Moralinth: A Tour of North Ward
- Adam Donovan
- Nov 6, 2018
- 10 min read
Today's Moralinth blog is not specific to either of the two game systems, but instead focuses on the thoroughly enjoyable art of world-building. Specifically we taking a brief look at the location where both the internal and external play-tests took place in: North Ward. A brief word about Moralinth communities before we begin:
Following the catastrophic event of The Blight, the few communities that survived only did so by quarantining themselves off from the world behind massive walls. Call 'Enclaves', these communities consisted of walled-off areas of land that held two or more cities within their boundaries. The establishing of Enclaves created a new community dynamic as these cities fell under one banner. Rulers (known as Regents) rose to control each Enclave, and the separate cities within them - while retaining their cultural identities - became Wards of these Enclaves.
North Ward is one such Ward, belonging to the Enclave known as Elysium.
(You can read more about Enclaves and how they work in Thursday's blog: Anatomy of an Enclave, due for online publication on 8th Nov 2018)
A Brief History of North Ward
'The City of Delights' - as it was once known – represented a city of arts, crafts and creative pursuits where the people cared little for wars or expansion and prospered from their reputation as neutral territory during the civil wars of Estana. When it became clear that Estana would unite the country, The City of Delights did not resist any form of invasion, instead welcoming their would-be conquerors with open arms and swearing allegiance to the newly-forming Empire of Estania in exchange for no damage done to their city or its people. Upon being integrated into The Empire, the City was renamed Northolde due to its geographical positioning. It held this name until the Enclave of Elysium was established following the outbreak of The Blight, whereupon its name was changed one final time to denote its new political status as a Ward of Elysium. Northolde became known as North Ward and while this remains its official name to this day, many of the Wards still citizens still prefer to call their home Northolde.
North Ward by the Numbers
North Ward is the second-largest of Elysium's five Wards, second only to Old Estana which was at one time the capital city of the nation.
A brief summary of North Ward / Northolde City is as follows: NORTH WARD
Location: North-West Quadrant of Elysium Enclave, Estana Isle.
Population: Approx. 1,250,000 souls
Lord Regent: Lord Regent Alexander Elistarl (Located in The Crafts District)
Number of Districts:5 1. The Crafts District (A district of craftsmen and merchants, artisans and designers) 2. The Art District (The wealthiest of the districts, home to art collectors and the privileged) 3. The Delights District (A district well-known for its heavily-policed skin trade as well as other exotic tastes for those who can afford it) 4. The Revel District (A district that never sleeps, The Revel District is a place of social functions, balls, parties and general entertainment, as well as a large social community) 5. The Docklands District (A district of stark contrasts, The Docklands District brings in much of the Wards' money through the docks, but at the expense of those who live and work there.)
North Ward's Districts
A brief look at each of the five North Ward Districts and an example of a major landmark from each one (taken directly from the Core Rulebooks):
THE CRAFTS DISTRICT
A place where artisans hone their skills to produce things of practical and impractical wonder, The Crafts District is a busy place where things are produced on a smaller but more specialised scale than elsewhere in the Enclave. Housing here tends to be quite expensive but the fringes of the district do offer more moderately-priced homes. This district is the home of the Ward's Regent.
A CRAFTS DISTRICT LANDMARK:
Lorchester Castle: Home to North Ward’s Regent, Lord Alexander Elistarl, Lorchester Castle was the royal home and political epicentre to what was once The City of Delights. Built atop a hill in the west of the District, the castle still maintains its original structure including a keep, bailey, gatehouse and surrounding wall, and thanks to the cities’ agreement with the fledgling Estanian Empire remains one of the most complete historical buildings outside of the nation of Jepuraea. Generally not open to the public due to the fact it is an official parliamentary building still in use as a residence, Lorchester castle is flanked at its base by a selection of Watch guard-houses as well as a royal contingent within the walls of the castle proper. The four-story keep rises slightly above the walls and can be seen from most points in the Ward due to its elevation on Lorchester Hill, the motte on which the keep stands.
THE ART DISTRICT
Housing a large quantity of art galleries, museums, theatres and auditoriums, the Art District rightfully deserves its name, yet large and grandiose buildings leave little space for residential housing here. Those houses that are sold in the Art District tend to be very expensive.
