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THE
ENTHRONIAN
PORT
CARMALAD |
Carmalad,
located east of the Ancythrian Sea, once had been capitol of the former kingdom
of
Caltharia and now lies in the
Santharian province of Enthronia. About 18.000
inhabitants, mostly humans, populate this cloth-dying city, but also a few rare
elves or dwarves
can always be seen in and amongst the human
patrons.
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Picture description. The
location of Carmalad in NE Santharia. Map drawn by
Artimidor. |
Location. Carmalad is located in the
Santharian province of Enthronia, and is also the
most important port of the timid province. The city is east of the Ancythrian Sea, and is
north of the Alianian Hills. Carmalad is nestled against the larger of the twin
rivers that run out of the Troll Mountains. It is also on the coast of the
Adanian Sea, which provides trading routes with their northern friends, the
shepherd men of the Kuglimz.
Coat of Arms. As with all Enthronian coats
of arms, this one is very simple. It shows the usual circle that is born by the
province, but it also shows a square inside that circle. This signifies that
Carmalad opnce had been the center of the
Caltharian kingdom. The only exciting thing about
the crest is that when viewed closely, you see the square is magnificently
coloured with all the colours known to man, to show the city's strong art in
cloth dying.
Description. Once a proud, strong city, the
busy town is now the continental center for cloth and cloth dying. Along the
borders of the city one will see vast walls with which the Royal Guard held off
Mertogran’s forces for two months in the year 833 b.S. There are seven long,
single lane markets that wind around the city, selling mainly cloth, but also
fish pulled from the Adanian Sea and the arm of the Wynein river that runs just north of Carmalad.
A large temple dedicated to Grothar, God of Weather, is located in the
northwestern part of the city, while a smaller one of
Baveras can be found in the harbour
district to the east.
The simple wooden housing they reside in is spread out, surrounding the main
market places. The Carmaladians live in simple, wood based houses. They decorate
their houses though with intricate pieces of woodworking, made by their
Enthronian brothers.
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Picture description. A
Carmaladian dyer at work. Drawn by
Bard
Judith. |
Inhabitants. The 18.000 or so people in this city are like all Enthronians, fair
haired and fair skinned (like their
Caltharian ancestors), even though they spend a lot of time under the sun,
they never seem to darken. Their hands though are anything but fair. The years
of dyes have brought the hands of the trade to a stained purple colour, and
there is certain honour and dignity given to those dyers with the darkest hands,
as this shows that they’ve been at the trade for sometime, and thus are wise in
this profession. The average height for a Carmaladian is just under 2 peds, and their build
is light. All useful citizens who are not in the dying trade, are either
fisherman/farmers, or are carpenters and/or other common workers that every city
needs to dwell and prosper,
Within the household, the alpha male holds most of the responsibility and power.
A wife is little more than a care giver and servant in Carmalad, except in
troubled times, when they must help bear the burden of poverty, and take jobs
with the various stalls at the market. There is nothing notable about religion
in Carmalad, or the way it is practiced. They have temples and the like
scattered about the narrow streets, of which the Temples of Grothar and
Baveras have to be mentioned especially,
where men and women go to pray for good weather, and quality wool. All citizens
who are not in the dying trade, are either fisherman/farmers, or are carpenters
and/or woodworkers. The only other profitable business in Carmalad, besides
cloth dyer, is to be a trader, taking the city's wares to the farthest reaches of
Caelereth, and bringing back what the
city desires, such as spices and various foods. All the traders in the land come
here to find the most extravagant colours and patterns to take elsewhere, for
Carmaladian Cloth fetches a high price in any foreign land.
Lore. The city was founded by a group of refugees from the war torn area
of the southern lands of Serpheloria. They settled on the spot, once their leader
Tylan Bluecoat saw its peaceful surroundings. Tylan then assumed the role of
King, and set forth the laws and principles of the land, which later on became
known as Caltharia. Their religion is the
same as in any other provinces of the United Kingdom, and they see to it in the ordinary
fashion.
Government.
The
governing body of Carmalad was originally reserved solely for the King or Queen,
as a monarchy was the first system of ruling put into use. After the
Caltharian
Empire faltered and was erased, though, the Monarchs lost the majority of the
governing power. The slack was greedily picked up by the Military. Now the two
powers hold congress to decide the fates of the city, and all their followers.
The laws are strictly enforced, with most penalties being monetary, although the
gravest of infractions could result in death by decapitation, albeit very rare
that this is the punishment. Many insiders, however, see a third party involved
in much of the law passing and other government responsibilities. The Guild of
Cloth Dyers is a very lucrative market, and many people have their lives staked
in the trade routes and possible taxes. So they tend to bribe the Council, to
try to sway their decisions and judgements. This is altogether not fool proof,
but it has served them well, so far.
Trade. The Carmaladian cloth dyers produce so much multi-coloured material that
it has tremendous excess, and therefore must find takers in other parts of
Caelereth. In this way, cloth has become a huge export
for the city. The Carmaladians have found
many trade destinations overland, but their main partner is the Isles of Quios.
Boats take loads of cloth and black market magic to them, east over the Adanian
Sea to the large and secretive Port of Gillwin, where boats from abroad are
brought, and trade routes both begin and end here. Carmaladian men don’t know
who ends up with their cloth, but with the price they’re paid, they aren’t
asking any questions.
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Information provided by
Ralhag
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