San Briaforte

San Briaforte is a bustling Theodovan city of over nine-thousand (9,000) people. The birthplace of the Five Gods religion and still the center of this religion. This city began as a forte built along the Addar River during the Warring States period. The fort fell and the region was abandoned. When the Theodovan civilization rose again the fort was rebuilt and manned again. Around the fort San Briaforte took shape.

The fort has three large ballistae that command the river around the city. No traffic can pass by the city without being subject to their taxes. San Briaforte is the largest city on the Addar River so most boats will dock along the banks or piers providing the city a focking fee as well.

• Name: City of San Briaforte
• Location: Rovopolis

  • Founded: Theodovans 1230 AE
• Government: City Council
• Liege: Rovomonte
• Etymology: San Briafontaine
• Land Area: 3.0 km² (741 acres)

  • Woods: 0.9 km²
  • Cleared: 1.4 km², 0.6 km² cultivated (149 acres)
  • Badlands: 0.4 km²
  • Ruins: 0.1 km²
  • Water: 0.2 km²
• Population: 9,000

  • Ethnicity: Human (87%), Goblin (8%), Orc (3%), Elf (<2%), Other (<1%)
• Military:

  • Constables: 40
  • Indovo Guard: 20

The fort was original built by Generale Beltrimo to secure his western flank. The Addar River wound its way along the western edge of the Scio Bluffs. This made the lands on the eastern bank well suited for defense. The General dispatched Centurion Nox de Bria and his century to build and man a series of forts along the river. Centurian Nox constructed his headquarters in the center of these forts where present day San Briaforte is located.

Centurian Nox and his century were killed when the orcs of the Alyy Tribe attacked. The strength of the forts and Centurion Nox's defense held the orcs at bay for nearly three weeks in the hopes that reinforcements would arrive. In the end they were slaughtered to a man. The orcs were still looting the remains a week later when three centuries arrived and drove the back across the river. The centuries rebuilt the forts, but once again left only a single century behind to man them.

Over the next decades they received additional soldiers to replace some of their losses. The soldiers married into the local populations and a small village grew up around the central fort. As the number of soldiers shrunk in comparison to the rest of the population subsequent leaders became “Centurians” in name only. By 530 AE Centurion Albus had no military experience. In 539 AE Centurion Albus orders the remaining forts abandoned and burned - all “soldiers” returned to San Briaforte.

In 542 AE Chief Elki Tusk of the Alyy Tribe launched a massive assault on San Briaforte. In a single night assault he overran the town and breached the forts walls. The children and compliant adults were taken as slave - anyone who resisted was killed. San Briaforte burned for three days before rains finally put the last of the fires out.

In 1952 AE religious settlers from Rovomonte settled on the bluffs along the Addar River. They were led by Erosin and his wife Rosello. Although their preaching style was dissimilar they both believed in the same core divinity. A man and woman so were the gods a joined pair. Rosello preached of strength and trials, while Erosin spoke of nurturing and protection. There natural style drew thousands to this area. Farming communities grew up which needed the support of craftsmen and traders. The village took the name San Briaforte in honor of what came before them.

Both Rosello and Erosin understood the need to protect their followers so mercenaries were hired who in time trained their own militia. There were several raids by the Alyy Tribe, but the orcs had suffered their own calamities over the decades since they sacked the city. Trade prospered both communities, which drew more people to the religious community. In time it grew into the Five Gods after the five divine dualities.

By 100 AH the religion had spread to Rovomonte and solidified San Briaforte as one of the major cities within Rovopolis. San Briaforte will always be a large religious community, but its command of the river and frontier along the Alyy border grant it out-sized significance. When worship of the Five Gods became the majority religion in Rovomonte pilgrims began journeying to the city is larger numbers.

The lands around San Briaforte are not rich grasslands waiting to be tilled. The earth is try and so water must be pumped to irrigate the fields. Originally a series of wheel-driven buckets has been replaced by larger screw pumps turned by the flow of the Addar River. This is enough water to grow pearl millets and sorghum but little else.

The river that flows along the eastern shore of the Scio Bluffs, the Addar is a shallow, but swift, river that eventually merges with the Kerrik River before emptying into the Serpente Sea. The river bottom is silty, but the land is rocky enough the silt is only a few inches deep. Safe enough to walk along it can be difficult to navigate during the warm months as there are plenty of large rocks the river flows around.

In 207 AH the city constructed three partial dams on the river. Each one forced water to flow into a deep catch basin. The basins are kept clear of fish and provide the city a quick water source easier than digging wells through the limestone.

These are the bluffs on which the original fort was constructed. They overlook a bend in the Addar River with a steep slope from the northeast. At its peak the bluffs rise just over twenty meters (15 meters = 50 feet). The bluffs are comprised of layered limestone making tunneling under the forte nearly impossible. Even so there are pockets along the bluff a few feet deep where the Alyy orcs hid when assaulting the fort.

During migratory season the bluffs are covered with all manner of songbird.

Aside from the river the lands around San Briaforte are dry. During the rainy season the lands bloom with hundreds of different flowers and plants, but most of the time the landscape is rocky and dry. The most common trees are small branches with drooping leaves called Jailia. They produce a small sweet fruit that only blooms during the rainy season.

