Dragon Warriors

A discussion forum for the Dragon Warriors RPG and related works
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:29 am

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 55 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Ongus, Capital of Albion
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:24 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
As people who have looked at my webpage may have noticed, I've spent a considerable amount of time developing the City of Ongus for my own game - I run a campaign set in Ongus every Tuesday night. What I've put online so far is fairly limited, so I've decided to do some more work developing different parts of Ongus in a little more detail, and I thought I'd share that here.

People should feel free to jump in with comments, or suggestions, or anything else as they wish. To begin with I am going to look at one ward at a time.

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:41 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
The Ward of Letburg

Letburg is the most northeasterly of the wards of the city of Ongus. It is a fairly prosperous upper working class area, mostly residential/commercial (like much of the city, shops and other businesses tend to occupy the lower streetfacing parts of buildings with the family who own and run the business in question living behind and above their homes. Families in Letburg can often afford a maid of all work if they want to, but it is by no means universal to do so. The area is not generally connected to the city sewer, although the normal branch drain from the public Latrina at A2 is in place, and the Silver Chalice Inn at A1 has likely made an illegal connection. The most prominent public buildings in the ward are the Guild Hall of The Worshipful Company of Mercers and Grocers now quite dilapidated and in need of repairs - questions are sometimes asked as to why the Guild has not moved their headquarters or demolished and rebuilt. The Convent of the Sisters of Saint Welman provides hot meals to those it has formally assessed as too elderly or otherwise infirm to work. The Black Tar tavern is known as one of the rougher taverns of Ongus, and questions are often raised as to how it manages to keep its licence from the city authorities. The Church of Saint Griswon's hold the relics of its patron saint, who was an early Bishop of Ongus martyred for his refusal to grant absolution to King Gundur (596-634, reigned 615-634) over the execution of the Queen who he accused of being unfaithful when their son was born 'with strange deformities' (King Gurandur (618-657), reigned 634-657).

The Earl of Mancaster, Earl Marshal of Ongus, has his city residence in Hull Street next to the Black Tar tavern (this adds to the mystery as to why that tavern is tolerated)


Attachments:
File comment: Note - only some buildings are numbered. Unnumbered buildings will typically contain other businesses or features - it is not intended to identify every building.
WardOfLetburg.gif
WardOfLetburg.gif [ 584.31 KiB | Viewed 6542 times ]

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:09 pm 
Offline
4th Rank
4th Rank

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:22 am
Posts: 122
Location: Chaubrette :)
Profession: Charcoal-Burner
i took a look on your Ongus map on the website, great job :)

_________________
Hi, bonjour
I apologize for my terrible English
, I am from Chaubrette and am over 30 , )))


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:10 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
Ward of The Plaza

The Ward of the Plaza is the administrative centre of Ongus and one of its richest districts. The ward is dominated by the Grand Plaza itself, the largest open space in the city. Stalls selling food are allowed to set up on the edges of the Plaza but most of its space is underutilised. There is a large fountain in the centre of the Plaza that is famous for the fact that on special occasions, it can be set to flow with ale or wine, or any other liquid. This is exceptionally rare - only events like the coronation of the King, or the birth of an heir apparent to the throne have justified it in recent years - with the exception of the time that a group of apprentices managed to make it temporarily flow with urine during the Apprentices Rebellion of 982AS.

The five storey tall Council and Guild Hall is the centre of the City's government. It is the seat of the Lord Mayor, selected by the Guilds United and Combined. A series of flags mounted on the top of the Hall during the day and lights overnight provide a means for those who can read them to know the time (to within the quarter hour with sufficient skill). All Guilds maintain an office within the Council and Guild Hall.

Besides the Council and Guild Hall, other notable buildings include St Ursul's Church, believed to be built on the site (indeed on the very footprint) of the first True Faith Church built in Ongus, although of recent design itself, and a fine Inn, The Witch's Pyre, whose name refers to the fact that an area just east of it (near Saint Ursul's Church) was the site of execution of the Fell Sorceress Ragidine a few hundred years ago. Any building built on that site has burned down within months of being built and it now remains empty - some say due to a curse, although others favour simpler theories of arson. St Ursul's has been offered the land as a churchyard, but rumour has it that the Church has decided the land cannot be consecrated. The suggestion that it be used as a burial ground for those who cannot be buried in consecrated ground is resisted by local residents.

Many of the buildings in this area are residences for the rich and powerful - nobles having city residents here, or rich guildsman. Some businesses are run within the area, but anything unsuitable to its genteel nature would be unlikely to last long. One exception is the House of Dreams between Amethyst and Diamond Street. Masquerading as a club for the gentry, the gentry themselves are aware that it functions as a brothel and well as a discreet meeting place. It is unlicenced by the Council and Guild, but unlike other such unlicenced establishment in Ongus, it has some obscure exemption in law. Most, if not all buildings in this ward are connected to the sewers of the city.

