Razak
| Razak | |
|---|---|
 Artwork by Catzwolf Integrated | |
| Settlement Type | River City |
| Sovereignty | Ghrystbehn |
| Region | Serranak |
| Seat | Merchants' Hall |
| Seat Type | Trade Lord |
| Ruler | Various |
| Founded | Second Era |
| Religions | Kurnish Folklore Dwarven Divinism Elvish Shamanism Serran Pantheon Church of the Goddess Path of the Righteous |
| Languages | Grystok Kurnish Serran Imardanian Elvish |
| Demographics | 54% Orcish, 23% Dwarvish, 12% Human, 11% Elvish |
Razak is the largest and most central city in the Ghryst River Alliance, or Ghrystbehn. Initially little more than a group of orcish communities that migrated from the Kurnish Peninsula, Razak has grown to a melting pot that encompasses many cultures -- primarily from the Dwarven Mountains, Imardin, and the Elvish villages lining the coast to the north.
History
Migrant Beginnings
Long before Razak or even much of the Serranak region were settled, migrant Kurnish populations roamed the land. They were mostly nomadic types, seeking to escape the entrenched clan warfare and violence that plagued much of the Kurnish Peninsula.
While many bands of orcs lived in and around the area, the Ghryst wasn’t settled permanently until well into the First Era. Villages sprouted, came to life, reached their threshold and moved on. Communities were always temporary, whether extinguished due to migrancy, attacks from raiders, or simply due to greener pastures calling.
As the Serran Empire expanded into Imardin and Tulrisse toward the end of the First Era, the lands surrounding Serranak fell into an uneasy peace. Armed trade routes began their movements from cities along the Nilam northward and around the coast into Imardin. To protect the extent of their empire, Serran leaders decided to dedicate a small detachment of their army to patrol the Serranak area from any raiders or clan aggression that made it that far from Kurnhuelde. The region became safer within months. Serran scouts kept watch for any aggressive movements from Kurnish groups, taking action when necessary.
The nomadic groups slowed down in their migrations, not as eager to continue their paths as their ancestors did before. The river proved to be rather fruitful along its long, winding route that featured many floodplains. Land was tilled, crops were planted, and tentative villages began to spring across the Ghryst.
The Founding of Razak
One village in particular had grown quite large, and the tribe living there called it Razak, an ancient name that had been passed down orally for centuries, supposedly. The tale goes that Razak was a young orcish boy who loved to fish. One day, bandits had come to the village his family lived in, demanding money, supplies, and curios. Razak invited them to a meal, sharing with them the fish that he had caught that day. Charmed by his bravery and his amicable disposition, the bandits left with full bellies and the people were saved that day.
Razak itself became a small town over the course of the next two centuries. Due to other small settlements appearing along the Ghryst, trade started and bonds between them were forged.
The Serran Invasion of Kurnhuelde
Around this time, Kresh Garuul erupted. With the resulting Kurnish Famine weakening the strength of many orcish clan territories, the Serran Empire set its sights on a greedy land grab. They had conquered Tulrisse, conquered Imardin, and their influence and colonies had already spread toward the Serranak regionas well. The leaders saw the starving orcs in constant turmoil as a perfect opportunity to conquer an entire people, and so the invasion began.
While Razak was out of the line of fire for the main assault by land from the Serran forces, it was not at all safe from harm. The ongoing patrols of Serran scout forces that fended off raiders had halted due to the invasion. Travel in the region became unsafe due to banditry and supply crises on the warfront.
In Y7, a Serran official had sent a small detachment to Razak in order to demand supplies, weapons, and quarter to regroup for the ongoing war. This first request was granted, albeit uneasily, by the Razak leaders in order to appease the Serran leaders. However, in Y8, the warfront had taken a turn for the worse. A large platoon of Serranborn were ordered back to Razak in order to glean a large shipment of supplies and equipment, and this time they were not met with the same hospitality.
The Serran captain was rejected an audience by the Razak leadership, and instead, the Serran warriors had taken to looting the businesses and farms. With consent from the Razak chieftain, the citizens formed an armed mob that outnumbered the fifty Serran warriors almost tenfold.
When commanded to leave and return to their greater army, the Serran soldiers did not listen. Several of them were beset upon and killed by the Razak citizens, sending the surviving Serranborn on the retreat.
The remainder of the Serran Invasion of Kurnhuelde was only felt from afar, and the city was about to rebound immediately from the failed occupation.
Post-War
When the war efforts by the Serran Empire were abandoned, southern Kurnhuelde was a burning mess. However, the orcs sought retribution. Kurnish war parties pushed the retreating Serranborn deep into Serranak, cutting down or imprisoning those that they were able to catch up to.
This retaliation affected Razak as well. The orcs of the clans that were most ravaged by the Serran swept the region, searching for any hiding Serranborn or sympathizers. In addition, innocent families who had emigrated from Serran were in danger.
