The history of 'Upper-Mountain': The growth and glory of a city

Author: Nami Lockwood
== Categories: Literature, History ==
== Synopsis: ==
This book writes down the history of a peaceful city that was built on the foot of a huge mountain that could be located in what is today known as Great Britain…or Scotland. From building the famous long City walls with their ring structure, to the kings that had a big impact throughout the years up to the festivals and traditions that are known to this day such as hammer throwing (which was first brought there from dwarfs…of course). Find out more about the famous silk and cotton guilds as well as the ‘Upper-Mountain’-beer, famous for the sweet yet bitter taste.
== Foreword: ==
I want to thank the people of Upper-Mountain for their time to share their knowledge with me while I was writing down the history of this city. It was my personal honor and pleasure to work as the advisor to the kings this city had over the years. As the high witch of the "Wardens of the North" I shall never let the people of Upper-Mountain down and spread their history to every part of this world so people might learn from their history to improve their own.
== Chapter 1: The beginning of a legacy ==
=== 1.1 The myths, the legends, the truth ===
Upper-Mountain is located somewhere in the north of England. A high mountain that is shaped like a wave that is about to crush down to wet the shores of the coast. The dark and gray stone of the mountain was shaped throughout the years from the strong winds that cutted out every loose stone and made them drop a few hundred meters until it took the shape that we know today. The stone was often used to build sculptures or for pavements of other cities and villages that were close by. It was so solid that people asked if it was enchanted. Later on myths were spread that the mystical mountain called 'Orogron' must be the result of an overflowing concentration of the leylines which was set into stone by Merlin himself. Others claim that the dwarves who were known to build their cities in mountains and underneath them would have experimented with magic, causing a tragedy that melted the mountain into lava which was only held off by a wind dragon which blew its strong winds against the mountain to keep it from destroying the wild green fields around it. Today we at least know that it is not volcanic rock that can be found around the mountain which at least eliminates one of the countless myths. What is also known is that it is indeed old and powerful magic that formed at least a part of this mountain. It must have been an explosion that vaporized half of it while the rest of the stones were mostly pressed against each other, causing the wavy shape that it has. There were traces on the bottom curve of the 'wave' that were able to be identified as powerful and old magical seals in a language that is still yet to be decrypted.
=== 1.2 A fateful meeting ===
On a sunny day, so the books say, a carriage pulled by four strong and big horses was making its way through the plains around Orogron. It was a young prince making his way to the promised beloved princess of Ciristhir. A port city even further up the coast, deep in the lands of what is today known as Scotland. The prince wasn't traveling alone. Of course there were riders and knights by his side, protecting their prince. It is delivered that the prince was so mesmerized and stunned by the view of Orogron that he made a stop there. Not to just look at it but he stayed there for 3 whole days, exploring the area. Of course it drew the attention of the villagers that the flags of the royal family were seen at the mountain with no clear intention of moving either towards the next village or passing through. So the people from the village approached the caravan. It wasn't their eldest to come forward, too many feared the rage of the previous king who was known to be a cruel person. It was a young tailor who stood up and approached the guards of the soon-to-be-king. The prince welcomed him with open arms, worshiped the beauty that he and his village were able to witness each day. It was love at first sight for the prince and the mountain. The tailor agreed and offered the prince that his village, 'Mountain plate' could build a statue on the foot of the mountain to honor their new king. But the prince denied that offer. He promised the brave tailor a position by his side if he would build a city in his name. The tailor was speechless but agreed to this very promising offer. So the prince left the tailor with instructions and the needed permissions to start to build a city.
=== 1.3 One ring to save them all ===
Straight forward a year later, the prince married his promised princess. King James Arthur Mavelope, first of his name, married Joara Jeane Arethstone. As a gift for their wedding King Mavelope gifted the yet to be finished city 'Upper-Mountain' to his wife, saying that he wants to live with the most beautiful woman he has ever met at the most beautiful place that can be walked on this earth. And that is what happened. Even though they returned to the old capital city for a few years it didn't take long to finish the vision of his dream city.
=== 1.4 A new city for the kingdom ===
Upper-Mountain was built within 10 years. By now King James Arthur Mavelope I. had a son and two daughters with Queen Joara Jeane. They celebrated the finishing of their palace and the tailor who was originally instructed with the construction of this city seemed to did a well job with the city planners of the crown. Wide streets, a long city wall in form of a semicircle reaching the mountain at both ends. Lard with towers, a city watch and a small area for the forces of the king the city seemed to be safe. There was a quarter for the traders, one for the craftsman, a military quarter and one for the rich and wealthy. The tailor who fulfilled the wish of his king was not only named mayor of the city, in his honor there was a statue built right in the center of the city square.
== Chapter 2: The rings ==
=== 2.1 A growing city ===
Upper-Mountain was growing and rather quickly the king had to admit, the sudden moving from the south up to the north of England caused many of his staff and trusted advisors to follow him and of course their families as well. More workmen and farmers wanted to work in the new city of their king, hoping for wealth and to be safe from the cold winters and the frosty winds behind the thick and tall city walls. The decision had to be made. After a cold and devastating winter for the people of Upper-Mountain, the city was expanded. But not just by a quarter. The king ordered it to triple its current size in multiple steps and these steps were city walls.
=== 2.2 For safety of the people ===
James Arthur Mavelope was not the usual king who would rule with a cruel and strong hand. He was gentle and rather afraid that his volk would die in the cold which is why his overambitious plan of keeping his people safe was not that easy to execute. The construction of the walls began while houses were built and streets were laid out. The construction of his vision of a ringed city was great but they had to get the stone from somewhere. 
It was on the king's birthday that a dwarven stonemason-guild appeared on the gates of the city. They made a deal with King Mavelope. Not only were they promised a whole quarter for their volk but also areas below the city. In return...the dwarfs promised the king to keep the mountain in shape and dig enough stone out of the ground to supply the city with enough stone for their projects. And so it was agreed and the city walls rose up within no time! Three safety rings and Upper-Mountain slowly but surely turned into a metropole!
== Chapter 3: The guilds ==
=== 3.1 Silk and Cotton ===
Upper-Mountain was quickly known to have the best silk and cotton on the island and the reputation kept growing! Even other kingdoms asked for the famous and fine cloth and textiles of Upper-Mountain. The tailorings, weavings, and farmers for the sheep wool tied together to regulate prices and keep a good income for the whole production chain. Even aristocrats from the far south and east wanted to wear the fashion of the beloved city.
=== 3.2 Beer and whine, let's build a shrine ===
While the humans were familiar with grapes and how to make wine and a sweet ale out of it, they never got into making good beer. Well until the dwarves arrived. Together they created the 'Upper-Mountain-Beer'. Famous for its sweet after taste and still bitter when it runs down the throat, the receipt was put into the city's chambers as part of the Upper-Mountain-culture. The breweries were honored with the seal of cultural enrichment and a statue was set up to always remember what two volks can do when they work together in case the city wasn't the best example for it.
=== 3.3 Lower-Mountain ===
The dwarfs were proud of their doing. They not only helped with the construction of the city walls, they used the space to build their own small city under Upper-Mountain. While the stonemasons and miners tied together to get the stone to the city, they often fought each other about which task would be more important just to agree on the same working circumstances soon after.
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