Fontuva
“…This city is always a pleasant stop on my route. The air has a crispness that I find missing from other cities in this country. I’d like to think it’s because of the enormous tree at the center, but the rumor of its health makes me wonder otherwise. Perhaps it’s the reason why the aristocrats here attempt to keep city locked in the past against the overwhelming force of technological progress…”
Demographics
Government
The Fontuvian government is run by the people who donate a part of their earnings to the city as a voluntary tax. These people make up the People’s Society of Fontuva. The People’s Society handles the upkeep of the city, funding of projects, and the creation and upholding of laws. There are three roles one could hold in the Fontuvian government: magistrates, barristers, and prime minister. Each rank correlates to the amount each person donates to the city as tax, with the prime minister being the highest donor in the city. Barristers are the most common role making up about sixty percent of the governmental body. Their role is memorizing laws and acting as lawyers in court. Magistrates act as judges and jury in a court and write new laws when necessary. Prime Ministers lead the government by acting as the figure head for the government.
As said in the above paragraph, the taxation in Fontuva is voluntary and is taken as a donation towards the city. Any citizen may donate to the city, but they cannot take part in any governmental actions unless they donate a sum of at least 1500 Drachma within one year. The citizens of Fontuva take pride in making donations to their city, with those who refuse or cannot donate looked down upon by the rest of the population. Money donated by citizens is meant for the construction or maintenance of infrastructure, to throw lavish festivals and feasts, and bolster city defenses.
The legislation of Fontuva is not written down but memorized by barristers. This causes the laws of Fontuva to highly volatile with entire laws being created then forgotten within a year. The current laws of Fontuva focus on ensuring fair markets and good crop rotation while dissuading thievery and violence. Punishment for breaking these laws can range from a simple slap on the wrist to crucifixion.
Defences
The city of Fontuva is the most traditionally fortified city in Promaticous. A great wall made up of the raised roots of the elder tree Tuvan. This wall surrounds the Shade providing protection for each district within. The wall itself is protected by parasitic vallistia shrubs. These shrubs have a special ability to launch corrosive resin from special pitcher like leaf formations up to two thousand feet away. These shrubs have been trained as sentries to protect the city from hostile creatures that approach the great wall. A garrison of the Promatican army is also stationed in the city, with anywhere from fifteen and thirty thousand soldiers ready to defend the city at a moment’s notice. The city also employs a regiment of city guards that act as a police force deterring criminal activity from inside the city. During times of crisis the city guards are absorbed into the Promatican army to supplement their forces.
Industry & Trade
The city of Fontuva finds itself as the agricultural capital of Promaticous. The produce that is cultivated in and around the city is sent as far north as Dásofum and feeds the whole of the Promatican military. The majority of crops grown by the city include dates, grapes, mushrooms, olives, oranges, peaches, potatoes, and wheat. Livestock raised in the lush fields surrounding the city include chickens, cows, goats, horses, and sheep. The majority of crops and livestock come from the Livadiwood district, but produce is grown to some extent in every district of the city. Some crops are only produced in certain districts, such as mushrooms which can be found in the Rootcellar district exclusively, or wheat which is only grown in the wide fields of Livadiwood.
Distilling and brewing is a growing industry in Fontuva. Industrialists in the Rootcellar district have built distilleries and breweries out of the scraps left for the district for construction. Many kinds of alcoholic beverages are made here such as beer, wine, and spirits which are all made primarily from mushrooms. The mushroom spirits quickly gained popularity with the denizens of the Rootcellar and has sense become a favorite throughout the whole city. This brought more money into the district since its original construction. Now grapes and wheat are imported from the other districts to create the wide variety of products the district is now known for. Alcohol is not the only product brewing in the Rootcellar. The craft of potion making has made a lasting impact on the district as well. Potion makers gravitate to Fontuva for the ease of gathering quality materials for the many potions they craft.