The Kurnish went from town to town along the Ghryst, either killing or enslaving any expatriated Serranborn, regardless of their sentiments toward the Empire. While most of Razak’s native population gave up the Serran families living there out of fear of the Kurnish turning on them instead, not all behaved this way. Some orcs helped hide the ex-Serran people or aided in their safe escape east.
In the decades to come, the wartorn regions of Southern Kurnhuelde kept to themselves, leaving Serranak alone. Serra was experiencing internal strife of its own after their failed invasion. For once, the region of Serranak was left in somewhat of a power vacuum. Industry grew, trade routes resumed, and Razak began to thrive again.
A bustling port town now, Razak’s leadership began to show bias in the form of familial nepotism, unfair rulings, and a lack of a dedicated constabulary. The orcs may have shared the same land together, but opinions on Razak’s direction began to diversify.
Formation of the Razak Council
As a wealth divide began to come into prominence in Razak between the lower class farmers and laborers versus the industry leaders and business owners, tensions were growing. Many had lost faith in the dated tradition of ancestral chieftains, and confidence in their leader was beginning to slip.
Factions emerged, with some supporting the few wealthy clans within the city, while others embodied the workers themselves. Other thought leaders sought to bridge the gap between them.
When a referendum was called in the town square concerning the reorganization of the city’s leadership, there was overwhelming support for establishing a council. Reluctantly, the chieftain stepped down from her position of power and the Council of Razak was formed. It initially consisted of five leaders from the town that represented each major group: the original clan and the constabulary, the farmers, the artisans and merchants, the shamans and religious elders, and lastly the builders and architects.
This new council was not perfect, but proved much more fair to the cityfolk. Around this time, a city wall was constructed around the central district.
Cultural Harmony
Over the remaining of the Second Era as well as the Third and Fourth Eras, many folk migrated into the Serranak region, especially Razak. Because of its growing industry and riches, many saw Razak as a place of fortune. Many elves, Imardanians, Serranborn, and dwarves were welcomed into the city, bringing with them their own culture, religion, language, and ideas.
Razak became a melting pot of all races and creeds, though still primarily orcish. Grystok formed, a rough language that evolved quickly from the rapid trade up and down from the Ghryst.
Formation of the Ghrystbehn
Trade dependencies began to accumulate across the river network in the Fifth Era. While the fringes of Serranak were unsafe, the strength of its inner cities along the Ghryst made travel both effective and convenient.
Because a single city can only have so much power and security within its own sphere of influence, the council leaders of Razak saw an opportunity to capitalize on. They offered to form an alliance with its neighbors along the river. At first this was more of nominal offering, something to test the sentiment. When the idea of an alliance seemed to take root across the Ghryst more readily than the leaders of Razak thought, they knew it was time.
The Ghryst River Alliance, or Ghrystbehn, was formed in 5E Y542. The alliance offered military support, established trade margins, and ushered in a new age of protected roads within the microregion. Having spearheaded the movement, Razak was known as the unofficial leader, though each city was considered an equal in theory.
Modern Razak
In the Sixth Era, Razak has continued to surge as the most populous and wealthiest city in Serranak. Serving as a culture and trade hub for anyone traveling throughout Voreld, it is known as the great gem of the Ghryst.
A second and third tier of walls were developed around the city, improving its strategic defense and providing the basis to expand even further.
Despite the wealth and industry that Razak managed to develop, an income disparity grew, much worse than before. While the inner districts of the city are resplendant, clean, and well-maintained, the outer fringes of the city are squalid, sometimes dangerous areas. Gangs and criminals run rampant despite the heavy crackdown that the city’s council leaders have implemented.
Geography
Settled on the north side of the Ghrystbehn and central to the region of Serranak, the city of Razak has access to a large amount of arable, flat land. The city itself is build on a large, sloping hill that has been sectioned off into tiers, flattened, and built on.
The floodplains present are used to help feed the city.
There are some forested regions surrounding the city, but for the most part, the terrain consists of grasslands. Some rolling hills dot the north countryside.
Climate
Razak, and the central region of Serranak in general, is considered temperate. There is a medium amount of rainfall per year. Occasionally, a thick fog settles along the river.
Culture
While Razak was initially founded by bands of orcish nomads, it has grown to encompass a wide range of peoples. In modern times, only a half of the population is orcish, with dwarves making up a quarter, with humans and elves making up the remaining quarter.
Each of the three walls within Razak make up a different tier of the city, and over time these separations have formed a loose caste system. The aristocracy resides in the Terrace District, the bourgeoisie makes up the Upper Elements, and the rest fill in the sprawling streets of the Lower Elements. These physical barriers, while not actually an enforced caste system, have eaten away at the class disparity between Razak’s citizens.
It is common for most people to work, reside, and stay in their own tier of the city. This is especially true for those in the Terrace District, who many of which hold disdain for the cramped, dirty, and loud streets of the Lower Elements.
