Mournestead
Overview
Mournestead is a fortified city located in the north-eastern region of Ravenmoor, near the rugged mountains known as the The Crest of Wescott. The city is renowned for its skilled masons and stoneworkers, who have shaped its towering walls and intricate buildings from the stone of the nearby mountains. Mournestead has long been a center for quarrying, mining, and masonry, and its architecture reflects a blend of practicality and artistry. The city’s strategic location makes it a key stronghold in Ravenmoor’s defenses, and its people are known for their resilience and craftsmanship.Demographics
Mournestead is primarily populated by stoneworkers, quarrymen, and artisans, as well as their families. The city’s population consists of several guilds of masons and miners, who have passed their trade down through generations. Many of these families have lived in Mournestead for centuries, tracing their roots back to the city’s founding. The people of Mournestead are known for their hardy nature, a necessity for those living in the shadow of the Crest of Wescott. Though most of the population is involved in the stone trade, there is also a growing community of merchants and traders who facilitate the exchange of stonework and minerals with other parts of Ravenmoor and Thalwyn.
Government
Mournestead is governed by a The Council of Guilds, a unique system where the heads of the various masons’ and miners’ guilds hold power over the city’s administration. This council oversees not only the day-to-day governance of the city but also the regulation of the stone trade, the management of quarries, and the city’s defenses. While nominally under the rule of the King Regus au Votum, Mournestead operates with a degree of autonomy, with the council making most decisions concerning the city’s internal affairs. However, in times of war or conflict, the city falls under the direct control of the Ravenmoor military, due to its strategic importance.
Industry & Trade
The lifeblood of Mournestead is its stone industry. The quarries of the Crest of Wescott provide the city with high-quality stone, which is used both locally and traded throughout Ravenmoor and beyond. Masons from Mournestead are highly sought after for their skills in stonecutting, architecture, and fortification. The city is responsible for the construction of many of Ravenmoor’s castles, fortresses, and defensive walls.
In addition to stone, Mournestead is also a center for metalworking, with a number of blacksmiths and metalworkers who craft tools and weapons from the ore mined in the nearby mountains. The city’s proximity to rich mineral deposits has allowed it to flourish, and many traders from across the peninsula come to Mournestead to purchase raw materials and finished stonework.
Infrastructure
Mournestead’s infrastructure is a testament to its people’s skill in stoneworking. The city is surrounded by imposing stone walls, built to withstand both time and invaders. Its streets are wide and lined with carefully laid cobblestones, and many of its buildings are constructed from the same high-quality stone that has made the city famous.
The city’s most impressive structure is the Great Hall of Masons, a towering building that serves as both a meeting place for the Council of Guilds and a symbol of the city’s power. The hall is adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs that depict the history of Mournestead and its people’s connection to the stone trade.
Quarries dot the landscape outside the city walls, connected to the city by a network of well-maintained roads that allow for the efficient transport of stone and minerals. The Crest of Wescott looms over the city, providing not only the resources that sustain it but also natural protection from potential invaders.
Districts
Mournestead is divided into several districts, each with its own purpose:
- The Mason’s District: The heart of the city, where the majority of the masons, stonecutters, and architects live and work. The streets here are lined with workshops, where skilled craftsmen shape stone into building materials, statues, and monuments.
- The Quarry District: Located on the outskirts of the city, this area is dedicated to the extraction and processing of stone from the nearby quarries. It is a busy district, with carts of stone constantly moving in and out of the city.
- The Merchant’s Quarter: This district is home to the city’s traders, where goods from the quarries and metalworks are bought and sold. The quarter also houses a bustling market where merchants from all over Ravenmoor come to purchase the famous stonework of Mournestead.
- The Military Ward: Due to Mournestead’s strategic importance, a section of the city is dedicated to the Ravenmoor military. This district includes barracks, training grounds, and supply depots. The city’s walls and defenses are manned by a permanent garrison, ensuring that Mournestead is always ready to defend itself.
History
Mournestead was founded centuries ago, during the early days of Ravenmoor’s expansion into the mountainous regions near the Crest of Wescott. The city was established as a quarrying outpost, providing the stone needed to build the castles and fortresses that would later defend Ravenmoor from its rivals. Over time, Mournestead grew into a thriving city, as more skilled masons and artisans flocked to the region, drawn by the quality of the stone and the opportunities it offered.
Throughout its history, Mournestead has played a key role in the defense of Ravenmoor. The city’s walls have withstood numerous sieges, and its people have proven their resilience time and again. The Crest of Wescott has always provided a natural barrier, protecting the city from large-scale invasions, but it is the strength of Mournestead’s walls and the skill of its masons that have truly kept the city safe.
In more recent years, Mournestead’s stone trade has expanded beyond Ravenmoor, with its products being sold as far as Thalwyn. Despite occasional tensions between the two provinces, the demand for high-quality stone has ensured that Mournestead’s masons remain in high demand throughout the Celestine Peninsula.
Founding Date
143 BCE
Type
Town
Population
25,000
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners