Argos

"There are few places that can be considered civilized in the chilling cold of the frozen wasteland that covers the North of Eregost. The free city-state of Argos is one of these locations. Built on the peak of Mount Kioni, Argos is a beautiful city with a thriving culture, ruled by a champion of a Goddess." ~Ariston Unitis, Head Anthropologist of the Authenian Scientific Committee.

Demographics

Working class citizens of Argos typically work as hunters, stone masons, smiths, miners and lumberjacks. Those in the working class typically live in apartment complexes, and spend their money on essentials, such as food and coal, as well as affordable luxuries such as wine and fur coats.
Middle class citizens of Argos find work in less physically demanding areas. Scholars, winemakers, merchants, alchemists and accountants. They tend to live in medium sized houses.
Upper class citizens of Argos rarely work themselves, but instead own thriving businesses and employ others. They are landlords, founders of accounting firms and investors in mines and timber companies.
In terms of races, the majority are human, elves and dwarves. Very few members of shorter races make their homes in Argos, due to the intense cold. Wood elves are the most common race found in Argos.

Government

Argos is ruled by King Diomedes, the Champion of Athena. He is known for his logical and calculating thought process and his fair nature. While not overly emotional or passionate, he stays true to himself and cannot be bribed or threatened.
The taxes in Argos depend on economic class, with the upper class paying the most tax and the working class paying the least. Those in extreme poverty do not pay tax at all and instead are assisted financially by the government.
In terms of law, your actions are not illegal unless they cause harm. Blasphemy is not a crime, nor is freedom of speech. Sentences for crimes are often short, but the dungeon is so cold that prisoners barely cling to life by the time they are released.

Defences

The guards of Argos are skilled with their spears and shields, which they use to deal with their opponents while putting themselves in as little danger as possible. Many of these guards are devoted followers of Athena, and can call on small amounts of divine power in order to assist them in combat.
The freezing cold of Mount Kioni ensures that no army could effectively march on Argos and hope to succeed. The cold can kill those who are ill prepared in less than ten minutes.
There are catapults mounted on the walls of the city, which launch balls of stone coated in a thick layer of ice.
As the city is held highly by Athena, it would be wise for those who wish to invade it to remember that you are in opposition to the Goddess of Battle Tactics herself. It is rare to find good fortune in battle when you are fighting against a war goddess.

Guilds and Factions

The Adamant Sickle trading company has made multiple investments in Argos, particularly in the coal mine. They have funded several passageways within the mine which employ hundreds of workers. The Adamant Sickle is also responsible for supplying the city with grains and vegetables that cannot be grown in the blistering cold of Mount Kioni.
The Church of Athena has its largest temple within the city of Argos. It is said that the city itself is considered holy to Athena, due to the fact that it is ruled by her champion. Most within the city worship Athena to some degree, and many devoted followers of Athena visit the city every year.

Architecture

The walls of Argos are made of cobblestone, with the cracks filled in with solid ice. The roads are paved in a similar way, and are salted to prevent them from freezing over. Houses are made from a mixture cobblestone and wood, with the insides plastered in order to keep the cold out.
The royal tower of Argos, is made of a form of enchanted ice, and slowly gets narrower the higher up it goes, and the top is a razor sharp point as small as a needle. This enchanted ice never melts, and does not cause extreme cold on the inside of the tower.

Geography

The free city-state of Agros sits atop of Mount Kioni, in the northeast of Eregost. The city looks stunning, perched on top of the mountain, with a sharp tower of ice highlighting the extreme cold that those within the city have endured and gotten used to over generations.

Natural Resources

Within Mount Kioni lies large deposits of coal. Miners collect this coal, which is used to combat the intense colds and sold to the Authenian Republic at a reasonable price.
There is a large amount of trees that grow in the frozen wastes of the north, and Argostians take advantage of this. They can harvest large amounts of timber and apples annually, giving them the resources to build structures. The apples they harvest are often used to create cider.
Reindeer can be found in huge herds around Mount Kioni. They are regularly hunted for their meat, pelts and even their antlers. A subspecies of reindeer have also been bred to serve as mounts, and to be used to produce milk.

Natural Dangers

Wolf packs are commonly found on Mount Kioni, and often finish off mortals who are beginning to slow in the cold. These wolves have thick, white coats of fur, which act as both great insulators and and excellent camouflage. These wolves are known for their stunning blue eyes and their incredible speed.
Several white dragons have lairs in the area surrounding area of Mount Kioni, and are more than willing to kill any mortals they come across. These white dragons hardly make contact with the civilized world, but will freeze anyone that tries to make contract with them. It is said that some of the worst blizzards in the area happen when white dragons are angered.

Type

City

Population

12,000

Owner/Ruler

Diomedes