Hanging Vineyards of Lattenland
Where water flows upwards and wine is delicious.
Lattenland, better known as the Hanging Vineyards of Lattenland, is a city found on the western side of the Grand Duchy of Magna, located in the Kingdom of Crendameth. The settlement is renown throughout the realm for its fabulous assortment of high-quality wines, some of which come from its titular hanging vineyards, becoming a popular destination for travelers due to its ancient architecture, cultural importance within the Grand Duchy and because of the spectacle of seeing the so-called river Drelior, a bifurcation from the river Melior that flows up into the air in an arc.
Demographics
The population of Lattenland is mostly comprised of humans, followed in numbers by elves, halflings, half-elves and a small community of dwarves. There are other individuals belonging to other races, yet their numbers are so reduced they do not represent a significant percentage of the population.
The city's inhabitants mostly come from all over the Kingdom, though mainly from the Grand Duchy. Some of its citizen hail from distant lands on the shores of Ni'Hel.
The most common profession in Lattenland is agriculture, which focuses largely on viticulture without leaving basic food production aside. Theses farmers tend to be under the employ of winemakers, who are responsible for the production of the city's main source of income. Other professions include stonemasonry and engineering, which are needed to tend to the aqueducts and irrigation systems that keep Lattenland alive; metalsmithing of all kinds to produce the necessary tools and implements to maintain the city on its feet; bakers, butchers and cooks specializing in the preparations of many foodstuffs; weavers, leatherworkers, goldsmiths and lumbers that see to the manufacturing of assorted accessories and clothing; and others of lesser repute or impact.
Because of the wide assortment of available jobs, poverty is scarcely seen in Lattenland. This, however, does not imply that it is nonexistent. Most of the people in the city are well off without being rich, calling themselves 'grapevines' while the upper class, comprised of nobles and rich entrepreneurs, go by the moniker 'grapes' or 'vintages'.
The city's inhabitants mostly come from all over the Kingdom, though mainly from the Grand Duchy. Some of its citizen hail from distant lands on the shores of Ni'Hel.
The most common profession in Lattenland is agriculture, which focuses largely on viticulture without leaving basic food production aside. Theses farmers tend to be under the employ of winemakers, who are responsible for the production of the city's main source of income. Other professions include stonemasonry and engineering, which are needed to tend to the aqueducts and irrigation systems that keep Lattenland alive; metalsmithing of all kinds to produce the necessary tools and implements to maintain the city on its feet; bakers, butchers and cooks specializing in the preparations of many foodstuffs; weavers, leatherworkers, goldsmiths and lumbers that see to the manufacturing of assorted accessories and clothing; and others of lesser repute or impact.
Because of the wide assortment of available jobs, poverty is scarcely seen in Lattenland. This, however, does not imply that it is nonexistent. Most of the people in the city are well off without being rich, calling themselves 'grapevines' while the upper class, comprised of nobles and rich entrepreneurs, go by the moniker 'grapes' or 'vintages'.
Government
The city is run by a noble appointed by the King himself. This individual has several responsibilities, with some of them being the supervision of the bulk of the city's export production, the enforcement of the laws that are in place, the partial administration of the city's budget and serving as a moderator in the Lattenland Guild Reunions.
Most winemakers are required to meet a certain production quota before specific points in the year, more so if they belong to one of the city's guilds. Because of this, and because of the end of year production showcase, competition is encouraged, providing a wide array of different wines and ensuring a steady monetary income to the city in the form of the taxes that need to be paid to the city.
Most winemakers are required to meet a certain production quota before specific points in the year, more so if they belong to one of the city's guilds. Because of this, and because of the end of year production showcase, competition is encouraged, providing a wide array of different wines and ensuring a steady monetary income to the city in the form of the taxes that need to be paid to the city.
Defences
The city's main defense can be found in its towers, its walls and its artificial moat. Each tower can house up to fifty archers, with them being able to access one of two large scorpions placed at the top. Should the situation require it, the city can be cut off from the rest of the mainland by opening a sluice gate and allowing the river Melior to fill the artificial moat, effectively isolating the city from would-be assailants.
Industry & Trade
Lattenland's main trade, as well as the reason for its fame, is found in its wine industry, selling its products to other towns and cities that can be found throughout the Grand Duchy. The city also has some trade deals with cities elsewhere in the Kingdom, furthering their profit even more. It must be said that its greatest buyer comes in the form of the capital city, Solaris, wherein the many taverns, drinking holes and businesses regard Lattenland as one of the best places to trade with. It's said that even the King himself, loathe as he is to admit it, has a select vintage provided by the winemakers of Lattenland.
Infrastructure
The main infrastructural draw within Lattenland is divided threefold: the first and most important being the hanging vineyards, which allow for a unique variety of wines to be produced; the second ties into the third, with the city's irrigation system being intricately tied to its crisscrossing aqueducts that span its entirety.
Bridges and watermills have also become commonplace, with them allowing easy access to the city's higher areas and quicker production respectively.
Bridges and watermills have also become commonplace, with them allowing easy access to the city's higher areas and quicker production respectively.
Assets
Lattenland's greatest assets are found in its hanging vineyards, which are not found anywhere else in the entire world and allow for the production of unique wine types. Of lesser importance but still of note are the city's stores, which deal in a large variety of wares from all over the Kingdom, and even from other parts of the world.
