Gildenglade

Elves Built by Dwarves

Douginuk

Gildenglade is a city in the forest area at the foot of the Aphrunn Mountains in Turmish. This city is the second-largest within Turmish, composed of dwarves, elves, and half-elves living together in harmony. Its economy was based primarily upon woodcutting, mining, and the manufacture of trade goods.
Image above is of the Dwarven-built Tower of the High Council in Gildenglade

Demographics

35% Elves, 25% Half-Elves, 15% Dwarves, 20% Human, 5% other
Elves are the ruling class, though not all elves are wealthy. They are shopkeepers, soldiers, administrators, hedge wizards, tradesmen, and professionals. Some select few are laborers.
Dwarves run the mining operations beneath the city and in the hills to the south. Dwarves are almost all miners, soldiers, or tradesmen dealing in ore or goods made from that ore.
Half-Elves make up the majority of the labor force in Gildenglade. They work the woods and fields around the city, or work for Elves in other capacities. Some are business folk.
Humans run the gammut, and occupy every strata of society.
Other races are well-tolerated, and must prove themselves to be unworthy of that tolerance.

Government

Elves rule, but it was decided as a practical matter. Past issues with the Emerald Enclave, the powerful druids of Ilighon, made it necessary. The druids could stomach Elven rule as long as that rule encouraged respect for the land. Elves rule with a council of twelve hereditary councilors called the High Council, advised by three community parliaments: The Dwarven Circle is an body of seven nobles from the original seven Dwarven clans that settled here to mine the area. The Court of Rings is a body of six hereditary Elven nobles who represent the Elven population in and around Gildenglade. The New Court is the advisory body comprised of Humans, Half-Elves, Halflings, Gnomes, and even an orc. It is the largest body, and has 21 members. The various bodies meet only at midsommer for two weeks. The High Council is arguably always in session, though they only really act if lower bodies cannot.

Defences

The city has no wall. It relies on a standing regiment of veterans and a strong militia with extremely competent magic support. It can field an army of 5,000 in three days. The watch (the standing regiment) numbers 350 Elves and Dwarves.
The watch is largely Elven and Dwarven (75% Elf, 20% Dwarf, 5% other). The watch is large and constantly vigilant. It doubles as a regiment of infantry when times require it. The army of Gildenglade is a militia army, but is made of trained Elves and Dwarves. There are numerous mages and clerics in this force, serving in a higher ratio than almost any other army. The people of Gildenglade carry weapons openly.
Gildenglade also maintains a fleet of six warships, dwarven longships that operate from Asple on the coast on the other side of the mountains to the East. Asple is little more than a fishing village, but has become somewhat of a Gladekin colony since the High Council sent a company of Dwarves to fortify the fleet's moorings. Now it a sleepy village with a small dwarven keep and a half-dozen dwarven longships. They patrol the Reach between Torl and Asple, but do so at the whim of the Emerald Enclave.
As a part of the Republic, there is also a garrison of the Turmish Republican Army in Gildenglade, numbering 100 men-at-arms.

Industry & Trade

Mining, Forestry and Woodcutting, Ranching, Trade

Infrastructure

The city is not walled, but is heavily patrolled. It has a sewer of elaborate design, built by dwarves over two centuries. In fact, all public buildings are built by dwarves. It is sometimes called the "Elves that Dwarves Built" by foreigners. Water is public, provided at a number of central wells throughout the city, fed by a dwarven aqueduct bringing water from the mountains.
There is no prison. Lawbreakers are dealt with harshly, either exiled forcibly or turned to stone. The gardens and parks, of which there are many, sport the statues of many criminals... who are often forced to pose in attractively in order to make a more pleasing statue.
The watch is largely Elven and Dwarven (75% Elf, 20% Dwarf, 5% other). The watch is large and constantly vigilant. It doubles as a regiment of infantry when times require it. The army of Gildenglade is a militia army, but is made of trained Elves and Dwarves. There are numerous mages and clerics in this force, serving in a higher ratio than almost any other army. The people of Gildenglade carry weapons openly.
The city is about half stone, half wooden, with a smattering of Elven homes of living wood. There are no shanties. If you cannot work or pay your own way, or find willing support from another, you are exiled.

Assets

Beneath Gildenglade is a rich vein of gold. The granite is difficult to tunnel through, but the rewards are more than worth it. Most of Gildenglade's wealth comes from this resource. Surrounding the city are the "Fields of Autumn", the name for the varied farms and ranches that feed this large city. The Fields of Autumn stretch for miles in most directions. Beyond the Fields are the Soaring Woods of the Turmish Valley. The trees, called Soaring Oak, is particular to Turmish, and grows most plentifully in the area around Gildenglade. The wood of the Soaring Oak is easy to work when freshly cut, but becomes resilient over time. It is sought for soaring arches and bridges throughout the nations of the Sea of Fallen stars, and has contributed greatly to the city's wealth (though gold is still where it's at, frankly).
The land around the city is fertile and supports a very rich fodder, giving the city a third export... cattle.
The coffers of the city are full, and continue to grow.

Architecture

The city is decidely Dwarven at first glance, owing to the large number of stone buildings built in the Dwarven style. Once a visitor looks past those, however, they'll notice a wide variety of styles. The population is cosmopolitan, and architecture reflects this.

Natural Resources

Fields of Autumn... farms and ranches that feed the city The Gildenmines... most of the city's wealth comes from the gold mined below the city. The Soaring Woods... The light (the trees do not grow in dense concentration) woods full of Soaring Oaks are harvested as a very valuable commodity.

Alternative Name(s)

Waitmeet

Type

City

Population

23,000 Elves, Half-Elves, Dwarves, and Humans

Inhabitant Demonym

Gladekin

Location under

Gildenglade

Included Locations

• Gildenglade