Hailsoshia (Hail-soh-shi-uh)
Ships sail for months on end, full of cargo and hardy working men, heading for a city of promise. A beautiful ocean city, bustling with busy, hardy people ready to fight anyone who doesn't watch what they say. A green palace of immense beauty shines with the gleam of the shining sun, reflecting the elegance of the gods to those who follow the zealot paladins in their quest to cleanse the lands they strive on.
Demographics
The people of Hailsoshia are diverse, and plentiful. The surviving humans of Avalore migrated to Kyxalar along with the gnomes. As well, the goblins of Worm City came along too, with the dwarves and goliaths of the CoreBreak Mountains to settle in the walls of Hailsoshia. As well, while not many, the orcs of southern Brotar found their way to the holy city as well. Even tieflings found a home in the city working primarily as mercenaries. Dark elves came as well, looking for the path of war to follow.
Government
The city is run by the autocratic diarchy by the Hideko and Alistar families, with the two heads being Hisoka Hideko, and Gailian Alistar. While neither are currently capable of dying from old age due to the gifts of their gods, in the event of their deaths, the rule will be passed to Hisoka's eldest, Eitr Hideko.
The laws of Hailsoshia are stringent, and honor bound. These laws are built off of the holy doctrines of Tremisk and Doppelt. Heinous crimes such as murder are permitted as long as there was either a divine reason, there is proof that the victim was evil in some manner, or if the victim blasphemed the gods. However, other crimes such as theft, illegal casting of spells within the city, drug use/distribution, sedition etc. are punishable on various levels.
Theft is punishable by loss of a limb. Things such as sedition are punishable by public torture, or even death by torture. Things such as illegal casting are first given warnings and fines, but if someone is a repeat offender, they are subject to first having themselves branded so they can't by casting materials, and if further offenses occur, they then have their thumbs cut off to prevent somatic casting, and then finally they have their tongues removed on their third offense. By this point, most casters have lost their ability to do so, but for the few that are capable of a fourth offense, they are put to death with extreme prejudice.
As for taxation, farm folk paid their taxes by providing 30% of their agricultural yield. Business owners must pay either by providing significant gifts from their shop, or by paying 20% of their annual profit. Commoners are forced to pay 5 silver a year, and if such isn't possible, they must serve a month in the military, at which point they are paid 15 silver, with 5 of it being paid to taxes. Nobles and other rich are treated much the same, being forced to pay 50 gold a year.
The laws of Hailsoshia are stringent, and honor bound. These laws are built off of the holy doctrines of Tremisk and Doppelt. Heinous crimes such as murder are permitted as long as there was either a divine reason, there is proof that the victim was evil in some manner, or if the victim blasphemed the gods. However, other crimes such as theft, illegal casting of spells within the city, drug use/distribution, sedition etc. are punishable on various levels.
Theft is punishable by loss of a limb. Things such as sedition are punishable by public torture, or even death by torture. Things such as illegal casting are first given warnings and fines, but if someone is a repeat offender, they are subject to first having themselves branded so they can't by casting materials, and if further offenses occur, they then have their thumbs cut off to prevent somatic casting, and then finally they have their tongues removed on their third offense. By this point, most casters have lost their ability to do so, but for the few that are capable of a fourth offense, they are put to death with extreme prejudice.
As for taxation, farm folk paid their taxes by providing 30% of their agricultural yield. Business owners must pay either by providing significant gifts from their shop, or by paying 20% of their annual profit. Commoners are forced to pay 5 silver a year, and if such isn't possible, they must serve a month in the military, at which point they are paid 15 silver, with 5 of it being paid to taxes. Nobles and other rich are treated much the same, being forced to pay 50 gold a year.
Defences
The city is defended by a sturdy spiked wooden wall, with guards posted at all hours with longbows, and crossbows.
Industry & Trade
The city thrives on a shallow economy, as there aren't currently any other known civilization. Hailsoshia keeps its citizens working, inventing, and motivated by the ongoing war against the pale elves. Raw trade commerce comes in from the wilds of Brotar, and shipped back on dwarven ships to the city. Many things in the city are paid for in military service by those trading with the Hailsoshian government.
