Rathrule
The Capital of Ratheria, established in the year 4 CA (Common Age) by the Black King and finished in the year 22 CA just before the end of the Great Conquest. This city was planned by The Black King and has been the seat of Ratherian power ever sense its establishment, The previous capital being The Black King's home city of The Galvease, which is now the Capital of North Emrial and for a short time served as the capital of both Ratheria and North Emrial.
Demographics
The City houses members of every ethnic group and major cultural group in the world, especially in the cities market squares where travelers, traders, and nobles from around the world come to visit.
Government
Though the Seat of the High King of Ratheria, Rathrule is ruled by a Lord appointed by the King of Ratheria, often this position is left unchanged during the change of leadership of the high throne, in this case the inheritance of the title of Lord of Rathrule is as normal for any lording title. The Lord of Rathrule is only responsible for the inner workings of the cities finances and the cities infrastructure. Money is passed to the lord from the High King as Rathrule citizens do not pay taxes and all taxes from its surrounding lands are paid to the High King. Inner city law enforcement and protection is handled by the city guard which is looked over by the Lord Commander whom sits on the Lord Commanders Council leaving these particular dealings to the discretion of the High King.
Defences
Rathrule is first and foremost defended by it's very location in the cold north of the world surrounded by mountains easily defended. Rathrule also sports a military fort called simply The Fort outside its main entrance built as both a staging area to siege the city, and defend against sieges. Rathrule is also surrounded by large 50 foot walls. Inside the city 25 foot walls web throughout separating the various squares and courts making a full siege of the city even more difficult as any attacking force would have to penetrate the main walls, and many subsequent walls before reaching the main keep, which is the single most heavily defended fortress in the world built upon the tallest hill in the city surrounded by 50 foot walls. The Black Harbor also holds artificial islands built as defensive batteries to punish any attacking fleet that could possibly make it past the Black or White Fleets that both defend the city.
Industry & Trade
Trade is the primary industry of Rathrule. Many wealthy people call the city their home, from the High King of Ratheria to simple merchants and traders. This vast amounts of wealth circulating within the city attract countless traders from all over the world hoping to gain their own slice of the gold. Rathrule does not rely entirely on traders sailing into the Black Harbor. Rathrule is the home of the world's largest military factories which produce steam tanks, trains, and other siege engines, as well as air ship and navel ship depots capable of turning out 10 ships a month when in full swing. Lastly, Rathrule sits as the gateway to the Northern Holdings with untapped forests and exotic animals found only in the icy north.
Infrastructure
Rathrule holds some of the oldest and newest buildings in the world. The Black Keep being the oldest building in the city. The sewage and irrigation systems of the city are constantly reworked to be the most advanced in the world. The city also maintains the Dragon Pins, massive protective walls, and the world's third busiest port.
Assets
The Black Harbor, The Dragon Pins, The Black Keep, and many more military and economy structures and assets are spread throughout the city.
Guilds and Factions
Every regional kingdom in Ratheria have their own special influence in the capital, including a small military garrison from North Emrial set to protect the city, members of the Urealian Dragon Forces that help maintain the Dragon Pins, and a small fleet of Palacade Ships that help protect the Harbor. Many guilds also have their highest head quarters in the city, along with the Ratherian Imperial Army, the Imperial dragon Riders, the Imperial Reapers of Death, the Ratherian Shadow Wolves, the Death Knights, the Black Fleet, the Imperial Navy, and the Imperial Air Navy all having their headquarters within Rathrule. Rathrule holds the highest density of the highest political and military personnel in the world leading to some areas of the city falling inline with specific kingdom's customs and culture.
History
Though the closest points between the North Emrialian and Aslian continents the area in which Rathrule now sits was never settled due to its politically volatile and rather harsh location where at one point a treaty even existed forbidding the nations the owned the land from building any sort of settlement in the area. The Black King chose this exact location for its centralized placement and natural defenses. The Black King marched his personal army, and many others, to this place and halted his march for six months to help establish Rathrule. Throughout the Great Conquest, The Black King continued to pour resources into building this city, going so far as to offer special deals to certain nobles in exchange for highly skilled workers, sheer labor force, and highly respected architects all being sent to build Rathrule. All in all it took 18 years to build the city to The Black Kings liking, though the city has continuously been added to and refurbished never truly completing its construction. Rathrule has been sieged four times in it's history only falling once. The only time the city was taken, it was by Meric Meatosh. Meric used The Fort, and his command of those within it as well as the entire Northern Imperial Army, to take the city, a feat only possible due to Meric's vast knowledge of the cities inner workings and the presence of many loyal to him, including the dragon riders at the Dragon Pins. The next siege came at the hands of the Nalecs of North Emrial, specifically Maric Nalec, the brother of the North Emrialian King. Meric held out for almost thirty years until his death of natural causes. Though the siege is stated to have lasted for 28 years almost immediately following the fall to Meric Meatosh, in truth the siege was two different ones. The initial siege lasting 3 years until the North Emrialians were unable to draw support from the other kingdoms and left only a garrison in place within The Fort until the last year of the siege when the rightful heir to the throne drew up enough support to reinvigorate the siege including a full blockade of the Black Harbor. In truth Maric Nalec knew he couldn't take the city and only strengthened his assault in an effort to draw support for the war which became unnecessary when Meric Meatosh died and the city surrendered. The last siege Rathrule endured came at the hands of James Meatosh. This siege was less of a siege of the city rather a siege of The Black Keep due to the city guard surrendering immediately. The siege ended when The Last Emperor sallied through the gates of the keep to confront James and was killed in less than an hour, after which the few loyal to the Emperor surrendered promptly. Due to the circumstances of the cities defeat the last siege was not considered to have ended with the fall of Rathrule leaving Meric Meatosh the sole conqueror of Rathrule a title even demons couldn't obtain.
Architecture
Primarily built with ancient Emrialian and Uraelian architecture Rathrule sports buildings built with architectural influences all over the world.
Geography
Sitting on the ocean covering the Brean Straight that separates Asli from North Emrial Rathrule Sprawls across three islands and two peninsulas and around a natural bay. Within city limits sit a total of six hills, three of the four larger ones sit in Rathrule main on the western peninsula while the second largest hill sits on the large eastern island that holds the Market Quarter. The Black Keep is built upon the largest of these hills to allow it to overlook the city and giving it the best defensive position in the city. The city as a whole sits in a large valley between two large mountain ranges that helps shield the city from attacking armies. Within the valley also sits a large Volcano just to the north west of the city.
Natural Resources
Mining is forbidden within city limits though it is rumored large amounts of gold do reside in the six large hills within the city. The primary domestic trade of Rathrule is lumbar as large forests exist around the city, and no tree is allowed to grow within one mile of the city walls.
Alternative Name(s)
The Black City. The Capital. The Frozen Castle. Dragon's Throne. The Tiger's City. Death's Seat.
Type
Capital
Population
500,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Rulians
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments