WhiteWall

Inside the Walls

Whitewall? as a failed city has numerous empty buildings most centred on the Market. About 100 of the citizens depend on the Temple for employment whilst a few maintain shops and markets for the locals and traders which infrequently pass. The rest work the plateau raising what hardy crops can be grown in the poor soil. To help counter the alkaline soil chickens are raised in large numbers using the guano as fertiliser and the chickens as food. The acidic droppings helping level out the alkalinity. One of the important stations within Whitewall is Keeper of the Warren. Large artificial warrens were created to supply the city with both fur and meat. The fur trade was going to be the next best thing but that failed since the end of The Closing and sea trade routes reopened. Special selective breeding has produced a fur, which is a bluey-grey colour and is used for trimming the edges of the cloaks and garments of the warriors and priests. A number of people are responsible for the maintenance of the cisterns that supply the city with fresh water. These are all female past childbearing age known as the Cisterns of Mercy (water purification, nun better). Another group consisting mostly of adolescents overseen by older males ensures the access roads up the Tor are safe from rock fall and landslides.

There are several types of house within the walls dependent on status and location.

Marble Longhouses with marble roofs carved to look like thatch.
Single story stone buildings with thatch. Traditional Orlanthi Longhouses.
Single story timber framed buildings with plaster and lathe walls.
Poor housing made up from the remains of fossils.
Empty buildings are scattered for later development. If you are in a desperate need to know use the Abandonment %roll: 01 just boarded up fireplace still warm right up to 00 total wreck everything useful robbed out.

An oddity is the lack of fixed internal walls in a large number of dwellings with living spaces being divided up using movable screens. These are very ornamental and lavish in high status homes. One of the reasons for the failure of Whitewall is that the Orlanthi disliked the marble longhouses (too much like buildings!) and prefer the traditional wood longhouses. The very rich have wood planking attached to the walls to give the cold stone that homley look. Even the poorest homes have wall hangings.

The permanent numbers of ordinary inhabitants is roughly about 1000. This breaks down to the following: 10% Babes in arms 15% Children between the ages of 1 and 15 5% Adolescents and non adults between 16 and 20 55% Adults 15% Elders aged 60+

The male/female ratio is 48/52. However the elders have a higher mix of females especially as they get older. These numbers and descriptions are before the siege kicks off.

The Neighbourhoods

Guilderinn (The Guilds Inn)

A mainly public area associated with an extinct clan. It has many deserted buildings mostly shops. these will be added as the map is developed<drfegg> This area has a total of 16 longhouses most of traditional Orlanthi design. Native inhabitants number 147, 74 classed as full adults, and here live most of the farmers who grow barley, rye and oats. Industry is carried out in surrounding out buildings. There are a number of large grain stores associated with this quater. There are the following notable buildings and people who are related to one another.

Sharpener
General store(ugh): this is where bread and excess oats etc is traded for goods which the clan do not produce

<Donald>Ugh indeed, can't we have a Harst follower who handles all clan trading? Maybe Sigtrygg or someone else? I can see even the craftspeople dealing with outsiders through him for significant jobs.</Donald>

<Charles>While Karath Sweetvoice is not primarily a trader, he would help out.</Charles>

<drfegg>Yea. Harst followers maintain the grain stores etc and are responsibe for trade with outsiders. I am working on the clan structure and internal layout and hopefully things should slide into place<drfegg>

Wheelwright most of his work is done for the Trader Eindridi Smooth-tongue.
Tavern (med) The Guilds Inn. A converted guesthouse. Owned and run by Geirstein Paunch-shaker named from the effects of his bellowing laugh.
Grocer. Trades cabbages and root vegetables. Rarely beans and peas are in excess to trade.
Two large ovens for mass bread baking. Each maintained by it's own master baker.
Mule powered grinding stone
A tanner who has close links with Hroald Lacecuff
Sigtrygg Sigtryggson an Issaries merchant lives here with his family.

Dalewatch

Named after a great tower with views into Northvale and distant Smithstone. It is associated with the Leaping River Clan. Consists of 17 Longhouses and 154 people, of which are 77 full adults. Most not in a specific trade herd sheep on the Plateau.

Cartwright, works for Eindridi Smooth-tongue (may your loins wither if anyone names him Ben)
Cobbler
Brewer, trades with the farmers in the Guilderinn quater for barley for ale.
Weaver
Thorkel Halftroll the Weaponsmith. Not named due to any Uz lineage but because he is ugly. Thorkel believes it's because people think he has great strength not because he is so ugly he could sour milk just by looking at it. Specialises in spear heads but can make swords although the quality of these weapons is not great. A lay member of Ingew Ironsmith and has ties with the Humakti. Get his hafts from the carpenter at B10. His wife, Hallgerd, is only with him because of his relative wealth and status. Given half a chance she would start up with a handsome stranger. Thorkel would go berserk if he found out about any infidelity.
Drinking Hall. Sign of the Stag. A low quality establishment. Not a place for the delicate. Every night much cheap ale is drunk followed by loud singing (very off key!) and brawling. Run by Snorri Whitecap.
Fuller

Bullshur (Bull Shore)

Also a tower commanding views south-eastward to StormWalk? Mountain. Associated with Pine Martin Clan. Holds 21 Longhouses and 182 people of which just over 40 are full adults. Works closely with the Dalewatch quater.

