City - Revision history

Tao alexis at 17:46, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:46:32Z

Tao alexis at 17:30, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:30:10Z

Tao alexis at 17:24, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:24:14Z

Tao alexis at 19:22, 15 December 2022

2022-12-15T19:22:22Z

Tao alexis at 23:27, 31 December 2021

2021-12-31T23:27:10Z

Tao alexis at 00:28, 21 December 2021

2021-12-21T00:28:04Z

Tao alexis at 23:51, 20 December 2021

2021-12-20T23:51:29Z

Tao alexis at 23:23, 20 December 2021

2021-12-20T23:23:58Z

Tao alexis at 19:47, 11 December 2021

2021-12-11T19:47:49Z

Tao alexis: /* Residences */

2021-10-18T03:45:49Z

Residences

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 19 March 2025
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	== The Citadel ==		== The Citadel ==
−	Not every city has one; and occasionally, it is no more than a castle keep or bailey. The occupant of the citadel takes no part in governing the city; this is the pre-eminent lord or lady, or noble, occasionally a royal, whose power extends over all the rural land that surrounds the city, and often beyond that. The lord's ancestor was here before there was a city; or even a town or village. The first [[Manor\|manor house]], around which a village would later be formed, was recognized by the monarch in former feudal times; or present feudal times in some parts of the world. As time has passed, the lord or lady continues to rule from "on high," as it were. He or she possesses a retinue, which may be employed at the service of the city, for a price, but which officially acts as an private army.	+	Not every city has one; and occasionally, it is no more than a castle keep or bailey. The occupant of the citadel takes no part in governing the city; this is the pre-eminent lord or lady, or noble, occasionally a royal, whose power extends over all the rural land that surrounds the city, and often beyond that. The lord's ancestor was here before there was a city; or even a town or [[Village\|village]]. The first [[Manor\|manor house]], around which a village would later be formed, was recognized by the monarch in former feudal times; or present feudal times in some parts of the world. As time has passed, the lord or lady continues to rule from "on high," as it were. He or she possesses a retinue, which may be employed at the service of the city, for a price, but which officially acts as an private army.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==== Yards ====
-These are extensive areas for the loading and unloading of goods, most importantly foodstuffs, livestock, building materials, textile fibres, timber and mineral ores.  These are carried in along overland roads or unloaded from ships at a "dockyard," or quay (pronounced "key").  Whereas some products can be left exposed to the elements, such as animals and stone, others must be protected so as to avoid rot and spoilage.  Thus, enormous outdoor spaces are relegated as "stockyards," while separate from these are enormous sheds constructed of minimal framework to protect huge bales of wool or cotton, sawn lumber, boxes of ceramics or glass packed in straw along with enormous collections of fruits, vegetables or treenuts.  Valuable goods, like perfume, paint, dyes, cloth, beer, wine and so on are more carefully stored in strong, well-built structures surrounded by guards.  Enormous granaries store mountains of grain and animal feed.
+These are extensive areas for the loading and unloading of goods, most importantly foodstuffs, livestock, building materials, textile fibres, timber and mineral ores.  These are carried in along overland roads or unloaded from ships at a "dockyard," or [[Quay|quay]] (pronounced "key").  Whereas some products can be left exposed to the elements, such as animals and stone, others must be protected so as to avoid rot and spoilage.  Thus, enormous outdoor spaces are relegated as "stockyards," while separate from these are enormous sheds constructed of minimal framework to protect huge bales of wool or cotton, sawn lumber, boxes of ceramics or glass packed in straw along with enormous collections of fruits, vegetables or treenuts.  Valuable goods, like perfume, paint, dyes, cloth, beer, wine and so on are more carefully stored in strong, well-built structures surrounded by guards.  Enormous granaries store mountains of grain and animal feed.
 ==== The Town Market ====

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 19 March 2025
Line 34:		Line 34:

