Loch Mesner

The heart of both Troth's rivers as well as its commerce, Loch Mesner often finds itself as the meeting point of numerous interests in the republic.

Geography

Loch Mesner sits at the approximate geographical center of Troth, fed water by the Delphic river from the Northern Soltian mountains and the Alfric river from the Wulpine Mountains to the south. The Loch then feeds out into the Nordic river to Nordengard and the Indo Sea beyond.
The land surrounding the Loch is made up of the Trothian capitol city of Sonheim, making the lake both the commercial and political center of the republic.
In the center of the Loch lies an island on which the Silver Palace, a refurbished military fort that now stands not only as the meeting place of the republic's ruling council and leaders of industry, but also serves as the central command for coordinating the various boats and barges sailing through the city. The palace is connected to the Loch's shores by raised bridges that allow crafts to pass beneath.

Ecosystem

Given how Loch Mesner is fed by two of the major rivers in Troth and feeds out into the third, the Loch and the city that surrounds it serves as a major hub for trade and commerce. Raw materials such as metal ores, coal, and lumber come into Sonheim on barges and are processed by local manufacturers and artisans into goods like weapons, tools, and furniture. This emphasis on trade is a large reason for Sonheim serving as the seat of political power in the republic.

Ecosystem Cycles

Loch Mesner has been known to experience a slower rate of barges delivering materials from its tributaries in mid-late summer through autumn due to the typically low seasonal rainfall causing drops in the rivers' waterline and current. Such currents are renewed in late winter and spring as snowcaps in the respective mountain ranges melt off.
The dip in shipments during the summer are somewhat balanced out by the seasonal surge of freshwater fish that migrate to the Loch each year, often causing a boom in the local fish markets. Inversely, the fishing around the Loch becomes scarce during the winter when most fish are hibernating upstream.

History

During the days of Calian rule, the Silver Palace (then a military fort known as Mesengard) served as the main meeting place of the northern nobility as they discussed and devised their secession from the kingdom. Once the secession came, the fortress became the central command for coordinating forces to repel attempts made by Calios to reclaim their domains.
Once Calios was forced to recognize the secession of their northern territory and Troth became its own republic, Mesengard officially shifted from being a military outpost to a political center as it remained the location for the new central government.
As the Loch became both the political and economic center of the republic, the handful of villages that dotted its shores began to grow and merge into what is today Sonheim.
Such growth did not come without its pains, though, as the increase in trade made smuggling operations a common occurrence. While there has been back and forth between law enforcement and smugglers for decades, the greatest blow to the illegal operations came during The Meridan War in the form of harsher crackdowns with the aim of preventing Calian agents from infiltrating the republic.

Tourism

Loch Mesner is known for its freshwater fish, making the local fish markets a popular attraction during the summer months for those looking for a delicacy. Looking more broadly at the surrounding city of Sonheim, visitors may explorer the various theaters and cafes of the entertainment district.
For those wishing to take a memento of their visit, guild row is home to a number of smiths and artisans willing to sell their wares direct.

Alternative Name(s)

The Lake of Commerce, The Heart of the Republic,

Type

Lake

Location under

Sonheim

Owning Organization

Ellerich Alliance