Free City of Brookmere
Governed with a motto of “High Walls but Open Gates,” the Free City of Brookmere controls the trade routes between Mose in the north, Bridgeport in the west on the Crescent Sea coast, and other points south. Massive stone walls wind their way around the ancient city and provide sturdy protection against any attacks. Although ancient in origins, the walls are carefully maintained as the protection they afford allow Brookmere to maintain its status as a free city.
Brookmere itself is a bewildering collection of old and new stone structures mixed with wood-frame buildings and a collection of tree-lined parks and avenues. Taverns, inns, and gambling houses line the main trade routes as they enter and exit the city while street vendors are found on every major (and some minor) thoroughfare. The skilled observer can easily determine that the walls of the city and some of the oldest buildings within are the sturdiest structures here, likely of dwarven construction. With generally pleasant temperatures, attractive surroundings and lenient laws, Brookmere is a favored stop for merchants.
History and People
Unbeknownst to any but a few learned sages, Brookmere’s ancient foundations stretch through thousands of years of history and predate the formation of the Hyperborean Empire, let alone its expansion. First built in a deep forest, the original city was constructed from rock and stone pulled up through the earth using dark blood magic and ritual sacrifices by a coven of elves seeking a connection to the darker gods and demons of creation. Eventually, other elven tribes joined together to destroy the city and the coven of dark elves, either killing or driving its inhabitants away. The walls and buildings were razed, leaving behind nothing but rubble.
The location was rediscovered centuries later, and another city was built using the stone left behind from the first. While the design of the new city was advanced, considering drainage and the springs of fresh, cold water, it was eventually overrun by creatures of the forest, potentially at the instigation of druids, and the population was forced to move out. It was another thousand years before tribal hunters discovered the stone walls and eventually moved to settle in, and still more time before a clan of dwarves driven from their homes by the Hyperborean invasions to the east came to settle here as well. These dwarves took it upon themselves to build and enhance the walls and buildings in the hopes of avoiding being driven from this new home as well. Some of these designs and creations have lasted to the modern day and protect a city that predates nearly every settlement in the region. While most of those dwarves eventually moved on, some dwarven families still make their home here.
Heavy logging by the inhabitants of Brookmere eventually stripped much of the surrounding area, most of which was given over to wide fields growing a variety of crops and a number of orchards producing a vast array of different types of fruit.
When the Kingdom of Foere expanded and conquered both nearby and distant lands, Brookmere did fall along with all the rest, but the repeated revolts of the Principality of Olduvar kept Brookmere isolated from the main kingdom and largely forgotten. As the Foerdewaith Wars of Succession raged, Brookmere was largely forgotten, unimportant to the needs of the Kingdom of Foere. The departure of the Foerdewaith, however, has allowed the growth of a number of tribes of orcs and goblins within the light forests nearby, further isolating Brookmere from its neighbors.
In recent years, the efforts needed to combat the humanoids moving into the region, while largely successful, began to drain the city’s coffers to the point that Lord Thorbold realized it wasn’t sustainable. He has turned to diplomacy in an effort to set his potential adversaries against each other. To this end, he entered into a treaty with the Irontooth Clan of orcs and some other humanoids that reside in some of the light forests nearby. While the treaty is viewed poorly by some, most realize that the city has little choice.
While Brookmere spends a great deal on its defense, its strong walls and defenses cannot protect the farmlands outside the city walls. The presence of one of the few open schools of magic, and the knowledge that wizards training within are involved in the defense of the city, provides additional incentive for their neighbors to leave Brookmere in peace.
Most of the human population here is of Foerdewaith descent. There is a fairly large population of elves for a city of this size, and a number of dwarves make their home here, descendants of those who built many of the city’s walls and buildings. These dwarves are considered “clanless” and looked down on by other dwarves, which keeps them isolated from other dwarven communities. A small contingent of gnomes that migrated here several decades ago has become important in the mining of gems as well as the crafting of jewelry and other works of art. Recent peaceful relations with the Irontooth Clan have seen orcs and half-orcs move into the city, where they are largely accepted or at least left alone in peace.
Citizens of Brookmere are generally outgoing and friendly and accept others for who they are. The philosophy here is that if your activities don’t harm or prevent mine, then you are free to do whatever you please.
