Mardwynn's Gauntlet

North of Mardwynn’s Shame, the Gauntlet is the proving ground for almost all paladins. Shrines to all the deities known on Eternarii can be found within the Gauntlet’s walls. While many towns have stood on this site, it is constantly being rebuilt. In times past the Gauntlet has been little more than a collection of tents and camps. Legend has it that the land on which the town stands was the site where the Dwarven Paladin Mardwynn dedicated her service to the protection of others to her deity. This made Mardwynn the first Paladin of Eternarii.
To this day, would-be paladins set out for Mardwynn's Gauntlet to swear their Oaths in what is considered the most holy of all sites. Indeed many paladin and clerical orders have chosen to headquarter themselves within the Gauntlet's walls.

Demographics

As a centre of worship for followers of every known religion, the town is a truly multi-cultural area. Species of all types and economic status make their way here. For those that call the Gauntlet home, there are four professions to choose from: Defender, Trader, Priest, and Evangelist. There are seven great mansions within the Gauntlet's walls that were given permission to be built after vast sums of wealth were donated to the cause of maintaining the various shrines and temples.

Government

The Conclave are responsible for all decrees made affecting the Gauntlet. The decrees are divided into three categories.
Daily Life

1. All individuals have the right to worship the deity of their choosing according to the dictates of their faith.
2. Interference with an individual's worship is to be punished with exile.
3. Dictates of faith requiring the murder or injury of another individual must not be met within the auspices of the Gauntlet.
4. Dictates of faith requiring the sacrifice of sentient species require the sacrificial individual to decree their prior consent to a member of the Conclave.
5. Visitors to the Gauntlet will be welcome within the Gauntlet
6. Those who cannot afford board, will be offered space to rest within the boarding house.
7. All visitors will be required to pay a tithe directly to the temple or shrine of their choice, or the guardhouse who will collect tithe on behalf of the Conclave.
8. Any individual may become a resident of the Gauntlet through official employment and board.
9. Any individual may become a resident of the Gauntlet by possession of a deed to a residential structure.
10. Deed to residences must be verified and approved by the Conclave and registered with the Gauntlet guards.
11. Violence against individual or property shall result in exile unless committed in defence of one's own possessions or property.

Defence & Diplomacy

1. The Gauntlet maintains a town guard for the purposes of defence only.
2. Gauntlet Guards will be required to swear an Oath of Political Neutrality and Defence of Religious Freedom before being allowed to serve in defence.
3. No member of the Conclave, or Gauntlet Guards shall display political affiliations beyond the Gauntlet.
4. Any Guardsperson or Conclave member found to be displaying political bias shall be removed from position.
5. Half of all tithe collected will be expended on the defence of the Gauntlet and its religious freedoms.

Economy Tithe collected from visitors shall be as follows:

• 1% of total coin carried if <5000cp/500sp/50gp
• 10% of total coin carried if </2500sp/250gp
• 25% of total coin carried if <500gp
• 37.5% of total coin carried if <1000gp
• 50% of total coin carried if <2500gp

Tithe collected from residents shall be as follows

• Minimum of 400cp per year if daily expenses >2sp
• Minimum of 200sp per year if daily expenses >1gp
• Minimum of 375sp per year if daily expenses >2gp
• Minimum of 125gp per year if daily expenses >4gp
• Minimum of 500gp per year if daily expenses >10gp

1. Tithe may be made in equivalent goods (such as grains or meads).
2. Tithes should be made upon arrival for visitors.
3. Tithes should be made annually in advance for residents.
4. Any individual found not to be paying tithe shall forfeit all goods in their personal possession.
5. All trade shall be free of taxation.

Defences

A fifteen-foot thick and fifty-foot high curtain wall surrounds the settlement, which is itself surrounded by a deep moat. The wall has eleven towers of eighty-foot providing overwatch for the lands surrounding the Gauntlet. The massive gatehouse provides board and defence for the entrance of the Gauntlet.

Industry & Trade

As a place of religious worship and pilgrimages the Gauntlet makes continues to operate through its neutrality and the collecting of tithes. The expansive farm and fisheries surrounding the area provide more than enough food for its inhabitants.

Infrastructure

For the entire mile radius around the town fields, grazing land and orchards have been set aside to feed the populous. 
Immediately surrounding the walls of the Gauntlet is a maintained river where several fisheries and fish nurseries have been set up.

Assets

Religious Sites Temple of Aocdur; Temple of Caravine; Temple of Chenical; Temple of Provuntul; Temple of Wastru; Various smaller temples to minor deities; Shrines to minor figures carved into the outer wall of the Gauntlet.
Public Services Guardhouse, Wall, Guard Towers and Gate; Conclave Chambers & Library; Boarding Houses & Dole House; Tithe Barn; Auditorium; Town Hall;
Artisans Blacksmith - Tools & Materials; Mason - Religious Icons & Buildings; Carpenter - Furniture, Roofing & Repairs; Henrietta's Herbs - Medicine & Ritual/Spell Components;
Traders & Shops Jeweller - Ordained Adornments, Rings & Gems; Runekeeper - Conjurer's Curios. limited magic items and rare tomes; Copperland - Trinkets and 'useful' items; Divine Defense - Textiles, skins, clothing and limited tailoring services; Pilgrim's Rest - The tavern and coaching house run by Dingle.
Outside the walls Corrilwal Mission - Representative of the Corril and Carav tribes offering Bard, Druidic, Ranger, and Wizard training; Enhet Mission - Representatives of the peoples of Fred Enhet offering stables, fine steeds, and training for Barbarians, Monks, Fighters, and Rogues; Fisheries - Dotted along the rivers and lakes near to the Gauntlet; Farmland - Circling the settlement for half a mile in all directions.

Founders

• Mardwynn

Alternative Name(s)

The Gauntlet

Type

Town

Population

750

Inhabitant Demonym

Faithful

Owning Organization

Mardwynn's Conclave