Dyer
Cheesemaker
Carpenter
Produce, Dairy products
Cooper, close ties with the brewer in Dalewatch.
Charcoal Burner
Stonecutter

T'anerow (Thane's Row)

Commanded by a wealthy Ljotolf Clan, named after a Volsaxi Hero and champion. A new and up comming clan.

Eindridi Ljotolf known as Smooth-tongue, an Issaries merchant lives here.
Silversmith
Jeweller
Drinking Hall. Sign of the Laughing Bear. Owned by Gunnbjorn Hordson who married Freydis Ljotolfsdotter. A reasonable place to have a drink and have some decent food. Prices tend to be a bit high.
Drinking/Feast Hall. Ran by Bunnbjorn Ljotolf. Sign of the Crag. A high-class establishment that will not sanction any sort of trouble and employs bouncers of sorts. Food is of an excellent standard as is the ale. Even mead is available and rarely spirits. On Windsday a trio of singers/musicians perform restricting entry to locals and their guests.
Meerschaum pipe carver. Dangmar Goodgurgle is famed for his extravagantly waxed Volsaxi moustache, which curves out of his florid face in two flaring storm runes, framing a fiery, tobacco-strewn copper beard. His hairs noticably stand-on-end in storms, and sparks occasionally fly out of his bristling facial hair. Like any self-respecting Whitewall pipemaker, Dangmar procures and carves finest sea-form, lovingly humming shanties to the lost seafolk as he works, so as to keep their spirits calm. Carved meerschaum bowls take the form of mythic scenes of Helamakt's victory, leaping swordfish and (in his private collection) busty Vingan maidens. His pipes embody the soothing sounds of the ancient ocean, the cool refined sea-form placating the fiery tobacco to give a truly relaxing smoke. Beyond his ordinary pipes, Dangmar imports special gourds from steaming Caladraland, and is thus a known purveyor of finest Caladran calabashes. A small shrine to Barzoom the Briarthane, the cantankerous Orlanthi god of pipemaking and pipesmokers, can be found in his workplace. Rumours of Dangmar selling outlawed Hanuka snuff are strongly denied, though he happily boasts that he offers the finest shag in all of Volsaxar, a claim that is vigorously contested by his fellow Whitewall pipesman!
Feast Hall. Sign of the Round Shield. Owned by Kolbein Vandradson, known as Flat-nose to his regulars thanks to a punch to he face he received twenty years past from a troll. This is a very high-class establishment-serving boar, salmon and game birds. Even wine is available at the right price. Rooms are expensive but have horsehair mattresses, small hearths in each room and are as vermin free as it can be. Entertainment is every other night and varies from lone saga tellers to groups of minstrels. A dress code of sorts exists to keep the riffraff out.
Carpet maker, has ties with both clans in Bullshur and Dalewatch. More often than not the carpets are hung on walls within the homes of Whitewall.
Butcher. Best known for smoked lamb sausage.
Stonecutter
General produce trade post.
Retired Warrior, Yngvar the Wealthy who struck it rich and settled here with his proceeds from his adventuring days. Often goes to the Crag
Scribe Ulf Erlandson also known as Deepminded who spent some time in Nochet.
Butcher mostly game has ties with Hroald Lacecuff.
Caravan Outfitter. Owned by Eindrini Smooth-tongue.

Whiteledge

Contains the finer public buildings. It is associated with bloodlines of the King's Household. Rivalry between clans at Whiteledge and the newly rich at T'anerow. 23 good quality Longhouses holds 198 people with just under 50 full initiates. Most of the temple workers live here.

Heluer Tarkosdotter resides here with her younger husband, her youngest daughter Bergthora Heluersdotter and her family. Head of the Cisterns of Mercy her mother and her mother's mother also held the title of Purifier. Unlike most families within Whitewall they follow the Esrolian tradition of the wife being head of the household.

<Jane> So Heluer and her daughter Bergthora are both daughters of someone called Tarkos? Heluer's husband and father both had the same name? Wouldn't they be more likely to use a matronymic in any case if they follow Esrolian traditions, and so be Heluer<someone>sdotter and Bergthora Heluersdotter?</Jane>

Agreed and amended!<drfegg>

Grocer, ties with the growers at Guilderinn.
Alynx breeder, follower of Yinkin. Finnbogi Ogmundson spends most of is time caring for his precious animals or out hunting with them.
Amundi Amundison, Lawspeaker resides here.
Gaming Hall
Owner of the Warrens beyond the Walls, Hroald Lace-cuff, the nearest thing Whitewall has to a fop lives here. Goes to the Welcome Home to drink and relax. A fierce defendant of an ailing industry.
Drinking Hall. Sign of the Returning Warrior, known locally as the Welcome Home. A dark smoky open plan tavern with a large central hearth. Cubicles allow privacy if required but most stick to the round tables and stools. Only good quality ale is available and over the hearth is a huge bronze cauldron filled with rabbit stew. No rooms are available but floor space may be used to bunk down at a low cost. Owned by Karlsefni Olvirson.
Professional Residence
Furriers
Meerschaum pipemaker, intense rivalry between both pipemakers.
Drinking Hall. Sign of the Crossed Keys. A boring place where the older residences of Whitewall go for a quite drink and gaming such as Wooden Wisdom and skittles. Ran by Hakon Sturlason, known as Slash by his detractors.

