Astora - capital

Not strictly a township, as it is owned and run by the king, Astora is Tariksan's capital city, and built on the intersection of the cross roads. For years, the well-established and ancient towns along the south-east coast have argued that they have more claim to capitalship than Astora, but no agreement has ever been made. The city acts as an important hub for the north, and maintains a very Tariksani culture, as a pose to the older, pre-gathering settlements, which have a different lifestyle and charecter.

The king's halls are Astoran, and the national guard is coordinated from there. It is a trading hub, and claims to have a rich heritage, relating both to the Daybreaker pantheon and the famous Castor of Tor.

Demographics

Astora is majority human, with small numbers of most other races, in roughly the same balance as they are found throughout tariksan. It has a notably high percentage of earth and fire genasi (who's ancestors were davmiran) and also of elves and gnomes, who find their magical nature less under suspision than in the nearby townships. Orcs are rarely seen, and so are dragonborn, those who do stay find themselves under suspision more than they like.

Government

Astora is run almost like a township, organised by the king's council. Rather than a militia, it is protected by a national guard garrision.

Defences

Astora is walled, although some houses, huts and stores have been built outside the walls. It has a network of tunnels and caves under the city, most of which have been walled off to make defenses possible.

Industry & Trade

Astora is the collecting point for traders, and skilled craftsmen.

History

The town of Astora has existed since 47PG (pre-gathering), and grew quickly thanks to the suggestion it may become the capital city of the nation that was about to form. In 3G, Loth Grendal (the new king) settled his council in Astora, for it's centrality and cultural significance, as well as it's relative newness.

In the early years of the capital it was beset by invasion from all kinds of people, rebelling against the new nation. The original walls were inadequte, and rebuilt many times over a 50 year period, until eventually they completely fell to surprise attack from an army lead by the Lord of Manner (pre-township area to the north west, around Andleros, Iplintain, and Font). The resulting war continued for 23 years, to 98G, where the Lord of Manner was defeated, and his daughter promised a new township in exchange for peace. She settled in the wilderness, in a place now called Mansterr, and Astora continues to have a rocky relationship with the township.

A new set of larger, further reaching walls, were built in 101-107G, and have not fallen since. The closest they came was 406G, where three adult dragons attacked the city in response to the king disrespecting the treaties that protected the land they occupied. Two were killed, and so was the king and most of the council, before peace could be negotiated. The third dragon, Rashtabar, still lives in her land, as she was granted a pardon for being conservative in her destruction.

Geography

Astora is built on both banks of the river known as Savergren, where it flows through relatively flat land. Astora is on the largest expanse of flat land (apart from the long plain) for miles around.

Natural Resources

Surrounding farms supply food to the city, growing a range of basic crops. It has almost no livestock and no forest, as the lack of hills and nearby river make it excellent farming ground. Surrounding townships rely on being able to sell their produce in Astora, so the city finds itself with access to almost everything to be found in the country.

Alternative Name(s)

Casterton (new), the city above the plain.

Type

City

Inhabitant Demonym

Astoran