Gorled

Gorled

City of Lords / City of Might

This city is the capital of the large feudal Gorled Kingdom. It sets on the Western shore of the channel, north of the Loudewater River, and is approximately 3.1 square miles in size. The city walls are made of field stone and mortar, they are 12’ wide and 20’ high, with 20’ x 20’ x 30’ high towers also of fieldstone. There are four gates in the walls: River Gate (near the river), West Gate (north of the river gate, in the same west wall), Old Gate (this is in a portion of the wall that separates the "old city" from the "new city", formerly known as the "north gate"), New Gate (north along the “new” portion of the same wall as the old West Gate and the River Gate).
The King’s castle is actually quite a distance away, to the north-west where it is much more defensible, deep within the Gorled Kingdom. But the majority of the political dealings of the kingdom take place within the walls of the Great Hall which sits here in the city. A large group of "Noble Houses" (Dukes, Earls, Barons, etc.) form a body called the “Noble Council” that has partial say in decisions of the King. Each of these Noble families also rules large tracts of land within the kingdom. The city itself and the lands within about 25 miles of it are ruled directly by the King and/or Alderman who is appointed by the King. The Noble Houses elect officials to various public offices with the King’s approval. Some of these more important offices include Finance Minister, Minister of the Army and Navy, Minister of Common Laws, Foreign Affairs Minister, Minister of Public Works, etc. This is also the location of the Grand Cathedral of the All Father (which is the headquarters of the Church of the All Father).
To raise funds a head tax is paid by all residents of the kingdom as follows: Slaves 1cp, Peasants 1cc, Freemen 1sp, Citizens (non-noble land holders) 1sc, Nobles 1gp. this is collected annually, as well as gate taxes (1cc for non-residents or 1cp for residents), tolls for use of some roads and bridges (variable costs), docking toll (1cp per pace of the length of the ship), and import tariffs (5% of the value of common items; 10% for luxury items; 15% for alcohol, gems, jewelry, and foreign coinage; 20% for weapons).
The present ruler of the Gorled Kinigdom is King Asland of the family Volgetz (Asland Volgetz), who is a weak minded and sickly man (as the rumors go). His wife is the daughter of a powerful Aquilai lord who has been unable to bear any children (numerous rumors abound as to why this is). As it has always been in Gorled, the king keeps several concubines, of which Asland has nine, all of whom have born him at least one son and all of whom aspire to having their sons sit upon the thrown in the coming years. It is very controversial among some societies, but in the Gorled Kingdom, rulership has always passed to the oldest (although in a few cases it has been the most capable) son of the King (and his wife the rightful Queen), but with the current situation it is difficult to say who the next ruler is likely to be. Corruption abounds within the Great Hall and the Royal Palace of Gorled, built upon the greed and ruthlessness of the powerful Nobles within the kingdom, which will likely play a part in deciding the outcome if (when) the King of Gorled passes.
Population: 176,650 (Old City: 117,900; New City: 42,960; Gate Towns: 15,790)