Upper Greens

Introduction, Geography

The Upper Greens is one of the most affluent boroughs of Highfort, the capital city of Alven, home to Alven's ruler, the Thane. On a huge terrace of their own, below the Auld Braes, one can find the affluent and magnificent Upper Greens.

This neighbourhood houses top clansmen and guildsmen: anyone who is anyone will have an address in the Uppers. This is also where one can find the lodgings of foreign dignitaries from places as foreign as The Frencal Republic and the The Encrors, The Staynes.

History

The Upper Greens were remodelled three and a half centuries ago by Thane Gallin Mayne (Clan Cobburn). In a very controversial move, Gallin Mayne displaced the borough's shanty population to the eastern side of Alven and spent a considerable amount of the The Great Hoard to create the Thane's Road and adjacent avenues as well as magnificent gardens.

The result was something that had never been seen in Alven before: a geometrical and regular pattern of roads, houses and parks. Affluent clan families subsequently bought and enhanced these houses and still populate the neighbourhood today.

Plan, Infrastructures

The main attraction within the Upper Greens is a large and beautiful park at its centre, pompously called the Gardens of Beauty. The park also boasts a temple to the goddess Brigand, built by Thane Thingor Gremane two centuries ago.

A leisure pond was recently created at the northern end of the park, along with an artificial island. A tower or torr resembling the old crumbling ruins of Alven's past was recreated for the pleasure of wealthy clansmen who love boating on the lake on a good day.

Around the park, most chieftains and clanbearers' families own a house or small estate: a place where their family and guests can stay while on business or attending court in Highfort. Some powerful and merchant families have also now acquired property on the fabled terrace and hold their own among the more ancient clans. It is good business to have an address and entertain in this part of town.

The borough has only two inns, and they house the dignitaries and other important visitors to Highfort. These high-standing establishments are very select and fashionable - the latest in luxury living.
The Pretty Poppy is the newest of the two and serves, perhaps, the best food and drink in the whole of Alven. Its owner is an enterprising young clanbearer from Clan Bearwode seeking to increase the clan's presence and connection in Highfort: Bear Caster (and his wife Mirren Caster).

The oldest establishment is the fabled Inn of Mirrors (or Mirrors for short). It is owned by a powerful Highfort merchant family: the Manyfolds. Thane Gallin Mayne gave land to Beryl Manyfold, his mistress so that she could build the prestigious inn. Her descendants have built an empire by owning properties throughout the capital city. The Manyfolds are stone builders by trade and well-known property developers in the town. The inn is famous for its beautiful mirrored rooms.

List of the Clan Estates (Upper Greens)

Sutherland

Clan Deeryant - Mossheart Fell.
Clan Deeryant possessed, maybe, the largest and most magnificent estate on the Upper Greens, as befits the most powerful clan in Alven at the moment. The estate is named after one of Clan Deeryant's most famous ancestors: Kirilian Mossheart.


Clan Botterfyre - Firewing House
Botterfyre clanbearers and chieftains are closely linked to Deeryant's. Their domains touch each other, but Firewing House, although one of the most handsome palaces on the Uppers is significantly smaller than Mossheart Fell.


Clan Badgorsen - New Carrelm
Badgorsen is another staunch ally of Clan Deeryant's and the southern Thanes. The Badgorsens are powerful merchants who have seen their wealth significantly increase with the growth of international trade with the southern continent. The clan is in full expansion and has acquired a new property on the Uppers that they are in the process of renovating in the latest fashion.


More to come ...