Pendril
Founded by refugees from Sarnyan, some fifty years after the death of Sarya left the republic in anarchy, Pendril quickly devolved into settlement where criminals, strongmen, and unscrupulous money lenders prayed upon the weak. Only the heartful prayers of an elderly couple, beaten half to death and left with nothing but the rags they wore, saved the city from the same anarchy that had befallen its sister city. Their prayers, however, were answered not by the gods, but instead by the denizens of the strange tower around which the settlement was founded.
In their only public appearance, the Five Masked Lords appeared to the townsfolk in their bright robes of scarlet, midnight blue, cloud white, sienna, and ebony and decreed the Incontrovertible Edicts. With these four simple laws in place, they retreated, never to be seen again.
Changes to the city began the following day as great walls of ebony rose fifty feet into the air around the city. Surveys conducted in later years reveal that walls encircle the city at a distance of exactly one mile from the tower, the only openings pair of small gates, one to the west and a second directly opposite of it to the east and close to the settlement's fledgling harbor along the Pendril River. Days later, marble obelisks of deep blue appeared at the base of the tower and just outside the city gates. The Grievance Box arrived a few days later with its shelf showing up A moon later, after the first Judgement was rendered.
In the century since, the system has persisted, bring a modicum of order to the Watchful City. With such arbitrary enforcement, those that have remained in the city tend to be conservative. Those who follow the Incontrovertible Edicts have little to fear as the judgements of the Five Masked Lords seem to sniff out abuses in their system. Grievances found to be lacking or frivolous have even resulted in judgements against the aggrieved. Most of these citizens do well enough to live moderately comfortable lives. The system has also discouraged those who tend to abuse power and wealth from taking up residence. Fortunately, the lack of predators combined with the natures and comfortable lives of Pendril’s residents has led to a number of charities to be established and the city is nearly devoid of the truly impoverished.
The city may be one full of equity for those that live within its system of arbitrary laws. The laws are, however, quite unforgiving, making no exceptions for good hearted intentions. The underlying fear of receiving a judgment for accidentally injuring a neighbor or ignorantly breaking a promise permeates the city, making its citizens exceptionally careful, close mouthed and suspicious of strangers.
The architecture of the city itself is one of Fachwerk buildings - often painted in deep blues, greens, and reds. Few buildings top two stories and most remain in fine repair. Unlike many cities it’s neighborhoods contain a broad mix of businesses and homes. No blacksmith’s street or tavern districts exist - leading to odd conflagrations and juxtapositions throughout the city. While there is no formal curfew, the lack of any government means the city also has no street lights, leading to a rhythm that strictly follows the sun, with the streets generally empty shortly after dusk.
Outside the massive walls, the city is surrounded by small farms that feed the city. Corn grows well in the coastal climate and nearly every farmer supplants his crop with a herd of sheep or goats. To the east, surrounding the city's gates and leading a quarter mile to the river one finds the typical taverns, inns, and warehouses common to a port. Though this district seems to lie beyond the reach of the Five Masked Lords, its great weathered buildings a muddy streets remain tame compared to other waterfront districts, the erratic nature of the Edict and its judgements dampening all but the bravest - or most foolhardy - ne'er-do-wells.
Maps
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Pendril
Founding Date
643 AC
Alternative Name(s)
The Watchful City
Type
City
Population
17,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Pendralians
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Related Tradition (Primary)
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
Five Masked Lords