Architecturally, much of the craftsmanship in the Lower Elements has taken on a mixture of Dwarvish and Kurnish tones, with sturdy, dense buildings that are favor width over height. In the Terrace District however, there is some Imardanian influence with large statehouses of ornate design, as well as dwarven palace-like halls like the Monizok Society.
Government
While historically retaining a chieftain, Razak transitioned to a council-based government in the Second Era. As the needs of the city have become more complex and demanding, so too has the organization of the council. Initially having only five heads of the council, modern Razak consists of eleven rulers that form the council. These eleven members consist of industry heads, administrative officials, and sometimes aristocracy who were part of the original Razak lineage.
The constabulary forces in Razak are quite pronounced, due to the amount of crime that occurs in the Lower Elements. There are seven city guard barracks in the Lower Elements, two in the Upper Elements, and one a nominal office in the Terrace District. The guards can be quite brutal, and this helps curb some of the rampant efforts of organized gangs, but not all.
As a city-state and a leading member of a trade alliance, Razak has formed a small military force in reserve. Most of these soldiers work in their own trade or profession by day and are called to bear in a state of emergency, which is able to be called by the Council. Only a tenth of these soldiers are full-time. These permanent soldiers receive constant training, conditioning, and help patrol the roads around the Ghrystbehn.
As part of the Ghrystbehn, Razak is expected to help form a defensive, economical network of settlements. By stabilizing trade, resources, and offering military council or aid when necessary, Razak is able to protect itself and the microregion by strengthening its infrastructure. Razak has an official advisor to the Ghrystbehn that is voted in by the council to serve as the liason for their city among the other cities in the alliance.
Economy
Due to the wide, arable lands suitable for agriculture, the placement along an important river, and the large population of craftsmen and artisans, Razak as a city enjoys considerable wealth. Much of what it sells to neighboring cities and regions are supplies, trade goods, textiles, arms, and armor. With the growing dwarvish population in the city, many famous craftsmen from the Dwarven Kingdoms have flocked to Razak, bringing with them advanced techniques and unmatched quality.
This wealth has engendered a disparity in the class system, however, and the poorest of Razak turn to crime in an effort to survive. While Razak is known as one of the richest cities in the region, it is also one of the most dangerous. Black markets run rampant, able to evade the Ghrystbehn trade rulings by bribing officials or strong-arming guards.
Places of Interest
Terrace District
The Terrace District is home to the aristocracy of Razak, including leaders of industry, government officials, and foreigners who have bought their way into renowned societies.
- The Monizok Society
- Initially founded by a league of dwarvish expatriates as a scholarly society, the Monizoks have grown to accept other races into their ranks. The Monizok Society itself is a large dwarven hall that was built in the middle of the Fifth Era. Little is known about the true motivations of the Monizok members to the public, but those in the inner circles have connections to slavery rings and the black market.
- Razak Counciliary Hall
- As the place of meeting for the city’s councilmembers, the Razak Counciliary Hall was originally built around the late Second Era during the formation of the Council. However, it burned down during the early Fourth Era and was built much larger and more ornately.
The Upper Elements
Home to craftsmen, merchants, academics, and the more common religious groups, the Upper Elements is the foremost reason for Razak’s great wealth. Many goods are hauled in and out of the Upper Elements each week, bound for far off cities or regions.
- The Razak Ring
- Inspired by the success of the Tjordek Ring, a group of aristocrats from Razak decided to build an arena of their own. After receiving
Lower Elements
The most populous and diverse district, the Lower Elements forms the outermost ring of the city that includes the city gates. While there are many thriving members of the community in the Lower Elements, it has received a poor reputation from the members of the bourgeoisie and aristocracy for being rife with both organized and petty crime, bloodshed, and unkempt streets.
However, the Lower Elements is also home to much of the city’s non-orcish populations, including pockets of elvish communities and sparse amounts of humans.
- Eastern Plaza
- Consisting of taverns, stables, the largest guards barracks in the city, as well as several other establishments, the Eastern Plaza is one of the most bustling districts in Razak. It is known to harbor a feral cat colony, and those in the area have taken a liking to feeding them.
- Northern Plaza
- Lesser used and sleepier than the Eastern or Western Plazas, the north end of Razak’s Lower Elements are home to a large elvish community.
- Western Plaza
- Similar to its Eastern counterpart, the Western Plaza is also a hub for travelers and tradesmen moving through the city. However, this district is also home to a group of illustrious craftsmen called the West End Artisans, a trade guild that have turned against those in the Upper Elements.
- The Isle
- Technically an island within the Ghryst River, the Kokol Isle (usually referred to as simply the Isle) became a part of the city when bridges, docks, warehouses sprang up and the outer walls were built to enclose it within the city limits. The Isle has a small southern section that is outside of the walls and serves as the main dock district for Razak.
