Zarik-Val: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:49, 6 April 2025

Zarik-Val

Type	Mountain Trade City
Location	Citadel Mountains (75 miles northeast of Kar-Thal)
Realm	Terasil
Inhabitants	Minthari • Duranthi
Significance	Major highland trade center; hub of wealth and stonecraft
Controlled by	Council of Stone

Zarik-Val is a prosperous city built high in the Citadel Mountains, northeast of Kar-Thal. Unlike the austere strongholds to the south, Zarik-Val is known for its open markets, contract halls, and economic competition. It attracts traders, artisans, and builders from across the eastern ranges and serves as a primary surface city for the typically subterranean Minthari in the Sanctuary Vale.

Geography

The city spreads across tiered stone plateaus carved into the mountain's spine. Ramps, tunnels, and cable bridges link the levels. Snow is frequent but melts quickly on the black stone streets. From the upper tiers, one can glimpse the peaks where traders cross narrow passes from the east.

History

Zarik-Val began as a waypoint for caravans between Minthari lands in the east and the Sanctuary Vale. Its defensible location and mineral wealth drew investors and builders, especially from Kar-Thal. Over time, it evolved into a city managed by contract guilds and trade leagues.

Districts

The city is organized by altitude and trade function. Key districts include:

Upper Tier – Residential zone for contract holders and wealth-bearing families.
Workshop Row – Industrial yards where stone and metal goods are refined and traded.
Minthari Commons – A shaded district near tunnel access where most Minthari reside.
Justice District – Administrative center for legal affairs, contracts, and civic records.

Notable Locations

The Council Seat – City hall where rulings are confirmed by vote and mark.
Slate Pillars – Monumental engravings of lasting contracts and city laws.
Trader's Court – Enclosed plaza for private deals and negotiations.

Culture and Society

Zarik-Val emphasizes formality, efficiency, and structured interaction. Status is measured by ownership, craftsmanship, and the ability to broker advantageous agreements.

Economy

Zarik-Val’s wealth derives from stonecraft, trade logistics, and controlled market exchange. Goods flow through the city between the Murazkar Range, the Anvil tunnels, and the plains. Key industries include gem-cutting, metal refinement, and vault construction. All commerce is logged and regulated—no item is traded without verified origin and measurement.

Defense and Military

Security is maintained by Stonewardens under the oversight of the Council of Stone. The city's mountain approach is easily defended, and floodstone systems are installed at each main gate for rapid closure. Vaults and trade roads are under constant watch.