	== The Citadel ==		== The Citadel ==
−	Not every city has one; and occasionally, it is no more than a castle keep or bailey. The occupant of the citadel takes no part in governing the city; this is the pre-eminent lord or lady, or noble, occasionally a royal, whose power extends over all the rural land that surrounds the city, and often beyond that. The lord's ancestor was here before there was a city; or even a town or village. The first manor house, around which a village would later be formed, was recognized by the monarch in former feudal times; or present feudal times in some parts of the world. As time has passed, the lord or lady continues to rule from "on high," as it were. He or she possesses a retinue, which may be employed at the service of the city, for a price, but which officially acts as an private army.	+	Not every city has one; and occasionally, it is no more than a castle keep or bailey. The occupant of the citadel takes no part in governing the city; this is the pre-eminent lord or lady, or noble, occasionally a royal, whose power extends over all the rural land that surrounds the city, and often beyond that. The lord's ancestor was here before there was a city; or even a town or village. The first [[Manor\|manor house]], around which a village would later be formed, was recognized by the monarch in former feudal times; or present feudal times in some parts of the world. As time has passed, the lord or lady continues to rule from "on high," as it were. He or she possesses a retinue, which may be employed at the service of the city, for a price, but which officially acts as an private army.

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 This is the centre of every aspect of the city's life.  A city may have any number of "squares" or "plazas," dedicated to the arts, colleges, the army and so on ... but the Courthouse Square describes the location of authoritarian power over the city.  Normally, it's to be found adjacent to the most prestigious of neighbourhoods, with a single avenue that connects it to the middle neighbourhoods and ultimately the yards, and the Citadel, described after.  As cities are bustling, dynamic places of trade, military power and wealth, a collection of entities that must be in constant communication with one another can be found around the Courthouse Square.
-This includes the [[Coin (monetary unit)|monetary]] & [[Taxes|tax]] representatives of the [[Monarchy]], located in a palace; the city council, who enforce the laws and legislate daily activities; the cathedral or temple, for spiritual guidance; the merchant's guild, representing the combined force of all the individual guildhouses in the city; and finally, the court of justice, including a prison, barracks for the crown's soldiers and the means of executing offenders.  All of them involved in running the city, and each with its own particular jurisdiction.  So to speak, in conflict with one another but also necessarily acting in coordination with one another.  Occasionally, the faction of one group might rise up against another, bringing about rebellion, martial law, a lessening or intensification of the monarch's prerogatives and so on.
+This includes the [[Coin (monetary unit)|monetary]] & [[Taxation|tax]] representatives of the [[Monarchy]], located in a palace; the city council, who enforce the laws and legislate daily activities; the cathedral or temple, for spiritual guidance; the merchant's guild, representing the combined force of all the individual guildhouses in the city; and finally, the court of justice, including a prison, barracks for the crown's soldiers and the means of executing offenders.  All of them involved in running the city, and each with its own particular jurisdiction.  So to speak, in conflict with one another but also necessarily acting in coordination with one another.  Occasionally, the faction of one group might rise up against another, bringing about rebellion, martial law, a lessening or intensification of the monarch's prerogatives and so on.
 == The Citadel ==
 Not every city has one; and occasionally, it is no more than a castle keep or bailey.  The occupant of the citadel takes no part in governing the city; this is the pre-eminent lord or lady, or noble, occasionally a royal, whose power extends over all the rural land that surrounds the city, and often beyond that.  The lord's ancestor was here before there was a city; or even a town or village.  The first manor house, around which a village would later be formed, was recognized by the monarch in former feudal times; or present feudal times in some parts of the world.  As time has passed, the lord or lady continues to rule from "on high," as it were.  He or she possesses a retinue, which may be employed at the service of the city, for a price, but which officially acts as an private army.

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 [[File:City.jpg|right|560px|thumb]]
-'''Cities''' are large humanoid settlements that develop organically from towns whose access to abundant water and food sources are matched by geographical access to resources, practical trade routes, navigable waters and stable political environments.  The largest cities possess rare conditions, such as the sole access to large natural harbours, it's location as a trading gateway and their development as centers of spiritual or intellectual thinking.
+'''Cities''' are large humanoid settlements that develop organically from towns whose access to abundant [[Water|water]] and [[Food|food]] sources are matched by geographical access to resources, practical trade routes, navigable waters and stable political environments.  The largest cities possess rare conditions, such as the sole access to large natural harbours, it's location as a trading gateway and their development as centers of spiritual or intellectual thinking.
 Constantinople, one of the largest cities in the world, has an excellent harbour, powerful defensive capabilities, stands astride two of the world's most important trade routes and for more than a thousand years, acted as one of the world's great religious centers.  Today, it is the political center of the vast Ottoman Empire.  Due to its inherent characteristics, it's dominance as a city was inevitable.