AN ART DISTRICT LANDMARK:
Museum of Imagination: Found down a non-descript alley in the far western edge of the District, the Museum of Imagination is a specialist locale that caters to the curious mind of a more…eclectic persuasion. Housing all manner of occult items and oddities, the museum has a library full of books that even just a century ago would have been considered illegal. Its proprietor – Mr. Sebastian North – is as much an attraction as the museum itself; a man from the lands of Ursur who carries about him an air of mystery and secrecy (though it is unclear as to whether this is intentional showmanship or simply a demeanour of a foreign culture) yet is a veritable treasure-trove of unusual and forgotten information. How the museum remains in business is as much a mystery as everything else about it, as Mr. North charges no entry fee and holds no ire against any who do not donate to keep the doors of the museum open to the public.
THE DELIGHTS DISTRICT
Know for its well-managed and open-handed skin trade, The Delights District has cornered the market on the "oldest profession in the world", at least in the Enclave of Elysium. A place with clubs and brothels on almost every street corner, it is surprisingly well-policed and handled, and the district itself is very well maintained. Housing here tends to be expensive but large, offering good value for the purchase.
A DELIGHTS DISTRICT LANDMARK:
The Fairway: Taking up much of the entire northern portion of the Delights District, The Fairway is a massive, well-tended park that covers a little over 2,300 acres of land and is split into ten areas – essentially each a smaller park – with each of these parks being dedicated to a different Deity of the Many-Faced Pantheon with the exclusion of the Church of Light which was not a recognised religion at the time of the park’s construction. Popular with all Imperial Citizens The Fairway has plenty of large open fields, quiet lakes, serene woodland walks and gas-lit footpaths to cater to all tastes. Throughout the summer months many live music performers can be found in the various band-stands, and some of the larger fields even host music and beer festivals at select times of the year. Each of the ten parks that make up The Fairway have an army of gardeners and tenders, and each has a “Greenhouse”; a large central building (painted green, hence the name) that is the work-office for the park wardens. The parks from north to south are: Khaphothis Park, Yatomo Park, Natoth Park, Xix'yx Park, Graomar Park, Aethusa Park, Nalgrem Park, Rarkan Park, Malik Park and Dimitri Park.
THE REVEL DISTRICT
Named for its abnormally large collection of drinking holes, The Revel District is the party-capital of Elysium. Most things go here so long as people are enjoying themselves, though it should be noted that one man's fun can also be another man's ire. Housing here tends to vary in price, but overall it is a relatively cheap place to live.
A REVEL DISTRICT LANDMARK:
The Hot Candle: As if the name of the establishment were not enough of a clue for most folk, The Hot Candle is unashamedly proud of the fact it is a combination pub and brothel. In an area of the Enclave where the skin trade is openly celebrated and highly regulated, The Hot Candle advertises itself as having “excellent food and excellent ‘entertainment’ “. The ground floor of the building is the pub, with a traditional wine-cellar beneath, but the top floor is full of bedrooms which are rented overnight and by the hour. The two often intermingle, with prostitutes spending time in the bar in their off-hours and when acquiring new clients, and drinks (and food) making their way upstairs. The Hot Candle is run by brother and sister Jeffrey and Annabelle Hillcrest, with Jeffrey running the pub and Annabelle as the madam of the brothel. Fiercely loyal to one another, the Hillcrests have been running the establishment for over a decade.
THE DOCKLANDS DISTRICT
Probably the least-policed area in North Ward, The Docklands District is also the cheapest to live in. Comprised mostly of dock-workers who toil daily along the River Coil, it is a hard-work environment with long work-hours and dedicated individuals. With little else than dock trade being of importance, standards of living in The Docklands District tends to be quite low compared to the rest of North Ward.
