Starýhrad
Starýhrad is the iron heart of Teryk, a district where stone and law intertwine so tightly that even the cobbles seem to march in order. From its commanding hilltop citadel, the banners of Karrnath and the Filipek family ripple in the wind, a constant reminder that this is the seat of power and judgment. The clang of the watchman’s boots echoes through its broad avenues, where cloaked nobles sweep past merchants hawking ledgers, contracts, and imported luxuries. At night, the lanterns burn steadily in iron sconces, casting long shadows across the fortress walls, as if to whisper that while other districts may bustle or brawl, Starýhrad rules.
Demographics
Government
Starýhrad serves as the administrative core of Teryk. From the district’s council hall, Județ Dorin Varga presides over law and judgment, supported by a cadre of legal clerks and bailiffs. The noble house of Bartek holds the representative seat for this district, but the influence of other families is keenly felt, each vying for prominence in council debates. Law is strict and militarily enforced, with patrols of the city watch maintaining order. Taxation is heaviest here, funding not only civic maintenance but also the upkeep of Teryk’s courts and garrison.
Defences
Starýhrad is heavily defended, with walls of dressed stone rising higher than in any other district. The citadel itself is built on an elevated spur of bedrock, accessible only by a fortified gate and drawbridge. Watchtowers line the perimeter, equipped with signaling lanterns to alert other districts in case of siege. Ballistae and heavy crossbows are stored in the armory, and the district militia is drilled more frequently here than elsewhere. Should Teryk come under attack, Starýhrad would be the final redoubt.
Industry & Trade
Though not a center of heavy industry, Starýhrad thrives on administration, governance, and high-value trade. Contracts, deeds, and shipping rights are written and signed here, and merchant guilds funnel wealth through its courts. Skilled artisans—goldsmiths, scribes, engravers—contribute to the district’s prosperity, while its markets distribute imported luxury goods. Exports include fine wines from the Lashbend Vintners and dyed cloth from Varga workshops.
Infrastructure
The district is built around the fortress-like Starýhrad Citadel, an ancient keep now serving as the seat of governance and the headquarters of the town guard. Wide, cobbled avenues radiate outward toward markets and the lightning rail station, ensuring the constant flow of goods and messengers. Starýhrad is the best-serviced part of Teryk: paved streets, subterranean drainage channels, public wells, and even a small aqueduct that carries mountain spring water into the district. A clocktower overlooking the council square remains the district’s most prominent civic landmark.
Assets
Here are concentrated Teryk’s most valuable holdings: the state armory, treasury vaults, and record archives. Noble houses maintain private wine cellars, art collections, and carefully guarded reliquaries of heirlooms. Markets bustle with imported goods—fabrics from Karrlakton, spices from Zilargo, and metals from the Mror Holds. Wealth flows in and out constantly, secured by guild-hired guards and the heavily fortified watch stations.
Guilds and Factions
The Scribers’ Guild, Merchant’s Consortium, and the Guild of Barristers dominate Starýhrad, while the constabulary’s union exerts influence through sheer presence. Noble factions—particularly the Vargas and Filipeks—vie for prominence. Quietly, agents of House Orien maintain strong influence, ensuring favorable treatment for the lightning rail station and caravan operations. Tensions simmer between traditionalists who resist outside houses and pragmatists who welcome Orien coin.
History
Starýhrad is the oldest part of Teryk, its citadel predating the modern town. Originally a hillfort built to secure the Lash River crossing, it grew into the seat of the Bartek family and later became the administrative core when Teryk expanded into a trade hub. Its stones still bear scars from the Last War, when siege engines battered its walls.
Points of interest
The Starýhrad Citadel dominates the skyline, while the Council Square hosts both official ceremonies and public markets. The Clocktower of Teryk serves as both landmark and timekeeper, its chimes marking the rhythm of civic life. The Shrine of the Ninefold stands as the most ornate temple in the district, its stained glass depicting the Sovereign Host’s favor upon Karrnath.
Tourism
Visitors are drawn to Starýhrad’s citadel and courtly halls, often seeking audiences, patronage, or the spectacle of public trials. Nobles from abroad stay at the Argent Stag Inn, while wealthier merchants lodge in family-owned guesthouses. Pilgrims come to visit the Shrine of the Ninefold Host, while curious travelers climb the clocktower for sweeping views of the Lash River valley.
Architecture
Starýhrad’s architecture is imposing and martial, with gray limestone walls, steep slate roofs, and narrow windows. Nobles’ manors are fortified residences with high gates and carved heraldry above their doors. Public buildings emphasize stone buttresses, arched entrances, and towers that double as watchposts. Ornamental ironwork—balconies, gates, and lamp-posts—adds an austere flourish.
Businesses
- Atelier Radek (artist studio)
- Filipek & Brandt Clothiers (tailor)
- Golden Awl (cobbler)
- Golden Crust (bakery)
- Keywright’s Craft (locksmith)
- Mila’s Frescoes (artist studio)
- Razska Shoes (cobbler)
- Stahl’s Arms (armor & weapon smith)
- Stained Glass of the Lash (artist studio)
- Steam of the Spires (bathhouse)
- The Argent Stag (tavern)
- The Black Quill (bookseller)
- The Cleaver’s Pride (butcher)
- The Filipek Reading Room (library)
- The Golden Thread (tailor)
- The Lashbend Joinery (carpenter)
- The Lashbend Vintners (winery)
- The Velvet Lantern (brothel)
- Velvet Strap (cobbler)