Wednesday 23 March 2011

Baronies and Towns of Teiglin: Luthien

The Barony of Luthien

See the map of Teiglin for context of this entry.
Luthien is one of the most prosperous of the baronies of Teiglin. The population (32,000, including 3000 elves) is one of the highest of the baronies. The barony's main products are wheat, vegetables and fish. The folks of Luthien are often considered to be wealthier than those from other baronies of Teiglin. This is not true, but the perception lingers.

The Karalos Woods hosts several small villages of elves who vigorously defend their woodland from timber merchants and marauders from the Toadspawn Swamp.

Warlock Harbour is on a small rocky island (officially not named but the locals call it Warlock Island) that sits off the coast of Luthien. The Baron of Luthien has always assumed that if the harbour were to be reclaimed, he would be given control of it.

The Town of Luthien
Prior to the Wars between the Empires, it was one of Teiglin's main ports, receiving cargo  mostly from other parts of Toutus, but also from other Empires on occasions as well.
Although the trade has greatly reduced with the collapse of the Toutus Empire, Luthien still sees business flowing through, typically from the Godsblood Straits and Walrus Freehold. The port is also used by fishermen and the nearby shore is dotted with small fishing boats.
Luthien has 2750 inhabitants (mostly human) and its layout is typical of many Imperial towns in having a central market square with the seat of power (here the Baronial tower) and other important buildings clustered around. Another legacy of Toutian architecture is the underground sewers which keep Luthien one of the nicer towns to spend time in. Unfortunately the sewers have become unsafe, partly due to crumbling masonry and partly due to monstrous vermin breeding in the sewers. Some say that the vermin are not the worst thing down there.

Click on map to expand it:

  1. Baronial Tower – serves as both the baron’s residence and local garrison and law court rolled into one. The baron (when he is present) is civil leader, military leader and dispenser of justice.
  2. Marketplace: This open area is filled with tents, stalls and cart
  3. The Shield of Honour Inn is the best inn currently running in Luthien. Merchants and visitors from all over the place will stop here before or after their sea voyages.  
  4. Merchants’ Guildhall is where a lot of business takes place, including tax collection and banking services.
  5. Church of Rhondus. Rhondus is the lawful god of defence, security and the home. His worship is popular in Teiglin, and Luthien is no exception.
  6. Chapel of Vought. Vought is the neutral goddess of water, oceans and rivers. As a sea port, Luthien has many folks who wish to stay on the good side of Vought.
  7. The Main Quay 
  8. Warehouses: These are not as busy as they were before the great wars: the collapse of the Empires has greatly reduced trade. The cargo that goes through these warehouses is not just for Luthien: most of it goes on to the rest of Teiglin. 
  9. Blind Beggar Tavern. This used to be an inn but now it just serves drinks, and not very good drinks at that. The Blind Beggar Tavern is at the low end of the social spectrum, and an interesting variety of unsavoury characters can be encountered there at various levels of inebriation.
  10. Shrine of Nemesis and Graveyard 
  11. Western Gatehouse
  12. Northern Gatehouse 
  13. Lord Willverin's Folly. This strange, shrine-like structure was built by an eccentric (some would say mad) former lord of Luthien. He held various exotic parties at the Folly. However, at the back of the Folly is an iron gate blocking steps that go down into the ground. The town elders are believed to hold the key to the iron gate, but would rather it stayed shut.
Wells are marked as (a) and have blue centres. Sewer inlets are marked as (b) on the map and have purple centres. The sewer inlets are 5’ wide manholes in the ground with an iron grid over them to let sewage and rainwater in but stop people and animals falling in. The wells have buckets and ropes and a small wall to stop dirt from the street washing in.

No comments:

Post a Comment