Mont Brandis (mohn brahn-dee)
The capital and only major population center of the once-great kingdom of Brandis, this city sits in southeastern Ayndrinor, at the foot of the Hills of Morgran. It occupies the area where the land begins to narrow into the isthmus that separates the Bay of Brandis and the Gulf of Viskii.
Historically, the kingdom of Brandis held territory as far afield as present-day Velchester and Crowsbane, but that was slowly whittled away over time in wars with the neighboring kingdoms. Today, as part of the agreement and organization of the Everyn Federation, the province of Brandis encompasses only the city of Mont Brandis and vast farmlands and wetlands of southeastern Ayndrinor.
Despite the kingdom's wars and woes over the years, Mont Brandis itself has not been threatened by attack for several centuries. The last major army to lay siege to the city was from the neighboring nation of Wessil in 1199 2A. Other bands of mercenaries or smaller units have attacked the city's walls since then, and there have been many plots to kidnap or assassinate the king - but no major sieges or assaults.
Demographics
The population of Mont Brandis is largely human and dwarf, though it is a cosmopolitan city with all manner of other peoples represented. The dwarves were not as present in the city until about 500 years ago; as part of a major modernization and expansion project, the dwarves dug a tunnel through the mountains to connect Gel Morgran with Mont Brandis. In the wake of this tunnel construction, merchants and traders frequently passed between the cities, and many set up permanent residences in Mont Brandis.
The city has a variety of industries, but by far the largest is trade and goods management. Goods passing between Gel Morgran and the rest of the Everyn Federation are a large part, but also many goods from the western parts of the world use the city's canals to reach Golgottl or other eastern locations. These trade and warehouse workers have organized into an effective guild that unofficially runs the city and ensures decent pay for everyone - arguably at the expense of the mercantile companies and aristocratic business owners.
Government
In times past, Mont Brandis had a mayor and council to run the city separate from the kingdom's king/queen, but with the loss of territory in the last several centuries these roles have morphed into one. The elected monarch is in charge of both the city and the sprawling farmlands that make up the extent of the kingdom-turned-province today. They are assisted by a council of appointed advisors who do most of the administrative tasks, while the monarch makes all final decisions on laws and policies. Many of these councilors are elected by the people, but a few are members of the monarch's family.
Elections for the monarch occur every ten years on the decade, while elections for the councilor positions are annual. Some of these are tied to guild membership, while others are based on location in the city. It is not uncommon for some citizens to cast two separate votes for council members. The council - without direct action from the monarch - are responsible for appointing and confirming judges for the various courts around the city, though vacancies are somewhat rare. At this time, there are no term limits on either the monarch or the elected councilors; any elected members can serve for life if they keep getting reelected.
In the last century, the representatives of the Trade Workers Guild has seen their power increase drastically, due to their negotiated contracts between the growing trade labor force and the wealthy business owners. This has made the successive guild leaders incredibly popular with the people, though hated by the aristocrats and business owners. It is widely believed that the Trade Workers council member is unofficially the one who runs the city - though the implications of and reactions to that are vastly different depending on which segment of the population one asks.
The exact details of how much influence the Everyn Federation has over the provincial/city government are still being worked out. Many Brandisians are loathe to see their province lose any sovereignty, and the city's government has implied they can affect trade if the Federation tries to impose too much outside-rule on the area.
Defences
Like most towns and cities in previous eras, Mont Brandis once featured strong perimeter walls that protected the city from all manner of attack and siege. When the Everyn War reached its peak, it was clear that Mont Brandis's leaders were trying to ally with the Dumein Dominion amicably, and they would be spared a military assault. In the last two years, since the Federation became official, many builders have begun dismantling the exterior wall of Mont Brandis, using it for building materials and clearing the land for more housing. There are still guard towers spread around the city's northwestern side - though these have transformed into free-standing Watch garrisons instead of fortified wall fixtures.
Without a doubt, the most heavily defended parts of the city - both historically but increasingly in recent years - are the two ports on the west and east of the city. Among the warehouses, salty taverns, and fishmonger stalls stand two dozen defensive towers - twelve at each port side. These towers are each topped by a long-range arcane ballista - recent additions thanks to the vast wealth of the Everyn Federation. These ballistae keep pirates and other aggressive ships at bay, protecting the trading ships that flock to and from Mont Brandis by the scores each day.
Infrastructure
Mont Brandis has always been known as a valuable port, but its specific value has only increased over time. Since the dwarven trade road opened up about 500 years ago, Mont Brandis has become a hub of traded goods. Ships and caravans connect all corners of the world in the city, with goods from one region passing through town to vehicles bound for other parts of the world.
As a result of this prosperity and trade success, all roads in the city are paved and maintained well. Recent decades have even seen the installation of several rail lines that allow goods to pass more easily between ports or warehouses. Arguably the most impressive feat of the city's trade industry is its system of canals and locks that allow ships to pass from the Gulf of Viskii to the Bay of Brandis if they are not loading or unloading goods in the city. Apart from the canals, the port facilities in Mont Brandis are among the largest and best in the world.
With the canal system and other trade routes through the city, Mont Brandis has had to get creative with their bridges for the people to use. Several are draw bridges that can be raised when a ship needs to pass, but the three highest-traffic areas feature permanent short-distance portals that connect the two sides of the road. These portals only support people and small hand-carts to pass, so larger carts have to use the larger roads - reducing traffic for pedestrians at least a little.
Districts
The canals and rail lines serve as boundaries for the city's districts, which are named after a specific feature of each ward. Some examples are: the Fountain Ward, named for the ornate fountain that sits in the central public courtyard of the district; the Renaud District, named for the prominent statue of an influential Queen whose surname was Renaud; and the Estate Ward, where the elected monarch's estate is located.
Points of interest
Due to the mild climate and relative wealth of the city, all parks in the city are beautifully green and feature some of the most intricate fountains, gardens, lakes, or other attractions of any parks in the world. These are usually considered the "Gems of Brandis", though there is one that stands above the rest. The Estate Garden is widely heralded as the best garden in the entire world. A relic of past spendthrift monarchs, the grounds of the monarch's estate were turned into a public park when the city and kingdom's governments consolidated. Now, people from all over the world can visit the massive 800-acre park and its many distinct features such as the hedge maze, the tulip fields, and the singing fountain.
Tourism
Most travel to and through Mont Brandis is for trade, but those who have a day or more stopover try to get around and see the sights. There are also a few thousand travelers annually who come to the city specifically to see the various public parks and gardens that the city is famous for.
Architecture
For all intents and purposes, the architecture and culture of Mont Brandis is best compared to France - and specifically Paris - during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, though a few large public buildings may even be described as Beaux-Arts. The slate roofs adorning houses and apartment blocks are a feature of this city, and most roofs are the same color. The streets are wide and feature trees and greenery wherever possible.
Founding Date
2 2A
Alternative Name(s)
Garden City (Ville des Jardins)
Type
City
Population
18,304
Inhabitant Demonym
Brandisians (Brandisiennes)
Owning Organization
Comments