Historical Overview
The city of Surlee is surrounded by seven gates, and one former gate in the form of the Poncian Arch, which are used through an assortment of means to control aspects of the city. Many of them play host to guards and the area's Lieutenant of the
Free Company, whose jobs are to control the population of Surlee and guarantee loyalty to House Semillon by stamping out any Thewisy or Braelea influence. Many of the gates have therefore become symbols of oppression to residents, taking on local legends of their own.
Bercergate
The Bercergate and Cothgate work in tandem, restricting entry to the Arm depending upon social class. The Arm is a main center of trade for wine flowing out of the Blossom Fields, and many exporters are located here, as well as its historic markets. To tamp down on smuggling, all travel by those not licensed as merchants, or of a social status which exempts them, are directed to take the Bercergate to exit the city or enter this neighborhood.
"By order of the Lieutenant of the Arm, the southern gate into the neighborhood will be known only as the Bercergate, rather than any pejorative names concocted by local dissidents." - The Violet Velum
In
New Anharan,
bercer means one who breaches, as this was where Semillon troops broke through the defenses of the city during the
Fall of House Braelea. Locals call it, however, the Mercenary Gate, a dig at the origins of House Semillon.
Cothgate
The twin of the Bercergate, the Cothgate is meant for the use of merchants and others of status. This was intended to reduce smuggling from the wine exporters of the Arm, a major source of income for House Semillon. In doing so, House Semillon helped put an end to the hopes of the West Arm, which was pro-Semillon during the 1st Usurpation War, and instead won over the merchants of the East Arm, previously a Braelea loyalist neighborhood.
Hillkeep
Hillkeep used to be one of the many hilltop fortresses dotted along the approaches to Surlee, but as the city grew it was incorporated into the Semillon-built walls around the Inkstain Hook. Previously home to a wide neighborhood of farms and villagers, not unlike the Horseshoe Vale, they were ejected to make way for the Aure Halls and the
Bank of Anhara. The Hillkeep gatehouse was then constructed to restrict access to the neighborhood to those with business in the Aure Halls, forcing those from the surrounding Vales to go around south to the Bercergate, another added insult in the eyes of the pro-Braelea valeside villages.
Newgate
Newgate has a similar story to Hillkeep, and despite its name is the oldest extant gate in the city, new only by comparison to Terracetop, entrance to which it used to control. The Newgate itself manages all traffic coming into the Blossom Fields from the east, along the
Ruby Key, and thus any land-based exports from Surlee or any territory west of it. A considerable inn business sprang up around the gate, which grew dramatically with the popularity of the
New Wine Festival.
"They have undertaken quite an alleged beautification, though it is far too gaudy for my taste, since I was last here. The Newgate truly is new, as one of what I believe to have been the most ancient structures in the city has been torn down to make way for a gilded cage." - Letter from Lord Thewisy home to his wife, on a trip to the New Wine Festival
Thus, the Newgate is an active point of inspection for those coming into the city during festival season, so as to prevent the entrance of those viewed by the Semillons as an undesirable presence in the northern half of the city.
Poncian Arch
The Poncian Arch was once the main gate to the Surlee of the Braeleas, leading into what would become the Windfall neighborhood. This neighborhood gained its name during the 2nd Usurpation War, when House Semillon hauled down the flag of House Salis, declaring their revolt. In Anhara, when a larger house summons their vassals to arms, it is known as
calling their winds, thus the Windfall neighborhood and Poncian Arch became a monument to the victory of House Semillon.
"Not even bothering to pull the banner of Salis down, the Semillon men took an axe to the poles atop the Southern Gate, leaving their own colors the tallest." - The Whistling Observer
The gate was turned into a monument for
Poncel I Semillon, a beautifully carved triumphal arch depicting the legendary history of House Semillon from their perspective, the most visual aspect of the return of the
Romance of Nobility movement.
Raymontale Gate
The Raymontale Gate is one of the main centers of contention in Surlee and a locus of Braelea loyalist displays. It is named, along with the
Raymontale Road which leads south to
Septhearth, for
Raymon II Braelea and his flight away from the city as it was sacked by House Semillon. Around this gate are focused many of the traditions and festivals of Oldtowne, most of which go ignored by the lieutenant of the area. However, that is not the case for
Raymon's Rest.
"The Free Company of Oldtowne failed to discover the date of Raymon's Rest, the great movable feast of the year, and were taken entirely off-guard by yesterday evening's celebrations." - The Violet Velum
Raymon's Rest is a festival commemorating the memory, and hoped for return, of the last Braelea leader of the city, and marks the start of the season of remembrance, a series of events commemorating the Braeleas. Some of the larger parades and celebrations lead to violence with the guards, but none more so than Raymon's Rest, which the Semillons have made an effort to crack down on. This is largely due to its unpredictability, as it is a moveable feast and can pop up anywhere the people can manage in the southern portion of the city, but always with the intention of ending at the Raymontale Gate.
Veilgate
The Veilgate is one of the most trafficked gates of the city and has been a focus of the lieutenant of Ghostbottle in an effort to clean up the eastern entrance to the city. With the Winerun Gate it gives access to Surlee to those coming from the heart of the Vinelands, and thus has a heavy guard presence. From the Veilgate the Semillons have made an effort to push the natives of the neighborhood behind a façade of largely empty structures, in an attempt to give a more uniform and attractive appearance to the road leading through Ghostbottle.
"Those executed for their crimes within the Annexes will be retrieved from their state of display, after the period prescribed for said crime, from the Raymontale Gate. Displays of criminal bodies are prohibited at the Winerun or Veil Gates, nor other areas frequented by dignified travel." - Surlee City Ordinances, Section 4
The Veilgate takes its name from a procession of priestesses which used to make a pilgrimage from Reedbury to the Lovers' Steps, before House Semillon closed them off to pilgrims.
Winerun Gate
The Winerun Gate is the most hated of all symbols of oppression in the southern portion of Surlee. Here the guards have their largest presence, and the lieutenants of the southern neighborhoods meet most frequently. It is more a castle than a gate, as it governs the road by two actual gates, one for traffic coming in and the other heading out, and also hosts the local Free Company contingent and a prison.
"I'd rather be sent to the Winerun than do that." - a common refrain south of the Spill
"Winerun" has become a colloquialism for oppression, and synonymous with the administration of territory south of the Spill. While the troops in the Winerun Gate have succeeded in forcing Ghostbottle back behind a largely empty façade of newer construction along the road, they have failed to break the resistance of the rest of the neighborhood, and see frequent skirmishes near the structure.
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