Guilds and Factions
There are three main, recognized guilds within Lattenland's low walls, all of them holding equal footing within the city's power structure and regularly associating with each other to be as effective as possible. These are, in no particular order:
- The Lattenland Mercantile Association, in charge of overseeing trade and trade negotiations within and without the city.
- The Guild of Wine and its Production, a centralized organization that stipulates winemakers' rights, duties, the laws they must abide by and facilitating the transactions necessary for the produce's commercialization.
- The Society of Engineering and Stonemasonry, responsible for furthering the city's building processes and its infrastructural needs.
History
The settlement was founded 146 years ago, although who by is a matter of contention between historians. The argument is that the main infrastructure for Lattenland existed, albeit in a less grandiose and mostly ruined state, long before anyone thought to plant their grapes there. The most prevalent theory states that Verex Latten was the first to realize that the soil surrounding the Low Mesa was greatly fertile and the first to start a vineyard, while also being brave enough to use some of the abandoned structures as shelter from the elements, thus giving rise to the name.
Over time, the ruins were explored, repaired and expanded, allowing for people to live more comfortably while still having access to the land and water necessary to carry out their agricultural activities. It was around fifty years after the city was settled (or re-settled, depending on the source) that Jaxev Latten, a descendant of Verex's, combined his knowledge of agriculture and engineering to start building the famous hanging vineyards. Soon after, these became the settlement's staple.
However, the city suffered greatly during the Blight of 61 BE, wherein most, if not all, of the city's crops were deemed useless because of the appearance of a type of blight that quickly killed plants by rotting them on the inside. This situation would not alleviate itself until a year later, when the strain was finally isolated. The entire debacle lead to the creation of the Guild of Wine and its Production, which ensured the winemaker's financial stability should such an event occur again.
Since then, business has been steadily flowing. Because Lattenland swore no political allegiance, it was never subjected to particularly unfair treatment on behalf of the Seekers, those who ruled in the name of the Sunseeker Empire. It is said, however, that the Voidlord was quite fond of the wine produced from the hanging vineyards, going so far as to command his forces to stay away from the settlement so that the winemakers could continue producing their high-quality wines undisturbed.
Over time, the ruins were explored, repaired and expanded, allowing for people to live more comfortably while still having access to the land and water necessary to carry out their agricultural activities. It was around fifty years after the city was settled (or re-settled, depending on the source) that Jaxev Latten, a descendant of Verex's, combined his knowledge of agriculture and engineering to start building the famous hanging vineyards. Soon after, these became the settlement's staple.
However, the city suffered greatly during the Blight of 61 BE, wherein most, if not all, of the city's crops were deemed useless because of the appearance of a type of blight that quickly killed plants by rotting them on the inside. This situation would not alleviate itself until a year later, when the strain was finally isolated. The entire debacle lead to the creation of the Guild of Wine and its Production, which ensured the winemaker's financial stability should such an event occur again.
Since then, business has been steadily flowing. Because Lattenland swore no political allegiance, it was never subjected to particularly unfair treatment on behalf of the Seekers, those who ruled in the name of the Sunseeker Empire. It is said, however, that the Voidlord was quite fond of the wine produced from the hanging vineyards, going so far as to command his forces to stay away from the settlement so that the winemakers could continue producing their high-quality wines undisturbed.
Tourism
Wine lovers and those with an expensive pallete go to Lattenland for the delightful food, exquisite wine and relaxing ambiance amidst the white stones and rushing water. A common first stop is the hanging vineyards, which attract thousands of people throughout the year.
People opt to stay inside the city's walls in one of the many inns that can be found throughout its sloped streets, the most famous (and expensive) one being the Great Vintage, which is located near the hanging vineyards.
People opt to stay inside the city's walls in one of the many inns that can be found throughout its sloped streets, the most famous (and expensive) one being the Great Vintage, which is located near the hanging vineyards.
Architecture
The architecture seen throughout Lattenland is mostly defined as classical Ar'Nuhûnian becuase of its adoption of the styles present in the ruins predating the first settler's arrival that are found throughout the continent, characterized by its seemingly liberal use of arcs and the spaces left to integrate plant life with the city's overall design.
The material used for most of the buildings is similar to the one found in Solaris, that being durable white stone. However, other types of rock, and even several kinds of wood, are known to be used for reinforcement or quicker, cheaper construction within the lower levels.
The material used for most of the buildings is similar to the one found in Solaris, that being durable white stone. However, other types of rock, and even several kinds of wood, are known to be used for reinforcement or quicker, cheaper construction within the lower levels.
Geography
Lattenland's height is entirely attributed to the hill on which its larger, more impressive structures were built. Surrounding its walls lie the plains of Magna, usually undisturbed flat lands with the exception of some natural landmarks that dot the countryside.
The Melior and some of its smaller counterparts provide easy access to the water necessary to keep the vineyards from drying up, with Lattenlers being very thankful for the magical anomaly that allows parts of the river to flow upwards and away from the land. This, in turn, makes for a beautiful and unusual spectacle that is normally referred to as arcwater because of the shape the water adopts when in the air.
The Melior and some of its smaller counterparts provide easy access to the water necessary to keep the vineyards from drying up, with Lattenlers being very thankful for the magical anomaly that allows parts of the river to flow upwards and away from the land. This, in turn, makes for a beautiful and unusual spectacle that is normally referred to as arcwater because of the shape the water adopts when in the air.
Founding Date
120 BE
Alternative Name(s)
The Hanging Vineyards
Type
City
Population
16,482 people
Inhabitant Demonym
- Lattenler
- Grapechild
Location under
Owning Organization
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