A DOCKLANDS DISTRICT LANDMARK:
Docklands Correctional Facility: Not as large, famous (infamous) or well-funded as “The Lock” – The maximum-security superprison in Old Estana Ward - the Docklands Correctional Facility is nevertheless the second-largest prison in the Enclave of Elysium. The imposing and dour-looking facility is sadly famous for a different reason: the bad living conditions and treatment of its’ prisoners, something which lends itself to the highest inmate death and suicide rate in any prison in the Enclave. While its staff cite the lack of funding for the reason behind the bad conditions, it is one of the worst kept secrets that the Docklands Correctional Facility is where those who aren’t dangerous enough to end up in maximum security go but is also where inmates are generally sent to die. The Lock might be the only prison in Elysium with the official permission to dole out death sentences, but far more inmates die of “natural” causes in the Docklands Correctional Facility than in The Lock or any other prison. With squalid, dank conditions, no recreational facilities and cramped cells that hold up to five inmates each, the facility is technically able to hold almost a thousand prisoners, but rarely reaches above the eight-hundred mark at any one time due to the number of inmates that don’t make it through their sentence. Located in the north-east of the District, the Docklands Correctional Facility is far from any residential areas and surrounded by open fields patrolled by members of the Watch, but the few escapees tend to be shot on sight in full view of other inmates to deter escape. The entire area – including the “killing fields” are surrounded by a thirty-foot stone wall with guard-posts every eighty to one-hundred feet.
Notable Personalities of North Ward
North Ward has many interesting personalities available for players to meet in their investigations and adventures. Here is a sampling of three of those many personalities:
Cleric Michael Wynter: (CRAFTS DISTRICT) The lead Cleric of The Shrine of Spirits, Cleric Wynter is an amiable and patient man who exudes an aura of respect and compassion. Extremely patient but methodical, Wynter is not a native Estanian, but was actually born in the Aeir Enclave in Libantas. Having been lucky enough to study under Cardinal Erdentis Savros when the man was still a member of the High Clergy, Wynter completed his instruction with distinction and was sent north to the Imperial Isle to continue the good works of The Church. When he arrived in Elysium Enclave ten years ago he was given his choice of any of the Churches to lead. After a six-month period where he travelled around the Enclave, Cleric Wynter chose the Crafts District of North Ward, taking up residence in the newly-constructed church ‘The Shrine of The Spirits’. A firm believer in progressive preaching, Cleric Wynter keeps an open house and is accepting of anyone who can let the Gods into their heart. Now in his later thirties with a single silver wisp in his otherwise striking hazelnut hair, the man is taking to ageing gracefully and is a fond follower of the arts.
Mr. Sebastian North: (ARTS DISTRICT) Ursur-born Sebastian North is a mysterious man who avoids discussion about his past, stating (only the once) that he is ‘a very private man and there are some things’ he ‘is unwilling to discuss.’ A little taller than the average Estanain citizen and considerably slimmer, the raven-haired man seems to be well into his fifties and has a constantly stony expression. Despite his appearance and reluctance to talk about his past, Mr. North is in all other ways quite open and enjoys the intricacies of small talk. Almost exclusively found at his place of business – The Museum of Imagination – he welcomes anyone with an open and curious mind, reminding interested parties that the items found in his museum are only considered ‘occult’ to the uninitiated, and that each has practical, cultural or artistic significance. The only thing he is more passionate about than talking about the items in his museum is acquiring new ones, and is always on the lookout for rare and one-of-a-kind artefacts.
Dr. Eammon Beasdale: (DOCKLANDS DISTRICT) Chief Medical Doctor and Lead Psychiatrist at Serenity Heights Sanitarium, Dr Beasdale is a celebrated surgeon who gave up traditional hospital medication to take over the sanitarium at the dying request of the previous owner, his friend Malcom Delewin four years ago. Since that time Beasdale has become fascinated with psychiatry and treating maladies of the mind, seeing it as a pioneering way forward for modern medicine. Though he does not recognize it in himself, it is largely through Beasdale’s reputation that the sanitarium remains open, able to further research into mental conditions that besiege the patients. Dr. Beasdale is constantly fighting with government officials for more funding and more staff for the sanitarium but being in the Docklands District means that his asylum is considered low priority compared to the more desirable ventures throughout the Ward. Despite this, Dr. Beasdale and his staff do their best to help understand, cure and rehabilitate the patients under their care.
So there is a glimpse into the North Ward, one of the 5 Wards (once Cities) that make up the Enclave of Elysium. All of the Wards will be covered in detail in both the Moralinth: Cypher Edition and Moralinth:5e Core Rulebooks, as well as cross-system setting books on the various countries of the Known World. I hope this has proven insightful for many, and sparks the imagination in future Narrators and Players! For now, Happy Gaming!
- Adam
Comments