Channel Cities

From Channel Cities

Channel Cities

Welcome to the Channel Cities. Home to the brightest lights and the darkest shadows within the World of Ærnth fantasy RPG setting. The cities are the economic, political, and social center of this vast fantasy world. It is comprised of five separate cities, each with its own system of government, its own economy, varied social beliefs and morays, and the behind the scenes intrigue and espionage that accompanies such a vast and varied metropolis.

The Channel Region is the area around a channel that connects the North Sea and the Great Sea. The channel also separates two large continents at their closest point (think of the importance of Istanbul throughout the last 1,500+ years of history on our own world). There are several islands within this channel, as well as two rivers that empty into it. This is also the location of five large cities: Argentum, Gorled, South Shore, Martelain, and Dorgard. With all of the cities being separated by water there is only one permanent bridge (between Argentum’s main island and one of it’s small islands), and one semi-permanent bridge (between Gorled and Dorgard). This second bridge is built out of wood and is burned every few years or so, when trouble flares up between these two cities. There are several ferries that cross the channel at different points and two that cross the Clearwater River between South Shore and Martelain.

The population of the cities and the area immediately surrounding them is about 570,000 people, within approximately 13 square miles of land in an area of about 23 square miles (the remainder of the area is water). There are approximately 10,000 visitors to the channel cities on an average day (non-residents), either there on business (more often than not, merchants, traders, and sailors) or for a wide variety of other reasons. The cities are very crowded in the way that they are laid out and the buildings are set one against another throughout most of the metropolitan area, with very narrow and sometimes winding streets many with dead ends (many a wagon or carriage has been stuck due to a wrong turn).

Of the twelve islands around the Channel area, 2 are owned by one of the wealthy merchants in Argentum (one has his manor, warehouse, and docks; while the other is home to his shipyard (in addition to being one of the wealthiest and most successful merchants in the area, he also operates the largest of the three shipyards that supply vessels to the many merchants and shippers that comprise Argentum's upper class). One is controlled by the family that operates the many ferries that service the Channel cities, thus allowing them to keep clear of the political turmoil that often embroils the five cities and their governments. The remaining nine islands are controlled by a secretive and reclusive group of people who operate the most prestigious school in the world as well as being the unofficial historians and record keepers of the world’s history and events. These islands are known simply as the Isles of Stars.

The five cities have widely varying political systems and economics as explained below. Argentum is a Republic; however only landowners are considered Citizens with voting rights who elect a Council that oversees the city-state’s operations. It is also the trade and transportation hub of the world, and as such is home to many of the wealthiest merchants. Its coast is lined with warehouses and docks. Gorled is a large and militarily powerful Feudal Monarchy with a strong agricultural economy and some manufacturing. Dorgard is a smaller alliance of petty kingdoms, thus also uses a Feudal system, but with less of a hierarchy. It is also an agricultural powerhouse with its rich soil and great weather and growing season, especially in its southern regions. South Shore is the manufacturing powerhouse of the region with a very extensive and active system of artisan guilds, and is as close to a true democracy as exists within the world, with everyone who pays taxes a voting Citizen. It is also the only one of the five cities where slavery is outlawed and personal freedom is highly valued. Meanwhile Martelain used to be the manufacturing powerhouse and also operated some of the riches mines in the world, however the city fell to the Northern Empire many years ago and has since become the slums of the Channel Cities, currently ruled over by the “Governor” who is some outcast noble from the Northern Empire. Riots and unrest is common in Martelain, with an active but weak rebellion that is still trying to free itself from the oppressive rule of the powerful Empire.

A sample overview of the cities can be found in a series of articles that were written for the Guild Companion that can also be found combined into a single intoduction story called A Travelers Questions.

The map above is a large scale map, with each rectangle on this map (using the coordinate system shown) being more detailed maps that won’t be shown within this primer document, but most of which are heavily detailed. You will need to explore the city itself to learn more about the many structures and peoples that exist and live within this huge collection of cities. However below you will find a basic description of each of the cities and the peoples who live there as well as a general description of the economics and governments of each. Red items indicate special locations of interest (that are often used as landmarks in describing directions to other locations within the cities, usually due to their size or other odd features.

The following is a list of the districts (only some of the maps are currently available, as early on I tried to scan in the hand-drawn paper and pencil maps and they didn't turn out too well, so I have been slowly converting them into higher quality digital maps, however this process is very slow and tedious): Note that the district designations (a letter and number)are based on a coordinate system where each rectangle is lettered going across the top with the "A" column to the left and the "N" column to the right, then they are numbered starting with "1" at the top and down to "10" at the bottom.

