Francorum

Francorum is a wide, bustling city in the south of Jorlinum. It sits on the River Anarestus, which has already flown far through Jorlinum, including Malberina the capital. Even though this river has far to travel yet, it's already becoming wide and slow here.

Through the late 12th century and into the 13th century Francorum's importance to Jorlinum has grown. It has always been on the trade route to Mercunum, but its growing prominence has been fuelled by the expansion of the port of Obsecum, and it lies on the main road south from Malberina. The growth in sea-trade has made this an excellent route for goods to pass to other parts of the former Empire and, especially, on to Caldonacia. Trade passes through the city by road and by river.

The number of traders of all kinds passing through the city walls has brought a cosmopolitan feel too. Ticetians rub shoulders with Hebrians and Caldonacians. There is even a growing population of Dwarfs here, something that has been uncommon in Imperial kingdoms. The dwarfs have been brought in for their stone-cutting expertise, and here they're especially valued for their understanding of huge quantities of minerals and metals that pass through.

Francorum-city.jpg

Suburban Francorum

Around the main city itself are several districts that fall within the domain of the Viscount of Francorum. To the south are the villages of Dinum and Gabt, each side of the road where the roads from Elingon and Gilebrus meet. Also here is a small guard taxation point for road goods, about which more poor housing has sprung up. This is not a formal district of the city, it falls under the stewardship of the Baron of Dinium, but is known locally as Zins (meaning 'rent' or 'tax').

To the east of the city the dockland waterfront has grown enormously over recent years. There are two stretches to this, the main Waterfront district (also known as Wasserfront locally) and to the south of it a newer but poorer dockland that has become known as Südkai (south quay). Despite its poorer status, the Südkai water point was constructed to handle heavier river traffic, it now handles the larger trade vessels that plough up and down the river while the older Waterfront deals with the more mundane river traffic.

South of the river and west of Südkai a small shanty town has grown up, this has become known as Mager, and has been partially rebuilt to provide proper accommodation to those that had been living there. This is still the poorest district of the city, though, and is where the lowest paid workers of the Südkai tend to live.


CategoryPlaces Francorum for DMs

ArtheaWiki: Francorum (last edited 2014-06-07 14:35:25 by Neil)