Sharoban's Inner City is the oldest part of the city proper. It was founded soon after the original fort was constructed. The original settlers were from the Jorvin Empire, sent to establish a stronger presence for Otto the Fat. Otto, who was always more interested in how much revenue was coming in to his exchequer than in the lives of his subjects, used the settlers to ensure that tax revenues flowed westward; even though his charter was the Empire's sole contribution to Sharoban's final location and form. This core of settlers was supplemented by builders, carpenters and other craftsmen the Six hired to help build the fort as well as their families. Jurgen the Canny, who went onto to serve as Sharoban's seneschal, organised the first iteration of what would become the Inner City.
Whilst the first houses were wattle and daub, once the castle was complete the process of upgrading to wood and stone began. Here the Six showed their gratitude for the help they had received and bankrolled most of the process, buying in wood and stone from east and west, as well as insisting on paying for a palisade to protect the new town. For reasons that were not immediately apparent this stockade was erected some distance from the actual buildings and it was only when newcomers settled in Sharoban that it became apparent that the Six had foreseen the arrival of the Temple of Merida and the Benevolent Spice Guild as well as others. The area within the palisade filled over the next thirty years until it was full, triggering the birth of what is known as the Outer City.
Today the buildings in Inner City are stone, though their roofs are mostly made of thatch. The four main streets lead to the east, west and south gates, and up to the castle; meeting at the Market Square which is the main meeting and business place in Sharoban. It is also bordered by the Temple of Merida, which is currently a building site as the new temple is built around the original. The current renewal project is part of the plan to boost the number of worshippers and pilgrims the temple receives but Natalia Foxborn, the current high priestess, claims she received a vision from the Guardian Maiden and is acting on her command. This explanation has been accepted, but the families displaced by the construction work have yet to be compensated, and there are rumours of a legal suit being brought.
The Firebird is the oldest and largest pub in the city; and has a reputation for trouble, for brawls, magical mischief and political sedition. The Firebird was used by Henry the Savage's plot to claim the Jorvin throne. The cellars beneath the inn are in fact larger than they appear, spilling out under the neighbouring buildings, and connect up to tunnels extending down from the castle. These are said to be the escape route used by the notorious bandit leader Adam the Bear when he fled the Wind Strikers' custody, and are known to be the way the sorceress Nyssa Blackfingers used to inveigle her way inside when she attempted to free the Ice Walker. Both events occurred over fifty years ago and it is not clear if the tunnels have been put to further use or have been blocked off.
Away from the Market Square the streets become narrow, crooked, and dark, houses and shops packed tightly together and marked with the grey stone and heavy, dark wood used in their construction. Most are respectable businesses, here despite everything, you will find the offices of the Benevolent Spice Guild, the workshop of the jeweller Albina the Emerald and the scribe works, where contracts, accounts and sheafs of poetry are copied by a small pool of dedicated scriveners.
It also harbours an unsavoury side, however. There are gambling dens and brothels close to the wall; whilst the Hunter's cellar harbours a fighting pit that is known by the authorities; albeit only for its more acceptable bouts. The true nature of the fights there and the small shrine to Baluz the Umbral Lord of violence and pain are very much covert.
The wall surrounding the Inner City has its own secrets. When the process of converting it to stone was underway a body was buried in the foundations. The only reason anybody knows about this is that the mute spirit of the murder victim haunts the wall to this day. The case remains unsolved. In addition, a significant amount of treasure went missing during the wall's construction and was never recovered. There is a theory, in some circles, that the thief hid it within the wall, meaning to the loot later. This never occurred and the Ruling Council decreed that anyone caught tampering with the wall's composition would be flayed in the Market Square. As this decree has never been lifted, the wall is still off limits except for repairs, and the mystery remains.
Next up: more on the Inner City.
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