Parisius
Parisius is the city that would eventually become Paris. The city itself is named after a Celtic Gallic tribe called the Parisii. This changed when the region was took over by the Romans who called it Lutetia (or Lutecia in some circles).
Demographics
The city is large and diverse. The majority of the population are human, of which the Franks are the dominant people. Other peoples such as the descendants of Gallic Roman settlers, and the Gallic Celts still exist here. Smaller enclaves of Gnomes and Halflings are found through out the city. Saying this there is at least one enclave of Dwarves and one of (predominately) High Elves too.
Parisius has the full spectrum of wealth classes ranging from beggars all the way to the king himself, when in residence. Many professional labourers and their unskilled subordinates exist throughout the city as well as merchants buying and selling different wares. Many established noble families can be found here with some of the oldest in the whole of Frankia.
Professionals founds regularly in Parisius are: stonemasons, wood workers, metal workers, leather workers & tanners, priests & monks / nuns, carpenters / coopers, book binders, dyers, clothiers / tailors, yarn & flax producers, butchers, candle stick makers, bakers, glass smith / gaffer, messengers, entertainers, tavern & inn owners, brewers & vinters, professional soldiers / mercenaries, bowyers, fletchers, blacksmiths (as well as related smiths), locksmiths, gem cutters.
Government
The city is run by the Burgomaster Drogon de Rais and the nobility (generally the Jarls, and the Huscarls below them), with laws coming directly down through them, and enforced by a small hierarchy of officials and their agents. The nobility usually have a Burgomaster selected by them to serve in day-to-day running of the city (this can mean master of the town, borough, fortress or citizens). To all intents & purposes he runs the city on a daily basis, enforcing the law, collecting taxes and if need be sending in the local militia or military if need be.
Taxes are collected by either supplying 1 to 5 lbs of goods every three months, or one to 5 silver at the time. Any time these are to be collected the taxed can carry out acts of public work worth the same amount, such as repairing or building a new bridge, or maintaining a specific building.
There is also a Cathedral at Notre Dame, and other churches, which work closely with the government in bringing many under the same religion and working like a community. Some still follow the old religions and have small shrines operating the same way.
Defences
A Palace is the most recognized defensive structure. It is a heavy set building on the island Ile de la Cite. Made of stone, and surrounded by a heavy wall with towers at every few hundred yards, it can be near impregnable. The walls and towers are constantly manned by professional soldiers loyal to the Crown. Also with it being built on an island the bridge to it can be raised if need be with two joined towers on the far bank (also manned). The river Seine acts like a natural moat.
The rest of the city has smaller stone walls and towers built round it every few miles, and more are built every time the city expands. These are more for slowing down attackers than anything else, and as rally points for the military.
Because of wood workers and carpenters being present in the city, wooden palisades can easily be built too when necessary.
Industry & Trade
Many merchants of different types live in the city and sell different produce, some made locally, some imported from further afield. Quite a few also export to towns, cities and even different regions outside Frankia. Many such industries are active in the city as mentioned before: stonemasons, wood workers, metal workers, leather workers & tanners, carpenters / coopers, book binders, dyers, clothiers / tailors, yarn & flax producers, butchers, candle stick makers, bakers, glass smith / gaffer, messengers, entertainers, tavern & inn owners, brewers & vinters, bowyers, fletchers, blacksmiths (as well as related smiths), locksmiths, gem cutters.
Clothing, weapons, armour, jewellery, wood and wine are regular exports.
Infrastructure
Roads and bridges are spread throughout the city, the former crossing the Seine. The Ile de la Cite is the oldest part so has a palace of King Charlemagne on this island (the island is in the north bending part of the Seine). Walls are built round this to protect it. A second island also sits near it called Ile Saint-Louis. The rest of the city is found on the banks of the Seine. Courtyards are found on both islands, and the latter also holds a small chapel too.
Ports & boons for small river going ships and boats are found on the banks, as well as water mills used for grinding wheat & barley and the like. Some are also used for flax manufacture and the odd bit of linen too. Boats are built at dock here too.
Sewers run under each part, and the oldest are under Il de la Cite. Tanneries and their pits are also found near the river pumping effluence into the Seine. The majority of the dyers are found by the river too, since they need a constant source of water. This also applies to brewers and vinters needing a constant source of water for fermentation.
Many smiths of different types are found throughout the city working different metals, leading to a mix of blast furnaces, foundries and smithies appearing all over. The wood workers, carpenters and coopers generally work at the far edges of the city where the timber can easily be worked in their workshops.
Glass smiths have their workshops spread out too throughout the city, and many merchants have shops and stalls too. Many of the merchants make use of courtyards too, to attract groups of people to them without opening up their shops.
Assets
Parisius has a Palace and a cathedral that stores many of the nobilities wealth. These are stored in vaults dug deep in the ground to stop the most determined thieves from getting in, or even out. Stores are found attached to businesses storing whatever the merchants are selling, or the craftsmen supplies to keep them working. These range from small wooden structures to heavy stone structures depending on the business.
Guilds and Factions
A single merchant guild exists in the city speaking on behalf of them, looking after merchant families and acting like a bank for them. The stonemasons, smiths and carpenters have their own guilds acting in the same ways as the merchant guild, but also allowing for standards of workmanship to be set, and training in specific fields too.
There is rumoured to be a thieves guild secreted away in among the citizenry, and rumours of an assassins guild too. The authorities are constantly trying to get any information concerning these two guilds, but little headway means there is nothing really to confirm or deny these.
Hidden away there seems to be hidden religious cults conducting their religious rites in secret. A number of high ranking individuals of the clergy have been murdered, seemingly at the hands at a number of these cults, along with a small amount of the nobility and high-ranking individuals.
History
Parisius is named after a Celtic Gallic tribe called the Parisii. This changed when the region was took over by the Romans who called it Lutetia (or Lutecia in some circles). This specific region has be occupied since roughly 52 BC. The city site has been a major power in the region for this time, and when Rome left the local Gallic peoples took over until the Franks travelled to here and took over.
Architecture
The majority of buildings in the centre and surrounding parts are made of stone, while the outlying parts are predominately wood, with some stone using spare building materials. The majority of stone buildings have windows to let light in. The buildings are predominately shades of grey and brown usually associated with the materials used to build them. Most buildings have a fireplace and a roughly built chimney, and soot from these can sometimes build up with soot from businesses and workshops on them. The worst of this is washed away gradually by rain.
Geography
Parisius was originally built on two islands in the northern bend of the river Seine. The city has a few smaller rivers and streams flowing through it, pouring into the main river.
Founding Date
52 BC
Alternative Name(s)
Lutetia, Paris
Type
Large city
Inhabitant Demonym
Parisiens
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
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