Infrastructure
The city has prospered from a free and open intellectual market, where ideas aren't shunned, so long as they aren't seditious in nature. Due to this, Hailsoshia is the first civilization to have a primitive sewer system. As well, the city is the first of it's kind to have functioning water pumps, pulling straight from an underground wellspring.
There are works to make more water and fire based machines, but currently engineers have only made the sewer, and water pumps.
There are works to make more water and fire based machines, but currently engineers have only made the sewer, and water pumps.
Guilds and Factions
There are a handful of guilds and other organizations within the walls of Hailsoshia, from the ruthless "Starved Dogs", to the magical "Arcane Calling Academy" and even more.
"The Starved Dogs"-The mercenary group headed by a ruthless tiefling family, the "Nortaths", bore of the blood of a fiendish chain devil. The head of the family is a strong and skilled killer named "Kertath Nortath". This organization is legal, and doesn't hide from the public eye, sometimes fragrantly killing marks in public. The only reason that they are permitted to do as they please is that all members agree to random military service, and if they don't go after royalty. As long as they obey the rules set upon them, they're permitted to do contract killings, but they must first be approved by an approved noble. It's generally accepted amongst the common population however, that illegal contract killings happen often.
"Arcane Calling Academy"-This academy is currently run by it's fifth grandmaster, a goliath named "Viphak Mystichwhisperer Galtholt". Not many are welcomed into the grand halls of Arcane Calling, accepting only the most exceptional, and gifted individuals. The students taught here are accepted to excel at every turn, and become the greatest spell casters in the lands. Even divine casters are taught how to properly harness magic given to them by their lords and ladies, and are held to the highest standard of all the pupils. In order to be admitted into this academy, one must be exceptionally gifted from a young age, have a waiver from the royal families, be able to already cast a mid-level spell or greater, deliver a powerful magical item, or defeat one of its masters in a magical duel. All masters must answer the military call, along with the best students whenever called upon as well, and any rejection is punishable by death, exile, or public humiliation.
"True Blade Academy"-This academy is run by the skilled dark elf atatator "Modry Obic", who prepares young followers of Ishmaar to head to the east, and take on the challenge of "Ishmaars Calluses" in Brotar. He is only permitted to do this if he teaches non-followers of Ishmaar as well, and if all pupils who survive Ishmaars challenges agree to serve in the Hailsoshian military for at least four years. Every year, Modry pushes out the most skilled swordsmen around, with a greater number of failures who end up as casualties. Any who are already a slight bit familiar with a weapon of any type may join the academy, with the price of admission being 500 gp, a waver from one of the royal families, by taking on a task by one of the masters, or by somehow beating one of the masters in combat.
"The Crushed Hand"- The underground thieves of Hailsoshia. The crushed fingers take to stealing from ships, nobles, and even the royal family's. While small in number, and constantly hunted by guards, The Crushed Fingers members have an uncanny knack to avoid being caught. Followers of Izpyltia, their people are named after their ladies crushed hand. The group has been responsible for stealing several artifacts from the royal family, nobles, and merchant ships, along with a countless amount of coin, documents, and other valuables.
"The Starved Dogs"-The mercenary group headed by a ruthless tiefling family, the "Nortaths", bore of the blood of a fiendish chain devil. The head of the family is a strong and skilled killer named "Kertath Nortath". This organization is legal, and doesn't hide from the public eye, sometimes fragrantly killing marks in public. The only reason that they are permitted to do as they please is that all members agree to random military service, and if they don't go after royalty. As long as they obey the rules set upon them, they're permitted to do contract killings, but they must first be approved by an approved noble. It's generally accepted amongst the common population however, that illegal contract killings happen often.
"Arcane Calling Academy"-This academy is currently run by it's fifth grandmaster, a goliath named "Viphak Mystichwhisperer Galtholt". Not many are welcomed into the grand halls of Arcane Calling, accepting only the most exceptional, and gifted individuals. The students taught here are accepted to excel at every turn, and become the greatest spell casters in the lands. Even divine casters are taught how to properly harness magic given to them by their lords and ladies, and are held to the highest standard of all the pupils. In order to be admitted into this academy, one must be exceptionally gifted from a young age, have a waiver from the royal families, be able to already cast a mid-level spell or greater, deliver a powerful magical item, or defeat one of its masters in a magical duel. All masters must answer the military call, along with the best students whenever called upon as well, and any rejection is punishable by death, exile, or public humiliation.
