Rosariad
When I came to the city of Rosariad, the rain began to soften, letting columns of light in through the clouds. I observed the city and its environs from the crest of a hill.
If one were to stand on the hill that I stood on, in the moments after a rain, they too would see the shimmering, golden waves of dew-flecked grain, would hear the distant cries of chickens and goats, would smell the thick musk of the cattle and the horses riding to and from the western gate...
—Artemin, The Longest Journey
Rosariad is the capital and most populous city in the kingdom of Ridaine. Situated along the Yarrow River, Rosariad is a hub of trade for many of the people living in northern Cuendar. Ranchers from Pact often pass through Rosariad to trade hides, meat, and milk; and several mining companies keep their headquarters in the city. On the outskirts of Rosariad, farmers employed by various local lords grow grow barley, hay, and sugarcane.
Etymology
Rosariad is named for the Delfien I, the so-called "Duke of Roses," Delfien was a Mariscine nobleman who received the land surrounding the modern-day settlement as a gift from the First Emperor. Why Delfien was called the Duke of Roses is a unknown, but it is speculated that he may have been the First Emperor's secret lover.
Demographics
Because of its distance from the former imperial core and its proximity to both the Goblin Spires and the Fae Weald, Rosariad's population is diverse. Walking down the streets, one may see elves, goblins, and other fae creatures in addition to humans. One may, on the rare occaision, even see a goblin market, but such sightings are generally dismissed as rumors. Orcs somtimes visit Rosariad for trade or leisure, but they rarely settle.
Rosariad's human population is also diverse. Most of the humans of Rosariad are Mescáni, but there are also large minority Cuendish and Mariscine enclaves. Consequently, Trade Common, Old Cuendish, and Mariscine are the most common languages spoken in Rosariad.
Locations of Interest
- Rose Square, the central district of the city where the majority of social and mercantile activity takes place. Houses a temple to Mil Táran and the central office of the Company of the Rose.
- Beggar's Road, a poor residential district located along the interior of the city's western wall. Houses a temple to the Beggar King.
- The Docks, where boats travelling to and from Rosariad by way of the Yarrow River load and unload their wares.
- Fort Daring, where the bulk of Ridaine's standing army lives, works, and trains during peacetime.
- Journeyman's Alley, where many of Rosariad's middle-class residents live, including merchants and craftsmen.
- South Gate, a residential district located along the interior of the city's southern wall. Many lords keep second homes here, in case their manors are attacked.
- The Outskirts, here most lords keep their manors and where most of the city's agricultural activity takes place.
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