Dangers and Threats

Natural hazards include snowstorms and stonefalls. Occasional smuggling attempts or contract disputes—sometimes escalating into debt-duels—are handled by city enforcers. The city's growing wealth has also drawn interest from more covert factions in the highlands.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Settlement Infobox
+{{Settlements in the Sanctuary Vale Infobox
 |Name=Zarik-Val
+|Image=[[File:Terasil - Zarik-Val 01.jpg|center|frameless]]
 |Type=Mountain Trade City
-|Location=[[Citadel Mountains]] (70 miles northeast of Kar-Thal)
+|Location=[[Citadel Mountains]] (75 miles northeast of Kar-Thal)
 |Realm=[[Terasil]]
-|Inhabitants=[[Orasian]], Minthari
+|Inhabitants=Minthari, [[Duranthi]]
 |Significance=Major highland trade center; hub of wealth and stonecraft
+|Controlled by=Council of Stone
 }}
+{{Settlements in the Sanctuary Vale Sections
+|Introduction=Zarik-Val is a prosperous city built high in the Citadel Mountains, northeast of [[Kar-Thal]]. Unlike the austere strongholds to the south, Zarik-Val is known for its open markets, contract halls, and economic competition. It attracts traders, artisans, and builders from across the eastern ranges and serves as a primary surface city for the typically subterranean [[Minthari]] in the Sanctuary Vale.
+|Geography=The city spreads across tiered stone plateaus carved into the mountain's spine. Ramps, tunnels, and cable bridges link the levels. Snow is frequent but melts quickly on the black stone streets. From the upper tiers, one can glimpse the peaks where traders cross narrow passes from the east.
+|History=Zarik-Val began as a waypoint for caravans between Minthari lands in the east and the [[Sanctuary Vale]]. Its defensible location and mineral wealth drew investors and builders, especially from Kar-Thal. Over time, it evolved into a city managed by contract guilds and trade leagues.
+|Districts=The city is organized by altitude and trade function. Key districts include:
-{{Settlement Sections
+* Upper Tier – Residential zone for contract holders and wealth-bearing families.
-|Introduction=Zarik-Val is a wealthy and well-built city set high in the Citadel Mountains, northeast of [[Kar-Thal]]. Unlike the austere stoneholds of its southern cousin, Zarik-Val is a place of open markets, contract houses, and quiet competition. It draws traders, builders, and artisans from across the eastern ranges, and has become a favored surface settlement for the usually subterranean [[Minthari]].
+* Workshop Row – Industrial yards where stone and metal goods are refined and traded.
+* Minthari Commons – A shaded district near tunnel access where most Minthari reside.
-|Geography=The city is built across wide stone plateaus carved from the mountain’s spine. Each level is connected by ramps, tunnels, and cable bridges. Snow falls often but melts quickly on the warm black stone that makes up most of the streets. From the upper edges, one can see the distant peaks where deep-traders arrive through narrow mountain passes.
+* Justice District – Administrative center for legal affairs, contracts, and civic records.
+|Notable Locations=* The Council Seat – City hall where rulings are confirmed by vote and mark.
-|History=Zarik-Val began as a waystation for stone caravans traveling between the Citadel and the southern Murazkar Ranges. Its position—defensible and resource-rich—drew artisans and investors from Kar-Thal and beyond. Over time, it grew into a full settlement run by contract holders, guild leagues, and the charter council known as the **Heard Seat**.
+* Slate Pillars – Monumental engravings of lasting contracts and city laws.
+* Trader's Court – Enclosed plaza for private deals and negotiations.
-|Districts=The city is divided by altitude and trade function. Key districts include:
+|Culture and Society=Zarik-Val emphasizes formality, efficiency, and structured interaction. Status is measured by ownership, craftsmanship, and the ability to broker advantageous agreements.
+|Economy=Zarik-Val’s wealth derives from stonecraft, trade logistics, and controlled market exchange. Goods flow through the city between the [[Murazkar Range]], the Anvil tunnels, and the plains. Key industries include gem-cutting, metal refinement, and vault construction. All commerce is logged and regulated—no item is traded without verified origin and measurement.
-* **Upper Vaults** – Where the wealthiest families and contract holders live and negotiate.
+|Defense and Military=Security is maintained by Stonewardens under the oversight of the [[Council of Stone]]. The city's mountain approach is easily defended, and floodstone systems are installed at each main gate for rapid closure. Vaults and trade roads are under constant watch.
-* **Stonebreak Rows** – Workshops and cutting yards where quarried stone and refined goods are shaped and traded.
+|Dangers and Threats=Natural hazards include snowstorms and stonefalls. Occasional smuggling attempts or contract disputes—sometimes escalating into debt-duels—are handled by city enforcers. The city's growing wealth has also drawn interest from more covert factions in the highlands.
-* **Minthari Commons** – A shaded, lower district where underground channels connect to Minthari trade tunnels.
-* **Writwalk** – The legal and record-keeping zone, where all contracts, trials, and deals are witnessed and signed.
-|Notable Locations=* **The Heard Seat** – Council hall where city rulings are made by voice and mark.
-* **Slate Pillars** – Public monuments engraved with long-standing contracts and civic laws.
-* **Mist Court** – A fog-covered plaza where meetings and deals are made in private.
-* **The Deep Window** – A viewing vault where Minthari stone-cutting is demonstrated during formal trade cycles.
-|Culture and Society=Zarik-Val is orderly but not cold. Speech is respected, and silence is saved for decisions. Status comes from ownership, skill, or deal-making—not family line. Orasians here are clean-spoken and precise, and Minthari are given respect for their patience and craftsmanship. While not a spiritual city, many locals mark their doors with quiet blessings for fair weight and lasting stone.
-|Spiritual Significance=While not a place of worship, Zarik-Val observes several mountain rites—such as the **Weighing Day**, where goods are judged by fairness, and the **Marking of Names**, when children and new residents are given public stone marks in the city's record wall.
-|Economy=The city’s wealth comes from **stone, trade, and quiet control**. Contract houses regulate goods moving between the [[Murazkar Range]], the Anvil tunnels, and the plains beyond. Gem-cutting, vault-work, and metal refinement also play key roles. No good is sold without a name, mark, and weight.
-|Defense and Military=Zarik-Val has no standing army, but contracts with **Stonewardens** and **Minthari sentinels** to guard its roads and treasuries. Its cliffs and paths are narrow and easily sealed, and every main gate has been cut to close by hand or floodstone if needed.
-|Dangers and Threats=Snowstorms, stone collapse, and rare smuggling attempts pose the main threats. Some worry about **debt-duels**, when contract disputes escalate beyond speech. The city's wealth has also drawn quiet interest from more shadowed parts of the highlands.
 }}
+[[Category:Council of Stone Holdings]]
-[[category:Citadel Mountains]]
-[[category:Terasil]]
-[[category:Trade Cities]]
-[[category:Minthari Relations]]