General Information

Westwick is located within a large clearing of the Spirit Woods, about eighty miles east of the SpiritRiver.  There is a large lake several miles east of the town.  A road off the small western bridge connects Westwick with Atalatha, and a southern road leads to the far of town of Rattan.

Westwick has fewer than 1,000 citizens, and the town keeps supporting itself through farming and fishing.

The town has virtually no defense, save for a few amateur guards which patrol the town’s busier areas.  Some rumors have swirled about a hidden sect of thieves which guard the town as well.

History

Westwick is the newest town of Raleigh.  It was established on the 1^st of Sunspire, 974 by Wispus van Tretten.  Wispus and a collection of citizens from Viscosa removed themselves from the capital, feeling that politics and the urban lifestyle were too complicated.  They trekked north to Atalatha, but felt that it, too, was far too busy a city to inhabit.  Wispus led his companions to the Spirit Woods east of the city of Atalatha, and, once deep inside, decided on a spot to settle.

The town is named after an old friend of Wispus’, Erman Westwick, who once told him that Viscosa was the beginning, and would become the end, of Raleigh.  Erman was imprisoned within the capital, and died while incarcerated.  His death became the catalyst for the future citizens of Westwick’s exodus.

Government

Westwick was founded on the belief that no law was better than too many of them.  The town does not pay traditional taxes to Viscosa, Wispus having struck a deal with Victor Raleigh to supply some other service, which is unknown except to those two parties.

The town itself can be said to be run as a true democracy.  All the decisions made are made by the entirety of the citizens.  Though the major decisions are played out like this, many of the mundane decisions have fallen upon Wispus, who the people turn to for guidance.

Places of Interest

Taverns

There is only one tavern in Westwick, and it is unnamed.  It is a particularly quiet establishment, and rarely sees violence or drama.  It is a small place, but is able to provide for thirsty men who have finished laboring for the day, or are taking a break from their taxing work.

The Town Hall

Westwick’s town hall is the biggest building that can be seen upon entering the village.  It dwarfs the size of all the homes and meager shops, but this is because it functions as many things.

The town has no inn, so if travelers need to stay anywhere, space has been set aside within the town hall.  It is a common sleeping place, so if other travelers happen to arrive at the same time, they must all share the same large room.  There is no private caretaker, and all the money earned in this manner goes directly to the town.

Temples are also absent from Westwick, but small images have been carved out in the likenesses of several of the gods in a small chamber within the town hall.  Worship is not performed on a specifically designated day or time, as it is considered personal to the citizens, and there simply is not enough room to accommodate them all during one day.

The town hall also functions as a municipal building, serving as a courthouse and a prison, though the courtroom is also where meetings of all sorts are called.  The prison is a single cell, and is rarely used.

Finally, the town hall also provides education to the children of Westwick.  A small classroom sits just beyond the courtroom.

Manors

Wispus van Tretten has a mansion a couple miles to the east of the village.  The place is massive, and some people say that it is larger than the town itself.  The mansion looks over the lake east of town.  It is said that the manor is magical, though outsiders are not permitted inside to confirm those rumors.

The Thieves’ Guild

Although it cannot be said for certain, many stories have circulated from visitors of the town that a thieves’ guild lies somewhere in the town.  However, with such humble looking folk, it is not apparent just where they could be.  Some folk claim that the rumors have only surfaced because money has been lost within the town, but financial gain really means little to the self-sustaining people of Westwick, so the rumors are often discarded.

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General Information

Sentinel was created not to be a town, but as a border outpost adjacent to the SentinelPass on the northern border of Raleigh.  It was supposed to be only a place for soldiers, but after long months of defending the pass, many soldiers’ families took the trip north to Sentinel and settled there, waiting for their loved ones to return to them.

It is almost due north of Atalatha, though there are no roads to Sentinel yet.  A trek through the wilderness is required to reach the outpost.

The primary function of Sentinel is to defend Raleigh from Blacklehn.  As such, it did not have much merit for business.  However, after moving to the outpost, spouses and older children had to find some way to provide for their families, so some extra work was made close by.  Several farms have taken form nearby, and a mining operation has begun on the south end of the pass as well.

Sentinel is populated by 36,000 people, but this also includes the soldiers (some which are unaccounted for) who serve within the 10 mile pass.

Sentinel has a tall, broad gate that leads into SentinelPass.  It also has a long wooden barricade surrounding its remaining sides.

History

Sentinel, named after its proximity to the mountain pass it defends, was established on the 16^th of Nehr, 978, making it the youngest city within Raleigh (although it is theoretically only an outpost).  Prior to this most of the war between Raleigh and Blacklehn was done within the SentinelPass.  However, after Ippius began aiding Blacklehn, Raleigh was breached, and Blacklehn began attacking hamlets and villages within the country.  After Raleigh beat its enemies back, it founded Sentinel as a permanent base for the country’s northern defense.

In the beginning, Sentinel was only a barracks, and a meager one at that.  Over time, amenities were provided for the town, including a tavern and a small fighting arena.  Once families began moving in, tents sprawled upon the open field south of the pass.  Over time, families began to build homes there.  The southern wall was created to protect them from brigands within Raleigh, but also to limit movement of Blacklehn if they managed to pierce through Raleigh’s soldiers.

Government

Sentinel follows the rule of Viscosa, and every decision made by King Victor Raleigh is mandate.  However, if no outward determinations have been made, the rule falls to the acting general of the Raleighn army.  Currently, the general is Kain Lirça, a veteran fighter of the SentinelPass and a devout paladin.  Kain also relies on the guidance of Morgan Yardborough, who is also renowned for her service to the Raleighn military efforts within the SentinelPass.  While Kain basically handles the soldiers, Morgan governs the non-military citizens of Sentinel.

Places of Interest

Taverns

The Tempered Sword is a large tavern that provides for the soldiers and citizens of Sentinel.  The place is the second biggest building in town, only smaller than the barracks.  Several bars are in the place, and most of the money it takes in is quickly paid back out, primarily to import spirits and beer.

Inns

The Sentinel Inn is the common inn of the outpost.  It is meant to serve for the families of soldiers within the SentinelPass who cannot uproot their entire lives to live in Sentinel.  Prices are cheap, and the qualities of the rooms are adequate.  The Sentinel Inn is located just beside the entrance to the town.

The Golden Sun is reserved for the more stately visitors to the town, primarily diplomats and city leaders.  Usually there is no fee for those who are important enough to stay at the Golden Sun.  Money collected from the Sentinel Inn is used to cushion the Golden Sun for its wealthy visitors.  The Golden Sun faces the barracks on the opposite side of town.

Temples

Sentinel does not have a temple, but there is a fountain in the center of the town which has a four sided statue of the gods.  Mathias is upon the north side, Nerot is upon the south side, Ariyas is upon the west side, and Galvan is upon the east side.

Word has it that a good deal of thought has been put into rebuilding the effigies of the gods to all face north and stand higher, so that the soldiers within the pass can see their gods to pray to them.

The Barracks

The barracks at Sentinel are the biggest barracks in Raleigh, at some times housing 4,000 soldiers.  The building is immense, and has been expanded several times since the town was originally founded.  Outwardly, the barracks are impressive, however once someone ventures inside, they can really appreciate the size.  The barracks has stretched into the Great Boundary mountains, leaving plenty of room for the soldiers it houses.  The barracks are just to the southwest of the gate into the pass.

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