Vinheim Fields
The three layers of Vinheim Fields rise up out of the swamplands with a brilliant green broken by the still black pools where the rice is grown. Here the receding walls belie the great expanse of land the city controls, the outer levels are rich with the deep throaty sounds of the frog farms and the yawning snapping of the crocodile stocks; here merchants call out in the street and the entrance to mines create warm streams of smoke rising high. The second level, with its vast rice fields and residential buildings has warm areas of gathering and temples to both dwarven and human gods. Beyond this the highest reaches of the Fields are the largest lands owned by larger farming families controlled by the nobles who's samurai tend to the much larger fields. It is here where the Law Chapel is where the Duke resides during the day for work and the residential homes of the noble families exist.
Government
The City itself is governed by a mayor, a knighted noble appointed by the Duke and the position is hereditary until the currently in power Duke decides that a new mayor needs to be appointed. The Mayor has direct power for handling day-to-day governing of the city itself, collecting taxes, and passing laws within the confines of the city's limits. While the Duke uses the city as their capital to control the entire duchy.
Defences
Beyond the three walls which separate the three raised fields (while also acting as support for the magically moved earth to allow it to settle into these new positions), the city boasts two skilled garrisons.
These garrisons are both run by competing noble houses and take in recruits from the outside sparingly, running publicly available 'entry tournaments' bi-annually. Beyond this nobles, those of noble blood, and those with a letter of recommendation from a local noble house can be entered through special circumstances. The noble families behind these garrisons are branch families of much older noble families that still exist within the two still Jaralian held islands of Ultan and follow that strict tradition. As such they're armor, weapons and fighting techniques resemble that of the samurai of their homeland and they specialize in training soldiers skilled in many weapons and to fight from the back of a mount. These families are also those responsible for the import of rice, a rare commodity within Helfdome which is often traded to Couthshou for their vast stores of wheat and potatoes.
Industry & Trade
Most citizens within the community either work in the farms or work in the mines. They either produce a product, refine a product or are the face that sells the product for those who are busy making it. As such there is very little homelessness or poverty within the fields as idle hands can easily be put to work in a rice field, or one of the frog ponds and earn their keep.
Infrastructure
Built primarily in its location due to one of the few largest sources of running fresh water through the swamplands, the druids of the past age worked tirelessly to mold the shape of the earth with the aid of the Kabutians who live in the Undervillage (Known as Drg'Vol- or Pitch Town) to create a raised area separate from the rest of the swamplands where they could more easily manipulate the flow of water, creating three tiers of large fields that feed water down into themselves while a new creek created by these druids of of the main river feeds the fields.
The roads in the city are mostly dirt in the lower two fields but well maintained during raining months. The roads and pathways in the upper fields have their paths laid in smooth cobblestones that are pressed into the soft turf.
Assets
Beyond lush water rich in fish (in particular cat fish), crocodiles and giant frogs; the enriched soils are perfect for the growing of rice which is the main export of the city. Beyond this five different mines exist within the city's borders controlled by the dwarven clans (several of which have their manors and homes under ground at the head of their mines) where they pull up the peat from below to be refined and sold, as well as vast quantities of salt, copper and iron. Rarely gem deposits are found as well.
This has led to a healthy city with many shops that deal in artisan goods as well as raw materials, people tending their fields, once their taxes are paid (often in the form of rice for the farmers) they are able to do what they wish with the left overs, selling it on their own in pop up shops that families and farming communities run year round.
Guilds and Factions
The mines are all run individually by the dwarven families who settled them and 'broke ground'. Currently, within the city, five mines exist with three of them being owned by the Peatvein clan.
Beyond this the first two fields have a trades guild that is currently heralded by Guildmaster Thrakas Ulfo, a Black Dragonborn who is a local to the city proper. This guild helps maintain order and a set price to goods sold within the city. It also offers services, aid, and supplies to its paying members and craftsman as well as assists new craftsmen setting up in the city if they come with plan to build roots.
Within the city there is one of the five druidic circles that exist within the duchy. The rest prefer to stay secluded away from the cities but the Druidic Circle of the Long Scale stay within the city to aid in possible emergencies brought on by the magically altered landscape as well as tending to the animals of the farms.
History
Founded by noble families of both humans and dwarves, it is a unique blending of cultures that also is heavily influenced by the eastern branches of the Jaralian Empire that is extremely rare in far northern Helfdome.
Architecture
The buildings are almost all made of wood with stone bases that are raised on a set of stone like legs to keep them out of the usual flood reaches. The roofs of these buildings are made of individually layered clay tiles that breach out like awnings to keep water off the flat wood. Most residential structures in the first two fields have two stories to save on space, as much of the non-farm-land is tightly packed. The larger structures in the third field are actually one story more often than not as they have the room to expand outward.
Geography
The city exists on three magically lifted fields surrounded by swamplands on all sides. A main road of shaped earth leads into a single gateway on the western side of the largest field; leading to the main tri-way that trisects the continent of Helfdome, a creation of the middle Age of Separation.
Alternative Name(s)
Umoven Heights, Peat-Creek
Type
City
Population
13750
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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