Oak City
Oak City is a medium sized city in The Darkwood that is known for it's production of lumber for the rest of the Grand County. It is also home to the Coins gladiator team, which won the 1443 and 1445 championships, the only team to win twice in legal seasons consecutively. Additionally, The Arbor is located here, a popular destination for noble travelers and visiting mages.
Government
Oak City is governed by Gallus Goldentide and his Coined Council, who are chosen from local business owners. Civil servants are taken from those across The Darkwood who failed to pay taxes, and serve the Council until their debt is repaid with a gratuity for the inconvenience. The rule of law is enforced by the city guard, commonly called Torch-Heads for their enchanted glowing helmets.
Infrastructure
The walls of Oak City are grown from Weeping Redwoods planted in such a way as to fuse together over time, making Oak City the last standing Living City in existence. The streets are carefully arranged cobblestone that create a grid pattern. Oak City residents are assigned these "blocks" of land to farm, as the presence of the Weeping Trees provides plenty of water and nutrient-rich soil for farming. The Gold District is a cluster of blocks used for commerce rather than farming, and is home to plenty of massive Weeping Tree buildings as well as The Horde, a stone castle "floating" above the city on massive mithral struts. The streets are lined every twenty feet with alchemical lamps that provide a dull glow at night.
Guilds and Factions
The Order of the Eye has a major presence here, originally put in place to study the mysteries of The Arbor and the Weeping Redwoods. That small outpost has since become Azure Reach, an important staging area for wizardly operations.
The other major guild in the city is actually the employees of the Coins gladiator team, based out of the Treasury. So many people work for the team, and so much tourism is brought in specifically for the arena, that the arena and it's workers are under the direct control of Nava Goldentide, wife of Lord Gallus Goldentide, and their interests are often considered before the Coined Council's needs.
The Council itself serves as a merchant's guild, as only the richest of the city are able to purchase their way to minor nobility and a seat on the Council.
History
Oak City was originally an Oenkanen city of unknown name, and one of the only to be captured rather than destroyed in The Sylvan War. It was an early settlement for Skaldoran conquerors, and the high nobility of the city can trace their line back to Skaldor himself.
Once The Grand County of the Darkwood was established with Dragonscale as it's capital, Oak City swiftly rose to prominance due to the liberal spending of House Goldentide. Workers from Oak City were originally responsible for creating the vast road network that brings travelers through the safest paths of The Darkwood, and at one time built wooden watchtowers every ten miles to deter bandits. Not receiving what he considered his due credit, Lord Godwin Goldentide discontinued the watchtower program, and today very few still stand. However, the Goldentides were promoted to be the official Imperial tax collectors, and have since become one of the wealthiest families in the entire continent. This wealth can be seen in Oak City landmarks such as the castle and arena, both built with exceedingly expensive materials.
Founding Date
274 EK
Alternative Name(s)
The Arbor
Type
City
Inhabitant Demonym
Oaker
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Comments