Everton
Everton is the capital city of the Duchy of Sylvanmere, a forest settlement guarded by traditional charms, a tall wooden palisade, and a pack of law-enforcing werewolves.
Demographics
There is an approximately 40% majority of human citizens, followed closely by high elves, Azer dwarves, and gnomes. There is a smaller population of other races--Urdunnir dwarves, drow elves, centaurs, grimlocks, etc. There is also a minority of fey denizens who have made a community within or beyond the city, individuals who were trapped in Sylvanmere when the Barrier was enacted.
Government
Everton is the capital city of the Sylvanmere duchy. It is ruled by the Archduke/archduchess, who acts as the head of state, and a lesser duke who is appointed by the office to govern the city. Taxes are collected seasonally by the governing Dragonlord and redistributed by her discretion. Guilds institute laws which govern commerce and trade.
Industry & Trade
Everton is famous for its stained glass. Artisans manufacture forest glass in glassblowing houses, often creating beautiful and elaborate works of art. Cobalt imported from Hillock allows for the production of blue glass. A Clockwork Guild is also present in town, manufacturing wooden grandfather and cuckoo clocks. Merchants sell byproducts from Waxmelt Honeyworks, mostly beeswax and honey. The honey is said to contain mystical properties and is a popular local substitute when sugar is scarce.
Hunting game, such as Dire Boar or deer, thrive in the temperate forest surrounding the city. Logging is also a profitable industry, timber production centered in Everton and rafted downriver. Nearby mining efforts produce silver, which is crafted into jewelry, tableware, and mirrors. Most of these luxury items are exported or sold to the local nobility.
Trade is open in Everton to all sister duchies as well as neighboring kingdoms; however, the route to Surntra was closed for imports into Everton as protest for the ongoing war that ravaged the fields to the north. Everton's main trade partners are Freeport and Mirandus (until the latter closed its borders).
Infrastructure
The city is surrounded by a tall wooden palisade that bounds the city into a wide L-shape. One wing of the city rises up to a hilltop called the Verdant Ascent, where the archduke's fenced Vizsla Manor sits atop the crest. This part of the city has large stone buildings with porches and second floors. The houses follow a naturalistic aesthetic—roofs carpeted by garden beds and flowering plants. Many of the glass windows are ornately blown with mosaic images of fauna, such as stags and birds.
Further down the slope at the intersection of the city is the marketplace, populated by guild halls and a plaza of bustling carts, tents, and stalls. Several of the merchants have transitional inventories, bringing exports goods to Sylvanmere.
The Begging Well lies in the heart of the city. It is the city's main source of water. Citizens and travelers will traditionally offer coins to the fountain as a sign of good luck before entering the forest. Some say the fountain's luck will keep fey away; others use it as a symbol of their chosen deity.
The southern wing of Everton is the residential district. Older and simpler homes are tightly packed together to maximize living space. Many of these homes were built on ashes of homes that burned down in the days before the Fire Brigade was established. Among these homes is the communal Bath and a few inns and taverns. The destitute and homeless sleep in an encampment of tents and bedrolls near the southern gate.
Guilds and Factions
Major guilds in Everton are the Mining Guild, who organize the mining in the forest clearing; the Hunters' Coterie, who employ hunters and restrict hunting seasons; and Jacks' Guild, which regulates lumberjacks' employment and deforestation.
Factions include the Fire Brigade, an organization of druids who fight fires in the city and surrounding forest; the Watchwolf Pack, werewolves who enforce the laws of the duchy and investigate relevant crimes; and Wildlife Rehabilitation and Relocation, who relocate displaced fauna and protect them from extirpation. Wildlife Rehabilitation and Relocation also create guidelines for familiars and animal companions to prevent abuse.
Natural Resources
Wood from the forests, water from the wellspring, and metals from the clearing just south of the city.
Type
City
Population
15,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Evertoner
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Materials
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