Lionburh

The capital of Galefridus and of the Empire of Solis, Lionburh is a huge, sprawling city set deep within the Valley of the Lion and is known best as the birthplace of the hero, King Rocelin. In recent times, it has begun to be called the capital of the world.

Lionburh has grown beyond the gated stone walls that once surrounded the city. The walls have been partially destroyed from a siege long ago, and although the debris has been cleared, the walls were not rebuilt. The population density is very high. A sewer system keeps the city exceptionally sanitary, elaborate lion fountains are found throughout, and there are expansive markets. Scholars lecture crowds in crowded streets, many of which are filled with stray dogs. Most houses have small backyards, and there are a half-dozen castles of various sizes, and over a dozen keeps. The majority of Lionburh's inhabitants are involved in pottery, though there are some 500 full-time guards. In times of need, a militia of over 2,000 can be raised. One of Lionburh's most noteworthy features is the Castle of the Lion.

## History

Lionburh was originally founded as a settlement known was Liunbar in 47 GD. It grew into a prominent city in the Empire of Nerath, but in 752, during the fall of the empire, Liunbar seceded from Nerath and renamed itself Lionburh to distance itself from its imperial past.

## Layout

Lionburh is informally divided into 12 wards, most of which have no official boundaries, and are given names by the citizenry.

### Lion's Ward

Located in the heart of the city, Lion's Ward houses the Castle of the Lion, in which the King resides, and the adjacent buildings that formed the original settlement of Liunbar, most of which have been rebuilt over the centuries.

### Rosescepter Ward

This small ward houses the administrative offices of Lionburh, as well as the manors in which reside the members of the Small Council and their families. It is named after the Rose Scepter, which is wielded by a member of the Small Council when they publicly speak on behalf of the entire council.

### Paladin's Ward

Under the almost 40-year rule of King Rocelin, Lionburh experienced a tremendous period of growth and expansion under an influx of wealth and immigration of skilled labor. The large section of the city that grew during this period, denoted by large buildings of sturdy and often lavish construction, has been named Paladin's Ward in honor of King Rocelin, who was a Paladin of Pelor.

### Park Ward

Located by the eastern gate, Park Ward is home to a number of stables and is the most common place for locals to park their horses.

### Scholar's Ward

Most of Lionbur's schools and universities can be found in Scholar's Ward, which has begun expanding beyond the city's eastern wall in recent years.

### Highscepter Ward

The largest ward within the city, Highscepter is home to Lionburh's working class - and most of its criminal elements. Its colloquial name is a counterpoint to Rosescepter Ward and a direct attack on the administration of the city and its symbol of power, with the implication that a High Scepter is more powerful than the Rose Scepter, and thus that the common people of Lionburh are more powerful than the nobility.

### Greatlodge Ward

The Great Lodge is an inn built outside Lionburh's north-east gate, in the midst of the city's farmland, intended to house travelers arriving after the city's gates had closed for the day. Other businesses began to piggyback off this idea and set up shop in the area, and homes for the employees of these businesses were built here as well.

### Temple Ward

The district near the Solarium is largely inhabited by the numerous priests that work at the great temple, as well as their families.

### Golden Road Ward

One main road within Lionburh heads straight to the Solarium. Given the great temple serves as a tourist attraction and pilgrimage site that sees visitors from around the world, many merchants have opened stalls along the road leading up to the Solarium. The name "golden road" has a double meaning - to some, it refers to the metaphorical golden sunlit path of Pelor one walks en route to the Solarium. To others, it refers to all the gold coins the merchant stalls exploit off tourists.

### West Ward

This region is located in the south-east of the city, and is named not after its location, but rather after the House of Westburg, a noble family that, generations ago, ruled Lionburh. The House once had great political support, and the homes around Westburg manor continue to be inhabited by loyalists to this day, but the House of Westburg has all but fallen into financial ruin over the years, and the entire region is in a state of disrepair.

### Sunset Ward

Citizens of this new ward that is growing outside of the south-western gate of the city haven given it the pleasant name "Sunset Ward," claiming it was the best view of the sunset in the city, since there are no city walls or other buildings further west to block the view.

