Writer's Wednesday XXXIII

Good
Wednesday everyone,

 It's
time for another city trip, this time to Northern Gate, on Corsain. The below
text was written by Honora, and is only part of the full description. So you'll
have to wait why its wall is called Fogg's Wall.

Name:  Northern Gate

Location:   On the northwest shore of
Corsain, in the kingdom of Driran

Terrain:  Northern Gate sprawls on flat plains between
Fogg’s Wall and the great North Gate.  The plains are fertile ground and
the city is less a single spot than a continuous, rolling series of small
building clusters broken by farm land and tree stands.  Cool cove breezes
flow over the massive stone wall most days, with mild winters and temperate
summers; except for the late fall and early winter hurricane season, when all
of Northern Gate bunkers down and most shipping make their runs to the other
side of the island.  Some blame the odd ocean currents for the numerous
harsh weather events while others claim it’s a curse of angry sea elves, or
angry gods, or some other disaffected entity.  But the fact that Northern
Gate becomes the landfall for tempests of slicing rain and shearing winds
several times or more per year is undisputed and most of Corsain secretly
wonders why the residents stay there.

Northern Gate’s cove is
nameless, simply being called “the cove”.  It is given to competing
currents, and undertows are murderous near the shoreline; most locals will fish
it but swimming there is laughed at.  The cove is split into two forks at
the inland terminus.  The north fork is spiked with two long docks of
weathered but sturdy imported timber and a number of hastily built and easily
replaced storage huts along the outside of Fogg’s Wall.  The east fork
is…not spoken of, and generally left alone. 

Population:  5,700 – 77% Human, 11% Dwarf, 9% Elf, 2% Gnome,
1% Orc

Government/Politics:  Currently led by Captain Ferris McAngile, the
now-city of Northern Gate has a consortium for major decisions.  One adult
from every housing group or farm community gathers once or sometimes twice a
month to discuss matters and make decisions, with the Captain leading the
meeting.  The Captain’s main job is that of diplomat, or what passes for
one; they are expected to deal with the Kingdom government and mediate disputes. 
By and large, however, the folks of Northern Gate get the same hands-off
approach from their government that they expect from others.

Defenses:  The physical defenses of the town are Fogg’s
Wall, now slowly breaking down under the cyclical assault of the weather, and
the North Gate which is kept in good condition as well as having numerous
magical protections.  The town has a guard, mostly volunteer, called the
Northern Gate Guard, which answers to the consortium rather than the Captain
(except in emergencies).  Many of the houses are built with deep and
concealed cellars as well, and stocked to provide hiding places and
armories/weapons stockades should the need arise.

Until next week,

on behalf of  the
writing team,

EdTheKet