Malberina
Malberina is the capital of the kingdom of Jorlinum which forms part of the former Empire. It sits on the north-east bank of the River Anarestus, most of the city spreads away to the north and east, but there is some suburban sprawl to the south of the river.
Currently the city is sited upon the main export road from Wolsnium to Francorum and off through there to the rest of the former Empire, and the docks at Obsecum. There is a new road and bridge planned south from Sigiliem to join up with the way-station north of Francorum, and this will alleviate some of the heavy stone traffic that passes through the city.
Geographic Overview
The city lies mostly to the north of the river, but mining work has mean that there is a raised demand for houses here, and the majority of those have been built on the flat former farmlands to the south of the river. These new houses are built from stone foundations and wood farmed from the Malberina woodland to the north of the city. Rather than let this new area sprawl, the Prince of Jorlinum has ensured a degree of planning has taken place, and as a result the houses are well spaced and larger than many in suburbs across other towns and cities in the former Empire.
The city has three bridges, the southernmost of these is extremely heavy duty. It's built in a dwarfish style, and it looks quite odd nestled against the backdrop of the capital of an Imperial Kingdom. It is extremely hefty, made with iron beams and huge stone blocks. This is the Bezzek Bridge, and is the newest of the constructions - it was constructed in the 1340's by and is it's name is derived (humourlessly, as it was named by dwarfs) from the dwarfish for 'Number Three'.
The middle bridge is a lightweight footbridge, and the northern one is a sturdy arched stone construction, high enough to allow barges underneath.
There are two dock fronts, one is upriver from the three bridges, the other is just downstream of the Bezzek Bridge, and was constructed at the same time. Like the new bridge, the southern-eastern dock is set up to handle large barges which can carry heavy shipments of stone and ore. The upriver dock is a lighter duty construction, it handles trade from Cuckstall, Hagiliom and Tarimest.
The city itself is, like most of the major cities of the former Empire, walled. But the wall here is a little different to most of the others. When this bounding wall was constructed, the city was far smaller. Parts of the wall had fallen into disrepair fifty or so years ago, and so was partially pulled down for safety. There are now gaps in the defences, which have been exploited by traders and suburban builders. There are plans to rebuild the wall, but the growth in size of the city is making decisions about exactly where it should go difficult to finalise.
At the centre of the city is the familiar Imperial-style square, an open area where the Prince has a palace and the churches are nestled closely together. This square is, like the old city, much smaller than its contemporaries across the former Empire. As it is the capital of the Kingdom, all the religions are present. Services available in the city are, likewise, very good.
Districts
There are seven major districts to the city, some of these are further divided, and the sprawl of the city has meant new districts established among the slums beyond the line where the walled protection once stood.
The Old Town - This still carries the old name for the city, Malboricum. The line of the original banked wooden walls that stood when Tholain forged the first empire is still marked by the old streets. Most of the civic services are nestled here. The Palace of Jorlinum sits here flanked by the churches of Danethrae and Anbartae. Opposite the palace is the church of Pendaroch.
The Garden - Situated to the north of the Old Town, this is a small district. In the earliest days of Empire, this district was a tended garden area, with some large houses within it for the rich. As years progressed the houses grew in number and the tended garden reduced, a process which accelerated during the wars, especially fighting against Ticetia for which the plains of Jorlinum became the battleground. There is still a tended garden here, but it is far smaller than its original size, and the houses here still provide homes for the rich and powerful of the city.
Aplos - Situated to the south and south-east of the Old Town, this district was traditionally the business quarter of the city. Inside the old walls, this was more than a quarter of the city, and is still the place where the majority of commerce is carried out, and markets have been held here since the earliest days of the settlement.
Spire - Located east of the Old Town, and north of the eastern end of the Aplos district this residential district was home to many of the traders who worked in the Aplos district. It was always a middle class district, and earned its name from a stone tower which was the city's first stone construction outside of the Old Town. The original tower no longer survives, and the wizards were driven out when the Tholain empire came to an end, but the city replaced the old tower with a new construction, which is operated by the Imperial Library, and now also houses the Imperial Academy of Magic. This tower is the tallest construction in the city.
Corlinum - a densely populated slum district that was once inside the city wall. The wall has been completely pulled down around this part of town, but the close-packed buildings are still here. The district is in the north-west of the city.
Huntstum - in the early days of the city this was a small industrial area. When the wall was partially dismantled, the district grew out from its original size as the expansion of industrial activities grew. This district still has its original tanneries and dyers, and one of its original malthouses also still survives.
South End (or The South End) - This is the new district that has sprung up south of the river.
Services
Religious Cults
As this is one of the former Imperial Kingdom capitals, all the major denominations are present. There is even a small shrine to Melas Uldonia catering to the needs of the city's many elves, but this is out of the normal confines of the city.
Fighter's Guilds
Inns and Places to Stay
The Antaurus Castle - a typical imperial inn and bar. In recent year this inn has been of average quality and price, but the place has been trying to move up-market. It is in the Aplos district, but close to the Old Town, and with the arrival of more wealth to the city, the Castle is trying to meet the demand for better quality inns.