Religion
Brookmere has no declared religious affiliation, and, at least officially, allows and welcomes individuals of all faiths. Construction of temples and altars requires city approval and permits as well as a yearly tax. At present, small temples to Freya, Thyr, and Muir exist.
Trade and Commerce
Brookmere focuses on protecting the nearby farmlands and several small silver mines that help support the city. Trade traffic is not extensive, but continuous enough to continue to support the city and its slow growth. Thriving orchards, vineyards, and farmlands lie to the south of the main city walls, all producing bountiful harvests for trade and support of the city. Craftsmen here are among the most skilled in the Lost Lands and produce refined, expensive goods for trade.
Boosting its importance, the Free City of Brookmere is one of few cities to openly house a school of magic, which gives it greater importance in the area and helps maintain its status as a free city. Wizards from the school are directly tasked with defending the city in the event of any sort of attack and provide additional aid in the construction and maintenance of its defenses.
Loyalty and Diplomacy
As a declared Free City, Brookmere has had some difficulties with the Principality of Olduvar and the Kingdom of Foere which both, at different times in history, controlled the city and its environs. Olduvar used to attack as often as once a decade but it is presently too self-involved with its own intrigues to pose an active threat.
Briarwatch, Bridgeport, and Kindler’s Bell have all declared a form of allegiance to Brookmere, more in an effort to protect themselves from the predations of Olduvar than for any true loyalty. Whether or not Brookmere would truly come to the defense of these small towns and villages remains an unanswered question. There have been no attacks and, while treaties have been signed, no taxes are collected on them by Brookmere. The reality is that they are of little economic or military importance and are geographically difficult to get to.
Brookmere adheres to few laws, and city leaders allow most activities so long as they are taxed and controlled in a way that benefits the city and its leading families. Those in charge recognize that their status as a free city is grounded partly on their distance from major nations as well as their impressive defenses. They have no desire to pique the interest or rage of larger and more powerful nations, so they avoid any extreme tariffs or activities that might reduce the trade traffic that makes its way through the city.
Government
The major guild leaders of the city elect a town-commander, who at this point is Lord Thorbold. He has formed an advisory council with leaders of several guilds and organizations including the Merchant Guild (Guildmaster Shokri), Crafters’ Guild (Lady Jian Fodril), the captain of the guard (Captain Dal White), and the headmaster of the Brookmere Wizard’s College (Lady Aerlyn). Brookmere maintains stability by keeping its militia and city walls strong and by keeping taxes and tariffs low. Leadership changes only when leaders of the four main institutions change. The past 50 years have seen stable and peacefull changes in the city leadership, which help maintain a strong city.
The laws of Brookmere are lax. Most drugs, prostitution, and even slavery are legal here, although actual trade in slaves is frowned upon. Simply put, physical attacks against others are illegal, except in the case of self-defense, and almost everything else is legal. Nevertheless, the city is relatively peaceful and considered safe for most travelers. A single court system handles all civil disagreements and criminal complaints. Decisions can be appealed to the town-commander, but he usually lets the court decisions stand.
The ancient foundations here conceal a vast network of catacombs dating back to the elven creators of the first city to stand here. Those who know of the catacombs whisper that they lead to larger, deeper networks of caverns stretching far beneath the surface. City leaders are, quite honestly, frightened of the possibility of what might lurk in those catacombs and caverns so all entrances are kept sealed. Any time a collapse or construction reveals a new opening, it is promptly filled in, and guards watch over it until it is forgotten. Although not discussed officially, anyone found attempting to enter the catacombs or creating an opening to them is immediately arrested and brought before city leaders for punishment.
Military
The military consists of the general militia under General Reid Coldstone, and the city guard under Captain Lizette Raintree. Both groups work together to defend the city and the surrounding farms and mines. The general militia includes highly-trained infantry and artillery (ballistae and trebuchet) and man the defensive walls of the city as well as making continuing patrols of the surrounding areas. The city guard takes care of all policing of the city, including monitoring the gates, protecting valued clients and businesses, and investigating crimes. The city guard also assists in the defense of the city under the orders of the militia. General Coldstone has a detailed knowledge of the powers and abilities of the most powerful mages in the Brookmere Wizard’s College and is able to call upon them in the event the city is attacked.
Region
Brookmere, Free City of
Controlled Territories
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