Mordant Bellwether, an artist resident in Amethyst Street (in fact next door to the House of Dreams) is generally held to be the greatest painter of portraits in the history of the world - now in his sixties, he is a legend within the city. There are persistent rumours that he is a bastard son of one of the Kings of Albion (there are three possibilities given his days of birth), allowed to live only because he has no real interest in anything than his art. He is certainly seen by many as being somehow above the law as while he also does conventional portraits he has long scandalised the most upright citizens with certain aspects of his work that embrace the human form in uncanny detail, as well as sometimes touching on themes that the powerful, and the church find disturbing. Yet he also painted the brilliant but entirely orthodox 'scenes of glory' surrounding the altar and sanctuary in the Cathedral, negotiating a very high price with the Bishop of the time for his services - and then paying that amount rather than being paid.


Attachments:
WardOfThePlaza.gif
WardOfThePlaza.gif [ 767.75 KiB | Viewed 6542 times ]

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:35 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
Ward of Groverest

The Ward of Groverest is dominated by two large buildings:

Oldfort, a huge hulking building near the north gate of the city that serves as the city's main court and prison. It is an ancient Selentine fortress, close to one thousand years old although it has a much more modern facade.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Celus, recently constructed this serves as the largest Church in Ongus and as the seat of the Bishop of Ongus. It was built over the course of decades by the Capstone Guild. It is a fairly orthodox design, but is known for elaborate gargoyles carved along its walls (and one other embellishment that will have to wait until the publication of The Dragon Warriors Players Guide to be revealed), and for some of the most impressive work with murals and mirrors internally of all True Faith churches.

Besides these two large structures, the area is also noteworthy for containing the ruins of an Ancient Selentine Temple, dedicated to their God of War. There are rumours that the Ancient Selentine religion still has some adherents who occasionally use the temple for rituals but as it exposed to the open air, most people doubt this is true.

Saint Edmund's Churchyard has recently become a source of some controversy, along with certain other Churches in the city. It is so full that bodies are now being buried in it at a depth of less than two feet and there is considerable debate as to how the dead should be buried in the future.

An inn near the northern wall of the city, The Hanging Man, traditionally provides condemned criminals with a fine breakfast on Boldursdae morning as they make their last trip between Oldfort and the execution ground at Holders Creek to the north of the city. The Inn is renowned for its breakfasts, and many people choose to enjoy a morning meal there at least once in their lives. Some regulars do so more often.

The tavern, The Fast Ship to Outremer serves as a meeting place for people returned from the crusades, and those intending to go on Crusade.

The Cathedral School located in the shadow of the Cathedral is one of the growing number of 'Matriculation Schools' being opened across Ongus, often with the patronage of the Crown or a powerful noble, or in this case, the Bishop and Cathedral. These schools charge tuition and where necessary boarding fees for boys (mostly - there are exceptions, one of which will be discussed later in this series of postings) aged between approximately 8 and approximately 18. They are primarily educated in Bacchile, Emphidian, and Elleslandic, as well as public speaking and debate, with other subjects also being available if they are seen as necessary. Discipline tends to be strict in line with the most modern ideas of effective education. These are not the only schools in Ongus - indeed, there are many small dame schools scattered about where children can acquire at least basic literacy and numeracy - but they are developing a reputation as providing the type of education needed to successfully matriculate to the University of Cantorbridge, or those on the continent (a bright boy may be sent to one of these places as young as fifteen - an exceptional boy even younger).

The Convent of Saint Ashanax in the southwest corner of the ward occupies a building that used to serve as a Guildhall for the stonemasons who built the Cathedral. There are stories that the convent contains cellars that lead into the sewers of the city, and perhaps other deep tunnels as well, but the main thing the Convent is known for is providing excellent medical care to those who need it. It is a hospital and its sisters (The Oblates of Saint Ashanax) contain skilled physicians and nurses. They have some unusual and radical ideas about the cause of disease and seek to improve the hygiene of the city.


Attachments:
WardOfGroverest.gif
WardOfGroverest.gif [ 371.76 KiB | Viewed 6541 times ]
CathedralOfSaintCelus.PNG
CathedralOfSaintCelus.PNG [ 932.73 KiB | Viewed 6811 times ]

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 7:27 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
The Ward of Ongwic

Ongwic is the northernmost river ward of Ongus. It is a mostly working class district with a mercantile reputation - good, solid merchants, if not necessarily very successful ones, live here. The periodic flooding of the river has lead to a situation where the solidly built Riverbanks Road is higher than the land surrounding it - but only inches on its eastern loop but but by an average of two feet (and sometimes a little more on the parts nearest the river.