• A1 (Gorled) North Coast Dist.
• A2 (Gorled) New Town Gate Dist.
• A3 (Gorled) Old Town Gate Dist.
• A4 (Gorled) Stonewall Dist.
• A5 (Gorled) Rivertown Dist.
• A6 (Dorgard) North Gate Dist.
• A7 (Dorgard) Central Wall Dist.
• A8 (Dorgard) South Gate Dist.
• B1 (Gorled) Gull’s Dist.
• B2 (Gorled) Braeder’ain Dist.
• B3 (Gorled) Northwest Dist.
• B4 (Gorled) Fainerend Dist.
• B5 (Gorled) Crossroads Dist.
• B6 (Dorgard) Bridge Dist.
• B7 (Dorgard) Dorgard Market Dist.
• B8 (Dorgard) Stables Dist.
• C1 (Gorled) Forsithian Dist.
• C2 (Gorled) Old Tower Dist.
• C3 (Gorled) Kingfisher Coast Dist.
• C4 (Gorled) Gorled Market Dist.
• C5 (Gorled) Beggars Way Dist.
• C6 (Dorgard) Milning Dist.
• C7 (Dorgard) Hallegan Dist.
• C8 (Dorgard)
• D1 (Gorled) Win’ard Dist.
• D2 (Gorled) The Point Dist.
• D4 (Gorled) Naval Dist.
• D5 (Gorled) Ministry District
• D6 (Dorgard) High Tower District
• D7 (Dorgard) Warehouse Dist.
• E4 (Gorled) Silver Shore Dist.
• E5 (Gorled) The Narrows Dist.
• E6 (Gorled) Cathedral Dist.
• E7 (Dorgard) Grainary Dist.
• E8 (Isle of Stars)
• E9 (Isle of Stars)
• F2 (Argentum) Light Tower Dist.
• F3 (Argentum) Brewery Dist.
• F4 (Argentum) Little Maze District
• F5 (Gorled) East Coast District
• F6 (Gorled) Great Hall District
• F8 (Isle of Stars)
• F9 (Isle of Stars)
• G2 (Argentum) North-west Hill Dist.
• G3 (Argentum) West-central Hill Dist.
• G4 (Argentum) South-west Hill Dist.
• G6 (independent) Ferry Island
• G9 (Isle of Stars)
• H2 (Argentum) North-east Hill Dist.
• H3 (Argentum) Middle-east Hill Dist.
• H4 (Argentum) South-east Hill Dist.
• H5 (Argentum) Silver Coast Dist.
• H6 (South Shore) City Hall District
• H7 (South Shore) Cliffs District
• H8 (South Shore) Southern Shore Dist.
• H9 (South Shore)
• I2 (Argentum) Island View Dist.
• I3 (Argentum) East Docks Dist.
• I4 (Argentum) Wren District
• I5 (Argentum) Coliseum District
• I6 (South Shore) Guild Hall Dist.
• I7 (South Shore) Toulenour Dist.
• I8 (South Shore) West Gate Dist.
• I9 (South Shore) West Fisherman Dist.
• J1 (Argentum) Half Moon Isle Dist.
• J2 (Martelain)
• J3 (Martelain) Black Swan District
• J4 (Martelain) VanKlivoren Dist.
• J5 (Martelain) Smelter District
• J6 (South Shore) Great Bazzare Dist.
• J7 (South Shore) Central District
• J8 (South Shore) Roc’s Nest District
• J9 (South Shore) East Fisherman Dist.
• K2 (Martelain) North Shore Dist.
• K3 (Martelain) Prison District
• K4 (Martelain) Merchant’s Square Dist.
• K5 (Martelain) Grainary Dist.
• K6 (South Shore) Warf Master’s Dist.
• K7 (South Shore) Ancient Oak Dist.
• K8 (South Shore) Fisherman Gate Dist.
• K9 (South Shore) Fshrmn. Haven Dist.
• K10 (South Shore)
• L1 (Martelain) Little Shoreline Dist.
• L2 (Martelain) End of the Wall Dist.
• L3 (Martelain) Middle Dist.
• L4 (Martelain) Crafter’s Dist.
• L5 (Martelain) River District
• L6 (South Shore) Wharf District
• L7 (South Shore) Great Gate Dist.
• L8 (South Shore)Corner District
• L9 (South Shore) Training Field Dist.
• L10 (South Shore)
• M1 (Martelain) Shoreline Dist.
• M2 (Martelain) Palace District
• M3 (Martelain) Gutter District
• M4 (Martelain) Stench District
• M5 (Martelain) Naval Docks Dist.
• M6 (South Shore)
• M7 (South Shore)
• M8 (South Shore)
• M9 (South Shore)
• M10 (South Shore)
• N1 (Martelain) Shadowtown Gate District
• N2 (Martelain)
• N3 (Martelain)
• N4 (Martelain)
• N5 (Martelain)
• N6 (South Shore)
• N7 (South Shore)
• N8 (South Shore)
• N9 (South Shore)
• N10 (South Shore)