Imperial City supplement?

[James Ruhland]

HSwiftfoot * Jim Cooper et al.
>
> I would like to see your write-up of the Imperial Heralds Academy,
> please. Post it to the list when your finished!
>
>
Oooh. speaking of Academy, the City should have the finest, and among the
only, University's in Cerilia (perhaps attached to/run by the H.Acad. .
.perhaps you mentioned that, but I forgot.) and well-endowed Monestarys
(and brothels for both sexes and all orientations. . .remember, we're
talking cosmopolitan, here), an Orphanage/Hospice run by the City
Prefecture (Government) (well run, not Dickensian), a Large, Romanesque
Bathouse (or two), open-air Theatre (can be covered in poor weather),
Gondola's. Small islands in the Aerenbae that the aristocrats use as
resorts/villias, &tc. . .
This is cool; we could list all our ideas, and see what makes it into any
supliment.

[Brian Stoner]

Stone and Concrete buildings fill the Emperial City. Six story apartments,
amphitheaters, the Grand Colosseum. The Great Bridge crosses the Maesil at the heart
of the city.

Although the Temple of Healyn is central to the city's religious life, all the gods
are represented...even Belenik and Kriesha have hidden temples. Even athiests and
followers of other gods find homes here...every little cult one can think of.

On an average day, the harbor is full of ships loading and unloading cargo. Smoke
fills the air constantly. Markets can be found in many places, including the Great
Market...where nearly anything can be purchased...although, imports are expensive.

In some parts of the city, the Emperial Guard has absolute control...while in others,
it is dangerous to go out at night. The walls are huge, who can conceive of any army
ever penetrating them? This is one place where the glory of the Empire never died.

Some areas are open parks...others are crowded slums. Wealthy merchants live on
hills overlooking their warehouses...nobles live in villas on islands. Sewers run
under the city, filled with all kinds of evils... Monument Square is filled with
statues of Emperors and heroes of the Empire.

And who can forget the College of Sorcery or the Emperial Palace? What darkness
fills the pit of the old College and what enlightenments are sought in the new
College? The Emperial Palace rises high above the city, and is visible from
everywhere...a constant reminder of the fallen empire...and the hope for tomorrow.

Brian

[James Ruhland]

sorry if I reply to all/most of these. . .each one sparks a new
idea/modification of an idea.
>
> On an average day, the harbor is full of ships loading and unloading
cargo. Smoke
> fills the air constantly.
>
Perhaps. .. perhaps not (re the smoke). Certain crafts (I.E. Tanning,
Butchering, smithy-work, dyemaking) would be isolated from the rest of the
city (typical of well-run/regulated midieval citys to isolate "poluting"
crafts/guilds to an exurb). I.E. the "industrial" part of the city might be
located on the banks of the river, not the islands in the
lagoon/mouth/delta. Finished/semi-finished goods would be shipped to the
city in small packet-boats, or directly loaded into transports for delivery
throughout Cerilia.
>
> In some parts of the city, the Emperial Guard has absolute
control...while in others,
> it is dangerous to go out at night. The walls are huge, who can conceive
of any army
> ever penetrating them? This is one place where the glory of the Empire
never died.
>
Last sentance is true. . .1st sentance also true. . .2nd sentance, dk. City
would be well fortified/protected. But perhaps not by a wall. Remember, the
Imperial City is located on a series of Islands (a la Venice), not a
penensula (A la Constantinople). It would rely on the river/sea to provide
most of the protection (and a strong fleet), though the bridge, if there is
one, would be heavily fortified. (defenses might be more magical/mystical
in nature; not a wall, but some kind of modified warding to keep enemies
out in time of siege?) I, myself, would love to see a tripple wall and
moat, guarded by a golden gate and a castle of seven towers. . .but it
wouldn't be Anuire the City.

> Some areas are open parks...others are crowded slums. Wealthy merchants
live on
> hills overlooking their warehouses...nobles live in villas on islands.
Sewers run
> under the city, filled with all kinds of evils... Monument Square is
filled with
> statues of Emperors and heroes of the Empire.
>
Good point; also a number of plazas et al. Compounds/villias of the wealthy
aristocracy would be almost self contained worlds (own wineries, bakeries,
lybrarys, baths, shrines, dock, et al). Gondola's of various sizes/splendor
fill the canals between the islands. Many houses/apartments/villias open
directly into them, with "garage"-like private docks.

> And who can forget the College of Sorcery or the Emperial Palace? What
darkness
> fills the pit of the old College and what enlightenments are sought in
the new
> College? The Emperial Palace rises high above the city, and is visible
from
> everywhere...a constant reminder of the fallen empire...and the hope for
tomorrow.
>
From the books and other descriptions, the Imperial caern is supposedly a
prominent island rising high out of the sea/river. So that's certainly
true. What a view of the bay and the city below. . .it must be beautiful.

> Brian
>
>> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the
line
> 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.

[Sepsis]

Greetings,
I too would like to see a supplement devoted to the Imperial City (aka City
of Anuire), or a supplement that covers several major cities in Cerilia.
Perhaps one city per ethnic group. Although it might be better to have each
in its own supplement; this way information could be given about other
towns and villages of that same particular ethnic style, helping DMs
(perhaps with "tables" of some kind) in designing their own cities, towns,
or villages) in that particular region.


BTW, I would also like to have a look at Kevin Moss' "Imperial Herald" kit.
I still think Bards got the short end of the stick in BR (being far too
underdeveloped), at least IMO, so anything to help give them more life is
always of interest to me.


Sepsis, richt@metrolink.net (ICQ:3777956)

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State;
the province of life or death;
the road to survival or ruin.
It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied."
-Sun Tzu,(The Art of War)-

BR Netbook: http://webpages.metrolink.net/~veleda/birth.html