Rathford
Rathford is the capital city of the Kingdom of Helfor and the seat of House Healfor. Built upon the open, wind-swept plains at the convergence of agricultural arteries and high-sky MAV routes, it is a symbol of pragmatic endurance and territorial stewardship. Though not sprawling or ornate, it stands as one of the most essential capitals in Alagor, sustaining the realm through agricultural management, logistical command, and domain-wide coordination.
Founded by Halric Healfor during the age of the Draconic Mandate, Rathford evolved from a granary keep into the governance heart of the Plains Kingdom. Known for its stone-lined roadways, windmill arcades, MAV docks, and equestrian grounds, Rathford prioritizes functionality over flair, serving both as a governing hub and a working center of agrarian logistics.
Demographics
Primary Ethnic Group: Helforian (~88%)
Minor Populations: Valtorian diplomats, Suian agricultural scholars, trade guild emissaries
Occupational Breakdown:
35% agricultural coordination and logistics
20% civic and royal administrative staff
15% MAV and transport workers
10% educators, researchers, archives
10% military, patrol, auxiliary
10% service industry, guest logistics, traders
Defences
Double-layer curtain walls of russetstone and wind-stabilizing reinforcements
Guard towers with weather-hardened archery decks and MAV signal nodes
Mounted patrol gates: land-access fortified by Windguard rapid-response lodges
Integrated MAV Alert Horns with radar-linked trigger system
Seasonal flood barriers used as mobile siege blockers
Industry & Trade
Exports:
Foodstuffs (grain, legumes, root crops)
Medicinal flora extracts
MAV-processed ration kits
Wind-turbine modular parts
Imports:
Electronics from Athomathia
Refinement tools and atmospheric glass from Loradel
Academic texts from Su
Core Industries:
High-yield farming and sky-silo logistics
MAV-integrated transport systems
Agritech R&D (fertilizers, growth cycles)
Energy: wind and geothermal hybrid networks
Infrastructure
MAV Dockyards: Elevated MAV platforms used for harvest transport, diplomatic arrivals, and realmwide food convoys
Sky Silos: Enormous vertical farming towers connected to MAV and lev-rail hubs
Windfarm Grids: Renewable energy fields surrounding the city, power granaries and defensive systems
Public Utilities: Efficient aqueduct-fed irrigation and closed-loop grain processing systems
Communication: Lev-beacons and sky horn towers relay orders between rural domains and Rathford HQ
Districts
Rathford Hall: Royal seat, administrative heart, and council chambers.
Skyfield Quarter: Residential zone for MAV pilots, windfarm staff, and guild families.
Civic Fork: Legal and records district, including the Crosswinds Archives.
Horn Gate Yards: MAV dock, transit node, cargo warehouses, and outbound logistical center.
Fieldsend Commons: Agricultural ring district--markets, blade-shearing circles, and festival arenas.
Council Terrance: Accommodations for Riding Lords, guest suites, and public hearing pavilions.
Assets
Rathford Hall – Royal seat of House Healfor
Hall of Seasons – Real-time agricultural and weather coordination center
Horn Gate Station – MAV and lev-rail nexus for interkingdom trade
Sky Silo Annex – High-volume vertical farms and storage towers
Crosswinds Archives – Repository of climatic, agrarian, and ancestral records
Guilds and Factions
Hall Stewards' Union – Oversees MAV schedules and granary cycles
Windplain Riders' Circle – Cultural and semi-military group tracing lineage to original scouts
Silo Matrons Council – Oversees harvest prioritization and storage governance
Equestrian Vanguard – Maintains cavalry training and tradition of mounted ceremonies
Field-Audit Keepers – Independent recorders of yields, trades, and food distribution across the realm
History
Founding: Built by Halric Healfor as the central coordination point for the new kingdom post-Dragon Concord
Windstorm Crisis (134 BAE): Damage from catastrophic winds prompted defensive upgrades still used today
Emerald Occupation (27–18 BFE): Rathford operated under occupation; monarch used as a figurehead
Post-Occupation Renewal (Post-18 BFE): Hall and city were refortified, MAV platforms established, and local traditions restored
Sapphiric Stabilization (current): Under King Rowlan Healfor, Rathford is a technologically progressive yet tradition-bound capital
Points of interest
Rathford Hall – Central fortress and heart of Plains administration
Sky Silo Observation Platform – Public viewing deck on vertical harvest systems
Crosswinds Archives – Open to scholars and historians with approval
Horn Gate Equestrian Grounds – Tournament site for ceremonial blade shearing
Hall of Seasons Garden – Data-linked horticulture center used for crop prediction
Tourism
Visitors include:
Agrarian scholars, logistics engineers, MAV test pilots
Nobles from other realms attending horse festivals
Foreign diplomats requesting logistical partnerships
Cultural travelers attending seasonal rites or riding games
Accommodations:
Council Terrace Residences – For official and ceremonial guests
Windfarm Lodges – Family-run inns near MAV platforms
Field Commons Caravanstop – Used by MAV traders and transport staff
Architecture
Style: Broad, low-slung halls with high-vaulted ridgelines, blending agrarian practicality with civic formality
Materials: Russetstone, greenstone trim, weather-treated hardwoods, and MAV-grade darkglass
Geography
Terrain: Flat, fertile plains; grassland interspersed with stone ridges
Climate
Temperate plains—mild winters (~4°C), warm summers (~29°C), strong seasonal wind currents
Natural Resources
Fertile plains soil
Herbal crop strains
Wind energy potential
Quarry-grade local stone
Deep freshwater basins beneath ridge channels
Founding Date
6000 BFE
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
Plainsheart
Type
Large city
Population
1,700,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Helforian
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