### South Hill Ward

Outside the city gates and across the road from Sunset Ward is South Hill Ward, a collection of outsiders who built their homes at the base of the hill south of the city. The Hills are considered odd folk by the rest of the population.

## Economy

Lionburh's economic base is crafting, with its main craft being pottery. The city's economy is strong and growing.

## Politics

225 noble houses can be found in this city, including the House of Westburg.

### Government

Rather than a Lord Mayor, as is typical in Galefridish cities, Lionburh is governed by a city council of nobles. This is due to the fact that the King also resides in Lionburh, and so it was decreed long ago that there should be no other singular figure within the city that could exceed the popularity of the king.

Every noble house within the city has one representative member within the Great Council, and it is from within this Great Council that members of the Small Council are elected. The Small Council handles the day-to-day administration of the city and has consisted of anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen members over the years - the size of the council varies depending on need. Currently, nine members sit on the Small Council of Lionburh.

However, Lionburh is a city of tremendous political power within the world, housing Emperor Borys, the King of Galefridus, and the Solarium - the world's greatest temple to Pelor. Therefore, the city council's power is eclipsed by these other entities. Rumor has it that the city council has resigned itself to its impotence and has grown corrupt, extorting these other entities for personal gain under threat of bureaucratic roadblocks.

### The Empire of Solis

The seat of power of the Empire of Solis is situated within Lionburh. Emperor Borys resides within Hillcrest Castle in Park Ward, which was taken over from a young noble lady who previously occupied the castle. The Empire of Solis has close ties to the Solarium and the Church of Pelor, with the two always putting forth a unified front on matters of local importance. Emperor Borys enjoys an amicable relationship with King Hereward II, and the two often make public displays of mutual support to ease the relatively recent transition of the Kingdom into an Empire. Rumors suggest that officials of the empire are unhappy with the city council of Lionburh, but hold back on demanding change to avoid causing civil unrest.

### King Hereward II

The King of Galefridus, Hereward II, resides in the Castle of the Lion in Lion's Ward. The Galefridish crown has always staunchly supported the Church of Pelor, but in recent times, King Hereward II has publicly butted heads with the Small Council of Lionburh.

### The Church of Pelor

The Galefridish Crown has always extended great political power to the Church of Pelor, and the Empire of Solis has amplified that power even further. However, the Small Council has repeatedly refused the Church's requests to have a priest of Pelor on the Small Council, insisting the local government should remain secular. The Church opposes this view, believing it is in the people's best interest to have a member on the Small Council who cares about the spiritual needs of the citizens.

### Crime

Crime rates within Lionburh are average, and 10 criminal syndicates operate within the city, one of which is the Scarlet Crescent.

## Culture

Lionburh is famous for its expansive markets, cuisine and scholars, and series of elaborate lion fountains. Its greatest attractions for tourists are its exceptional sewer-based sanitation system that makes the city remarkably clean, its naturally beautiful landscape, and thriving nightlife.

Religion has an above-average influence on the populace, and the city is known as one of the religious capitals of the world.

Citizens of Lionburh - known as Lunbarians - are particularly unfriendly to rural folk, due to a communal elitism.

## Education

Lionburh is home to 10 schools and 5 universities.

## Notable Places

### The Solarium

Located in the heart of Lionburh, the Solarium is Pelor's greatest temple. Its round central structure is topped by a gold-plated, domed roof that brilliantly reflects sunlight. Additional wings stretch out from the central structure, forming a rectangle open on one side. Within the rectangle is a paved courtyard filled with lush gardens, shimmering pools and cascading fountains.

The interior walls and columns are all of white marble. The circular structure is one enormous room, whose center is brightly lit by sunlight pouring in through a circular window on the ceiling that is reflected off various mirrors.

The Solarium is also the headquarters of the Order of Solis.

### The Castle of the Lion

The most impressive castle within the city is the Castle of the Lion. It is enormous, casting a nearby elven neighborhood in shade. Built of blue-gray stone and surrounded by a moat, the castle's drawbridge gateway is sculpted into a lion's head, maw wide open.