"True Blade Academy"-This academy is run by the skilled dark elf atatator "Modry Obic", who prepares young followers of Ishmaar to head to the east, and take on the challenge of "Ishmaars Calluses" in Brotar. He is only permitted to do this if he teaches non-followers of Ishmaar as well, and if all pupils who survive Ishmaars challenges agree to serve in the Hailsoshian military for at least four years. Every year, Modry pushes out the most skilled swordsmen around, with a greater number of failures who end up as casualties. Any who are already a slight bit familiar with a weapon of any type may join the academy, with the price of admission being 500 gp, a waver from one of the royal families, by taking on a task by one of the masters, or by somehow beating one of the masters in combat.
"The Crushed Hand"- The underground thieves of Hailsoshia. The crushed fingers take to stealing from ships, nobles, and even the royal family's. While small in number, and constantly hunted by guards, The Crushed Fingers members have an uncanny knack to avoid being caught. Followers of Izpyltia, their people are named after their ladies crushed hand. The group has been responsible for stealing several artifacts from the royal family, nobles, and merchant ships, along with a countless amount of coin, documents, and other valuables.
History
This city came to be when Hisoka Hideko and Gailian Alistar came to Kyxalar following a set of coordinates. Not much is known as to what they hoped to gain from coming, or their exact reasoning. But whatever their purpose for coming, it had to with the war on pale elves, and many theorize that the war is the only reason they came. Gailian has stated that he sets to balance the world, showing the moral compass scar he has on his chest from his lord, Doppelt. Hisoka has stated that she wishes to cleanse the world of the pale elf filth.
Regardless of their reason, Hisoka and Gailian quickly set out to making a new world for people to live, and war, in. Setting to hire the same crew who ferried them to bring new people and supplied to Kyxalar, the city was fully made in only 80 years.
Regardless of their reason, Hisoka and Gailian quickly set out to making a new world for people to live, and war, in. Setting to hire the same crew who ferried them to bring new people and supplied to Kyxalar, the city was fully made in only 80 years.
Architecture
Buildings here are made of wood, and stone. The commoners and military live in wooden homes/barracks, while the nobles live in a fine mix between wood and stone housing. And the royal families live in the Green Palace, which is made of an odd, durable material. After being restored from whatever civilization had built it originally, it now composes of wood and stone as well.
Geography
Situated just off the coast of the sea, on a mighty cliff which raises 600 ft. from the ocean. Hailsoshia lies on the incline of the cliff, with the royal palace on the precipice of the mighty formation. And at the other end of the city rests the farms, which reside next to the mighty "Borris' Home" forest. And a soft plain stretches from the forest, through the farms, and to the rocky shore of the sea.
Natural Resources
There aren't many resources of value near the city except for the ocean itself, and the food which it provides. A majority of the food in the city comes straight from the sea. As well, the people of Hailsoshia pull salt from the waters.
The city also thrives on its production of timber from the nearby forest. As well, the fertile land is considered a blessing from the gods for the fact that a harvest has never gone bad as a result of the land.
The city also thrives on its production of timber from the nearby forest. As well, the fertile land is considered a blessing from the gods for the fact that a harvest has never gone bad as a result of the land.
Founding Date
00 PX, 00 AH
Alternative Name(s)
The Zealots Refuge
Type
Large city
Population
10-15,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Hailo's
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
While the content of the article is quite neat, I'd suggest adding mroe things to break up the text. At the minimum, paragraph breaks and secondary headers. A topical sidebar (maybe a brief in-world story, or an out-of-world commentary?) could also be helpful, and another huge thing is images. A cover image and a couple pictures of what you imagine the city to look like to break up the text could do wonders for the article. A simple "coastal city art" and "trading city art" search on google, or even more specifically, maybe on ArtStation or Deviantart, will yield wonders. Overall, an article whose prose depicts a vibrant city (very inspirational), but whose layout could use a little bit of work.