Aerlangus

**Aerlangus**

Aerlangus is a walled fortress-city along the
central western coast of Urats, where the river Gataia meets the sea, it was
established by human fishermen approx. 200 years ago, and has since become an
important shipping port, taking in items from other continents and island
city-states, also a point where many diplomats make their landings before
traveling overland.  Having long been a
military outpost after its founding as a fishing town, the city is heavily
fortified on each front, and the jetties protecting the harbor boast powerful
ballistae which have historically been the doom of multiple invasion
attempts.  Called the “Wyverntails”, these
ballistae fit specialized bolts, made to carry pots of burning oil through the
air, and to explode on the deck or hull of a targeted ship, setting fire to the
whole of it.  The city itself is moderately
populous and bustling (approx. 20,000 residents), though many of the people
here are just moving through, arriving from somewhere else or waiting to
depart, or making trade.  Aerlangus is
also home to a well-regarded shipyard, which serves as a repair destination for
the fleets of several nations with which the city has allied itself.  The city has become somewhat wealthy over the
decades, as a result of their shipbuilding and taxing imports and exports.  Humans are the most common inhabitants here,
though elves are not uncommon, and gnomes are not a strange sight (gnomes can
end up particularly well-regarded here, if they can prove their worth.  One in particular, a Bangram Steelhead, is
credited with inventing the imposing ballistae that guard the harbor, and he retired
a rich gnome indeed).  The city is ruled
by a council consisting of seven members, each corresponding to a ward of the
city, generally this position is passed along hereditary lines, though a member
can be voted out by the other council members and another elected to take their
place.  Council members are generally
businessmen or military officials.
Councilmen are motivated (as much as they can be) to appease their
constituency, lest those citizens call for the removal of a councilman.  Beyond the heavy walls of Aerlangus lie
rolling plains spotted with shadowy forests and farms, and a long, wide main
road which is maintained by the city, used to attract business to the port.

The city guard are members of the local militia that
first founded this city,  at least
culturally descended from a large group of mercenaries, employed during a war
(explore this more) and marked this part of the coast as an ideal landing
ground to deposit soldiers.  The soldiers
built walls to defend from the land, and the great ballistae to defend from the
sea.  Over the years, many of the
militiamen settled here, and brought their families, and made new
families.  Thus the city grew, and due
the prime location for a port, commerce boomed.
The locals are primarily shipbuilders and fishermen, pilots, captains,
sailors, and soldiers.  The city still
prides itself on the quality of their military and has remained an independent
city-state since their founding.  There
are barracks and training grounds contained both within the walls and
without.

There is much to be
found in the city, especially as so much commerce passes through, this gives
ample opportunity for access to items that may be from far off places, or
interesting foods or textiles that are uncommon in a land-based city

Wards of Aerlangus;

Dock Ward

Salt Ward

Shipping Ward

Landward Ward

North Urban Ward

South Urban Ward

East Urban Ward