Hillcrest
In the lightly wooded northern hills of The Rueful Plains is built a sizable war torn and fortified village of farmers, merchants, fishermen, and artisans. The town is the farthest northern settlement of the kingdom of Roadrim, putting on the frontier of its territory. This location makes Hillcrest the first stop along the way to the southern cities for merchant caravans and adventuring parties. The King's Road is the main mode of travel for any caravans or adventurers to go through the Rueful Plains with ease, and it runs right through the heart of Hillcrest allowing for merchants and other travelers to rest and trade within the walls of the town. This interaction has lead to many caravans setting up permanent residence within the town allowing them to trade with the many other caravans that come through. However Hillcrest's location makes it difficult to police and protect leaving it open to war band raids and bandit invasions.
Demographics
The native citizens of Hillcrest consist of farmers, fishermen, and a few sects of artisans, nut they are the minority group compared to the influx of foreign residents who consist mainly of merchants and mercenaries. The lower class of the town is primarily the natives that have stuck true to the original beliefs of the first settlers and remained as plowmen, and fishermen. While the middle class is made up of locals who have embraced the influx of foreign merchants and explorers, like inn keepers, tavern owners, black smiths, alchemists, and local traders. The upper class of Hillcrest is the largest in number and the most influential to the towns survival. These are the foreign merchants who have set up both temporary and permanent residence in the village, as well as the guild managers and public officials.
Government
Governor Ella Halvard is the chief official in charge of the safety and prosperity of the town, she manages the cities funds and the level of influx of foreigners. But her influence stops there as the remaining economic responsibilities fall to guild master Sven Golbright of The Merchant's Guild, he is in full and direct control of all tax collection and trading revenue within the towns borders. The protection and policing of the town falls on the shoulder's of Dara Berevan an elfish woman who acts as captain of the guard and handler of most mercenary and adventuring companies that call Hillcrest home.
Defences
The city is protected by a large and well manned wooden wall with several guard towers lining its perimeter and two large gates at either side of the settlement equipped with two sets of large iron reinforced log doors. The streets of the town are constantly patrolled by both the town guards and several bands of mercenary and adventuring companies who call the town home. The garrison that is stationed within the town has access to several anti siege weapons. These weapons include two anti personnel ballista that flank both gates and two catapults located on either side of the city. Outside the walls is a line of anti cavalry spike walls and several layers of trenches filled with spikes and pointed posts.
Industry & Trade
Hillcrest was first intended to be a farming and fishing town providing much needed grains and fish produce to its sister cities to the south. But due to the more recent influx of trade Hillcrest has become more self sufficient relying more on its trade and commerce with foreign merchant caravans passing through the town than with its grain production. As a result of this shift many of the previously farming and fishing heavy families have left their fields and streams to come to the city for new opportunity and wealth, this has left many lands vacant and without owners. To remedy this the government of the town as allowed the other families to take over those who lefts land as a way to keep production up, but this has led to shortages in man power and ability to efficiently work the land and river of the territory.
Infrastructure
The urban portion of the town is very closely knit in a clustered grid like fashion with the very most center of the town being a large market place courtyard with a large stone statue of the settlements founder at the center. The market place is crammed with stalls, large tents, and caravan wagon's belonging to varying species and groups of merchants and traders. The immediate surrounding buildings consist of bakeries, smithies, jewelers, apothecaries, and various other commerce. The middle layer of the city is looser in its mapping than that of the inner layer with larger alleyways lined with crisscrossing banner strings and clothing lines. This layer is composed of several inns, taverns, half way homes, brothels, guild halls and homes. It is in this layer that the governor's manor and other public officials homes are located. The outer most layer of Hillcrest is the defesnive layer consisting of armories and barracks all connected by an underground tunnel system that wraps around the whole of the town. The town itself is surrounded immediately by a large wooden wall equipped with several large guard towers and two main gates with heavy reinforced log doors. The outer portions of the city beyond the wall are a peaceful patch work of crop fields and farm houses all connected by various dirt paths and roads that all lead back to the town. There is a small dock yard of sorts on the shores of the river that runs just a quarter mile from the settlement it is here that all fishing boats and trade vessels are docked and repaired.
Assets
The town has several large grain stores for winter which are located on government controlled farms and watched by a small squad of guards. The primary funds for the city are located in a vault in the basement of city hall.
Guilds and Factions
The Adventurer's Guild and The Merchant's Guild have set up small embassies within the town as a means to spread their influence farther into the kingdom. But they are not the only groups within the town vying for control. A foreign guild from The Black Dragon Empire named The Ebon Hearts has set up several shops and outposts within the town. And a few mercenary companies such as The Jade Lions, Onith's Hand, The Demon's Fist, and The Silent Suns have also set up small operations in and around the town.
Alternative Name(s)
Traveler's Rest
Type
Town
Population
25,000
Location under
Owning Organization
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