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 In some areas adjacent to the heavy labourers are neighbourhoods where erstwhile industries have collapsed; and now for these people, no traditional work can be found.  These outer areas decay, becoming "borghettos."  The former structures, for lack of maintenance, collapse or burn, so that portions are composed of empty lots.  Such places are populated by beggars and those who turn to desperate activities to maintain themselves; often, impoverished outsiders, sometimes hated like the Jews or Gypsies, also collect in these areas when legitimate work is denied to them by the guilds and city authorities.
-In parts occupied by guilds producing higher-stage goods, half-timbered houses appear; streets and lanes grow wider, while avenues connect the area with more wealthy districts.  Row houses surround private courts.  Connected to the artisan's working areas are shopfronts, operated by the journeyfolk's family or apprentices; it's too early in the game world for these to have glass windows and displays; but shoppers, including the gentry, parade along the streets and lanes, poking their heads inside to purchase.  It's in places like this that player characters will buy armour, weapons, gear from the blacksmith's, new clothes, instruments, cakes, [[Cooking (sage ability)|cooking utensils]], paper and books, porcelain cups, furniture and so on.  Between the shops will appear taverns with tables and chairs, inns, scribners, counting houses, traders.  Stone churches with pews and are sprinkled about the neighbourhood, with open doors for those who are appropriately dressed and washed.  The town watch protects the shopkeepers, turning a blind eye to outsiders during the day and monitoring them closely at night.
+In parts occupied by guilds producing higher-stage goods, half-timbered houses appear; streets and lanes grow wider, while avenues connect the area with more wealthy districts.  Row houses surround private [[Court (space)|courts]].  Connected to the artisan's working areas are shopfronts, operated by the journeyfolk's family or apprentices; it's too early in the game world for these to have glass windows and displays; but shoppers, including the gentry, parade along the streets and lanes, poking their heads inside to purchase.  It's in places like this that player characters will buy armour, weapons, gear from the blacksmith's, new clothes, instruments, cakes, [[Cooking (sage ability)|cooking utensils]], paper and books, porcelain cups, furniture and so on.  Between the shops will appear taverns with tables and chairs, inns, scribners, counting houses, traders.  Stone churches with pews and are sprinkled about the neighbourhood, with open doors for those who are appropriately dressed and washed.  The town watch protects the shopkeepers, turning a blind eye to outsiders during the day and monitoring them closely at night.
 Finally, where the artisans of highest repute dwell, there are a great many other services to be found: libraries, brokers, barristers and solicitors, moneylenders, tutors and apothecaries.  Some avenues pass gardens and promenades.  Merchant houses made entirely of stone or brick impose high above the pavement.  A stone church appears on every block.  There are no public places to drink; guildhouse parlours are for members and by invitation.  Here and there is a mansion owned by a noble family, a great merchant, a famous soldier or admiral and such like.  The town guard exist to exclude the hoi polloi, who have no business in these places.

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 As a rule, the dwellings of city workers are as close as possible to their place of work.  Like the description of the trade quarter, workers whose occupations involve heavy physical labour, like sawyers, brickmakers, puddlers and potters, manage tons of material goods in their trade and their homes are found nearest the yards.  The same must be true of the ship and boatbuilders, who must be near the water, along with cartwrights and wagonwrights whose services are demanded most by merchants loading and unloading their goods.  Artisans whose product produces an intense, unpleasant odour, such as the aforementioned chandlers and slaughterers, as well as vintners, brewers and fishmongers, are also be nearest the yards.  The homes here are modest but sound; the wives of these workers work as launderers, servants and midwives.  Brood-raising of half-a-dozen or more children by one or two women on behalf of an extended family is common.  Here and there will be found public houses with stools and few tables, if any.  Wooden chapels with benches are full on holy days.
-[[File:City 2.jpg|left|350px|thumb]]
+[[File:City 2.jpg|left|420px|thumb]]
 In some areas adjacent to the heavy labourers are neighbourhoods where erstwhile industries have collapsed; and now for these people, no traditional work can be found.  These outer areas decay, becoming "borghettos."  The former structures, for lack of maintenance, collapse or burn, so that portions are composed of empty lots.  Such places are populated by beggars and those who turn to desperate activities to maintain themselves; often, impoverished outsiders, sometimes hated like the Jews or Gypsies, also collect in these areas when legitimate work is denied to them by the guilds and city authorities.