Salduva is segregated into sprawling ‘townships’ used to separate the city into manageable social units and neighbourhoods. However, few of these areas are segregated into ‘merchant wards,’ ‘wealthy wards’ or ‘temple wards’. The wealthy live alongside the poor and the districts are created along areas served by particular temples. Each township has its own Mitraeum and most have craftsmen, merchants, wealthy and poor all living and working alongside each other. There are several palaces and courtyards belonging to the nobles and wealthy merchants. Listed here a few of the features of the city that stand out:
The Great Mitraeum of Saint Seo: This is the largest and
most monumental Mitraeum in Salduva, built around the pillar Epemitreus stood upon when he appeared to the great Zingaran saint, who converted to Mitraism immediately. It has eleven domes and exquisite frescoes on all the vaults.
The Lonia: This is the great trading centre of Salduva, built
next to the Markanta Mitraeum. It is a massive red building with ribbed vaults, an airy interior and massive columns painted blood-red.
Zaporta Palace: Once the grand palace of a dynasty of early
Zingaran kings, it was converted into a prison 200 years ago.
Shar
Shar is a wealthy sea-port city of Zingara that is only now beginning to feel the effects of the northern civil wars. It has been a free city for a long time, so the loss of the king has had a minimal effect on its population. The city was founded upon the ruins of an older civilisation whose name has not survived. Curious ghosts in bizarre garb are occasionally seen; many folktales centre around these mysterious figures from the distant past.
Population: 10,000 (96% Zingaran, 2% Black Kingdom (as
slaves), 1% Meadow Shemites, 1% other)
Size: Small City (68 acres of land)
Average Population Density: 147 adults per acre
Average Number of Structures: 46 structures per acre
(approx. 3,158 structures total)
Wealth Limit: 30,000 silver coins Ready Cash: 11,019,000 silver coins Government: Feudalism
Income for the Duke and King: 27,548 silver coins Religion: Zingaran Mitraism
Imports: Trade Goods (mostly raw materials) Exports: Trade Goods (mostly finished goods, but
not food)
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Geography
Fortifications and Military Strength
Shar has extensive defensive walls with tall, round towers every fifty or sixty feet. One hundred Shemite mercenaries do military work by patrolling all the manors who have sworn allegiance to the duke of Shar, protecting their fields from raiders and neighbouring regions who are starving. The town guard consists of 200 soldiers commissioned by the council. The city also has four ships used exclusively for naval offence and defence.
Culture
On the night of the summer solstice, ritual witch burning starts off a five day festival that brings to a halt all the industry and work in the city and on the surrounding manors. Stacks of flammables, piled around ritual stakes, are created, including the discarded clothing and furniture of the witches and sinners caught during the year. Scarecrows made to resemble these horrible persons are also created. The lighting of the bonfires signals the beginning of the festival, which celebrates the triumph of Mitra over Asura and his diabolic witches. Anyone found not celebrating risks being accused of witchcraft and heresy.
Administration and Power Centres
Duke: Shar is nominally ruled by a duke who controls
almost all the surrounding manors, either directly or through promoted feudal lords. He rules Shar with an iron fist, hoarding as much food as possible for his city and manorial lords. He is supported by many to become the next king
of Zingara, although he has not made any overt move in that direction as yet.
Council: Shar itself is ruled by a council as
described on page 68; however, there is no magistrate because there is no king.
Temple of Mitra: The 200 clergymen of Mitra
dominate city politics, dividing the city up into over 100 smaller ‘townships,’ each with its own Mitraeum.
Yorkin
Yorkin is a Zingaran hamlet located in a deep forest plagued occasionally by ‘the Bear God’.
Population: 300 (96% Zingaran, 2%
Argosseans, 1% Meadow Shemites, 1% other)
Size: Hamlet (three acres of land)
Average Population Density: 100 adults per
acre
Average Number of Structures: 19 structures per acre
(approx. 58 structures total)
Wealth Limit: 1,000 silver coins Ready Cash: 15,000 silver coins Government: Feudalism
Income for the Mayor and Feudal Lord: 150 silver coins Religion: Zingaran Mitraism, the Bear God
Imports: Trade Goods Exports: Trade Goods Code of Honour: Civilised
Fortifications and Military Strength
Yorkin has no wall and is defended by six men hand-picked by the mayor.
Culture
On the night of the autumnal equinox, a ritual battle between the founder of Yorkin and the Bear God is the focus of a three-day festival.
Administration and Power Centres
Mayor: Yorkin is ruled by an elected mayor, who controls all
the politics and commerce in Yorkin. Virtually all elections are done by lot. Those interested in the position put their name into a box and then a name is drawn. Terms of office are short, only nine months long. The villagers of Yorkin do not like leaving any one person in power for too long, afraid they will become feudal lords.