The fine arts have also found a home in Fontuva. The district of Froúdia’s Garden was crafted by renowned artists as a demonstration of their prowess. These artists founded the Artisans of Fontuva and have been honing their craft ever since. Architecture, gardening, sculpture, and painting are the primary trades of Artisans of Fontuva. Artists from the city are desired throughout the country and beyond for their iconic style and expertise.
Infrastructure
The city of Fontuva is torn between two ages. The district of Froúdia’s Garden holds onto an age long past with no sign of electricity or any other modern amenity. Since there is no electricity in the district lighting and heating are all provided from natural sources such as fulguro flowers, a glowing flower only found in Fontuva, and by wood burning stoves or torches. No roads were ever constructed in this district, rather the roads here are merely the natural branches of the elder tree Tuvan. The hanging gardens are hung by using rope with clay pots holding the soil and vegetation. Materials for the rope are gathered in the district itself and each pot is crafted by and at the Artisans Guild. Aqueducts needed to keep the district's famous hanging gardens alive only use gravity and clever engineering to fulfill the hefty demand.
While Froúdia’s Garden is content with remining in the past, the rest of the city strives to adapt to modern times. Roads in the rest of Fontuva are paved with blackstone imported from the far north city of Dásofum. The Rootcellar district also features rope bridges that connect the stalactite like buildings that hang from the ceilings of each floor. Aqueducts and power lines coming from Livadiwood supply the city’s demand for both water and electricity. The water is sourced from the many rivers found in the district. This water is also used to supply steam for the power plants built onto the riverbanks. To add on top of the complex system of aqueducts, most of the buildings in the city feature indoor plumbing both allowing water to be pumped in and removing waste by pumping it out. Waste from the city is dumped back into the rivers to the north of the city by using an underground pipe system.
Districts
Froúdia’s Garden: The seat of power and wealth of the city, the Froúdia’s Garden often seems like paradise to outsiders. Resting in the canopy of the elder tree Tuvan the entire district is much like a garden with many of the buildings found here covered in plant growth. This district is home to the city’s prominent merchants, famous artisans, and well-respected religious leaders. Several druidic circles also find their home here in a single temple that acts as the entryway into the heart of Tuvan. These druids aid with growing the protective plants that line the great walls around the city. A single building rejects the district’s decorative vegetation causing it to stand out with its stark white stone contrasting to the vibrant colors in the rest of the district. This building is known as Froúdia’s Nest and acts as the seat of government for the city where senate assemblies, important court cases, and important religious rituals are held. The Fontuvan Artisans Guild also makes its home here with much of the gardening and landscaping in the district done by denizens of the guild. This guild is responsible for the famous hanging gardens that define the district. Since the district finds itself 1500ft (about the height of the Empire State Building) above the rest of the city, just reaching it can be tumultuous. The only way to reach the canopy from the ground is by using the Grand Tuvan Staircase. This remains the only method of reaching the district due to druidic interests to keep machinery out of the district entirely.
The Shade: On the ground far below the canopy of the elder tree Tuvan is where the Shade can be found. This district gets its name from the fact that the canopy of Tuvan keeps almost the entirety of the district in complete shade for most of the day. This district is home to merchants, craftsmen, artisans, and well-off farmers. Much of the middle-class population live here, with most of the district acting as residential housing. Aqueducts run in parallel along the city streets which help bring much needed water into the city for drinking, washing, and watering plants. Much like in Froúdia’s Garden the Shade is covered in plant life. Structures in the Shade incorporate shade-loving plants such as fuchsia, coleus, and hemlock bushes. The main attraction to the area would be the many kinds of markets that can be found here. Entire streets of merchants selling everything from their stands such as the most recent harvest, hand crafted tools and equipment, to finely woven clothing. The inner most section of The Shade acts as a historical district where many ancient structures from early in the city’s history. Many of the city’s guilds have taken residence in the historical district, with the Electrical Workers Brotherhood, Promatican Farmers Association, the Craftsman's Brotherhood to name a few. Electricity has found common use in this district as a source of lighting in the darkest hours of the day and during the night. The district's outer border is lined by the Great Wall of Fontuva surrounding the greater part of the city made up of the same plants that were found in the shade, creating a natural barrier for the city.
