Leukish

Capital of the Duchy of Urnst

City of Yssalum-Marduke

Population: 100,000 humans 

Exports: precious metals, gems, fine tools

Imports: everything 

Ruler: His Magesty, the Duke of Urnst (Ranger/Psionicist)

Religious Leader: Cardinal EndriNadrium

Description:

        This city is designed in sections. The medium high walls that souround the city house several smaller walled units. Each walled unit has its own set of streets and intersections as well as its own market and each of these areas are specialized. One of the central districts holds the PsionicistUniversity where all of the known disciplines are taught. Another central distric holds the Dukal Keep and personal military compound. When a new Duke is selected, his personal militia moves into that compound. A third district houses the RatheianDuelistSchool while another encompasses the CamberianSchool of Fencing. A fifth (large) district houses the gemcutter, minning, and precious metals merchant guilds. Still another is dedicated to livestock and farming coorperatives. Its here that the farmers market can be found, the cheapest place for fresh food. The seventh district heralds the carpenters and craftsman guilds. This is the heart of the city for all manner of smaller guilds may be found here as well as artisans. The gate quarter is a walled region specifically for entry and exit into the rest of the city which is home to many militia (there is only one gate into the city). Past it is the Eigth district is the Foreign District. Here all manner of inn and tavern may be found as well as a number of ambassadorial residences, pilgrim hostels, Saintly temples, moneychangers, and non-citizem homes. At the opposing periphery is the Church district.
     Each district is made to be self sufficient. Most laboreres live in the district in which they work and living in a district makes them eligible for work there. Each district will have its own pessantry and Nobility living fairly close. There are no 'high districts' and class separation in this city is very weak at best.The only district that would be close to a Noble district would be the heavily guarded gemcutters district, here even the laborers make fantastic wages.
     There are inns in every district, but to get into that inn you need to have buisness in that district (reservations are made by those who the visitors have dealings with). To facilitate travel within the city, at each gateway there is a map etched into the wall with a clear outline of where this particular district is. In each demarkation are common symbols for what may be found there.

There are a few groups that move through all of the districts. These are the general merchants with roving two wheeled carts (by regulation) as well as the garbage collectors, tax collectors, guild negotiators (clerics), and the city militia. Each district does not have its own police force - the city militia are run in common by the Duke. Other citywide affairs are handled by the Duke's appointed Mayor who wrestles back and forth with the guilds and thus the church. All of the guilds are run by clerics in the church of Marduke. The guilds set rules by which those in that craft may opperate they do not however rule that trade with an iron first for there are many wealthy groups within each field. The church helps bring in the wealth to the cities peoples and make their money only in tithes, they own nothing.

The walls that demark the districts snake through the city dividing it. The walls themselves are thick and many have passageways used only by the militia. The tops of the walls have small thouroughfares atop which the militia may patrol or stand guard.

The buildings themselves are very tall and well crafted. Most are of thick Cedar from the Celladon forest while some are actually made of iron. The city itself is expansive and covers a large area even for its population. The curvature of the outer wall shows where a new district could pop up and cordoned off.

Locations:

The church of Marduke-Yssalum itself is a strange looking building. Shaped almost like a large teepee, it sits at the back wall of the city. No magical glyphs or lights can be seen radiating from its pristine, guilded walls as this Church exudes an Anti-magic shell which covers ALL of the city and 50ft beyond its walls. Here the clerics take Mardukes role as the Archmage to the Gods very seriously - Marduke is the ONLY one whom should be practicing magic - no one else including his worshippers or clerics. Instead of outlawing the practice of magic (uncomfortable due to the Aerdian persecutions of psionicist in the distant past) they simply made it impossible to wield within their confines. Only nside the inner church area can magic function. Here the clerics perform the supernatural acts which are required of them. Magical transport into or out of the church is not possible. The only entry is through walking in the front door.

