Crannom, The Burnished City

On the continent of Yofga there are four walled cities. These cities were constructed by the Lujggao, or at least by their giant slaves. These cities are massive urban sprawls with high walls and structures of black stone. Each of these four cities contains a furnace of creation and a purifier, and from these four cities flow the nearly limitless resources that allow humanoids to flourish on Yofga.

So we're going to  talk about the first of these four cities, Crannom, The Burnished City.

History

Like the founding of the other three cities, the history of Crannom begins some time before 1000 DoS. What is known is that the goliath tribes of the west unified and made their way from what we now call the deep desert and the area around the Font of Shadows to the western coast, where they found and empty city of the Lujggao that later came to be known as Crannom, The Burnished City.

These goliath were nomadic tribes that inhabited what were at that time relatively fertile plains, but after the Death of Seasons these plains were swiftly becoming a blasted wasteland that could not support the goliath. So they moved towards the coast, which we assume they thought would have a more reliable food supply via fishing. We can assume that they were curious about the empty city they found and all the strange buildings and fixtures of the Lujggao, but goliath have always been a hardy folk and in the climate of that time period they would have had no strong need for living within stone dwellings.

We can assume that as the oceans and seas of the time began to turn to sludge, the food supplies eventually ran out and as the climate became more hostile, the goliath became more interested in the strange city they found. Like the other three remaining cities of the Lujggao, what they found within the mighty walls of the city were wide paved streets and large empty buildings and no living creatures. The goliath are large, though somewhat smaller than Lujggao, and they had an easy time adjusting to the large dimensions of the city.

Goliath history primarily relies upon oral tradition in this era of time, so records of the time are scant at best. What we do know is that goliath populations within the city and in the settlements around it began to wane over the years and those populations outside the city began experiencing a great number of illnesses from malnutrition and contaminated water supplies, while the populations within the walls of the city experienced no such difficulties despite living in similar conditions. This led to a massive population growth within the walls of the city as goliath abandoned settlements to live within the walls of the city. This population boom within the walls forced expansion into unused depths of the city. Which is where the goliath discovered the descendants of the Lujggao and the furnace of creation and purifier of the city.

Goliath have always been brutish and violent by nature, and their population was further lessened by conflicts with the mute descendants of the Lujggao. Ancient stories tell of an massive gate of iron where the descendants, furnace, and purifier were sequestered. Supposedly, the ancient goliath tore this gate down, imagining there was some secret storehouse within it. The goliath, we assume, thought the descendants were keeping the supplies from them and immediately attacked the descendants, leading to a great deal of violence over a very short period of time.

With the iron gate torn down and many of the more violent goliath dead, the descendants of the Lujggao began performing the duties we typically see them doing in modern times. We can assume that a short time after this, the goliath of the city realized that the furnace of creation and the purifier in the bowels of the city were providing an endless supply of resources. They also discovered the ancient rivers of lava that all cities have deep within them.

Over time, the goliath of Crannom discovered the knowledge of working iron and working copper and tin into bronze. Over time, contact between the four cities developed. The goliath of Crannom realized that though their furnace of creation functioned and their purifier brought them plenty of water, they were provided with fewer overall resources than the other cities, save for copper and tin. The amount of copper and tin the goliath were provided with greatly exceeded that of the other three cities leading to an almost entirely bronze based economy. They had such an excess of bronze in Crannom that nearly all construction and art within the city was done using the metal. Thus the name of the city. It is said that after decades of building structures of solid bronze, the city if seen from above, looks like a gleaming disc of molten bronze.

Government

The government of Crannom in modern times is a representative republic where citizens of the city vote for elders to govern the city. Becoming an elder is a lifetime appointment. It should be noted that despite Crannom having a population that is at least 20% human, only goliath are allowed to vote for elders or become elders. The city currently has 24 elders at this time and has increased the number of sitting elders as the population of Crannom has increased over the years.

Ruler

The city of Crannom is ruled by The Council of Elders. The current list of elders is: Garael Stonesmote (67 F), Mendum Scarskin (43 M), Tubbern Brokebrow (39 M), Tennus Greyskein (82 F), Yerret Yerrestson (56 M), Tomen Opteran (44 M), Kellben Arrowcatcher (42 F), Oros Blackjaw (88 M), Ithin Salttongue (37 F), Nimmin Shadowtongue (? ?), Algus Whitetooth (66 M), Dorsun Twistfinger (45 F), Mekela Blackbone (47 M), Tomba Tinkerfinger (63 F), Mojang Stonepick (92 M), Umprah Stoneear (49 F), Iskall Glasseye (85 M), Wendlen Duskeye (66 F), Hunder Widejaw (51 F), Grut Bonestring (53 M), Haplo Frezkut (71 M), Miglan Blocktooth (49 F), Handelboor Musstash (42 F), and Stnidelee Wiplahsh (68 M).

Laws

The laws of Crannom are fairly normal. They cover a wide range of infractions to maintain the peaceful stability of the city. Punishments range from incarceration, to a variety of fees dependent upon the severity of the crime, to death in some rare cases. As is the case in most civilized cities, there is a degree of corruption to be found in the legal system of Crannom, but it has not as of yet completely crippled said system. Legal disputes are overseen by goliath stonespeakers who supposedly speak with the ancient wisdom of stone, despite there being no rational evidence of this. On the street level, law and order are maintained by deputized goliath known as Bronzemen that are easily identified by their bronze breastplates and bronze helmets that completely enclose their heads and hide their features.

Economy

The economy of Crannom is fairly stable. Other cities and towns have a reasonably high demand for the surplus of copper and tin that Crannom's furnace of creation produces. Additionally, because most of the zoning laws in the city require bronze to be used for most construction in the city, it creates an artificial demand for the material and ensures that forges are always able to sell their supplies. There are also artisans, sculptors and jewelers and the like, that work exclusively with bronze in Crannom and their works are in moderate demand in other cities.

Armed Forces

Crannom has no standing army per se. However, at age twenty all citizens are expected to enroll in the militia of the city and serve for a year. This mandatory year is spent teaching basic proficiency in weapons and following orders and tactics and such. The militia has never really seen true battle, but is often used by the Bronzemen as a sort of support force when executing warrants and raids and such, or in the case of riots during celebrations. Very occasionally they are tasked with actions outside the city in the situations concerning particularly persistent bandit groups or in cases where extremely cunning or bold beasts from the deep desert come to more fertile lands. 

Current Affairs

Not much of note is currently occurring in Crannom. Politicians engage in the usual games of intrigue. Criminals engage in the normal criminal behavior. Citizens go about their day to day business. Merchants make deals. Nothing of real note seems to be occurring in the city. Though some may say that the fact that nothing of note seems to be happening might in and of itself be something of note. A poetic individual might make some trite statement about how thermal and razor storms are often preceded by a seemingly unnatural calm. But this historian would never say such a thing.