Town of Normar
Normar is a fortified town in the far north of the Duchy of Hekmo. It is the site of an old but formidable castle built to defend the countryside against the possibility of attack from Colo.
The town is located just below the castle on a gentle slope that allows the town walls to close off the town proper just below the castle walls. The town has narrow but paved path that leads up the hillside towards a gate into the castle grounds at the crest of the hill. There are two other gates into the town, both with strong round towers and double gates.
Demographics
Exclusively Human. The last non-Human residents left more than 10 years ago due to particularly harsh local reactions to ducal economic policies.
Government
The town is the seat of the Briary of Normar which governs both the town and the surrounding countryside.
Defences
There are two strong gatehouses into the town, and another smaller gate that leads into the castle grounds. The town gatehouses are flanked by large round towers 40' tall and double gates of banded oak with a portcullis between them. These gatehouses are strong, well-designed and fully defensible.
The town has a Watch of company-size. The Briar insists that the Watchmen train twice a year and equips the Watch with standardized armor and kit that includes a sword, hand axe, shield and 6' halberd. They are trained in both unit fighting and gate defense, and all are capable hands at fire-fighting, as well.
Industry & Trade
The Town of Normar is centered on the development of the northern regions of the Duchy. Local industries focus on timber harvesting, hunting, road building and maintenance, and a sizable and remarkably profitable tin mining operation.
Infrastructure
The town has declined in population over the last 20 years, and there is a significant amount of unused space within the town walls. Nearly one-fifth of the existing buildings within the walls are empty or unoccupied, but all the remaining structures within the town are stoutly built stone structures with slate or tile roofs. There are four deep, clean wells within the walls that provide fresh water even in the coldest of winters, all sheltered by stone huts. Roads are rough but paved with cobbles and flagstones and can accommodate carts and wagons year-round.
The Town is connected by two highways to the neighboring frontier settlements to the northwest (Noldur) and the southeast (Norfot). These highways are quite primitive and poorly constructed but do provide a means by which large units of men and horses can travel at least a little faster than by traveling overland. In traveling from Normar northwest towards Noldur, the distance is 52 miles on the highway. From Normar to Norfot, the distance is 61 miles
Guilds and Factions
The town's inhabitants can be grouped into two distinct groups: those that see an existential threat from Colo and those that do not. The inhabitants that fear an attack from Colo are the slight majority at the moment, and support for the Briar's and the Duke's policies are strong, at the moment.
Architecture
Most buildings in the town are made of local stone, cut and dressed within a day's walk of the walls. Slate or tile roofs are the norm to prevent the chance of fires. Windows are not typically glazed but all are shuttered with heavy oak or hickory planks. Doors are thick, strong and nearly always locked and barred.
Geography
Located at the base of a slight hill upon which sits Normar Castle, the town is only a half-day's walk from the northern fringes of the mighty Normar Forest. A swift, clear and cold stream flows just outside the town walls and powers the town's only functioning mill.
Climate
Renowned for its cold, snowy winters, Normar regularly gets winter snowfalls that exceed 30' over the course of a season. The residents of the town are by default quite adept at managing their lives in a cold and difficult climate, and are by nature hearty and resilient.
Natural Resources
The town is located on the edge of a fertile plain formed by the seasonal flooding of a swift stream valley. These plains allow the growing of large amounts of vegetables and even a few acres of cereal crops like barley and rye. There is also a natural abundance of honey bees in the area, and numerous farms and gardeners near the town maintain productive apiaries for the collection of honey.
Normar Castle in the late spring
A Normar street in winter
A local family farm near the town walls
