The town of Marèz is the most northern town in De Erflanden. It is also high in the mountains and has more a land climate than Lameirvar, which is about just as north, but has a more temperate climate. The Wart is the region Marèz is the capital of. A barren land, filled with rocks, mosses, bushes and small trees, some sparse woods of pine trees in the warmer corners of the hills. The Wart was settled as De Erflanden decided to protect its northern borders. The Wart was the most northern spot they reached and could survive in. A little more south, just a days walk from the Tower Wart, the settlement of Marèz was build. First, the castle was build, once a hunting lodge, then the Emperors stay for the orlevar, kamzyg, renalcar, aukorant, lashyn and flouijn shooting season. But soon the castle gained importance as it became the headquarters for the Northern Regiment. The Duke of Marèz was the leader of the regiment, lord of the Wart, the castle and the town, that consisted of barracks and services for the Regiment. But there never was a war, and families moved in with the soldiers of the Regiment. The settlement became more a civil town, and the duke ruled the town and its surroundings and left the leading of the regiment to others. The CastleThe castle stands on the edge of a rocky hill (Chaizfel) , overlooking the Wart. It can't be seen from far away, as it was build from the rocks of the region, giving it a natural camouflage, and the architecture of the building resembles the rocks surrounding it. Some parts of the castle are build in the rock.The castle is separated from the town by a deep canyon. Only a bridge connects the two sides of the canyon. This bridge used to be a wooden one, until 1647, when many people died as a fire burned down large parts of the castle, including the bridge. The inhabitants of the castle could not escape the flames and the smoke, and the people of the town could not save them. A stone bridge has been build, that is there even today. Apart from that, some other escape possibilities have been build. The townThe bridge is the end of the Marèz High Street, the largest, widest street of the town. It is the end of the normal route from Ildritz to Marèz. Where the street enters the town, the only city doors of Marèz are found. The rest of the town is secluded by a wall and - most of all - the steep rocks that are the prologue to the White Mountains that rise up high over Marèz. Parallel to the High Street are on the south Market Street and Wall Street and Old Barrack Street and Voyrst Road on the north. These streets are crossed by alleys in a regular pattern. North of High Street, starting at the gates, these are Beer Alley, Stair Road, Inn Street and Gap Way. South of High Street are Gates Alley, Temple Alley (named after the temple to Gräins, build on the southern end of this alley), Baker Alley and Edge Alley. Together, these streets of the old town follow the pattern of the blocks of barracks. And the citizens will tell where they live by the block number rather than by the street. In the middle, where the regiment used to have Parade Square, now Market Square forms the vivid centre of the town. Uptown VoyrstFollowing Stair Road to the North, one ends up in a back alley called The Stairs. The mountainside here is so steep here, they had to build stairs in order to walk the road, and the small equal spots on the steep slope were only suited for small houses. This is the quarter of the poor of Marèz. On both sides of The Stairs the slums are lined up on muddy, nameless paths.The Stairs themselves lead to the city's pond, where several streams come down from the mountains and form the source of the Cinxil Brook. On this brook the laundry house and -closer to the pond- the Brewery have been build. On the bank of the pond, a temple to Aaser is a gem between the slums. The Uptown is named after the woods beyond the city, called The Voyrst, where many strong and quickly growing trees are found. They were planted by the Emperor for the wood - he needed it to build and rebuild the barracks of the Regiment. Downtown XillhemThe road to Ildritz wiggles down the mountain from the city gates of Marèz. Along this street are some houses, some small, some somewhat larger. Marèz is too far away from everything that it is not really dangerous to live outside the gates, although it is reported that animals have attacked people who did not close the doors and windows at night (burglars and albs have been reported, too).Where Ildritz Street crosses the Xille, a hamlet build. The place is called Xillhem and has about 100 inhabitants. Old Mill Road leads to -indeed- the ruins of the old Mill that had been build at the junction of the Xille and the Cinxil. The place is now departed and the new mill has been build further in the valley. On Old Mill Road are still some fisher houses, and an inn named "The Last Drop" - a pun on the fact that further along the road, no more Inns are found (except for some in Marèz). On the other side of the Xille is the road into Het Verboden Dal and the Imperial Ildritz Street leading into De Erflanden. MinesClose too the source of the Xille, shepherds found valuable minerals in the mountains. Tower WartCelebrated as the most northern building of De Erflanden, Tower Wart watches out over the icy realms of Gi-Albter. It is a symbol of the Empire guarding its borders - although it is the only border that never has been attacked. The Tower is not very high (only five stories) but is mounted on a high hill.Traditionally, an elite troop of watchers still guards the tower for a full year. These are in many cases elder soldiers who are disabled due to duty in war. They will receive special honours after their service in Tower Wart. In 1743 Naglani troops attacked the Tower as an act of terrorism. Nobody was hurt or killed. The Naglani escaped over the Gi-Albter and never have been caught. A memorial plate for those who bravely fought the Naglani is placed next to the door of the tower. Verboden DalHet Verboden Dal, also known as Het Koude Dal,a valley northeast of Marèz, is an independent Sudzi nation. But it is the duty of Marèz to protect this country, and to guard it's borders.Marèz is the only county that has strong bonds with Het Verboden Dal. Related topics: | |||||||||||||||||||