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City of Zeidenburg

From Time of Unparalleled Darkness Wiki

Municipality of Zeidenburg
Culture Level Medieval
Climate & Terrain Wooded mountain valley
Year Formed 351 BC
Population 31,150[1]
Races (%) Humans 96%, half-Vistani 1%, halfling 1%, dwarf 1%, other 1%
Languages Spoken Balok, Luktar, Dwarven, Common
Religions Church of Ezra, Cult of the Morninglord
Government Formally: Monarchy; Practically: Theocracy
Ruler Burgomaster Jacenty Girgiu
Ruler Title Burgomaster of Zeidenberg
Title Inheritance Male-Preference House Senority, lead by house Girghiu
Title Ascendant (Above) Lady Boyar of Zeidenburg and the surrounding lands, held by Lyssa von Zarovich
Title Descendant (Below) Burgomaster's Deputy, presently vacant

Zeidenburg is a large town located on the Gundar River. Originally part of Gundarak, it is now claimed by Barovia. Though it is a successful community, it is a hotbed for conflict between oppressed Gundarakite rebels and the forces of the Barovian boyars. Despite the crackdown of the authorities, Zeidenburg remains a hive of criminal activity and the black market.[2] The garda crackdowns on this are brutal and violent, but it has yet to properly deter it.

Background

Harvests of cereal from the surrounding farms are a chief export of Zeidenberg, and the city eats well and exports plenty beyond. It is also a thriving merchant thoroughfare, part of why the black market thrives; so long as it has a price, you can find it in Zeidenburg.[3]

Lady Lyssa von Zarovich taking a more direct hand in day-to-day affairs has largely stabilized the region, but stable doesn't mean the conflict isn't happening - merely contained.

While temporal power resides with the Burgomaster, his garda, and the Lady von Zarovich they serve, a significant amount of social and political clout is held by the Church of Ezra's fifth sect, which has its seat, begrudingly endorsed by the Count, within Zeidenburg. Called the Sanctuary of Our Guardian's Grace, this cathedral is large and sprawling, though more vertical than horizontal, as it were. The Fifth Sect rarely exercises this clout, but it has a couple times, leading to the occasional bit of tension between the church and the state. For the most part however, the church is regarded as a force protective of the social order, and the garda and authorities tend to be approving of it, even if they themselves are oft not adherents. When the Church speaks on matters, the temporal powers tend to listen.

The faith has become quite popular with the people of the city, whom seek an island of stability in a place which grapples with the problem of rebellious gundarakites. It is still starting to find a proper size, but with their stalwart protection against the growing Legion during the growing Time of Unparalleled Darkness has earned them a good reputation. Along with the church's seat of the Fifth Sect, two smaller satellite chapels have sprung up of the Sect, speaking to its popularity, as well as a smaller chapel beloning to the Second Sect, and a final of Her Fourth.

Places to Go

Law and Order

People to See

Streets of Zeidenburg

  • Merchant's Row
  • Crimson Road

References

  1. Server canon: inflated to be on the larger end of a typical medieval city, originally 4,615
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 pages 33-34, Ravenloft Gazeteer, Volume 1, Arthaus (John W. Mangrum, Stuart Turner, Peter Woodworth, and Andrew Wyatt), September 2002
  3. pages 34, Ravenloft Gazeteer, Volume 1, Arthaus (John W. Mangrum, Stuart Turner, Peter Woodworth, and Andrew Wyatt), September 2002
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Server Canon, made by Maiyannah
  5. 5.0 5.1 Server Canon, made by Wilkins1952
  6. Server Canon, written by Maiyannah, Dec 8 2024