The Priest of Saint Bartaman's, Father Ponders, is over eighty and has been priest of his parish for over sixty years. This may be why his eccentricities are tolerated - for the last thirty years he has claimed based on evidence he will not show anyone that the foundation stone of his Church was laid by the saviour Gatanades himself. The Church generally accepts as plausible a story that Gatanades did visit Albion in the years before his mission of glory and grace, but there is no specific evidence (unless Father Ponders has found it) that suggests he came to Ongus. The Churchyard of Saint Bartaman's is often covered by flowers by believers in the legend. The Bishop is rumoured to find this annoying for reasons that are unknown to the public.

It is an offence under city law for anybody to enter the river from the banks in Ongwic, or to allow any rubbish or other foulness to enter the river. These rules are generally followed largely because of the presence of the Monastery of Saint Alauria. The Monks of this Monastery brew the most common beer and ale sold in the taverns and inns of Ongus, and they use the river water for their brewing - fouling the waters would endanger the beer supply and make a person very unpopular.

The Company of Messengers have their Guild Hall in this ward.


Attachments:
WardOfOngwic.gif
WardOfOngwic.gif [ 343.5 KiB | Viewed 6541 times ]

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:50 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
Ward of Sunmedow

The Ward of Sunmedow is hope to a community largely made up of the upper middle classes and the upper classes (and, of course, attendant live in servants - it would be a rare home in this district that did not have live in staff). Some families do run a business from the ground floor of their homes, but for the most part, these are specialist businesses and quite discreet. Many scholars and academic types live within the Ward, and a former Monastery (E1) in the southeast corner of the Ward has recently been purchased by a group of nobles and scholars with the aim of eventually creating a university in the city to rival that of Cantorbridge and to outshine any other in the world.

The most prominent feature of Sunmedow is a large open space referred to as the List Field. This is used to host tournaments within the city and occasionally for other sporting contests. Large temporary wooden structures and tents can be erected on the field at this time. On one corner of the field is the College of Arms - the base and headquarters of the King's Heralds of Albion - those responsible for assigning and administering grants of arms and certain prerogatives of the nobility and gentry across the Kingdom.

The Goat and Compass Tavern on Rabbit Road has a reputation as the centre of collegial intellectual and academic debate in Ongus. There are rumours that it is a haunt of wizards and other practitioners of circumspect arts, but many of the more educated people of the city (perhaps fearful of being associated with such things) reassure their friends that this reputation simply comes from the fact that most people cannot understand the complexities of many of the conversations overheard there and assume that things so imcomprehensible must be magical. A cluster of buildings bordered by Flaybottom Street, Wisdom Road, and Straightshot Street constitute the Guildhall School, a day and boarding school for boys regarded as the best school in the city. Entry is via a competitive examination with fees set based on the marks achieved - they may be nothing for a bright enough boy, or very high for a dullard whose wealthy father nonetheless wants him to have some sort of education beaten into him.

The Sisters of the Convent of Saint Crispin are a rather genteel order - many of their nuns are noblewoman who have chosen to enter the cloister as a way of withdrawing from the wider world.

The Guild Hall of the Masterful Apothecaries and Alchemists Fellowship will distribute medications made by apprentice Apothecarists and Alchemists to those unable to afford to purchase medications. A gallows capable of hanging six men projects from the second floor of this building over Wisdom Road, a legacy of an incident thirteen years ago when during a time of plague in the city, people were found to be selling cures of little or no value to a desperate populace. The Guild was granted the right to try those who commit such crimes and to execute them - it requires the approval of sentence by the signatures and seals of two of the King's Magistrates but reflects the fact that such cases require the assessment of experts.


Attachments:
WardOfSunmedow.gif
WardOfSunmedow.gif [ 396.93 KiB | Viewed 6541 times ]

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:51 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
(Is anybody reading these, or am I just annoying people by posting them here)

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:04 am 
Offline
Admin/Moderator
Admin/Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:21 am
Posts: 2100
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Profession: Hunter
I'm reading....but I have already read them before.

Keep posting. I'm going to keep posting to the Thuland thread even though I seem to be the only one. :)

_________________
co-author Fury of the Deep
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
co-author Cold Fury
co-author Cadaver Draconis
co-author Ordo Draconis 1 and 2.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:57 am 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:46 am
Posts: 605
Location: Victoria, Australia
Profession: Knight
Damian May wrote:
I'm reading....but I have already read them before.


Only if you have a time machine. I'm writing them and posting them here for the first time!

The maps come from my webpage, and the locations are keyed on the webpage, but the writeups are mostly completely new.


Damian May wrote:
Keep posting. I'm going to keep posting to the Thuland thread even though I seem to be the only one. :)


I am planning to add to that :) but the Ongus stuff is needed for my current game so is getting done first.

_________________
Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!

Shaun Hately
co-author A Weak Pleasure
co-author Friends or Foes
co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 55 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 70 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group