Resplendent Fields

From Hökaland Wiki
Revision as of 12:36, 31 May 2021 by Leord (talk | contribs) (→‎Current tenants)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Resplendent Fields (or The Fields) are a relatively new addition to the grandeur of Capitoleum and provide the majority of the base food of city. The fields are enchanted by the Sickle and the general opinion of this fact varies but is generally negative as peopel are afraid of the enchantments. As a rule, nobility don't eat produce from the Fields.


History

Originally the area a few miles near to Capitoleum was just used as a demilitarised zone and a bit of a show of power. Many Freemen set up shop on the fields and started using them, but really without rights to the land. Some generations later, these had more or less been given to them and when Capitoleum had a summer with a shortage of bread the Governors realised they had to do something. The lands were taken back from the Freemen (almost resulting in riots) and making them employees of the city. It was a blow to their status and pride, but it increased their security in that they would always be paid, even on a slim harvest. The fields were organised centrally with teams of workers rather than families and irrigations were added, which increased the yield manyfold.

A few years later, another drought hit the city and though it didn't cause hunger, it showed that the city's size was still a possible issue for resources and that it still was heavily dependant on imports. The Sickle offered to put spells on the field to make them produce more and after a year of debate in the Court of Houses it was accepted on trial on 1/4 of the lands, much to the disgruntledment of the Church of Rahn. The Freemen occupying the lands were not too happy either, as they felt some worry about dealing with "cursed lands". However, after a couple of year's trial, the increased salaries for the farmers who were working the enchanted fields and lower food prices in teh city, people's opinions had changed and strong support enabled the Governors to order enchantments for all of the fields.

About 10 further years down the line, the enchantment seemed to be wearing off and the next few harvests were each smaller than the past, despite strong harvests in the rest of the Realms. The Governors approached the Sickle about it, who said that it was a great expense to them to do it and it wouldn't last forever. They offered to pitch in half of the cost if the city paid the rest and after some negotiations, this is basically what happened. At present, 10 years never passes between the mystical rituals on the field, but instead does about 1/8th of the fields every year on an eight year cycle.


Current tenants

Capitoleum and the Governors have since the early days taken possession of all of the Fields but leases it at a cost to tenants. Some of the fields are specifically used to allow Stripes' families to work the land in their down time, as a means to keep a professional army at a much lower cost. There are also a host of other reasons the city will lease a lot of land in the Fields to workers of the city, but it's an always ongoing battle of internal politics of which Governor house may directly or indirectly benefit from it.

Because of tensions, the main tenants are the old Freemen who first settled the lands, the Stripes soldier families, Chamber of Commerce militia farmsteads, Harbour Master's Office militia farmsteads and a few work house farmsteads associated to the Court of Justice.



World nav (e)

Universe
Magic
Gods
Creation myth
Planes
Planet
Continents

Life
Flora
Fauna
Materials
Races

Introduction
Realms
Northrealms
Midrealms
Southrealms
Lofty Peaks
Borderlands
Kingdoms

Settlements
Capitoleum
Gabilgathol
Kahz Valdahaz
Khordaldrum

Structures
Coins
Fields

History
Religion
Calendar
Characters
Maps
Perspective

Traditions
Attitudes
Ascendancy
Languages
Gentry
Crime