The World Of Khoras - Civilization - Cities
"Sloppy, Loud, and Dumb, like a city of barking
dogs."
- Zalmaer Vrage, Aukarian Freetrader
| Ruler | His Majesty, King Ofedor |
| Population | 44,000 |
| Demographics | Magrakian 55%, Eshtari 10%, Human (Aukarian) 9%, Hyttar 8%, Sybrenar 6%, , Pugnar 5%, Human (Tomarin) 3%, Trossali 2%, Other 2% |
| Languages | Magrakian 80%, Eshtari 10%, Aukarian 5%, Other 5% |
| Nationality | Magrakor |
| National Colors | Black and Grey |
| Year Founded | 737 |
| Currency | Magrakian |
| Natural Resources and Manufactured Goods | Iron and iron crafted products, lumber, quarried stone, cattle. |
| Wealth | Average |
| Government Type | Feudal Monarchy |
| Government Stability | Stable |
| Allies | Eshtar |
| Enemies | The Sybren Imperium |
| Walled | Yes. Stone curtain wall. |
| Crime Level | Moderate |
| Technology Level | Dark Ages |
| Primary Religion | Bromat |
| Other Religion | Hemryk, Baltrad, Vazul |
| Climate | Cool temperate |
| Terrain | Coastal plains, rolling plains and sparse forest |
The grand city of Okslad is a major port city with constant traffic in its harbor. Cargoes from all over Aggradar and Qeshir make their way through this port. Okslad is also something of a cultural melting pot with dozens of races living and working together peacefully.
The Main Market Square
This is the main market square of the city. While less
chaotic than the Port District Market, it is larger and has many hundreds of
stalls, booths and tents arranged in a labyrinth of paths that meander between
them.
Port District Market
This is where cargoes are carried off the ships and laid out on
the ground in great piles. Cargoes are haggled over right there in the market.
It is a buying frenzy with much shouting and bell ringing. Most of the
commodities sold here are right off of the ships and involve large stockpiles of
goods. Huge quantities of fresh fish and iced seafood are also sold here.
The Challenging Poles
Two huge stone pillars with a small
stone platform on each. Sitting contests, which are a common way of settling
disputes between disgruntled commoners, are conducted here. Several pair line
the street at intervals. No schedule is kept. Available poles are simply taken.
Other make shift sitting poles exist scattered out throughout the city.
The Arena
A large circular building built
around a gladiatorial pit. Board Wrestling matches are common here.
A huge circular tower near the center of town houses all the forces of the Okslad City Guard. Some 1,500 guards operate out of this squat seven story stronghold. The Guard Keep houses barracks, training facilities and administrative offices. The lower levels contain the main city dungeon.
The magrakian tendency to socialize has lent an odd twist to the underworld. The city of Okslad and the nation of Magrakor are home to dozens of separate thieves guilds, crime cartels and criminal organizations. Most of these groups are small with individual magrakians that may be a member of two or three different groups. This results in a rich underworld tapestry where everyone knows everyone. Some of the more powerful criminal groups include the Shadow Vipers (a general guild of thieves and fences), the Under League (a network of crime bosses that deal in smuggling, bribery, blackmail and extortion) and the Juggernauts (a network of mercenaries, soldiers, assassins, bounty hunters and other "lone" agents).
The Main Temple of Bromat
Huge building with a large central dome and four towers at the corners of the
grounds. Statue of Bromat is in the center of the building directly beneath the
dome.
Statue of Karag
Karag is the founder of the city, a great war hero
and general. His illustratious career spans decades and many great battles are
attributed to his leadership. The statue of Karag shows the great magrakian
general seated on a tremendous throne with an array of weapons. The statue and
throne are 75 feet tall. This statue
sits at the edge of the harbor as a greeting, and warning, to all incoming
ships.
King Ofedor
A rotund magrakian known for gregarious banquets held at the palace. Rules
over a large, but informal court. King Ofedor servesa s the Praelet for the
county of Goloti and speaker of the Grand Coucil. He also performs all important
ceremonies, makes public appearances and occasionally travels when necessary..
but he leaves most of the tedious paperwork and details to his City
Administrator, Vaprak, whom he trusts implicitly.
Vaprak
Vaprak is the City Administrator. Vaprak manages the administrative offices of
the city, acts as the liaison between the various political offices and
generally keeps the city running. He generally frees the King from the daily
worries of running the city. Any important matters are brought to the King by
Vaprak himself. Vaprak is also in charge of the city magistrates who rule over
the courts and take care of legal matters in the city.
Othok
Othok is the City Warden. He is in charge of the city guards, the militia and
generally keeping the peace. His men patrol the streets of Okslad and the
countryside around it. He dislikes court life and paperwork. He prefers to be
alone, riding his horse, out in the countryside. His duties interfere with that
far too often. Othok is also in charge of the prisons in Okslad.
