Preški

**Preški** (Snians Birgol: *Preshkī*) is a town in southeastern Birgolon and the seat of the Duchy of Sniadansk, a principality of the Kingdom of Birgolon. Preški has been inhabited at least since 500 SY, and always served as a cultural bridge between the main Birgol population and the Snians Birgols.

Preški was founded on the banks of Pziker (*Zeyeker*) River and was inhabited mainly by Birgols who spoke Snians, a language unique to the Sniadansk area. Preški was ruled for a time by the Kingdom of Lacki, who built a chapel to the goddess Miran along with the first set of walls around the city - wooden pikes laid on a stone foundation.

The town's surrounding plain was the site of a battle between the forces of the Exelon Empire (who ruled the city from c. 890 SY to 1130 SY) and Birgols fighting under the Kingdom of Hotsnieu. The city then fell into the possession of the Kingdom of Ahremia under the reign of King Ansafrid Andalin. In 1256 SY the city fell under the new Kingdom of Birgolon but was granted vassal status and maintained some control over Sniadansk. The duchy's status was revisited after the installment of the Lagadec dynasty in 1351 SY, in which the king's daughter Ladina and her husband, Vier of Erdstal, were given ceremonial rule of the region.

Today the city is far more integrated into normal Birgol society and sports multiple Pretorian buildings, including the great Preški Cathedral. Preški is referred to as either a town or city yet is still overshadowed by its larger neighbor of Lacki.

## Etymology

Preški, pronounced (PRESH - KEE) is not necessarily of Snians Birgol origin. The stem of the word, "-*ī*" or "*-kī*" is a very common Birgol place name suffix (ex. Lack*ī*). However the root, *Presh*, is not seen in many other places in the Birgol vocabulary. It is in fact a loanword from old Cisalian, spelled *vrish* in that language. This word generally refers to either a bend in a river or a particularly shallow point in a lake or river - making Preški means "place of shallow water".

## Description

Preški's classification as a settlement is described as *masalje*, or a "fortified town". The population of Preški is no more than maybe 12,000 yet the city has both walls and multiple large religious buildings as well as small castle on its outskirts that allows it to be considered a city, although a small one.

The town is built on the Pziker River, yet is not a river port and to access the river one must exit the walls of the city first. The city has two main entrances, the east and north gates. A wide main avenue stretches vertically across the city, with several town squares serving as the setting for the markets and festivals of the city. Most buildings in the city are made of wood with either wooden or stone shingled roofs, with stone foundation. Many buildings in the city are multiple stories, with a storefront on the bottom and a apartment on top.

The majority of the city streets have a upward bend to them, allowing water and trash to drain into small, external drainage canals on either side of the road that all lead to various drains across the city which, in turn, all train into the Pziker River. This somewhat advanced sewage system was the creation of the Birgol king Osman Lagadec, who was inspired by the sewage system installed by the ancient Zedians in Sagda.

Even though the city has a sewage system, the city is far from being known as clean. Compared to the reputation of its larger neighbors, Alziron and Lacki, Preški is known as somewhat of a haven for fugitives, gamblers, and prostitutes. The city also suffered a massive fire in 1288 SY which essentially destroyed most of the city, leaving much of the city in ruins. Although most of the city is rebuilt, the city is still fraught with ruined buildings and walls. On the positive side, Preški is also the center of a localized waterfowl and seafood trade which supports much of its economy.

As far as religion goes, the city is somewhat infamous for its grand 14th century SY cathedral, built between 1299 and 1386 SY. Prior to the construction of the cathedral, the Pretorians of Preški worshipped at a small chapel on the grounds of the Evzervin Estate. As the Pretorian population in Preški, and Birgolon as a whole, increased and those worshipping the old gods declined, the cathedral's construction was commissioned.