Ravniy (rahv-nee)
Ravniy is a typical small farming frontier town, tucked away in the northwest corner of The Dale. The town is situated on Lake Sildar, and fishing is one of the largest industries in the town. The town has been part of The Dale since the kingdom's founding, which happened to be less than a century after Ravniy was created. The town was not independent long enough to form a ton of history before it joined the kingdom, so this era of history is rarely mentioned. Eadinsk quickly annexed Ravniy and brought into the newly founded kingdom.
Ravniy has been sort of battleground throughout history, between the isolationist Dale and its expansionist neighbor to the northwest, Oestbernia. This has declined in recent centuries, after the watchtower fortress was built in the gap between the mountains and the lake. There is still a place for militarism in Ravniy, however, as there is near constant competition on the lake between the fishing fleets of the three nations that share its bounties. Adventurers and mercenaries find success here in the town for this reason, though very few end up retiring here.
Demographics
Ravniy is an extremely varied city, with a huge mix of races and cultures from all over the world. Some have had family in Ravniy for several generations, while others move to the town seeking opportunity or a new start. Humans make up about 30% of the population, which is the largest share of any one race. The top industries are fishing and agriculture, as well as the processing that comes along with both. There is also a fairly large industry of mercenaries and protectors for fishers and farming communities, which attracts people from across the world. Most people in Ravniy live relatively simple and modest lives, though there are a few wealthy families that tend to run everything in the town.
Government
On paper, Ravniy is run by a mayor with a small city council. In practice, however, the town is run as an oligarchy with the five noble families controlling all policy and decisions. They pass the mayoral role among themselves ceremoniously, though no one has more power than the others. The Queen in Eadinsk privately would admit that she despises this arrangement, but she allows it to persist for several reasons. The town pays its taxes every year on time, public dissent remains rare and quiet, and some suspect that the queen fears the combined power of the Five Families.
Defences
Ravniy does not have perimeter walls, though the remnants of its previous walls still exist in the central part of town. This ring of walls houses the town hall, the guard barracks, and the homes of the Five Families. Several of the town's main temples were originally in this central district, but the Five Families paid to construct new, nicer temples outside the inner walls so they could build new manors in place of the old temples. The dock area has a small armory that helps supply and outfit the mercenaries that accompany the fishing fleet.
Infrastructure
The main roads in Ravniy (through town and around the port facilities) are paved and well maintained. The rest of the roads are mostly dirt, with a few paved roads where neighborhoods have paid for their construction and maintenance. The port facilities are large enough to support the town's fishing fleet, though not terribly sophisticated compared to other ports in the world.
Architecture
The town of Ravniy has a very eastern European vibe, with the larger buildings (including the Five Families' homes) reminiscent of Gothic or Baroque style. Common houses tend to be made of wood, with wood shingles or thatched roofs.
Founding Date
1491 1A
Type
Town
Population
6,986
Inhabitant Demonym
Ravniyans
Owning Organization
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