Camp Bodwyn (bahd-winn)

Founded somewhat recently - in 1003 2A - this military camp has primarily served as the Dumein Dominion's second-largest fortified area behind only Dumein Keep. It was built to keep much of the rest of the continent in check - but the metropolis of Everyn most of all. From this fort, Dumeiner forces could watch for Everynese military movements, rare though they are in the peaceful city. The Dominion could also keep an eye on the Mercer River and make sure the people of Riverford did not try to attack. From Bodwyn reinforcements could be sent to the northern towns or to shore up offensive campaigns.
In the lead-up to the Everyn War, Camp Bodwyn prepared to house many more soldiers, knowing that once the Dominion took over Everyn they would have thousands of new recruits to train. And once the great city fell, the camp swelled to more than double its usual size, as Everynese men and women were trained and sharpened into usefulness for the Dominion armies. From here, they marched out to other parts of the continent, ready to help unify everything west of the Backbone Spires under Dominion rule.

Demographics

Though the specific demographics of Camp Bodwyn change frequently, as new recruits join and others complete their service, it has remained majority human for much of its history. This reflects the demographics of the Dumein Dominion as a whole, though with the recent addition of the cosmopolitan city of Everyn it could change in the near future.
The vast majority of residents here are soldiers completing their mandatory two years of service, though a small service sector has developed to support the military members. While the soldiers are provided lodging and basic food, most use their small standard wage at taverns or to indulge in better food. The few non-military members of town tend to be relatively lower middle class, though compared to the soldiers they are considerably more comfortable. Though there are no aristocrats in town, the Oberst in charge of the garrison lives in somewhat luxury, though nowhere near what an urban noble would experience.

Government

The Oberst (roughly equivalent to a General or Knight Corporal in other nations) has full control of everything in the camp. Their direct-report underlings form a sort of council that monitors and administers certain aspects of the base. The civilians do not have any specific government representation, and most understand that choosing to live in Bodwyn means they are serving the soldiers and must therefore listen to the military command. The Oberst appointments last five years, though the monarch can extend that as many times as they wish.
While the citizens do not have a political representative, they do have a say in civilian judicial proceedings in Bodwyn. Realizing that military justice might be too harsh for civilians townsfolk, a previous monarch established the practice of forming a civilian jury when criminal charges are brought against a non-soldier. This jury of three civilians serves alongside the Oberst in court, and they are presented with the same evidence and arguments the Oberst would have in military cases. The jury debates among themselves and recommends charges and sentencing to the Oberst who has the final say. Most have tended to show some amount of leniency to the civilians (recognizing that the base relies on them to avoid becoming insufferable) but the base has occasionally seen a despotic Oberst who punishes civilians arguably worse than soldiers for comparable offenses.

Defences

The perimeter of Camp Bodwyn is surrounded by a wall of mixed construction. The early days of the camp saw a wooden palisade constructed, and those timbers have been replaced at regular intervals as required. Over time, some Obersts have chosen to have the soldiers construct stone walls for part of the perimeter. Currently, about 70% of the perimeter is stone wall, with the remaining 30% strong wooden palisade. There are eight watchtowers along the wall, located at all cardinal and ordinal points along the perimeter. Each of these has a bell to alert the rest of the camp, while the gatehouses that flank the two road exits feature one ballista each for attacking at range and trying to hold invaders at bay.

Infrastructure

There are not many creature comforts in Camp Bodwyn, some speculate to harden the soldiers training and stationed here. The main road through town is wide enough to allow several carts - or several columns of soldiers - to pass at once, and it is the only road in town that is paved and maintained in any way. All other streets are packed dirt, with a few small stretches featuring gravel to help in tough weather conditions.
The camp is close enough to the river that they have dug a sort of underground aqueduct to access it for clean water. This aqueduct has a grated inlet far under the usual water level, allowing water to flow freely at all times. The other end of this water line empties into a cistern underneath Camp Bodwyn, from which the whole town draws water. This cistern is watched constantly, making sure no tampering takes place and no beasts try to claim it as their own.

History

There is not much history to speak of in Camp Bodwyn. It was constructed to be a check on Everyn and provide a potential staging point for an invasion, as well as watching the Mercer River valley for incursions from Riverford. Everyn has famously never sent military forces beyond the city's borders - until the recent war that is - and Riverford has been more than happy to enjoy its own defensible position. So the camp has functioned mostly as a second garrison for Dominion troops, with people rotating in and out every few years on regular conscription duty.
Camp Bodwyn has always been considered a disappointing assignment for soldiers, and even the Obersts who are appointed to lead the garrison sometimes consider it a demotion or political move to keep them out of sight. The few civilian residents of the town have done their best in recent decades to make the camp feel a bit more homely, but there is little to be done in a predominantly military outpost. When not on duty, soldiers spend most of their time drinking or gambling, but unlike other towns where these activities are prevalent, the Obersts tend to run a tight ship and punish bad behavior quite severely. Many travelers who pass through here describe Bodwyn as "the roughest law-abiding town" and some locals have taken that description as a means of endearment for their home.
During the Everyn War, Camp Bodwyn saw itself bolstered and given increased importance, as a training camp for Everynese conscripts. From here, soldiers were sent out to other parts of the continent to help the Dominion wage their war of conquest. In the years since the war, Bodwyn is back to its usual size, though there are constant discussions of expanding it and stationing more troops in this centrally-located fort.

Architecture

Function trumps form in every way here in Camp Bodwyn. Buildings tend to be more simplistic Romanesque or Anglo-Saxon constructions, many quite large to house several dozen soldiers. The civilians' houses are slightly more intricate, often with colored curtains adorning their smaller homes and a few decorations to signify it as not-another-military building. The taverns and gambling halls that soldiers frequent tend to be timber construction, similar to a German timber frame or Tudor style.

Founding Date

1003 2A

Alternative Name(s)

Mercer Garrison

Type

Military, Camp

Population

6,203

Inhabitant Demonym

Bodwynians

Owning Organization

Dumein Dominion