People:

CardinalEndriNadrium
Nadrium was a wizard of great caliber (16th level) who gave up the craft of magic to become a cleric of Marduke. He is originally Leukish born but travelled to the Lortmillmountains and learned magic from the great wizard Faust. After his tenure there he travelled abroad for many years until he finally heard his calling to God and returned to Leukish for study in the church. Nadrium is very old now but commands great respect in all cirles. He is awillfull councilor to the Duke and goes his own way often with the Church. He does however have a great love of his home city and a deep respect and understanding of the ways of Marduke. Cardinal Nadrium in considered in line for a seat on the Council but has so far made no attempts to court the possition.Nadrium is a discerning man, prefering to observe a situation and explore all possibilities before making a descission. Once made however, his descissions never change. Nadrium has placed several magical protections throughout key portions of the city - both of magical and anti-magical nature. If the city wide anti-magic shell was ever to fall these protections would then come to the fore.
Nadrium has been many places and holds contacts with a variety of interesting people including the anti-mages and Death Dealers. Itis said that the anti mages have supplied him with many anti-magic devices and have helped with the cities defenses against magic.
Unbenounstto many, Nadrium maintains a small number of anti-magic apprentices who live in or return to the city periodically.
In troubled times, the Cardinal himself will negotiate major trade pacts with other cities or negotiate the number of residential population with the Theocracy for the Redression Account. He is a skilled negotiator.

ArchbishopHenchi
An Archbishop before Nadrium became Cardinal, Henchi is well entrenched in the power structure of the city. Henchi is Master of the Guild of Guildmasters and thus guides the national economy of Urnst. Henchi maintains her abode within the Main Guildroom of the Church, adjacent to the Cloister Room. In here Henchi communes with Marduke directly on matters of trade and commerce and gives edicts to the Guildmasters of each of the respective Guilds within the Duchy. She prefers to rule with an iron hand when dealing with Guildmasters and has little interaction with anyone else. She does however love the opera and travels there often.

Bishop Summa su'sirat'Yssalum
Bishop of the Church, Summa as she is called by the clergy, runs the day to day affairs of the church. She is responsible for posting schedules and locations of Guildmeetings as well as maintaining the fonts, holy water, etc. She is second in the Guild of Guildmasters of the Duchy and recieves orders from Archbishop Henchi. Summa is a large woman known for her love of fine food although she will not drink any form of alcohol. The Bishop is a wild talent in psionics and had difficulty training at theUniversity of Psions but she has found her way with God very easily. She stillmaintains good relations with the University and is ever watchful for those who would try to tempt, kidnap, or corrupt psionicists. She runs the Amber Society. She is also never without her secret bodyguards.

BishopWarrimi
Chief investor for the Church, Warrimi forges out the deals and investments which the church uses to foster new industries and maintain old ones. The Bishop communes with the divine or recieves instruction from Archbishop henchi on these matters. He then summons prospective deal makers to the church where the negotiation will take place. Otherwise Warrimi's large staff will be found scurrying about the city and abroad to make their investments. The Bishop is also know to oversee the investments of some Noble families including the Dukes. Warrimi is always accompanied by a scribe and a number of Leukish Protectors and secret bodyguards.

High Priestess Lan-mi
Lan-mi has a strong love of jewelry and gems. She often accepts and wears donations to the church upon her person. Her style is not gaudy but in the least she can usually be found wearing over 100,000 in small jewelry alone. He style of management with other is quite feminine often relying on her beautiful young looks or her witty presence. She is fond of jokes and laughter and will never allow dullness to enter into any endevour. Lan-mi is the Guildmaster of the Farmers guild alothough she has suppossedly never spent a day farming herself. Her strength as a Guildmaster comes from the relationship she has with the many farmers both peasant and Noble. She also keeps the close ear of a handmaiden named Chessup who is said to have been a former druid from a family with a long history of druidic service. Chessup is also said to be very good at weather forsight.
Lan-mi is also an accomplished psionicist (approx 6th level) and is descended from the Chamberian family known for its meta-psionic powers. She however no longer has many dealings with the Unstian University of Psions. Lan-mi spends most of her time meeting with farmers and farming associated workers outside of the church. She can often be seen in taverns(to the consternation of the University of Psions) or at the market and is usualy avoiding her church appointed body guard(s).
 

High PriestEnhenka

The Amber Society
A society among the clergy of Marduke and former clerics or initiates of Anshar who are most concerned with the development and protection of psions within Urnst. Although these maters are formally attended to by the church, the society provides counciling and training for Psions to help resist any tempations from evil spirits.