Rootcellar: A district formed from the old well that the city used to source water from. Since the well had dried up Fontuva’s poor and misbegotten have made it their home. Today the Rootcellar is about one quarter of a mile across and 1200ft deep. Floors of wood and stone have been built within the old well to function as floors, dividing the district up into fifteen levels. Despite the lack of wealth in the district, a few businesses have blossomed from within. Distilling, for instance, has proven to be a lucrative endeavor for entrepreneurial spirits within the district. Mushroom farming has also become a popular business in the district, with farmers using the exposed roots of Tuvan to grow a wide variety of mushrooms. Despite this the gold speckled pike mushroom is not farmed here as no one has ever been able to successfully seed the fungus here. Over the years basic amenities such as electricity and plumbing have made its way into the district thanks to a wave of enthusiasm from the Fontuvan government for the products that come out of Rootcellar.
Livadiwood: A sprawling mix of farmland, pastures, and meadows is found outside of the Great Wall of Fontuva. This region is known as Livadiwood, which is a very important hub of agriculture which fuels the whole of Promaticous. Most of the population of the district are farmers who live in homes built into the rolling hills. A variety of fruits and vegetables such as olives, dates, potatoes, grapes, oranges, peaches, and wheat are grown in the area along with sprawling pastures to raise chickens, cows, goats horses, and sheep. Other than farming, Livadiwood is home to another important industry, electricity generation. Electrical power plants dot the rivers throughout the district utilizing the river water to supply a source of steam to drive the turbines. The rivers also act as an easy method of transporting the whale diesel necessary to keep the generators running. Livadiwood is also the home of a classic style of Promatican entertainment, colosseum games. A grand colosseum is built about a mile to the south of the Great Wall of Fontuva which hosts many events from as mundane as sporting events to as spectacular as gladiatorial combat.
Guilds and Factions
Peoples Society of Fontuva: Acting as the ruling class of Fontuva, the Peoples Society of Fontuva is the exclusive club of wealthy citizens who had donated at least 1500 Drachma throughout the previous year. In the society there are multiple tiers of membership the correspond with each member ranking within it. Each member is ranked by the amount of money they donate to the city over the base limit to join the society. Those in the lower sixty percent of donators are given the rank of barrister, while the remaining upper forty percent gain the rank of magistrate. Finally, the rank of prime minister is granted to the individual who has donated the most money. Members of the society meet in Froúdia’s Nest, the capitol building found in the center of Froúdia’s Garden.
Electrical Workers Brotherhood: A branch of the Electrical Workers Brotherhood has recently expanded to the city of Fontuva. The goals of the brotherhood include electrifying the whole of Fontuva, creating more jobs within the power businesses, and provide for current electrical works by assuring safe working conditions and fair pay. The guild provides work to anyone looking for quick cash in their guild hall in The Shade.
Artisans of Fontuva: Many artisans of Fontuva say they are an Artisan of Fontuva, but only a select few have the privilege to be one. The Artisans of Fontuva are a collection of the city’s most talented gardener’s sculptors, and painters. Aspiring artists can be granted membership by being personally selected by a current member of the guild. Being a member of the Artisans of Fontuva comes with many perks, such as being provided meals at no cost and granted quarters at the guild hall in Froúdia’s Garden. These perks do come with a cost as members are expected to create public works for the city and maintain is illustrious hanging gardens. The guild is also known to employ non-members for odd jobs or tasks that they feel are beneath them.
Promatican Farmers Association: A collection of the many farming families found throughout the country. The guild mainly acts as a political body and attempts to sway members of the People’s Society across Promaticous to create and uphold laws that would benefit them. Through this the Farmers Association were heavily involved in the aqueduct construction in Fontuva, laws and regulations of the gold speckled pike mushrooms, and orchestrating the first of the Lychnus trees to be planted in Dásofum. The guild also offers jobs to anyone willing to work as a farmhand for any of the local farms around Fontuva. The guild hall can be found in The Shade near the elder tree Tuvan.
