Darkstadt

Darkstadt is the notional capital of the White Barrens, a position contested by Dreihaus and Weissgard. It is ruled by a triumvirate of electors: The Governor of Darkstadt, the Marshal of the Fellmire and the Peregrine of Woldland. It is much larger than Stoneholt, and as a result significantly less formidable in its defence. Its wall is eight feet of sandstone topped by wooden palings, with stone towers at regular intervals. The city is mostly constructed from wood or sandstone. The High Temple of the Barrens is built of sandstone, but with columns and a dome of imported marble.
Unlike Stoneholt, Darkstadt is lax on law, but strict on social conformity to the norms of the Republic, since its purpose is to establish an independent identity for the Barrens and not to enforce external control. The focus of authority is the High Temple. As a result, the city, and the land around it, are used by criminal organisations for storing loot and as a place to transfer smuggled goods from one carrier to another. The Cult of Morha is very strong here, and the city makes much of the virtue of community.
The town is built on a hill, and made up of concentric, circular 'wards'. The Electors and the small number of other high-status residents, plus their households, and the high temple are located in the High Ward. Circling this are the tavern ward, with its stables, warehouses and other services for travellers, including - of course - taverns, the local residences and shops of the town ward, and the barracks and low-status housing of the field ward.
The city is defended by the civil garrison, the militia and by a sizeable force of exemplars and deltors stationed at the high temple and the devout house (located in the Tavern Ward.) The High Ward also has a large force of private guards.
Most of the worthies of Darkstadt are successful dodgy dealers and disgraced nobles avoiding civilised law, at the cost of contributions to the Temple and the Darkstadt militia.

Type

Large town