Belamaria
The best bred horses come from Belamaria. In fact, there is a belief that there is a symbiotic relationship between the horse and its rider, and that the horse must choose their rider.
In a festival in the second full week of Ausan, known as the Yearling Festival, the horses born last spring are brought to the Dorbratia Track. There, any of the children who have come of age since the last festival and any adults who have lost their companion in the last year are given the opportunities to earn the respect of the horseflesh available.
Since these mounts are held in such high esteem, the beasts themselves are there to be bought and sold, as that would be disrespectful to them. Instead, it is expected that any deeds, any jobs, any feats that yield gold for the rider must be split: 8% to the breeder, who cared for the animal in its infancy, 12% to the horse, for its care and comfort, and 80% to the rider.
A few months ago, there was a robbery that completely emptied Belamaria's coffers. It resulted in a snap election to replace the captain of the town guard and mayor. The result is that a dragonborn by the name of Essia Nettle and a dwarven man named Flintminer ("Flint" for short) were elected in their stead, and have begun to crack down on crime.
The funny thing is: Belamaria is a picturesque town. Beyond this heist, there has been no real crime in the area in years. The populace feel over policed and rubbed raw by the mayor and captain's zealotry (even though they voted for it).
Demographics
Mostly dwarven and gnomish, the people of the area have the heritage language of Giant beyond their racial languages. It's how they communicate amongst one another when there are no foreigners or people from other villages.
In terms of financial stability, the majority of the populace are able to take care of their basic needs - only about 18% are wealthy or aristocratic, and 30% live in squalid and wretched conditions (the remaining 52% are a mix of comfortable, modest, and poor).
Government
Tax rates are incredibly low, with local ordinances only demanding 5% taxes of all owned land in and around Belamaria.
Industry & Trade
Belamaria trades extensively with neighboring towns and villages, but despite being a border town, it does not interact much with its international neighbors.
Known for their animal husbandry (particularly horses), they have also recently got into armaments, and have started exporting bows and arrows as well.
Districts
Crowberry Moor
A fenced park on the southern edges of town, it is where horses are kept while their riders are on town on business. It is seen as rude to ride a horse in the city, and even more inappropriate to tie them to a hitching post. Better to let them run free.
There are a small number of shops and service buildings surrounding the green, and locals even come to the park for picnics and games.
Dorbratia Track
Pronunciation: dor-BRAY-shuh
Sometimes shortened to "the Dorb-ry," the horse track in the center of town is where the Yearling Festival takes place, but it is more commonly used for weekly racing events. Wagering is common, and the taverns around the track all accept bets that are, in turn, submitted to Tuvid (dwarf), the Master of Games.
The Head of Farahai
A weeping willow tree in town, the branches are said to be the hair of the goddess of luck, and so those who bet a lot of money on the race track may pluck a few strands to wrap around their head, wrists, or even braid into their own hair.
Outlaw's Pass
More of an alley than a district, Outlaw's Pass is not an area you want to traverse unless you're looking for trouble.
It is built under Dorabratia Track - ostensibly a way for the featured horses and riders to unobtrusively enter and exit the track, as well as a way for the citizenry to take a shortcut through the center of town, but most people avoid it. They instead take the long way around... unless you have business with the ruffians of Outlaw's Pass.
As of late, it has been noticeably empty, with Captain Flint's men emptying it of any huckster they can find - most of whom are street hustlers at worst.
The Red Keep
Like Outlaw's Pass, the Red Keep's import is overstated in its name. It is the munitions storage and jail for Belamaria and not much else. The name of it comes from the orange-red brick that makes up the entirety of its architecture.
Tyleo's Well
The eastern side of the city, crowded with homes and businesses, is known as Tyleo's Well (or Tyleo's for short). It is by far the largest district, and is focused on providing for the citizenry of Belamaria rather than for tourists and visitors.
As such, there are taverns, but none offer lodging, preferring to use that space for storage or further seating.
Mallory Cemetery
Many people choose to be buried with their beloved steeds, and as such the cemetery is over crowded.
Guilds and Factions
The Sorrel Watch
Led by Captain Flint, the Sorrel Watch is the town's (recently much expanded) guard. They are the leaders in all things law, and after cleaning out Outlaw's Pass have turned towards harrassing the residents of Belamaria for minor to non-existent violations of the laws.
Most of the residents think that this is to justify their new-found power.
Architecture
The houses and buildings of Belamaria are made of solid brick in earthy red and brown tones, with wooden shingles that are weather-worn grey. The decoration style is mostly simple lines, with arched doorways.
Most people living in single story family homes.
The town wall is built in a decorative X pattern, with the red bricks making up the design and the negative spaces made of dark brown (almost black) bricks.
Crowberry Moor
- Calvin Cooke (ropemaker)
- Harmony Rose (blacksmith)
- Hides and Skins (leathers)
- Lorenzo Barker (hay merchant)
- The Temple of the Black Hare (temple to Kona-Karr)
Dorbratia Track
- The Charger's Course (magic shop, run by gnome Elise Fitzwhizzle)
- The Head of Farahai (sacred tree to Farahai)
- The People's Table (temple to Politia)
Outlaw's Pass
The Red Keep
- Aleena Hall (fletcher)
- The Stone of the Provider (altar to Grund)
Tyleo's Well
- Mallory Cemetery (tended by an old dwarf)
- Myra Fletcher (potter)
- Rosebay Dyes (dyes and linens)
- The Wolf and the Crossbow (inn)
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