A walk through Silverwater

Jakxon felt the excitement bubble up from his feet through his legs and into his stomach. This was going to be his first visit to the big city. Fourteen years of living in a town, hamlet rather, where you knew everyone or worse; where everyone knows you.
Today was different, today was the day he would accompany his father to the big city. Six months ago his father confided in him that he would be required on the quarterly cattle run. This was one of the final steps on becoming a man, to be a full contributor to the running of the farm and not just a 'cattlekid'.
Two weeks ago they had set out with 15 head of cattle for the hungry stockyards of Silverwater, and now the city was in sight. This morning he woke up and his father had pointed out the silvery smoke plume that was to be their compass for the final part of the journey. The beasts would not be hurried along to their final destination, it was as if they knew that this journey had no return for them. The anticipation drew his attention away from his task of keeping the cattle together, but a sharp reminder delivered by a pinecone, at speed to the back of his head brought the here and now back to the present.
The city walls come across as imposing which was their entire point. To deter a possible threat to the citizens of Silverwater. Any serious threat to the city was hundreds of years ago. Any invading army would have to travel hundred of leagues through defended territory before being able to lay siege to the city. As a result of the years of peace in the city people build their homes on both sides of  the city. Jakxon did not know of the history of the wars surrounding Silverwater, but the walls endure and the gates remain guarded and the people feel safe and because of that life in and around the city continues.

Entering the city gates. 


Jakxons dad gave specific orders to all the cowboys in the group.
  "Jakxon, stay on the left, do not let any cattle move your way", he barked this order and Jakxon knew not to disobey. He readied his whip.

From the gates to the yards was only 100 yards but the cattle zigzagged, The whip cracked again and again. Jakxon glanced to the other cowboys and saw that they no longer relied on the the sharp noise of the whip but used the business end on the thick hides of the beasts. The newest cowboy took the hint and found that the job was suddenly easier. The yard boys opened the gates and the cattle were soon enclosed. Not before a few bruises and more than a few swear words.

The yard manager waved over Jakxons dad. Out of habit Jakxon followed him but the others kept a respectful distance.
  "Fred!", said the yard manager with the knowing nod of a familiar face, "how was the run?"
  "You know, the usual, training my boy here to work the cattle on the run"
  "He looks like you, you'd improve his looks with a few stripes of his whip", He pressed a pouch into the older man's hand and with that the business was concluded.

They rode back to the cowboys and with silent nods they rode to the nearby inn. The smell that wafted out created a queasy feeling in Jakxon. A sign indicated that this was "The Laughing Orc". The cowboys eagerly tied up their horses and would have figuratively have tripped to get inside but one of them actually tripped one of the others so he could be the vanguard.
Fred piloted Jakxon in using the young man's shoulders as rudders.

Once inside, the group found a table that they all could sit at and Fred returned a nod from a passing wench and forthwidth and the passing of a coin the table was decorated with the appropriate number of tankards and a vessel of a brown foaming brew, that to Jakxons nose was less than appetising. Despite this the cowboy who had made his way in first decanted the fluid into each of the tankards, he paused briefly at Jakxons mug, until he received a nod from Fred and then all seated ranked level. Fred took the pouch and passed a few coins to each of the party and with some parting words told them to be back at work Monday. The group finished their drinks and dissolved.

  "Let us investigate this hornets nest, before we return home, son. I am sure you are burning with curiosity, to what kind of evil can live in a place like this." And with that they left that building of foul stenches that preferred to be called "the Laughing Orc", or "the Orc" for short..



Many years ago Jakxon and some of his friends had broken open a Fire Ants nest, releasing and attracting the fury of a horde of  insects as long as your hand. They had run long and hard that day, knowing that if they had been caught their skin would not have protected them from the frenzy. However they could not resist to go back a few days later to see what their actions had revealed. The ants had buried them selves deeper in the ground but left some of the nest showing, it showed a maze of large and small passages. The city was like the nest but rather than being abandoned it was filled with moving human insects. The sheer crush of people in the city felt like that time when he fell into the the cattle sales yard. The voluminous crush of populace was like being stuck between the cattle, people moved hither and thither like startled sheep, their noise was that of chickens roused up from their nests in anticipation of their daily feeding. Each person focussed on their own target of food, drink or entertainment.

Fred had been here before and took the time to stop at the temple of Ceres. Junior and senior both knew of Ceres, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture. Compared to the small shrine that was interned at their town, this was truly an impressive structure, polished stone walls and a large golden Cornucopia or horn of plenty embedded above the double front doors. Jakxon was almost afraid to follow his father in but his fear of being left alone in this bustling city drove him inside. A large statue of the goddess at the end of the large chamber dominated the area and Jakxon felt his head bow in respect. They stayed long enough for Fred to make an offering of coins into the receptacle. A cleric that Jakxon had not noticed before made the holy sign at Fred and thereby showed him thanks.

