City of Bridges
The City of Bridges sits along the western coast of the Western Continent and is the largest known city in the world. It is the capital of the Summerlands and the once proud Kingdom of Estrabaq. It was the site of the Battle of the Fallen Spear and now serves as the seat of the Iron Lord 's power within the Western Continent.
The city itself is surrounded by a giant iron-reinforced stone wall 25 feet tall. There are four roads leading to and from the city, one for each cardinal direction. Traffic into and out of the city is controlled by four massive, 20 foot tall iron gates named, appropriately enough Northgate, Eastgate, Westgate and Southgate. Once the roads enter the city they begin sloping upwards, forming the four massive bridges for which the city is named. At the center of these roads is a roundabout, within which Spiretower stands. These bridges reach a peak of 30 feet tall and are all marvels of elven and dwarven engineering. The bridges also divide the city into eight wards. Each of these wards are separated by wall and a gate, though usually these interior gates remain open and are only closed in the case of an emergency such as a fire. Several business and homes are built into the support pillars of each of the bridges, generally known as Underbridge, regardless of which ward support pillars separate. These Underbridge structures are often of ramshackle quality, pieced together by whatever bits and pieces can be found or brought into the city and are often the homes of the poor or criminal elements.
Many of the major streets and roads are wide enough for even giants to comfortably travel on, which means that the governor of the city, a fire giant names Medania can walk the streets comfortably. Lesser roads wind between the buildings that line the major streets which are often too small for creatures of Huge or larger size to travel. That doesn't keep Medania's reach out though, however, as she has a fanatically loyal legion of hobgoblins known as the 503rd Legion that act as city guards.
Northgate, Southgate and Eastgate all have roads that lead deeper into the Summerlands themselves and it is said that if you follow the right routes and turns, all roads in the Summerlands lead to the City of Bridges. Westgate leads down to the waterfront district, where ships from all over Marrikan come to do trade and commerce. Each road leading to and from the city also has banshee rails that follow the road for a while before veering of into their own routes. A great banshee rail track follows the outside of the walls of the city with four stations and banshee wagon yards situated near each of the city's gates, used for maintenance, warehousing and a disembarking point for troops and supplies being sent along the system. Each of the yards has a garrison of soldiers, usually a mix of orc, goblin and hobgoblin.
The architecture of the city of bridges is a mish mash of various styles as portions of the city have been destroyed and rebuilt time and again, whether by natural or magical disasters and especially after the Battle of the Fallen Spear which devastated much of the city. Ancient elven spires made of enchanted glass stand side by side with squat square-shaped structures designed by dwarven immigrants while smaller two-story structures designed by humans sit in the shadows next to halfing inns and taverns.
The city has a very complicated and old sewer system that runs beneath it and almost every building other than those in Underbridge connect to this system. In addition, for those buildings that do not connect, there are public places where chamberpots can be brought to be emptied out. The sewer system eventually terminates via two large piles along the western edge of the city which release the wast products and water into the ocean. These pipes are large enough for medium creatures to walk comfortably but are covered by adamantine grates so as to keep invading forces and undersirables from using them as a way into the city, though in truth only the most desperate would try to get into the city that way anyway, risking wading through ankle-deep rivers of the waste products of nearly a million citizens. The entrances into the sewers are patrolled and going down there is strictly forbidden as many strange creatures make their lairs among the muck and the filth. There are obviously secret ways into the sewers, however, as there is a small population that can't even afford to live in Underbridge make their homes down here, to say nothing of two thieves' guilds that operate out of the sewers such as the Tunnel Rats .
Demographics
Human (includes half-orc and half-elf): 83%, Dwarven 5%, Goblin 3%, Hobgoblin 2%, Other 7%
Government
The city is overseen by Governess Medania , eldest daughter of the Iron Lord . The 503rd Legion reports directly to her and serves as the (highly efficient and brutal) law enforcement within the city.
Defences
The city is surrounded by a massive wall and series of four gates. Topping those walls are areas with stationed ballistae and catapult towers that can be brought to bear quickly in the case of a city seige.
Guilds and Factions
Tunnel Rats
Settlement 14
LE, Metropolis
Center of civilization in the Summerlands . The most cosmopolitan city within Marrikan
Government Tyrannical government ruled over by the Iron Legion
Population 844,327 (60% human, 10% dwarven, 8% orc, 5% halfling, 5% half-orc, 3% goblin, 3% gnoll, 2% hobgoblin, 4% other)
Languages Common, Dwarven, Orc
Religions Temple of Passion , Death
Threats The 503rd Legion , which acts as the city guard. The forces of the Iron Legion are an ever-present danger. Certain areas of the city, mostly the poor sections known as Underbridge, face starvation, poverty and disease on a daily basis. Ancient and dangerous creatures roam the deepest parts of the sewers. Several thieves' guilds make their homes within the city walls.
Significant NPCs Bruden Arcbeard , Medania , Mask
LE, Metropolis
Center of civilization in the Summerlands . The most cosmopolitan city within Marrikan
Government Tyrannical government ruled over by the Iron Legion
Population 844,327 (60% human, 10% dwarven, 8% orc, 5% halfling, 5% half-orc, 3% goblin, 3% gnoll, 2% hobgoblin, 4% other)
Languages Common, Dwarven, Orc
Religions Temple of Passion , Death
Threats The 503rd Legion , which acts as the city guard. The forces of the Iron Legion are an ever-present danger. Certain areas of the city, mostly the poor sections known as Underbridge, face starvation, poverty and disease on a daily basis. Ancient and dangerous creatures roam the deepest parts of the sewers. Several thieves' guilds make their homes within the city walls.
Significant NPCs Bruden Arcbeard , Medania , Mask
Type
Capital
Population
844,327
Inhabitant Demonym
Bridgers
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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