Oakheart, The City of the Tree

Summary

Deep in the Orkath forest grows a massive tree. Under its branches lies the city of Oakheart. Originally founded as a small village, it has grown over time and has become a large city and the capital of Mareth.

Government

Originally, when it was still a village, it was ruled by a village council. It had members from each of the families in the village. As the community expanded, however, that became untenable. At one point, the council decided that the current members would keep their place in the council, but new families would not get a place on the council. The original families are still a driving force in the community, promoting the worship of Arianrhod, the Earth Mother among other things.

History

Long ago, a group of lumberjacks found a great tree, deep in the Orkath forest. Struck by its majesty, they decided to resettle themselves and their families beneath its protective canopy. They flourished. Despite the relatively small amount of sunlight, the crops they planted near the tree grew strong and fast. Instead of a singled harvest a year, they could do half a dozen. The young born in the village all seemed almost unnaturally healthy as well.
Eventually, rumours spread about their small village, stories about impossible harvests and people who never got sick. People started to pilgrimage to the village, and a fair number wanted to settle in the village. Over time, the village grew, eventually into a city. The farmland however, didn't grow at the same rate. The farmlands are still able to sustain the city, though it won't handle much more.

Type

Capital

Location under

Mareth