Craftsman’s Brotherhood: A collection of skilled laborers such as carpenters, masons, smiths and tanners, the Craftsman’s Brotherhood seeks to ensure that each of their members are paid fairly for their work. The guild also provides instruction to those wanting to learn a skill of trade. This has proved vital to the success to the city as the recent industrialization of Promaticous has placed tremendous pressure on demand on craftsmen to keep up with the ever increasingly demand for their craft.
Brewer’s Guild: Deep in the Rootcellar brewing has quickly become an economic boom for the district. With the ever-growing demand for beer, potions, spirits, and wine the brewers of Rootcellar have come together to regulate their market. The Brewer’s Guild seeks to protect its members by ensuring that no one member can trample over the possible profits of another. Any member that is thought to be acting out of line is punished in a number of violent ways. The guild is known to provide jobs to non-members mostly as muscle for strike breaking or dealing with a troublesome member.
Druidic Pilgrims: A rotating cast of druids on pilgrimage from a variety of circles. The elder tree Tuvan is of great interest to druids, as they are believed to be direct descendants of the Tree of Life itself. Tuvan has a gained a heightened interest as, unlike its siblings, is seemingly dying at an alarming rate. The disease of the tree is rumored to be the reason for the lack of magic found within Promaticous, but no concrete proof of the idea exists. The druids act to keep the tree pure from the influence of modern Promaticans, with none of the modern amenities such as electricity or processed fuel allowed near the tree itself. The druids also perform rituals in the heart of Tuvan itself to cure, or at least alleviate the sickness afflicting Tuvan. Since the power of magic is greatly reduced or nonexistent within the country, druids that are staffed at the temple in Froúdia’s Garden only remain for a few years at a time, with replacements coming to the city with the many groups of druidic pilgrims entering the city.
Points of interest
Fort Onkolith: The largest stationary army garrison in Promaticous. Every member of the Promatican Army is sent to Onkolith for training before being assigned to a unit. Other than training members are responsible for defending the city if ever needed. The garrison is in the northernmost section of The Shade occupying about twenty square miles. A fortified wall fifteen feet tall and 5 feet thick made of blackstone surrounds the perimeter of the garrison making it one of the most protected areas of the city. Within the garrison there are barracks to house four thousand soldiers as well as the hangars, armories, mess halls, and other facilities needed to support them.
Great Wall of Fontuva: A grand structure made of the roots of the elder tree Tuvan that reaches forty feet in height and ranges anywhere from fifteen to thirty feet thick, the Great Wall of Fontuva wraps around the city protecting it from ground-based attacks. The wall itself has been maintained by the many druids that have taken their pilgrimage to Fontuva as well as gardening experts within the Artisans of Fontuva. Since the wall itself is part of Tuvan it must be trimmed to keep it from growing into The Shade and destroying infrastructure. This is done mostly via controlled burns and manual trimming.
Elder Tree Tuvan: A remnant of an era long past, the elder tree is one of five remaining in existence. Tuvan itself reaches a height of 1,800ft at the tallest point of its canopy with a trunk that reaches 1,100ft in diameter with branches reaching up to 3,000ft away from the trunk. The elder trees are thought to be the direct offspring of the Tree of Life itself, which brings much druidic activity to wherever they reside. Tuvan itself has been the focus of a grand conservation effort as the land of Promaticous has lost its connection to all sources of magic, causing the elder tree to grow sickly. A constant supply of druids on pilgrimage from around the world has lessened the severity of the sickness but a permanent solution has yet to be found.
The Grand Colosseum: A circular arena made of marble and granite that stands taller than all else in Livadiwood. Originally the colosseum was built specifically for blood sports, but over time has come to host less violent entertainment such as circuses, competitive sports, theatrical events and more. The floor of the colosseum is made up of a complex system of hydraulics, gears, and tiles that allow the arena to adapt to the many types of events that are hosted here.