Pagrad, Chief Scholar
An ancient magrakian who serves the King as Chief Scholar and head of the
King's Library. He is also one of the king's advisors on magical matters and
mystical phenomena. Pagrad speaks several languages - Magrakian, Aukarian,
Eshtari, Tomarin and Vaullian. He even speaks a little bit of Rukemain.
| No | Name | Owner/Operator | Description |
| 1 | The Iron Ring | Yrag | Gambling Hall/Tavern/Arena - A large and very popular tavern built around a huge central circular fighting pit. The pit is 15 feet deep, 100 feet across, has a sand floor and is used for all many of arena combat. Patrons of the establishment sit on tiered seating around the arena, drink their ales and bet on the combatants. Magrakian board wrestling is the most common type of event. |
| 2 | The Grand Okslad Inn | Jorma Poolse | Inn - The largest inn of the city. Over 400 rooms with multiple courtyards and a staff of 160. Very luxurious and expensive. |
| 3 | Hall of Tomes | Pagrad | Library - Government historical archive and library. Chief librarian is a very old magrakian named Pagrad, who, despite his grand stature, is humble and respectful to all. |
| 4 | Krad's Ale House | Krad | Tavern - Krad is a very short and stocky magrakian. Has a gravelly, raspy voice due to a throat wound he suffered when he survived the attack of a dragon eel when he was young. (It is a story he tells often). He is blind in one eye and has only one arm. Still he manages to run his tavern, brew a powerful ale and win a few wrestling contests. |
| 5 | Hall of Decadence | Faurik | Brothel - Home of the sturdiest female escorts in Aggradar. No bouncer. These girls can take care of themselves. |
| 6 | Fang and Flagon | Cujef Tagh | Trading Post/General Store - Tagh's eclectic assortment of goods benefits greatly from the city's role as a cultural melting pot. This trading post is surprisingly active center of gossip, as many freetraders make a stop here when passing through. |
| 7 | Blade of Stone | Yohna | Blacksmith - Yohna is a bullish magrakian, with arms that burst from his sleeves whenever he works. A recent surge of bandit activity just south of Fyrren's Wandering have him working well into each night, trying to meet the increased demand from caravans needing extra protection. He can usually be found at his forge, pounding away on less than an hour of sleep, irritable and muttering to himself. |
| 8 | Inn of the Three Hammers | Kohark | Inn - Reasonably priced and of acceptable quality to a weary traveler, this inn caters mostly to traders and caravan hands. There is an excellent messenger service here, as well as a standing offer from the innkeeper: Anyone who can guess where the three hammers above the bar come from receive a free room for the night. |
| 9 | The Bentbow Tavern | Gourtaf | Tavern - The speculation is that Gourtaf is doing something new to his baklath. Nobody can guess what he's started putting in the stuff (and some guess that magic is somehow involved), but all agree that whatever change he's made, it's delicious. Gourtaf brags that several establishments in the area have made him generous offers for his strange new recipe, but he has turned them all away. In the meantime, his business is suddenly booming. |
| 10 | Pugnar's Brew | "Pugnar" | Tavern - Run by a half Pugnar. Since most people find his true name unpronounceable (and because Magrakians have poor memories), most people in town just call him "Pugnar". |
| 11 | Hounded Hunter | Rauff | Stable and Animal Grounds - Located on the outskirts of town. Sells horses, trained dogs, mules and donkeys. |
| 12 | Sarkod's Metal Shoppe | Borog | Smithy - A large metal working shop and smithy with four junior smiths and one master smith. Each with a different specialty. |
| 13 | The Gutted Pup | Jartusk | Tavern - Down by the docks. Caters to a seedy clientele. Thieves and cutthroats mostly. A great place for a few floating rumors and a bar fight. Jartusk, the imposing barkeep, is so tall that his head almost brushes the dirty ceiling. Though he could easily put a stop to any sudden fight, he much prefers to let such violence sort itself out. To amuse himself, he will randomly throw a steel tankard into the melee, often knocking out a combatant or two. |
| 14 | The Beef, Bay and Bottle | Barnur | Tavern - Considered by many to have the best food in the city. Perched on a cliff overlooking the bay, it also has excellent views. |
| 15 | Titan's Hull Tavern | Jurgan | Tavern - This unique establishment is located a mile south of the city, on the coast. The building is actually the upside down hull of a huge ship. The vessel was once a grand sailing ship, of ancient design and immense proportions. It is obvious that this great ship was built and sailed by giants. It was discovered many years ago, washed up on the Aggradar coast in a remote wilderness region. It had lain there for hundreds of years. It was looted bare, nothing remained save the hull. The tenacious magrakians that discovered it spent seven years getting it down off of the rocky coast, flipping it over and towing it back to Okslad. It took a dozen carpenters, scores of workers and 3 mages working for four months to flip it back over and convert it into a functional building. Jurgan, the wealthy entrepreneur who paid for this colossal project, has reaped great profit from it since then as it has become one of the most popular taverns in the nation. |
This page last updated Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Copyright 1990-2009 David M. Roomes.