FOUNDATION DOC: The City

From: Jimbruce <john.hughes_at_...>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 06:45:21 -0000


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.

Some of this is archaeological excavation of the sources, but some of it, especially describing locales and locations and possible story hooks associated with them, is pure roleplayng creativity.

I must admit I still don't have a clear idea of the city. Jane has suggested Micene meets Masada.

Here's a few basics:

DP:LOT - "An ancient fortress that never became a proper city." Whitewall sits on a high plateau of white stone, from which its walls were carved. Its the ancient seat of the Hendreiki kings, but they moved away because it was so difficult to access. It became a centre of resistence against the Pharaoh. The Volsaxi kings lived there. Broyan made it even more daunting during the recent civil wars.

KOS: King Tarkalor of Sartar extended Sartar's Roads south to Whitewall, cutting down its isolation. (Collective Defenders: "Gosh, Thanks Tark!") and built strong trade connections with the city. He also commissioned guild buildings, commoner's dwellings, and a begger's bedrow. (We've really got to bring Tarkalor back).

So Whitewall's at the top of a wild and accessible plateau. Great. There's a major road to the city, so lets hope there's any number of stout wooden bridges across perilous ravines that the defenders have roped for instant destruction, and sturdy defensive forts that look down from high above the cliff hugging road.

(Major part of siege: Lunar Engineers take a week to build bridge
across ravine: Umbroli blows it down in fifteen seconds. Progressive bridges get more and more magic to defend them: attacking gales get progressively stronger. Sometime in 1621 the Lunars give up and use moonboats for supply, despite heavy losses due to Umbroli.)

Is Whitewall at the centre of an ancient ring fort? That was certainly part of Joerg and Jeffs' original vision. Is it current?

We know it is well stocked for a siege. Ian has suggested great Asrelian grain pits.

I suspect, at the start of the siege, that the city is already damaged by fire from the civil war.

There's a massive, ancient Orlanth temple at the heart of the city.

In terms of story, I guess some sort of open plain between the Lunar camp and the walls would be good. A nearby hill for spectators, and a sacred wood protected by a pacifist dyrad or other Power, who forbids all weapons in her wood and has the magical whoopfh to back it up.
(we need a place where enemies can come to sneer at each other).

If you'd like to describe a locale, for admin purposes, could you please head your post LOCALE: "Locale name", AND, place a summary doc in the LOCATION folder of the FILES area. I can't stress this enough -  it gets impossible to find the gems your seeking among our growing body of messages: descriptions that stay just in messages can easily get lost.

I'll post a locale or two following to get this started.

Some possible locales to describe and explore:

The Walls
The High King's Hall
The Great Gate
The Storm Temple
The Ruined Quarters
The Uz Huts?
The Plain Before the Gates
The River/Stream?
The Standing Stones - recall victory over Iron Vrok? The Watcher's Hill
The Sacred Wood – no weapons may be drawn here. Enemies can speak to one another.
The Lunar Camp
The Baggage Camp - large part of it down the plateau The Lunar Port & River Port

Cheers

John

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