  "one more stop."
As they once more entered the throng Jakxon stayed close to his lifeline, the only way out of this maze of madness. Fred laughed at Jakxon for calling it that.
  "When you have been here a few times, you will not mind it so much", said he merrily.
They passed a building twice the size of the temple of Ceres,
  "Juno, the mother of the gods, The Duke is a devoted follower and allows her clerics a little more leeway than is normally allowed. Keep moving, boy"
Their objective lay in a small alley whose entrance that was hidden by a delivery cart. A door with a unfamiliar symbol, A golden circle and a smaller flattened circle on top, sat above the iron knocker. Fred pulled on the door and entered. Jakxon tried to follow but the door closed and would not open again. Anxiety gripped him and he expected to be attacked at any moment. He loosed his whip, the only weapon he had, when dad came back out. Without a word he left the way they had come in and Jakxon followed at his heels.

Jakxon was glad to be on his way but despite his reluctance it seemed that 'the Orc' was to be their final stop for the day.
  "too late to set back on the road tonight, we will be on our way home at first light."

Silverwater

The town of Silverwater is on the south side of Silverlake. It is an old city and has just short of 10 000 people living in the the city borders. Considering that the majority of Krugenberg citizens life outside of city borders the Duke (Bartel Adalmund) is also responsible for those outside of the borders. Most life in a rural or small town settings.
Silverwater is a hub where people manufacture higher quality items and fine furniture, for example Masterwork weapons would almost exclusively be made in the larger towns.  Most of the raw materials are imported from outlying townships. One such township is Goldbark a hamlet that exists on the far outskirts of the province and the edge of the large Forrest. They supply lumber for furniture. The lumber is transported on barges from Goldbark to Silverwater.
Food is also imported into the city, grains and most non-perishables by wagons and oxen. Cattle is driven in by cowboys and slaughtered and butchered in the city. It is now becoming apparent that the supply lines have some weaknesses that the Duke will need to address.

The main religions are represented however the larger denominations are those of Juno. The chief priest is the Venerable Odolricus Adalmund. There has recently been a major (three day) festival honouring the goddess. This affected most of the city, even those who are not active worshippers.

The Kingdom of Krugenberg

Welcome to Krugenburg,

Q. What is Krugenberg?
A. Krugenberg is a mythical/fantasy location and a setting for a Dungeons & Dragons RPG.

Q. Can you tell me a little about it?
A. Yes, sure

Q. ....?
A. Oh you mean now? Sure. Krugenberg is a fantasy role play setting that has been forming in my mind for a while now and recently I have began to map out the major cities in relation to each other and some of the trading routes. Also where there are potential adventuring areas and the distances from the towns.

Q. Is there a political system?
A. Each major city is ruled over by a Duke or a Count who report directly to the King. The Dukes (and Counts) are responsible for the safety of their citizens and are authorised to raise taxes to maintain services and to support a standing army. As the players continue of their quests they will learn more about the names of the rulers and the towns. The citizens and who are the major players in each town etc.

Q. What have they learned so far?

A. The people of Krugenberg life mainly in small communities with a few larger cities. The smaller communities tend to be specialised in a primary industry (agricultural or mining) and if applicable some refinement (turning trees into timber, ore into metal)

Larger towns tend to be more industrial, (turning raw materials into goods) 

Silverwater and Urbé Maris and surrounding areas are ruled by Dukes. Stormwaves, Albus Petris, Mons Igneus, and Procul Urbé by Counts, There are a number of Baronies for medium townships, these report directly to the Dukes and Counts who report to the King. Krugenstein is ruled by the King. 

Silverwater is ruled by Duke Bartel Adalmund. He is a worshipper of Juno. 

Q. What about Clerics and their gods?

A.The basic pantheon is based on the Roman/Greek mythology with Roman names. Citizens might choose to worship or not to worship. Larger towns will tend towards a main deity and have temples toward him or her. But there will be be temples to other deities. Small towns will have a temple to a single deity.

Worship is not done on a weekly basis, each deity has holy days (aka festivals) where people are invited to worship/celebrate regardless of their primary affiliation. Employers tend to be more lenient toward letting people attend festivals for deities they are known to worship. People tend to work according to their own schedules with days off according to their negotiated times and this tends to work out to 8 days out of 10.

People also tend to worship family deities and frequently have a shrine in their homes, where they make small offerings of food. These deities cannot grant spells nor can they have clerics. There is no conflict in worshipping more than one deity.

While the D&D rules allow for clerics to worship an ideal this does not occur in this realm.

In the smaller towns; temples also act as a school and the locally assigned clerics teach the basics to young people (reading/writing/mathematics).

Q. Is there magic in the realm?
A. Larger towns tend to to be the places that magic schools aka universities are established. Young people who show an aptitude towards magic can take an apprenticeship at university where they will learn basic cantrips and skills. Generally there is only one school per larger town. A graduate of a school tends to feel greater affiliation to the school than to other magic users or schools. All schools issue a distinctive ring to graduates, certain graduates are entitled to have ring imbued as magical, generally these are students that have done something significant. Certain universities are known to specialise in schools of magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#schoolSubschool)
Most schools tend to frown on the Necromancy specialisation however there is one [as yet unidentified school] that appears to encourage it.
It is theoretically possible to be a wizard without graduating and in that case please write out in some detail what you did to get expelled from the university. It is assumed you will have attended and passed all classes so you are not short on skills. Also you will not be recognised as a wizard by any other wizard so they will not allow you access to their spell books.