Clovanus and Pearfoot - a human and elf owned bar and inn, with a heavy focus on the elfish ethnic style. This is an averagely priced inn in the southern end of the Spire district where it can cater for the traders in the Aplos district.
Eclan Dory's Inn - a small inn in the Corlinum district, catering to proletarians and lowlife of all kinds; it is rumoured to be a favoured haunt of many rogues. It's found at the north-west corner of the city, it used to be under the shadow of the city wall, but the wall has now been pulled down from this part of town.
Eppanlis Hotels - part of a large chain of hotels, there are two branches here in Malberina - one in the eastern Aplos district and a new one in the South End, not far from the Bezzek Bridge.
Hotel Malberina - An upper class hotel with matching prices, located by close to the Palace in the Old Town district. Until 1409 this was still called Hotel Malboricum, despite that name not being used for the city in over 500 years.
Semmus' Inn - a small inn with low prices; the quality of the food and the cleanness of the rooms reflects this. The inn can be found in the Huntstum district.
Shabley Willow's - an inn targeted at halflings (and gnomes). While it has rooms for human and dwarf sized guests, the halfling trade is their main income. Shabley's has a reputation around the town of being a fun place to spend an evening - there is usually some entertainment. Bards or storytellers, especially halfling ones, are frequently found here, although the inn harldy ever hires any entertainment of this kind. Shabley's is in the centre of the Aplos district.
Vara Hotel - both an inn and a restaurant; this place has high standards of accommodation but also caters to the well off locals who enjoy high class food. It is on the western side of the Old Town.
Bars and Drinking Places
These are drinking houses and taverns, some serve food but none have facilities for travellers.
Gibleys - an inn aimed at the workers in the Huntstum district, it usually light on customers during the day but popular an busy in the evenings.
The Harp and Falcon - a traders tavern, in the east of the Aplos district.
Hingrens Bier - in the Corlinum district. This place tries to pride itself on its beer and is not as seedy or as grubby as other bars in this district.
Lannam's - an Elfish wine bar in the Spire district
Shops and Services
Barclay and West - sell leather goods, tack, harnesses and saddles. They also sell leather armour and shields.
Octavia Ullisus - herbal and apothecary, Octavia is something of an expert at herbal remedies, and also supplies alchemical products supplied by one of her friends.
Carmelus and Toberon - supply hunting and fishing equipment; bows of all kinds, simple leather armour, crossbows, fishing rods and bait, nets and lines.
Denman Grober - weapon smith; supplies blades, hammers, morning stars, flails, etc. A craftsman who can manufacture weapons on a bulk scale if required. Because of this the majority of what they do is has been arrow tips and weaponry repairs to the general public, and bulk orders to the nobility. They can handle orders for bespoke equipment too. Mr Grober has several craftsmen working for him.
Clammerty's Armourers - make any kind of metal armour, but deal mostly in banded and chain mail. Does bulk orders for nobility, and has a repair shop.
Cheffielon 'Authentic Elfish' store - owned and run by elves this store sells bits and pieces for the city's elf population, especially (from an adventuring perspective) leather armour, long bows, arrows, and leather and wooden shields. They also supply foods and wines of an elfish style, and the more expensive stuff for sale is the real thing imported from elvish lands.
McVeigh's Food - specialists in 'Ticetian' food, this is a more rustic style of food than that normally encountered in Imperial towns, and is becoming popular in the former Empire. Places like this supply the real thing, but more expensively than Ticetians are used to.
Lagalius Husbandry - plenty of variety of mounts and beasts of burden supplied, also provides tack and harness in store (but at a premium price).
Golwind Drammus - farm supplies, provides general hardware - lanterns, blankets and similar. Also supplies farm equipment, gardening tools and outdoor camping equipments.
Hovenius Weapon Maker - Extremely high quality weapon craftsman, makes very few but very high quality weapons, each piece is a one-off work of art manufactured to order.
Tavenius - boot maker and cobbler, also handles leather repairs.
Joel Preeps - minework equipment & hardware supplier, provide lanterns, waxed cloth, tools, etc.
Robert Cooper - barrel maker and support services to the beer and inns trade. Provides transport services to move full barrels around.
Gus Shelman - Husbandry and livestock; suppliers of horses, herd animals and hunting dogs.
Marcus Turestus - Fine clothing and haberdashery; supply clothes to several of the local nobles, at a very high price. There is a rumour that he can also supply some magical robes and cloaks for the right people, but this would be a potentially dangerous profession to be in.
Cannargath Carters - makes and repairs heavy carts for use in the mining and farming trades.
Pulgrips Mines Supplies - Gelbern Pulgrip's trade is a big organisation that supplies ironworks and tools to the mining industry. He has smaller operations to the east where there is something of a boom in mining. He supplies digging equipment, storage and even rails and wheels for carts to run up and down into deep mines.
CategoryPlaces [[DmMalberina|Malberina for the DM]