Darksong Stronghold
formerly known as Ashbury
Demographics
Ashbury used to be mostly populated by humans, half-elves, dwarves, and half-orcs. It is difficult to estimate how many citizens have adapted to the rule of the Grim Legion. It has to be assumed that some citizens were executed, and yet others have died to sickness and natural causes, thus joining the ranks of the Grim Legion as undead. The city's population has also been bolstered by the Legion itself. The city limits have been expanded with camps of soldiers and undead.
Government
The settlement used to be ruled by a Governor. But during the skirmishes and battles with the Necromancer Tyrant, the city got sacked by the Necromancer's army. It is now ruled by one of the generals. The legion can oftentimes be heard singing war songs and praises to their leader, and thus Ashbury quickly turned into Darksong Stronghold.
With Ashbury turned into a Stronghold for the Grim Legion, people are prohibited from burning their dead so they can rise as minions for the Necromancer instead.
Defences
One of the first things the Grim Legion did after it took over Ashbury was to improve its defenses. The city walls were fortified and a moat was built around them, quickly turning the city into a Stronghold. Additional walls, palisades, and watchtowers were erected in the Stronghold's vicinity, fortifying its easily defendable location even more. They also set up some ballistae and trebuchets.
Industry & Trade
Before Ashbury fell under the control of the Grim Legion, many merchants were coming to the city both from other continents and the other big cities on Cadalyn. Nowadays, most ships entering the city's port are warships from other Strongholds, delivering weapons and sometimes siege equipment. There are still some merchants who sell their goods there. Most of those fall into one of two categories: minion of the Necromancer Tyrant or profit above all else.
Guilds and Factions
After a dozen years in control of the Grim Legion, most citizens are either loyal or have learned to act like they are. A negligible amount of people have managed to escape over the years but most died in the attempt, rising instead as undead under the Necromancer's command.
History
Ashbury was established late in the Age of Dread on one of the many battlefields of this Age. There are signs that there might have been a settlement in this location before. However, it got razed so thoroughly it is impossible to tell who lived there before. Ashbury started as a small fishing settlement and, over the years, grew into one of the biggest cities on the continent.
Tourism
Only those deemed loyal to the Necromancer and the Legion are permitted to come and go as they please. Everyone else requires explicit permission or is either confined to the city or forced to turn back at the gates.
Architecture
Wood tends to easily swell, and rot due to the sea spray, but stone is heavier and sinks into the sandy ground more easily. Thus, houses are built out of a mix of stone and wood for the best safety and durability. The buildings are no more than two stories high and are kept simple. Ground floors are reinforced with wooden poles driven into the soil, to stabilize the building and prevent it from sinking into the ground.
Geography
Ashbury is located on a peninsula in southernmost Cadalyn, giving it direct access to the ocean and an easily defendable location towards the inland. The ground there is mostly flat and firm enough to support buildings, but farming has proven difficult. The soil contains a lot of sand, meaning it barely retains any water.
Natural Resources
As with the other major cities on the continent, the city has direct access to the ocean, providing them with plenty of fish.
Written for Spooktober
Prompt 08: Stone
Prompt 08: Stone
Founding Date
Type
Military, Base
Population
5600
Owning Organization
