Danhabn
Danhabn (Forest Haven) is the largest city and capital of Danyund. Lying on the shores of a rocky bay of the North Sea (Nod Sei) and surrounded by thick forests of tall evergreen trees, Danhabn is a beautiful city, known for the architecture of its buildings and the shipyards that surround the port.
Demographics
Danhabn is a Human city. There are some Dwarvirim and Elvirim that live in the surrounding region. The people of Danhabn (and all of the people of Danyund) are known for their striking, thick blond hair (though many have brown, black, and even some red hair). Most are relatively tall and strong, a result of growing up in an environment with cold and harsh weather.
Government
The government of Danyund is a hereditary monarchy. The king is Albert Mortensen. His queen is Ingrid Mortensen. The five members of the King's Council run the government of Danyund, which is comprised of the ministries of the Treasury, Military, Police and Rangers, Welfare of Citizens, and Public and Royal Works.
The city of Danhabn is directly governed by King Albert and the King's Council. There is no separate city government.
Defences
Other than Danhabn Castle, the city of Danhabn has no defenses. It is not walled. The people of Danyund have suppressed all hostile Orkrim tribes in the area, and Dwarvirim and Elvirim living in the area are generally friendly. Occasionally, a nearby farm is raided by Derkorim from the Great Western Mountains, but they generally avoid the more heavily populated central part of Danhabn, where they might face siginficant opposition and danger from Human warriors and Magi.
Industry & Trade
The major industries of Danhabn are fishing, shipbuilding, logging, and mining. The North Sea (Nod Sei) is teeming with fish. The fishing boats produced by the shipwrights of Danyund are sturdy and nearly unsinkable, allowing the fishermen of Danhabn to bring home tons of fish and seafood, providing the people of Danhabn with ample food. The vast forests of Danyund, with enormous evergreen and deciduous hardwood trees are used to build nearly everything, from small utensils to sailing ships.
The hills to the south of Danhabn are mined for coal to provide fuel for stoves and for smelting metal ore taken from the mountains east of Danhabn. Centuries ago, the Dwarvirim taught the people of Danyund where and how to extract metal ores and precious gemstones from deep mountain mines. The smiths and jewelers of Danyund are highly regarded throughout Derkomai; Danyund silversmiths produce exquisite, highly polished silver jewelry that they treat with methods to prevent tarnishing. Caravans from Danyund that trade in metal and jewelry are welcomed wherever they call, but the wealth in precious metals, jewels, and jewelry also makes them prime targets for bandits.
Infrastructure
Though noted for beautiful architecture, Danhabn is relatively poor in comparison to the capital cities of larger countries, like Sendoshi and Daskar, and the infrastructure reflects that. Few buildings are made of stone; most are wood with cedar shingle roofs. The city is not walled.
Major roads are mostly made of thick layers of crushed gravel and coarse, packed sand into which is poured a mixture of burned and ground limestone and certain types of ground pumice, the materials and proportions of which are known only to the roadbuilders of Danhabn. When this mixture is wetted, it hardens to form a durable surface almost like concrete. So, even though Danhabn is not as large as some other capital cities, it has perhaps the best roads.
Districts
Danhabn Castle is on a rocky island separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. Across from Danhabn Castle is the Royal Park and the Market. Surrounding the Market is residential Danhabn. South and west of the Forest River are Fishermen's Village and the Shipyards. East of residential Danhabn and outside of Fishermen's Village and the Shipyards are farms and small villages,
Guilds and Factions
The Shipwright's Guild and the Stoneworker's and Pavers Guild have significant influence in Danhabn.
Architecture
Danhabn is noted for it's beautiful architecture. Most buildings are constructed of wood, with a few, like the royal residence at Danhabn Castle, constructed of cut and fitted stone. The wooden buildings are often elaboarately carved, decorated, and painted with animals, dragons, imaginary beings, and stunning scenes. The roofs of most buildings are made of cedar shingles that are painted with green copper paint, which not only preserves them, but also is also strikingly beautiful.
Geography
The city lies on a fairly large, but relatively shallow, sandy, and muddy bay of the North Sea (Nod Sei) formed where the Danhabn River flows into it. The river estuary is a prime spawning ground for fish of many species, and the sandy and muddy shoreline is teeming with shellfish, molluscs, crabs, and other sea life. The fish and shellfish are harvested by the people of Danhabn, and as a result, not only is Danhabn known for beautiful architecture, it is also known for having delicious food at its pubs and inns.
East of Danhabn rise the enormous mountains of the Great Western Mountains, some reaching as high as 28,000 feet (8500 meters).
Climate
Danhabn, (and all of Danyund) lying on the coast of the North Sea and at the foot of the Great Western Mountains, is generally cold and wet. Ocean air laden with moisture cools as it rises into the mountains, so for much of the year, it rains often, and thick fogs and mists roll in from the ocean. However, the short summers and early fall are often beautiful, sunny and relatively warm. The rain and cool weather are conducive to the growth of forests of enormous evergreen trees, some reaching as tall as 300 feet (over 90 meters), with trunks over 30 feet (around 10 meters) in diameter. Scattered among the evergreens, in places where the weather is somewhat drier, are forests of alder and oak trees.
Natural Resources
The thick forests around Danhabn produce among the highest quality lumber in all of Derkomai, and the shipwrights of Danhabn use it to build fishing boats and sailing ships that are incredibly seaworthy. The mountains to the south and east of Danhabn are mined for copper, iron, and other metals, as well as some gemstones.
Danhabn Houses by Peter Nelson (Zero Sum Games)
Houses on the Danhabn Shoreline
Danhabn (click for map)
King Albert Mortensen of Danyund by Peter Nelson (Zero Sum Games)
Albert Mortensen, king of Danyund
Alternative Name(s)
Forest Haven
Population
50000
Related Ethnicities
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
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Related Tradition (Primary)
Characters in Location
I think I'd like to go eat there.
Haha! Well, if you ever get to visit the Pacific Northwest, you might get some of the experience. If you mixed ancient Copenhagen with old Seattle, you'd have something like Danhabn. Thanks for reading and commenting!