Lesgorod (lez-gor-odd)
Lesgorod is a city in the northeast part of The Dale, nestled in the foothills of the Backbone Spires and very close to the edge of the Sinsear Forest. This geographic location makes Lesgorod one of the most well-endowed cities in the world in terms of a variety of natural resources at its disposal. In addition to timber from the forest and ores and gems from mines in the mountains, the plains to the west of the city are fertile and provide crops and livestock grazing. These features have always been present, and it is a small wonder to many historians that Lesgorod let itself be lured into a subservient role to nearby and once-competitor Eadinsk.
Like Eadinsk and much of the rest of The Dale, there was never an abundance of arcana or power concentrated in Lesgorod in the First Age, and the city was spared the fate of others in The Smiting. Lesgorod had many citizens individually affected, however, as many of the advanced city-states had purchased ores and gems from Lesgorod, and those Lesgoroders with knowledge of the supercities found themselves suddenly struck dumb and unable to remember many details of their lives. By this point, Lesgorod had been joined in a united kingdom with other neighboring city-states for almost 1500 years.
Since the dawning of the Second Age, Lesgorod has experienced steady growth and prosperity, both fueled by the abundance of natural resources and work opportunities harvesting these various products. Recent years have seen the city's population begin to rival that of its capital Eadinsk, which has spawned small political factions that push to move the capital to Lesgorod or for Lesgorod to declare independence from the rest of The Dale entirely. These factions are spurred on by Lesgorod's different approach to cultural relations and economic determination, which do not conform to the traditions in the rest of the kingdom - or to anywhere else in Ayndrinor for that matter. This undercurrent of revolution and change is something the authorities are keeping an eye on and one factor that could seriously impact the city and the kingdom in the near future.
Demographics
Lesgorod is divided almost evenly among elves, humans, dwarves, and halflings - with each culture making up about 24% of the city's population and generally segregated into different sectors and industries. The elves make up the majority of the foresters, loggers, and hunters. The dwarves bring their cultural and long historical expertise in mining to the caves and tunnels underneath the mountains. Halflings plow the fields, harvest the crops, and turn the raw produce into food and drink. Humans are interspersed throughout these other industries and fill the various cracks between them such as goods transportation, and tavern keeping. Despite this division of cultures, the city has a very cordial and friendly relationship between the four main races here. There is no hostility or animosity felt toward the other races and their industry, as everyone is working to make the city prosper and thrive.
There are really no noble families in Lesgorord, as all resources and geographic features are publicly owned and shared, and the independent businesses such as taverns do not produce enough wealth for their owners to be considered nobility. The shared nature of the city's products and profits has led to an average lifestyle in the city that is quite comfortable compared to most other cities and what might objectively be described as solidly middle class. This lifestyle is maintained by closely monitoring the population of the city and not letting it much exceed the number of available jobs - thereby limiting competition for jobs and ensuring that all those who are employed receive more than adequate compensation for their work. The city frequently expels travelers or those who come from other cities in the kingdom, sending them back to Eadinsk to find work there.
Government
The city is governed by a Council of Five, made up of influential members of each of the most populous races (humans, halflings, elves, dwarves) plus one at-large member that can come from any background or subculture within the city and usually represents a variety of workers and tradesmen. The council has most of the power to run the city in its day-to-day affairs, but they still answer to the Queen in Eadinsk and must have all major policy changes signed off by the monarch. This council has several advisors that monitor the various industries and departments in the city.
Defences
Lesgorod is well defended, with active troops monitoring both the forest and the mine passages for signs of invasion or monstrous incursions. Dubbed the Tree Sentries and the Cave Guardians respectively, these battalions stay well-trained and always vigilant in their areas. Each has a main keep with a barracks, smithy, armory, and training ground. The city's Watch also has several outposts and barracks around the city to aid with law enforcement.
Infrastructure
All roads in the city are paved, including those leading to the main farms off the trade road and those leading to the forest. The mine tunnels have a series of cart tracks running through them, allowing for easier transportation of heavy ores and rocks. There are several watermills in the eastern part of the city where the Raisa River emerges from its mountain origins; these mills help with a variety of tasks from processing grain to cutting up the lumber from the forest.
Architecture
Lesgorod's architecture is arguably the most advanced in the world. Due to its relatively high average lifestyle, even a sewer worker is able to afford a mutli-bedroom house for their family. In both size and exterior materials, Lesgorod resembles a modern real-life suburb - with most houses made of bricks or worked dark stone from the mines and the interior rooms sprawled horizontally rather than stacked vertically in several stories. The central government buildings and main temples are neoclassical in build, though very lightly adorned or decorated, and are built from the dark stone pulled from the mines of the city.
Founding Date
534 1A
Type
City
Population
12,543
Inhabitant Demonym
Lesgoroders
Owning Organization
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