Sapherstone

Sapherstone is almost exclusively human, with a minority of half-elves mostly among the nobility, and smaller enclaves of wood elves and dwarfs. The town is wealthy enough as a temple town, and attracts many visitors and pilgrims especially during Saphersayn, the High Feasts of Saphren are well-attended both by high-ranking Saphrenite clergy and by travelers coming to worship at the Stone.

Sapherstone is the effective capital of Bervund, as it is the official location of the Bervundian Diet of Lords however, despite this it is not the seat of the Bervundian Crown and as such is home to very little of the bureaucratic apparatus of the Bervundian State. Indeed even the Diet itself is not held within Sapherstone but is held rather some distance away in a wooded copse above a nearby overlook of the city. This is for good reason Sapherstone is seen as the spiritual heart of Bervund, and so it is considered by the Lords to be sacred and neutral ground. For the dirty work of governing to be performed so close to the watchful eyes of Saphren is considered somewhat profane.   Functionally Sapherstone is instead run by the Covenantal Church and specifically the Hierospect of Saphern, the Hierophant of Saphren is indeed effectively the city's lord-mayor, though her role is ceremonial and most of all the civil duties of her position are instead handed off to lower Ecclesiarchies. The city's defense is organized through the Prelate-Militant a mix of justiciars from the local orders of the Inquisition, church-militants from the city temples and local militias. The Church of Saphren further contributes as sizeable garrison of their own church-militant though their orders are strictly in the defence of the Cathedral and the Stone, rather than the city as a whole. The Church also acts as the primary law-keepers for the city. although there is a small body of laity judges that hear small petitions and local watchgroups that further supplement them.

Sapherstone was built in a relatively defensive position atop a high hill, with the eponymous Stone of Saphren situated at the highest point on the hill overlooking the surrounding forests and countryside. The town itself is ringed in a modest earthen rampart, reinforced with raw stone and palisades. The gatehouses are especially fortified, and the walls have interspersed watchtowers to prevent infiltration. There are no further defenses beyond the gates, though the stone Cathedral of St. Ollis the Sower is in a high position over the town and could serve as an emergency bastion.   The Church Militant make routine patrols outside the cities, along with the Inquisition's justicars and paladins and provides the garrison for the city as well as basic law enforcement. A number of the local nobility make home in Sapherstone and with them come their small retinue of riders and men-at-arms.

Sapherstone would be a typical market town were it not for its eponymous Stone. Generating an enormous volume of trade and services which go into supply the Church and in particular the Hierospect of Saphren. Aside from this the town makes its money supplying and facilitating trade with the nearby villages and farmholds. The town is relatively quiet, aside from the daily travel of scholars and priests from out of town. Until the market days, when it's population temporarily swells with caravans, performers, and hawkers as well as the nearby rural population. The Church generally regards this positively and pays for morality plays and historical dramas to be performed in and around the temple grounds.

The city is wealthy but small and lacks in many of the finer features of more develop cities. It has stone-paved roads for the most part within its walls and they are well-kept. but has only a rudimentary sewer system and relies on public fountains and common wells for water.

The Hierospect of Saphren is overwhelmingly dominant in the city, and the faith of Saphren in general is integral to the city's identity. The Hierophant makes her residence for much of the year within the Catherdral of St. Ollis performing the duties of her preeminent role in the faith. For the most part Sapherstone has little in the way of controversy or politic, the Church is obeyed and behaves mostly benevolently. Saphren is very much a Goddess of Tranquility and Rest and so the city is generally geared towards that positive goal. Sometimes ordinances by the church against merry-making can feel a bit heavy handed.

Sapherstone is dominated by its eponymous landmark; the Great Stone of Saphren, a 200ft tall stone out-cropping upon which is carved a massive relief of the Goddess Saphren, depicted as here as an elven shepherdess holding her crook astride her body. Along the edges are depictions of the miracles of St. Illadanee the Greenseer, St. Akros of Ikoma, and many smaller miracles attributed to Saphren.   The approach to the city is made best by the Imperial Highway, which runs east to west just outside of the gates of Sapherstone closely within sight of the Great Stone. The jearby terrain is that most common to Bervund, soft rolling country-side, with fortified farmholds overlooking wide tracts of idyllic farmland, woodland and hills.

Sapherstone like much of Bervund has wide areas of farmland, though not officially the position of the Church many regard the land immediately surrounding Sapherstone to be blessed by the Goddess herself with abundant harvests and healthy crops. It is true enough to say that it has resisted many blights and weathered many droughts and famines far better than other regions.   Sapherstone is particularly known for it's location at the edge of the Great Illadan Forest. A wildwood of particular spiritual importance to the devout of Saphren as the home of the tribe that bore St. Illadanee the Greenseer, the first chosen of Saphren. This wildwood is carefully managed and patrolled for poachers but selective harvesting of wood, mushrooms, and game is allowed under the license of the Church.