There are large aquifers below the surface, but several layers of limestone make digging wells a difficult process. Lizards, reptiles, birds, and small mammals account for most of the animals.

San Briaforte is ruled by a City Council elected from each of the six (6) districts of the city. Only those that buy representation, or are clergy of the Five Gods, may vote for their district councilor. Each district may only elect a single councilman. Each councilman can only serve at most two (2) consecutive five-year (5 year) terms.

In addition the church of the Five Gods assigns two of their religious leaders to serve as Council Elder; although they only get a single vote. The Council Elder only gets a single vote when the vote is tied among the elected leaders. Otherwise the husband serves as the executive leader and the wife as chief judge.

The judiciary is elected from clergy in good standing. The husband serves as the keeper of the laws and records while the wife is the district judge. Any capital case is immediately brought before the chief judge.

Each district is divide along historic lines and over time some have grown larger than others. In 349 AH a petition to redraw the districts was defeated by a large enough majority that it has never been taken up again.

This district is mostly the soldiers and skilled craftsmen they need. Tailors, leather workers, smiths, masons, and ostlers. Until 52 AH this district served as the head of government until the new council chambers were built across the street from the Primo Duomo. The building were the Chief Judge serves is still located in this district.

The finest craftsmen from fabrics and furniture to fine clothing and perfumes. Although there are a few open air stalls most of the business takes place behind closed doors. This district is the strength of the clergy and many of the businesses are at least partly owned by the church. The church takes a very practical division between charity and services.

The central cathedral is built along the grounds where Erosin and Rosello were said to have once lived. The temple is large enough for a congregation of several hundred standing. A raised semicircular dais is where the church Elders preach. There are ten pillars holding up the roof, each one carved in the likeness of the divine. An archway connects the duality of the divine.

The district along the rivers is heavy in businesses and warehouses, but very few people. Several wealthy families have purchased land in this district where they “live” enough to run for council. This has given them a strong enough hand to stop the City Council from changing the status quo. Taxes are low and the single constable station stands empty most days. Even the clerical judge is unlikely to upset one of the prominent families.

Once known as the Crafters' District only the smiths, foundrymen, dyers, chandlers, and like remain in this district. The housing is poor and overcrowded. The once thriving market has been relocated to Seratotta where decent people can travel freely at night. All of the orcs and goblins live in this district; although they are “free” to visit other districts it is unlike they could find anyone to rent them rooms for more than a single night.

The three blocks are known as goblin town or warren. With interconnecting alleys and houses built with connecting roof lines the streets are dark and foreboding. This is a fine place to dispose of bodies or meet for any illicit activities. Best to be about your way long before dark. Once the sun sets these are the most dangerous blocks in the city.

This district is built outside the original walls, but inside of the secondary wall. The only way into this district is through one of four gates. A large gatehouse in the outer wall or one of the smaller gatehouses through the inner. These gatehouses are manned at all times keeping the general population of the city outside. Inside this district is where many of the clergy and the city's wealthiest people have manor houses.

Each house has enough space for their own personal garden irrigated from the river. Private guards walk the streets as well as guard the palanquins. Each guard is required to wear a marked cape of the house that pays them, but tradition requires a gray cloak when they preform illicit duties. Normally this would make it easy to shut down corruption, but it is so pervasive in this district the gray cloak is often a badge of honor.

Stretching from the city of the city to the tip of the river outside the outer walls, this district meanders along the last steps of Erosin as he carried his dead love to the riverbank. Once there he released her bodies into the waters before fearlessly setting his own alight. It is said that once alight he walked on the top of the river and followed his love to the sea.

This district has the highest population by far. Nearly half of the city population lives in this district although they still only get a single Councilman. There used to be occasional riots, but five temples were completed along Erosin's journey to the water's edge. These temples serve not only as a house of worship, but have mollified the mob from rioting.

The vast majority of the population are both Theodovans and worship the Five Gods, a minority religion among the Theodovans. Theodovan is the majority language and they use similar coinage.

The city council maintains forty (40 constables) active members of a constabulary along with twenty (20 soldiers) skilled soldiers who serve as officers during times of war. Each district is expected to raise a single militia unit comprised of eighty (80 footmen) men, or a cavalry auxiliary of twenty (20 horsemen) riders, or paid the wages of twenty mercenaries (20 mercenaries). The councils solders are broken into six groups of three to lead each unit. In addition the two remaining soldiers serve as tactical leaders.

Should the district militias be raised the City Council will elect one of its own members to serve as proconsul over the army. Dispatched by the City Council and the blessing of the church they have the full support of the city.

Worship of the Five Gods is the only allowed religion. The orc and goblin tribal religions are overlooked if they keep to their own part of the city.

The economy is heavily dependent upon the money brought by the thousands of pilgrims who visit the Cathedral each year as well as attend the walking of the trail through Seratotta. The few grains produced feed the people of the city.

In addition to drawing pilgrims the brothers and sisters of the clergy are encouraged to travel to cities and lands far from their center of power. Thy are to bring with the the word of the duality and divine. It is not a religion tolerated well by the religions already established.

Militarily they are a passive city with little to be gained by adding the lands of their neighbors.

Life revolves around the clergy in the city. Each plurality of the city has an oversized effect on its rulership.