M is for Martefello

Halfway through the challenge! So far, so good.

The capital city of Meterra is now called Everton. However, three years ago it was called Martefello, a name of obscure origins that the Ramai do not remember. The city is built atop the ruins of at least two previous long-dead civilizations, and has apparently been settled, on and off, for at least five thousand years. When they arrived, the Europeans renamed it Everton and claimed it as their new capital city. For the most part, the Ramai had no objection to the new rulership; they had suffered for years from attacks from various humanoids, but the disciplined and hardy European Knights were the best protection they had yet seen. However, there are always some malcontents who dislike change, and there have been rumors of some Ramai who are not at all pleased with the new status quo...

Today Everton is a growing city of 10,000 souls, including some elves, dwarves, and halflings. While not exactly cosmopolitan, it is certainly the busiest town in Meterra, with merchants arriving both by land and sea from the surrounding lands. While the king's court is here, the city itself is run by a Lord-Mayor and a City Council. King Eadric does not involve himself in the day-to-day affairs of the city unless he is directly asked.

The city is surrounded by a curtain wall with four gates. Within the walls the city is divided up into several sections, although only one of them, the Noble Quarter, is itself walled off. The other quarters are divided up by the main streets that run through Everton. The center of the city holds the Market Square, the busiest part of the city. The northeastern Quarter is the Docks, which is a rowdy and busy area.

Some of Everton's most notable buildings include:

Arimore, the Arcane Academy: The only magic school currently operating in Meterra, it has been a place of great magical research and learning for a century. The recent forays into magical learning were stifled by the church, who saw it as an affront to God; practicality won the day, however, as the magical creatures that threatened the kingdom had to be opposed by an equal force. The head of the Academy is, of course, Larcullus Martellos, who has been the Academy's headmaster for the past decade.

Chapterhouse of the Holy Cross: Recently constructed, this is the headquarters for the Order of the Holy Cross in Meterra (I'll describe them in a couple of days). It consists of an austere stone barracks and a training hall, along with a small chapel and stable, surrounded by a low stone wall. Few members of the Order are here on a constant basis, as most of them serve as itinerant priests, wandering the land.

Howlester Fort: The central military base in Meterra is the Howlester Fort, a forbidding and bleak fortress being constructed of black basalt from the Onun Mountains. At the moment, it is a motte-and-bailey, wooden fort with a small keep and several barracks. However, construction on the stone fortifications has nearly completed, and there are two barracks fully built. It is home to over 400 soldiers and their leaders, under the command of Baron Sir Marten du Lacque. Their drilling and parade ground is immaculately kept despite any weather, and the troops are the elite of all the kingdom.

The Jolly Manticore: A run-down tavern in the docks region of the city, this building caters to the lower classes. Fights are not uncommon, and the city watch tend to leave the place alone. It is run by Ceston Merritus, who has hired four toughs as bouncers. The food is of average quality at best, and the drinks are definitely watered down. But they’re also cheap.

What few people know is that the Jolly Manticore isn’t owned by Ceston; he is merely the manager, and his primary duty  is to keep the place run-down to discourage the authorities from taking too close a look at the place. Since this is also the headquarters of the Shadow Guild, that would definitely be an unwelcome intrusion. All thieving activities in Everton are either run out of the cellar of the Jolly Manticore, or are done by rogue thieves who will be hunted down by the Guild and dealt with, one way or another.

The Lion: The Lion is known as the best inn in all of Meterra. Catering to over fifty guests every day, its kitchens rival those of the royal palace in reputation, and the inn's quality commands the highest prices. Its proprietors are a husband and wife, Anselme and Lucinda. Both former adventurers, they chose to retire after achieving a small fortune, and they built and ran the Lion since its founding twenty-five years ago.

The Shady Berry Inn: This inn is not nearly as impressive as the Lion, but it caters to a more common clientele, particularly adventurers. It is located near the southern gate of the city, and is often used as the rest stop for adventurers who have escaped the Devil's Playground and seek to dispense of their treasure. The Inn is run by a man named Garthon, a retired mercenary soldier who hangs his battle axe in plain sight to discourage foolishness. Garthon does not tolerate thievery in his inn, although brawling is more common and accepted...right up until the weapons are drawn. In that case, Garthon has a loaded crossbow at hand, and he will shoot first without bothering to ask questions.

St. Mary's Cathedral: The heart of the Christian faith in Meterra, St. Mary's Cathedral is, like the other important buildings of Everton, under construction. It has already reached a height of sixty-five feet, and is expected to have a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot steeple when completed. There is a smaller wooden church that was built within two years of the Arrival, where masses are said while the cathedral is being built. The head of the church is Patriarch Marten. He has a dozen lesser priests who do most of the masses; the Patriarch usually says mass on special holidays, or when the royal family is present.

Next to the church is a small home, recently built, home to the young sage Ivelin Bullen, a European scholar who was part of Bishop Marten’s party before the Arrival. Since the discovery of the Devil’s Playground he has found a new focus for his studious energies, and has been given permission by the Patriarch to set up his library on church grounds, on the basis that information on the Devil’s Playground is a matter of great concern for the Church. He sometimes hires adventurers to seek out information on the Devil's Playground. He will offer discounted rates to adventurers who bring him such information, especially those who bring books and scrolls to him.

Talverton Palace: The home of King Eadric and his wife, Talverton Palace is a small palace that has been undergoing constant construction since shortly after the Arrival. The keep has expanded in the past year, adding a second tower and a throne room/banquet hall. The third curtain wall has been completed as well. King Eadric and Queen Ellisabeth dwell here, along with their two children. The queen's younger sister, Esmeralda, also lives here under the protection of her brother-in-law.

As you can see, Martefello/Everton is still a work in progress, both in-world and in my own mind. There's quite a bit going on, though. I'm including a map of the city; it's incomplete, but it gives the general layout and notes the important buildings. There are a few on the map that I didn't mention above; those are game-related, and I do need to keep some secrets.