Mankell

"It's so big, so huge, so magnificent. The 1000ft statue at the heart of Mankell and the guardian at the edge of what once was Hammerfort is truly a sight to behold." - A small look at the big cities of the world by Riveria Gentleheart

  Mankell is the biggest city of the entire continent of Aragria, formally an independent city-state and currently a city in The Free State of Frestrem.

Geography

Mankell is build into the Mountains of Protection, with its southern and western boundary defined by cliffs that reach far above the city.

The water for the city primarily comes from the Cobalt-Stream that originates in the very same mountains, Mankell is built in. Several caverns under the city, presumably build by dwarven miners and mages, partially divert the river into the lost kingdom of Hammerfort, deep under the mountains.

Layout & Points-of-interest

The city of Mankell is divided into 9 districts, defined by the citadel and the 8 city walls that were built around it, throughout the ages.

As the city is build into a corner, where two cliffs meet, the historical center of the city is the Steinschild Citadel in the south-western-corner of the city. The city then grew from the citadel, outward in the form of a quarter-circle.

The city is dominated by the 1000ft high Statue of Vogrun Steinschild that commemorates the founder of Hammerfort.

History

Mankell was founded around 1500 OnP, or 2300 years ago.

Originally it was just a tunnel into the caverns that eventually became Hammerfort.

In the year 1745 OnP, with Hammerfort ever expanding, a fortified entry point was needed, resulting in the Steinschild Citadel, named after the ruling family and owners of Hammerfort.

Access to the citadel and into the mountain was restricted for outsiders. As a result, a settlement began to develop in front of the steps of the citadel. After being largely tolerated without much acknowledgement from Hammerfort, in 1924 OnP they caved in and built the Wall of Mankell. Mankell being a old dwarven word, describing a foreign merchant that has long fallen out of use.

Although that first wall didn't survive all the years, it was eventually replaced by several new ones over. Those new walls still encircle the very same area today as they did almost two thousand years ago, now known as the Foreign Quarters. And although it isn't a district full of merchants as it once was, the Market of Foreigners in that district still is a popular choice for inhabitants for any number of goods.

When in 2073 OnP a discreet government for the city was formed, the Marble Ward was build.

After that the city built the Quartz District and Crystal Ward.

When the city was full again, several textile merchants and tailors build a collection of warehouses, just outside of the city. Trying to keep as many citizens inside the walls, while also looking for an excuse to use all the mined stone from Hammerfort, the Scissor District was built in 2784 OnP.

In the year 2894 OnP, on top of the Steinschild Citadel, the Statue of Vogrun Steinschild was build. A 1000ft likeness of the mythological founder of Hammerfort, Vogrun Steinschild.

The Work Quarter was built in 3025 OnP in anticipation of further expansion of the city.

Overwhelmed by the influx of refugees out of Hammerfort, in 3304 OnP Archers Crescent was build. The crisis also resulted in Mankell going from a city under the control of Hammerfort to an independent city-state, known as The Independent Royal City of Mankell.

The last expansion of the city was a work measure, following The Last War of Mogros. It encapsulated the shanty towns around Mankell and is predicted to be expansive enough to last the next 300 years of city expansion.

Population

The original population of Mankell was almost entirely comprised of Dwarves that were waiting on the opportunity to move deeper into Hammerfort.

The first permanent settlers were opportunists that built taverns, marketplaces, small shops brothels and anything, a merchant might need after a long journey to trade with the inhabitants and craftsmen of Hammerfort. From then on, the city naturally grew with its demographics roughly matching the demographics of nearby cities of Primsetten, Sekerburg or Siegberg, although with a higher population of dwarves, thanks to its historical connections and because it lies directly at the entrance of Hammerfort and therefore was the first stop for refugees, from the fall of Hammerfort.

The current demographics are:
31% Humans
29% Dwarves
12% Amazons (DnD: Halfelves)
11% Half-dwarves (DnD: Halflings)
10% Alfar (DnD: Elves)
6% Gnomes
1% Other (Fiendbloods/Tieflings, Goblins, Kobolds, Nymphs/Sirens)

Politics

The city of Mankell was an independent city, until 3809 OnP, when it was absorbed by the newly formed republic known as The Free State of Frestrem. This happened at the hands of Findler IV, the great, when he pressured the Lord of Mankell Galtharn to join, under threat of exposing wide-spread corruption in the city and support a rebellion.

While keeping the title of Lord of Mankell and his position, as well as the hereditary nature of it, Galtharn of Mankell had to give up significant power to The Free State of Frestrem and the The Independent Order of Mages that took over the Steinschild Citadel, the symbolically most significant part of Mankell.

For the over 1700 years of self-governance of the city, the leadership and most upper class of the city lived and worked in the Marble Ward, continuing through to this very day.

Culture

The culture of Mankell is generally more reserved and uniform, thanks to the strict moral code of the The Independent Royal City of Mankell.

However, in the past few years, it has become much more welcome to other ideas, with younger people generally embracing their unique identities and origins and as a reaction to the past of Mankell, many citizens have become more loose and unhinged in expressing themselves as it was scrutinized by the government, before the city joined The Free State of Frestrem

Economy & Infrastructure

The economy of Mankell is largely based on manufacturing goods, as well as using its position in the center of the continent to act as a central trading hub.

Its location is perfect for trading with the nearby cities of Hiegenhall, Primsetten, Sekerburg or Siegberg.