Shambleshur (Shamble Shore)

A poor area with buildings made up from the discarded fossils. A maze like area. Associated with the Standing Water clan. I am working on 50 full adults living here as Clan dependants. This number will rise as the siege progresses.

S01 Residence
S02 Residence
S03 Residence
S04 Residence
S05 Residence
S06 General produce
S07 Leatherworker
S08 Residence
S09 Baker and soup kitchen. Ran by a relative new comer to Whitewall. Going by the name Plugh Graymane he arrived in Whitewall only three years ago. Very secretive about his past he keeps himself to himself. He runs this bakery and soup kitchen for the down on their heels types living in Whitewall. Liked by the locals in Shambleshur he is a regular sight walking around visiting the elderly, sick and impaired with his handcart and soup jugs. He is in fact a Teelo Nori follower who came to Whitewall by accident whilst on the run after leaving his temple in Tarsh. Disillusioned with the continuing Lunar policy of conversion by scimitar he left after cutting his ties with his church
S10 Residence
S11 Empty
S12 Residence
S13 Empty
S14 Empty
S15 Residence
S16 Residence
S17 Residence
S18 Residence
S19 Empty
S20 Residence
S21 Residence
S22 General Produce

Story Lines

Bergthora Tarkosdotter's husband is a Lunar sleeper. Not once did he think this insignificant place would be the center of attention. Does he do nothing content with his lot or start his business like a good Lunar?
PANIC! Supplies of barley are getting low. The women want to use it for stews during the comming Dark Season. The men want it turned into ale. Can a compromise be reached?

<Dr. Fegg> Thanks to Oliver for, ahem, technical advice!<drfegg>

Comments

Are there actual houses in WW or are they longhouses? I suspect that they're houses because that's what Sestarto built. Just another reason why the place fell out of favour.

I don't think there's any stabling in WW at all though. That's what the The Hidden Stables are for. It's too hard to get horses up that Tor.

Yea agreed but I like stables!<drfegg>

I will add food stores to the main map or if the stables are dropped modify them. Any thoughts on the cisterns? Are they accessed via wells? Are the Cisterns of Mercy watercarriers? Please some feedback or I'll carry on in my own sweet way!<drfegg>

I think the cisterns used to feed a series of public wells and fountains but haven't for years and years. Not everything Sestarto built lasted. The wells and fountains may or may not still be there. People have to descend spiral staircases to get to the water. This has the advantage of making the water supply more secure. I think it's also more Masada like:-) <Oliver>

ok I can live with that but are the cisterns below the level of the plateau or filled by run-off from the Tor? I see large vaulted interconected cisterns which you could boat around in.<drfegg>

Within the Tor itself. They're mostly "natural" caverns but they are connected and I don't see why you couldn't do some boating around.<Oliver>

Historical Masada had large underground cisterns which filled with winter rains and cisterns on the summit for immediate needs so I'll follow that thread. I guess the rains fall more frequently in the area than in the midle east!<drfegg>

<Stu> If people are working on the concept of inns as pseudo-Orlanthi hospitality houses, I'll timidly suggest The Sign of the Jolly Jabberwocky, which I've used IMG for a wee bit, and might fit in with some nautical allusions. The name derives from the ship of the Manirian pirate Ugoron, who served with the Only Old One's Black Fleet, famously captured the flagship of the Jrusteli fleet, the Ineffable Quadrant and was a scourge of the Middle Sea Empire. The Jrusteli prize was renamed the Jolly Jabberwocky, helping institute a curse that ultimately did for his pirate and crew.

With the Closing, the Jolly Jabberwocky and its crew were marooned in Pamaltela, and descended into cannibalism. Hospitality houses bearing witness to the cursed legend of the Jolly Jabberwocky soon arose in Esrolia, and a few spread north, always claiming to hold some rotting portion of the ship, mysteriously recovered. Perhaps some Heortling sailor from the south was drawn by the siren call of the Tor, and decided to settle in a longhouse in Whitewall. This curious old tar brings legends of the waves, can whistle to the daimons of the Tor, and knows a few tricks and Sea myths that might prove useful in a pinch. He has settled into rural life, but still keeps young lads enchanted with the tails of the Oceans, powers which the Heortlanders have never seen, but are indelibly linked to by their relationship with the Tor.

The idea that it possesses a strange juke-box, which is always stuck playing Rush's 2112, I shall not press... </Stu>