Bladehold
Bladehold is the largest settlement on the Isle of Swords, barely large enough to be called a town and one of only three towns on the Isle. Famed for being the most frequently attacked settlement on the Isle, Bladehold was given the nickname of "The Town of the Dead Peril" and has some of the most sophisticated Undead defence systems in the world. It is thought that this persistent assault from the Undead is due to the presence of both Hallowed Ground in Bladehold and of Higher Undead controlling the hoards in a bid to get rid of aforementioned Hallowed Ground. Constantly in peril from the masses of Undead that attempt to breech its defences, Bladehold has a combat-heavy culture that requires all its adults to have some form of combat training.
Two factions guard Bladehold; the Bladehold Watch, who are focused on defending the town itself, and the Blade Wardens, who keep the Isle as a whole safe from the heavy necromantic presence by organising "Hunts". These Hunts are open to both Blade Wardens and Mercenaries, and are designed to thin out the presence of particularly dangerous Undead within the confines of the Isle. The home of the Blade Wardens is called Bladekeepers Rise and is one of the areas of Hallowed Ground there, with the others being Spur House, the Town Hall, and the Temple of the House of the Dead.
Demographics
The population of Bladehold has a 60/40 percentage split between male and female inhabitants, with 20% of the population identifying as children (below the age of 18). The inhabitants are recorded as 40% Human, 16% Dhaoinesìth, 16% Dwarf, 24% Mixed Heritage, and 4% other.
The majority of the population is classed as "Commoner", with less than 2% considered Gentry. These Gentry are employees of one of the two Noble families that have a "holdings alliance" within the town as a means to provide support to the people in lieu of a permanent Noble presence. These two families are the Noble Family Pelydru of Muriedge and The Noble House of Fenbrook.
50% of the population of Bladehold identifies as Watch, Militia, or Mercenary, with 15% as Hunter/Gatherer and 15% as Merchant or Crafter. The remaining 20% unemployed are all children, meaning that Bladehold has a 100% adult employment rate.
All Bladers over the age of 6 are taught to wield a weapon of some kind, which gives Bladehold a 100% adult combatant rate.
Government
Bladehold is led by the Bladehold Mayorship, which is currently led by Ada Adelaide and supported by Town Sheriff Teague Brightmore. The position of Mayor is a democratically elected one, with elections taking place every five years. Ada Adelaide is currently serving her third term as Mayor, having first been elected into the position in 1476.
Industry & Trade
Dagger Dock in Bladehold is the only port on the Isle of Swords, and it provides the only method of importing and exporting goods on the island. Because of the lack of suitable farmland on the island, Bladehold imports 60% of its basic necessities, but exports a large number of Anti-Undead Charms, raw minerals and alchemical herbs. It is also famous for its high quality and exceptionally beautiful silvered crucible swords, which are particularly effective against Ethereal Undead.
Bladehold acts as the distribution centre for supplies to other settlements on the Isle, and thus they are reliant on its efficient management of these supplies.
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