Wesaweald
Wesaweald is a small lumber town located along the banks of Lake Mary in the Kingdom of Recfrere. A small amount of fishing takes place in the town's modest docks, but for the most part, these fishermen have been driven out of business by ambitious families from Cross. A ferry is based here that takes travelers to either Cross or Moultrie, although the second destination is far more popular. Those choosing to avoid the tolls of Cross in favor of the ones here will take the ferry rather than continuing along the road southeast. The city is therefore a popular stop for those who have spent a considerable amount of time on the Long Road, seeking a place to rest before reaching Moultrie to sell their goods.
Government
The town of Wesaweald is run by an elected official who is voted for by the entire town populace upon the death of the previous mayor. The mayor oversees affairs in the town directly through a bureaucratic administration that continues from mayor to mayor, often with appointed staffers from the ranks of the most capable and influential people in town. Judicial affairs are handled by the Assembly of Sheriffs and their representative, Salud Hela. Sheriffs in the town of Wesaweald are traditionally voted for strictly from among the guards, rather than the overall populace. This flies somewhat in the face of traditional of other Recfreran towns, but Wesaweald has long resisted any reform in this matter.
Defences
The town of Wesaweald has a small stone wall to protect the main center of the town and a lighter wooden palisade surrounding some of the main areas were the town's lumber jacks work their trade. The lumbermill itself is heavily fortified with a secondary stone wall around it, often patrolled by hired mercenaries to protect the town's main industry. Outside of the fortifications, the town is protected by forty full time guards employed by the Assembly of Sheriffs. In the case of a full blown enemy incursion against the town a militia of around seven hundred people could be mustered to defend the walls.
Industry & Trade
There are two primary industries in Wesaweald, the lumbermill and the ferry. The lumber is the whole reason for being for the town, as the lumbermill was established here before the town was even conceived of, by entrepreneurs from Moultrie. The lush forests surrounding Lake Mary are the source of the town's wealth, and act as the main export, even being refined into construction lumber within Wesaweald itself. The ferry on the other hand, is also independently operated, but heavily taxed and controlled by the town, offering speedy transport to those who do not wish to travel on foot, a popular option for those just arriving from the Long Road. The ferry also allows for some of the wealthy of Moultrie to purchase vacation homes along the lake here, away from the much busier hustle and bustle of the city.
Infrastructure
The primary infrastructure that has developed in Wesaweald over the centuries involve the extensive lumber mill complex that processes and builds lumber for other towns along Lake Mary and Lake Moultrie. Paved roads dot this large complex and the surrounding area, especially leading up to the docks, in order to allow for quick and efficient transit of these materials to the Moultrie Ferry. The ferry itself is a large vessel designed to carry entire caravans from the Long Road in a single load. There are three different ferry ships that are nearly in constant motion, traveling between the town and Moultrie. Throughout the rest of the town, most of the roads are unpaved, but past mayors have afforded the funds needed to keep lit oil lamps providing lights on the streets and basic trash and sanitation service.
Assets
Wesaweald has no official marketplace or trading center, and most commerce within the town is done at a handful of independently owned stores and shops. Any caravan that chooses to stop and trade in Wesaweald must do so outside of the walls, setting up camps or staying at the local inn. Outside of these shops, the greatest asset of the town is the ferry that provides transportation to Moultrie. The speedy transport of both lumber and trade caravans is perhaps the most valuable ability of the town, helping to bypass the rather isolationist people of Cross and their punishing taxes of caravans that camp within their walls.
Guilds and Factions
The primary two forces that drive the commerce and politics of Wesaweald are the Moultrians and the Intowners. The Moultrians are those who have temporary or permanent homes located in Wesaweald, while maintaining the source of their wealth and income in the city of Moultrie. They are mostly proponents of preserving the status quo in Wesaweald, to protect their investments and the lumber that provides them with construction materials at home. The Intowners on the other hand are mostly organized by those who operate the ferry and deal with the traders and merchants from the Long Road. They have support from the dwarves who have settled in the town, and call for closer ties with the dwarven communities and stronger working class protections.
Founding Date
441 AF
Type
Town
Population
7,400
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Wesawealder
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments