Engelberg (aing-ell-berg)

The city of Engelberg is located in the northern region of the nation of Oestbernia. It is situated where the plains and forest meet the Sinsear Mountains, and half of the city is located in the mountain caves. In the First Age, the area contained several disparate settlements that each focused on mining, farming, or foresting. Over time, these close neighbors realized their common need for security from the perils of the north, and in the 24th century of the First Age they banded together and officially created the city-state of Engelberg.
The newly formed city-state was autonomous for around one century until they peacefully joined with other northern towns and forest villages to form the kingdom of Nordtvein, of which Engelberg was the capital. This kingdom's main purpose was joint security and protection from raiding barbarians and monsters coming from the tundra dubbed the Frozen North. The northern line of plains and forest villages were heavily fortified, and large ranger and soldier battalions were stationed at each one to keep watch and protect the southern lands. This system still exists to watch for raiders from the north, though it is now run by the nation of Oestbernia, of which Nordtvein is part.
Today, the city of Engelberg is a productive, prominent part of Oestbernia's economy, being the only mining city and the largest of the foresting settlements. With no access to a river for goods transportation, Engelberg relies heavily on the trade road and its massive army of caravans and carts. There is an almost endless stream of goods flowing from Engelberg to the southern lands - most going through the nation's capital in Castillon - with at least one caravan group leaving every day. This economic importance has led to a fairly large amount of wealth in Engelberg, concentrated in the hands of the business owners but also spreading to the working class as well.

Demographics

Engelberg is a hodgepodge of different races and cultures. Humans enjoy the plurality of the population, making up about 40% of the residents, but the rest of the city is a mix of dwarves, halflings, gnomes, tieflings, goliaths, bugbears, orcs, half-orcs, firbolgs, goblins, huundari, tabaxi, and even a few elves and drow. The various industries and jobs in the city are open to all, with no racial or cultural segregation. The handful of business and industry owners - those who own rights to the mines and outfit the miners and foresters for their jobs - make up a small aristocracy in the city, though the workers are fairly well off compared to other cities' standards. The economic activity of the city brings a lot of gold into the area, and the various industry guilds have worked hard over the centuries to make sure it does not all go straight to the nobles.

Government

The citizens of Engelberg elect a Mayor and several Head Representatives of various guilds and industries every five years, during the same elections in which they choose their city's representatives for the National Council. The Head Representatives make up a cabinet or advisory council for the mayor, along with other advisors each mayor can appoint as they see fit. Many speculate the true power in the city runs through the guild leaders, not the mayor, but that is a point of debate amongst Engelbergers.

Defences

The surface part of Engelberg is surrounded by a series of stone walls that have progressively expanded as the city's population has grown over time. The older walls are left intact in some places, while other neighborhoods have torn them down to make room for housing or other buildings. The mine shafts on the outskirts of the subterranean city are heavily patrolled and fortified, with miners having to pass through the checkpoints on their way to the tunnels and caves. In addition, the nation of Oestbernia stations a battalion of rangers to watch the forest and a battalion of infantry to respond to any threat - be it from the forest, the plains, or from underground.

Infrastructure

The roads of Engelberg are among the best in the world, connecting the outlying farms and nearby forest to the trade road which runs through the center of the city and into the mines on the outskirts of the underground part of Engelberg. These roads are paved and well maintained, and they hold up well in the harsh winters the city is known for. Fresh water is brought to the city by way of many wells dug into the earth and underground aqueducts that redirect subterranean rivers to the city.

Guilds and Factions

There are many guilds that represent the various industries and craftsmen of Engelberg, but the Big Five are: mining, trade/transportation, forestry, agriculture, and artisans (representing carpenters, cartwrights, masons, smiths, etc.). Members of each of these five industries elect their Head Representative to sit on the city's council and advise the mayor. Many other guilds exist outside this pentad, though they have less social or political influence. In addition to the profession-based guilds, there are also a number of quasi-official neighborhood committees throughout the city that advocate for changes and policies in their specific neighborhoods.

Architecture

The architecture of Engelberg is just as varied as its populace, with buildings of all different sizes and materials. The goliaths tend to have towering two-story houses, which end up as tall as a three- or four-story human buildings. The gnomes and halflings tend to have smaller houses, sometimes building directly into the rock or hills. The basic style of most houses in the city could be described as European timber frame, with some that incorporate brick or stone to resemble Tudor or Jacobean styles. The dwarven district in the subterranean portion of the city hosts many stone buildings that more closely resemble brutalism than any typically "medieval" architectural style. The large temples, guild headquarters, and government buildings are all different styles depending on their use and who commissioned the building, as well as the various architects that have designed great buildings throughout the city's history.

Founding Date

2357 1A

Type

City

Population

16,248

Inhabitant Demonym

Engelbergers

Owning Organization

Oestbernia