Froúdia’s Nest: A stark white marble structure located in Froúdia’s Garden. The building itself sticks out from the rest of the district for being one of the only structures not covered in vegetation. The building itself is rectangular with columns surrounding the perimeter with granite slabs acting as interior walls. A solid marble roof rests on the columns. Instead of the vegetation the columns and walls of the building are adorned with intricate carvings depicting the history of the city and Promaticous as a country. Since worked metals are not banned from use in the district, dyed tree resin is used as a trimming throughout the structure. The interior of the structure consists of one large room. The assembly hall is where the People’s Society meets for all kinds of meetings, from general assemblies to important court cases. The room is adorned with banners embroidered with the symbol of the city, a depiction of the elder tree Tuvan, and is lit using resin torches and lamps.
Still Street: The name given to the third level of Rootcellar. Still street is the collection of many of the breweries, distilleries, and wineries all condensed into an area about the size of a typical city block. The area itself is a marvel with how intricately it has been constructed. The lower sections of the level are dedicated to markets to trade ingredients and products with the distilleries, while the distilleries themselves reside in structures hanging from the level’s ceiling. To expedite trading most of the distilleries have one or more freight elevator or dumbwaiter systems that allow for large amounts of product or ingredients to be moved at once instead of needing people to haul the items themselves.
Historical District: The oldest section of Fontuva has been preserved for the city’s future. This section of The Shade is the innermost ring of buildings to the elder tree Tuvan. They consist of the oldest buildings in Fontuva and closer reflect the structures found in Froúdia’s Garden rather than the shade proper. The size of the buildings tower over the rest of district as well as they were originally the mansions of the ultra-wealthy in the distant past. Today most of these buildings are occupied by various temples and guild halls.
Heart of Tuvan: An important pilgrimage site for many druidic circles deep in the trunk of the elder tree Tuvan. Most citizens are only able to access the temple residing over the entrance of the heart in Froúdia’s Garden but practicing druids from other lands come in pilgrimage have full access to the temple and the interior of the tree. The temple itself is built entirely out of marble in the classical Promatican style and is adorned with iconography of Froúdia. Within the temple is a stairwell that leads down 500ft to the heart of the tree. The druids are rumored to perform a ritual within the heart that keeps the elder tree from deteriorating further than it already has.
Architecture
Each of the districts of Fontuva have their own architectural style. Froúdia’s Garden attempts to meld the handcrafted with natural beauty. The buildings in this district are all constructed with solid marble and finely crafted wood. Most buildings have large ionic columns around their perimeter which extend from the ground floor to the base of the roof. Sun-loving plants like petunias, geraniums, and lobelias are used to adorn the district's structures. Very few buildings have no plant adornment helping to mark their importance, such as the city hall, Froúdia’s Nest and the Artisans Guild building. One of the iconic aspects of the district is the lush hanging hardens. Plants of all kinds grow in baskets hanging from the branches of the canopy. These baskets can vary in size from a small planter to a small home to accommodate the variety of plants that are grown from them. Ferns, vines, bushes, and even trees are grown in the hanging gardens. Some of the hanging gardens even serve an agricultural purpose with many dedicated to growing olives, dates, and grapes. Due to the influence of the druidic and religious figures that preside here there are no structures or devices made of metal or any synthesized material, such as misími bronze or blackstone. This affects the irrigation system that waters the lush vegetation of the district as no pumps may be used to move water up to it. A complex system of locks and reservoirs is used to move water brought into the city up to Froúdia’s Garden in order to keep up with the demand. The layout of the district follows the pattern of branches made by the elder tree Tuvan. The streets follow the path set by the branches of the tree while buildings are constructed upon the pattern of the leaves.
