**Gudesberg** is the first skycity, built around a pre-existing monastery of [[The Order of Priests|the priests]]. > [!infobox| right wikipedia] > # Gudesberg > ![[gudesberg2.webp|cover hsmall]] > ##### Geographical > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Planet** | [[Jord]] | > | **Continent** | [[Adenland]] | > | **Region** | [[The Mountains]] | > | **Districts** | 3 | > ##### Government > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Government** | Hierocracy | > | **Thane** | unknown | > ##### Miscellaneous > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Population** | ~18 000 | # General Gudesberg was originally an old, large monastery built in 2477 VL as a remote escape from the world of men. The priests put some of their most valuable relics and artefacts here, and spent their lives in meditation and study. For over 500 years, it was the only continually inhabited locale in the mountains. After The Riving, it was the first place of refuge. Tens of thousands fled here, disrupting the priests' monastic life. Eventually a city was built around the monastery, and more skycities were built, and the monastery building again became the province of the priests, but it was no longer a remote location. On the contrary, Gudesberg is now the second-largest skycity, as well as the religious capital of the world. The monastery building now houses almost all the functions of the priesthood – temple, conclave, etc – but one of its most important functions today is as a seminary. Its name means _mountain of the gods_. The city's population is currently 18 000, not including priests. Mountain streams and meadows nearby produce food for Gudesberg and the surrounding areas (mostly livestock; grains come from lower in the foothills). The monastery is situated at the head of a downward-sloping valley; the city lies beneath the monastery. The city exhibits a gradation of socioeconomic status, with the wealthy located higher up and the less well-off in the lower part of the valley. The Road of Solitude, once a path for lone priests to make a pilgrimage to the monastery, is now a broad highway running through the middle of the city, connecting it all together, and serves as Gudesberg's main artery. The main airship dock is on the eastern wall of the valley near the bottom, and much of the traffic on Solitude is goods making their way up to the monastery or wealthy homes. Gudesberg is dominated by its wealthy and by the priests. Many of those who were able to capitalise on The Riving are headquartered in the city, especially airship construction and livestock owners, which comprise the two main industries of the city. Gudesberg also receives most of the food from the farmers in the south. Its main imports are lumber, and its main exports are food and airships. There are also many artisans located in the middle city, and their wares are exported as well. The airship yards are located in the adjacent valley to the west, with a coal-powered train providing rail service for the workers to and from. The yards are completely deforested due to the demand for lumber, and now Gudesberg imports its lumber from logging settlements to the southeast of Vinsklar. The priests in the city hold much more authority and influence than they had before The Riving. Going against 3000 years of tradition, the monastery priests form the official government of Gudesberg. Their firm rule keeps the wealthy elite from seizing too much power, but they tend to be somewhat autocratic. A strict system of tithes as well as numerous regulations and the Incorruptibles keeps the monastery priests firmly in power. The city is almost entirely stone construction. Stone is plentiful in the region, and the dominant Ebractite sect within the monastery holds that stone is always the superior building material. Wood is considered impermanent. Even market stalls are stone plinths with removable awnings. A saying among citizens is that "stone endures" – Gudesberg is the basis for humanity's new future, and it must be a solid foundation. Although the kingdom of the last 3000 years is gone, Gudesberg sees itself as the next 3000 years. ## Highpeak Highpeak is the district at the head of the valley, closest to the monastery. Many establishments here cater to religious or priestly use. Many civic facilities are here also, as the priests do not wish for the business of city administration to occur within the monastery's walls. Some of the wealthy – those who are on good terms with the priests – live in this district as well. ### Places %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ```dataview TABLE WITHOUT ID file.link AS "Places", placeCategory AS "Category", faction AS "Faction" from "3-Places/Places" and #District/Gudesberg/Highpeak where publish = true sort placeCategory ASC, file.link ASC ``` %% | Places | Category | Faction | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [[3-Places/Places/Alcuin's Inkworks.md\|Alcuin's Inkworks]] | Commerce | — | | [[3-Places/Places/Hall of Hands.md\|Hall of Hands]] | Government | [[4-People/Factions/The Order of Priests.md\|The Order of Priests]] | | [[3-Places/Places/Hall of the Incorruptibles.md\|Hall of the Incorruptibles]] | Military | [[4-People/Factions/The Order of Priests.md\|The Order of Priests]] | | [[3-Places/Places/Outer Cloisters.md\|Outer Cloisters]] | Nesting | [[4-People/Factions/The Order of Priests.md\|The Order of Priests]] | | [[3-Places/Places/The Monastery.md\|The Monastery]] | Philosophy | [[4-People/Factions/The Order of Priests.md\|The Order of Priests]] | %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %% ## Mid-Valley Mid-Valley is the central district, occupying – as the name implies – the middle stretch of the Road of Solitude. Here are located most of the artisans and businesses of the city, along with many of the upper class. ### Places %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ```dataview TABLE WITHOUT ID file.link AS "Places", placeCategory AS "Category", faction AS "Faction" from "3-Places/Places" and #District/Gudesberg/MidValley where publish = true sort placeCategory ASC, file.link ASC ``` %% | Places | Category | Faction | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------- | | [[3-Places/Places/Emberglow Chandlery.md\|Emberglow Chandlery]] | Commerce | — | | [[3-Places/Places/The Still Stone.md\|The Still Stone]] | Nesting | — | %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %% ## Lowport Lowport is the portion of the city near the docks and train station. This district mainly centres around manual labour and airship trade. ### Places %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ```dataview TABLE WITHOUT ID file.link AS "Places", placeCategory AS "Category", faction AS "Faction" from "3-Places/Places" and #District/Gudesberg/Lowport where publish = true sort placeCategory ASC, file.link ASC ``` %% | Places | Category | Faction | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------- | | [[3-Places/Places/Highstone Granaries.md\|Highstone Granaries]] | Agriculture | — | | [[3-Places/Places/The Presshalls.md\|The Presshalls]] | Agriculture | — | | [[3-Places/Places/Stonewake Market.md\|Stonewake Market]] | Commerce | — | %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %% # NPCs %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ```dataview TABLE WITHOUT ID file.link AS "NPCs", gender AS "Gender", faction AS "Faction", district AS "District" from "4-People/People" where home = this.file.link where publish = true sort district ASC, file.link ASC ``` %% | NPCs | Gender | Faction | District | | ---- | ------ | ------- | -------- | %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %% # Gallery ![[gudesberg2.webp]] Sassi di Matera – photo by chatst2 \[[link](https://pixabay.com/photos/matera-sassi-the-sasso-barisano-2777091)] – edited by GrayArchon --- ![[gudesberg1.webp]] Al-Kharfi apiary, Sarawat Mountains – photo credit Saudi Press Agency \[[link](https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2126018)] – edited by GrayArchon --- ![[gudesberg3.webp]] Val Bavona, Switzerland – photo by Alessio Pizzicanella \[[link](https://www.alessiopizzicannella.com)] --- ![[gudesberg4.webp]] Sumela Monastery, Trabzon – photo by Fatih Turan \[[link](https://www.pexels.com/photo/old-stone-castle-on-cliff-in-mountains-landscape-15200503)] --- ![[gudesberg5.webp]] Temple of Dibella in Markarth, Skyrim – screenshot by Giannee \[[link](https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Special:ListFiles/Giannee)]