0000

• In whitewall_at_yahoogroups.com, "Ian Cooper" <ian_hammond_cooper_at_y...> wrote:
  > > One of the very basic foundations we have to build is of course a
  > > description of Whitewall, the city, its layout and features, its
  > > surrounds, the lunar camp, and the Lunar supply lines.
  > Me on another thread:
  > And I think Whitewall is not seen as that practical for living in
  > (hence the comments about it never becoming the city its founders
  > dreamed of in DP:LoT). It's value is as a fortress and a symbol -
  > this makes Hargrand move his seat there. It is a place to live in
  > time of conflict (thereby having a Helm's Deep role).
  

Yes. I think maybe Whitewall was constructed by in the early First Age. Whitewall was built on a huge boat-shaped rock that rises some 500-1800 feet above the surrounding hills. Visually, I imagine something like the rock of Monemvasia, the Acrocorinth, or the Palamidi at Nauplion. This was also the Vingtkotling Age site where Serias contacted Garan and told him of her peoples plight. It is a place long holy to Orlanth and the Vingkotlings.

In the early First Age, Sesarto the Artist built Whitewall in one of his contests with Panaxles. The white rock was quarried to build immense, cyclopean stone walls that could be seen for many miles, a palace fit for a Vingkotling king of old, a great stairway that winds its way up the rock, cisterns and storage tunnels, and on a high outcropping of the rock offering an unparalleled view of the surroundings, Sesarto built an open-air columnaded temple complex to Orlanth that appears from below to hang in the air. Beautiful, impregnable, and sacred said Sesarto.

Useless, impractible, and too remote said Panaxles. Whitewall was surrounded by hills, not rich vales. People would not live there when there is so much rich land to be farmed elsewhere. Why such huge battlements? Wheeled carts will never make it up the winding stairway! The Darkness is over and the Unity Council brings peace to all. The judges agreed, and Panaxles' Light House was considered superior.

Whitewall first became significant as a refuge of Hendreik and his followers during the worst times of their struggel with the Bright Empire. Even Palangio never took Hendreik's stronghold. The citadel played no part in the struggle between the EWF and the God Learners and was largely abandoned.

Hargrand the Green reclaimed Whitewall as his fortress and seat. Much of the original construction of Sesarto was largely intact - especially the walls and battlements - which is fortunate since his techniques have long been forgotten. The fortress' symbolic value and the temples' sacred value made it the residence of the Volsaxi kings and their followers, but few others joined them. Panaxles' critique was too correct.

Tarkalor made some improvements that made Whitewall more livable - most importantly the trade road that runs by the citadel (and maybe an easier path up the rock? One that carts can use?)

What do you all think?

Jeff