The Fortress City
Walls protect. Walls divide. The walls of Xedoc stood as a symbol of its division throughout a long history of inequality and yet failed to protect the city from the danger of the God. Still, some believe in a bright future for this place born in a troubled past.
Xedoc started as a large mound of solid earth that the Skinks could dry out their feet and see the surrounding area with ease, essentially it was a good place to camp. They then built a rounded turret to reside in and eventually walls around the turret to better defend themselves. From there the walls grew and so too did the fort. By the third time the skinks expanded the fort they encapsulated the entire mound, they had the main fortress and it’s original inner wall and outside of that they had a leather curing hut, a pantry hut, a wood workers workshop and an artisans hall, as well as an extended barrack. Soon though the need for land outgrew the mound, the gnomes and vipara built stilted homes and walkways to keep the new residence on a near equal level with the original fort. Moving beyond the original mound opened the floodgate for Xedoc to become more massive than anyone could have imagined.
Trade and travel to and from the city is done by way of two wooden plank paths one which exits to the north and another to the west. There is an eastern exit to a dirt path with small build up to ease travel but is single file only. The access path runs to the north along a river that allows trade barges to flow to the city, with many northern carts transferring to carts at the Vandal trade station, and is the main trade route from Xedoc. There’s trade routes to the west but all items are carried on pack beast and is generally a more laborious trek.
Xedoc is the beating heart of the east, it’s thought to be the largest city in Thiusland outside of the gilded city of the south, and is by far the oldest. The lives and history contained there are evident in the sights and smells of the city.