The Shade, being the largest district, has a large variation in its architecture. Buildings owned by, or meant for, the lower class are often made of blackstone bricks and wood which is covered with stucco look more visually appealing to passersby. These buildings are also found towards the outskirts near the Great Wall of Fontuva. Middle class buildings can be found using painted or veneered stone bricks to closer emulate the higher-class buildings. Generally, these can be found in any part of the district. High class buildings usually belong to large companies or guilds and are often made of solid marble with finely crafted wood and misími bronze accents. These buildings are usually found close to the elder tree Tuvan. The culture of Promaticous shines through its architecture especially well in this district. Each structure gives a clue to how powerful the entity who built is, was, or how important the denizens who live in it are, with the more columns around a building the more important they are. Aqueducts are a large part of the districts architecture as well. Supplying the whole city with water these aqueducts crisscross through the district and have large reservoirs dedicated to each district. The aqueducts are built using granite stone blocks which are fashioned into arches. A steel or copper pipe runs along the top of these structures to keep animals and plants from getting into the water supply.
Starting from just a well, the architecture of the Rootcellar district is particularly unique compared to the rest of the city. Each of the structures here were built for the purpose of hiding the poor from visitors coming into the city. The district itself is divided into 15 floors going deep into the ground. Platforms of wood and stone are used to separate each floor with a decorative stone cap on top of the district preventing any person from above to peer into the district. Each of the floors are fairly self-contained with the exception of having water sources provided from the surface districts. On each of the floors, buildings reach up towards the ceiling and hang from it. Much like stalactites and stalagmites found in caves the buildings found here have wide bases and become thinner the further up, or down, they reach. Most of the buildings in this district are made of scrap wood, stone, dirt, or even metal sheets. In rare cases structures in the upper levels have natural stone bricks and blackstone bricks worked into their architecture. The floors can be traveled between by using sets of stairs or freight elevators found on the edges of the district. The relative wealth of the upper level has allowed some to start businesses in distilling and brewing anything from potions to liquor using large stills made of the scrap metal bought or stollen from the other districts of Fontuva. In the lower levels of the district exposed roots of the elder tree Tuvan are incorporated into the district which are used for mushroom farming as a sort of symbiosis between the residents of the district and Tuvan itself.
The hilly outskirts of Fontuva are dotted with farm homesteads and sources of infrastructure for the city. The homesteads of Livadiwood have a large variation to them from small mansions hidden in the meadows spread throughout the region to berm homes in the hills of the open plains. These homes often reflect the wealth of the farmer with the materials used for their construction with well off farmers incorporating worked stones, like marble and diorite, and precious metals, such as gold and misími bronze, into their homes. Poorer farmers will often use wood found from local trees and cheaper stones or bricks, such as blackstone, into their structures. Silos for crop storage and barns for animal shelter also dot the landscape with not much variation between them other than size or amount on each property. Water for the irrigation of crops and for the residents in the city is sourced from the several rivers that crisscross through the hills, with the aqueducts following the main roads leading into the city’s center. These aqueducts are built much like an arched bridge and attempt to maintain the same height to prevent the need for pumps to get the water everywhere its needed. Built within the aqueducts are the power lines the supply electricity to most of the city, Froúdia’s Garden excluded. The electricity for these lines is provided by massive power plants constructed with stone and metal the dot the rivers within the district.
Geography
The city resides in a river land with a variety of elevations. Between the winding rivers exists sparse woodland and marshy grasslands and fens.
Climate
The climate in the region surrounding Fontuva is mild. The temperature of the region can vary from -8 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The region itself is fairly dry, but rivers carry water from the southwest where precipitation is much more plentiful.
Natural Resources
There are many kinds of resources that can be found in the region surrounding Fontuva. The wilderness is full of nuts, berries, wild grasses, and vegetables and is inhabited by small and medium wild game such as rodents, a variety of birds, deer, and goats. Fish and clay are abundant thanks to the rivers.
Alternative Name(s)
City of the Elder Tree
Type
Large city
Inhabitant Demonym
Fontuvans
Owning Organization
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