Estburg

Estburg is a fortified metropolis in eastern Bastonia, held as the capital of the Duchy of Estmarch. By population, it is the largest city in all of Bastonia, though not nearly as wealthy as Whiterock or Oversea - though the march controls trade with the Clans of Magnus, this is not so voluminous, and the east has other problems. Much of the city is actually outside of its own walls - the city itself occupies a high hill with cliffs on its eastern side, and its limited fortification at its utmost extents limits approach more or less precisely from the west.

With the intensification of Carcolie raids the city is largely swollen beyond its original capacity by refugees from further east, some of whom are recuperating on their way to make a better life in the Frontier Counties. The city also has a sizeable armed force of its own, and San Elijah is, lately, extremely popular.

Geography

Located on a hill known by its own name, the Estburg commands overwatch for miles around. The immediate area is heavily deforested with the expanding need for farmland and housing. Much of the city is constructed outside the walls of the Estburg proper and comprises houses and other wooden buildings of varying quality of construction - these are protected by palisades and other wooden and stone constructions of varying completion, to attempt to impose traffic only along the western road.

The innermost portion of the city, Old Estburg, is a fully fortified castle city, with a large ward protected by the outermost bailey, and two concentric wards of increasing prestige before finally reaching the keep itself.

Economy

Estburg's economy is struggling, with the city unusually poor and its population the commensurate degree of desperate. People routinely starve, even with what support the Duke of Estmarch (and, when extant, the Grand Prince of Estmarch) can (or will) give - maintaining the militia of Estmarch, and indeed, the Estburg Guard, often takes priority. Housing is insufficient in supply to make demand, and especially on the fringes of the city, often of inferior quality.

That said, the city is also a trade hub. The Western Road - which runs from Estburg to the River Torres and ultimately the Heartland, carries plenty of goods, whether it's Arcwhale Oil and necessary luxuries, masterwork arms, or Dwarven goods bound for points further west. It's just not enough to keep up with the rapid growth of population in Estburg and with what is lost on maintaining the various militia in Estburg and defending the march against the Carcolie.

Politics

Estburg is a fractured city. It is the seat of the Duke of Estmarch, itself a volatile title, and the city councillors often find their loyalties torn between the incoming duke and an outgoing Grand Prince after the change of hands of the title. What's worse, though the city can defend itself, it can't effectively police itself, and some neighbourhoods are more or less entirely outside the control of the Duke.