A
city made primarily of dried mud walls. Hardened over time. The walls are
only 20 ft. high. They have little armaments. A gate of steel is the only
barrier to entrance - and it is seldom closed.
Most buildings
are made of the same dried mud or adobe. The buildings seem to melt into
the ground. In the center of the city is a great building, almost in the
shape of a pyramid as it is mud building atop mud building. It is the church
and it is the tallest building in the city. The front has a great bronze
symbol of Gula upon it. In front and around the building, in a horseshoe
shape is the building of the city ruler, Jikuwarradanum, and his army.
The leader and his army are fanatics when it comes to protecting their
church. They would each lay down their lives in an instant (irrespective
of the factthat they will most likely be resurrected). The warrad'Gula,
or army of Gula, keeps guard over the church and those about it at all
times. In the mean time, peoples from across the world come as pilgrims
to Woodwych. Usually pilgrims to be healed, some, pilgrims to become healers.
The healers rarely reject anyone although only those marked by birth can
become clerics. If they do not bring the proper gifts, (gifts of any type
so long as their value equals the price of the healing), then the subject
must become a citizen of Woodwych and vow to protect it always and stay
and work in the city. Thus they get a population whom feel indebted to
their city. It fosters a great love of the city amongst its people.
Artists who have come for healing have donated their skills, crafting beautiful
fountains in the natural springs that reside in the city. There are many
of these hot springs where people go to bathe and heal up. Although they
do not heal wounds, they are known to cure diseases and fix frailties.
Again, one has to have made the proper sacrifices to be let into the spring.
Citizens may use them free, but only on special days and their parish priest
must lead them in.
The city has small farming and shepherding communities
within it as well as some artisans (mostly sculptors) and pottery-crafters.
The majority of the population is fairly impoverished, just managing to
eke out a living when the seasons are good. Woodwych has not mastered the
arts of trade like the cities of Marduk, they do not have an export that
is so in demand as the weapons of Trigol, and they are not rich in resources
as most of the Duchy of Urnst. Their pottery is of fine quality but it
is no great money maker for the town. They do manufacture St. Keoghtum's
Ointment but it is very expensive and affordable only to the rich.
The city has trade relationships with Cites of Beer (Sin), Newevermore (Ishtar), and Womtham (Ea).
The
Gulawarrad, sometimes called the Jikud'warradanum after its leader,
has a very special style of fighting. It concentrates on the spear. It
is probably too aggressive, sometimes being very risky for the fighter
but always leading to grievous wounds on the opponent . The Gulawarrad
always wear helmets and many wear leather armor. Officers wear studded
leather. They seldom can afford much more.
There is a lot of influence and trade from Beer found in Woodwych as
the government of Beer pays to heal its impoverished subjects. They have
some of Beer's wines which have been traded for healing and ointments.
The wines are of elvish brew but that is not made public.
Encounters/Areas
The Mudpits & hot springs (many people bathing at all hours. cordoned
off by rope fence. Gulawarrad guards watch. Free tatoos available in the mudpits, but they make you a citizen permanently. If you are ever not available to defend the city when it is under attack, no magical healing will ever work on you again.
Costs 10gp to get into the pits. Clerics perform a miracle on the mud for wounds.
Restoration 15,000-18,000 gp
Cure Aging 200 gp per year
Cure Light 100 gp
Hierarchy of the Church
Claymasters
Potterysmiths
Priests
Gowan (m)
Unduttu (m)
Padma (f)
Orion (m)
Inns
Rusted Copper Piece
Whole Earth Inn
The Clayman
Hear news of the Great Machine, the Steel Worm which can cross the country of Nyrond in hours' time.