Susspin is a large city with many people of all kinds. I remember the diversity being an asset for a change, instead of a problem. Everyone there seems to be wanting the same thing: a good time, even though the city has been the center of several conflicts coming from all directions. Partially due to their fair weather, but mostly because of their hard- working people, the city attracts a large variety of people just trying to get away from it all. There is a luxurious inn, The Jolly Neighbor, that has among its benefits a beautiful casino. Most of the activity centers around this area.
On the flip side, the much smaller, seedier section of town is best known for its bar, The Black Fountain, which attracts all the people you never want to meet, assuming you're a respectable man like myself and even more so if you're a respectable woman.
The constable, Harris the Young, does a fine job keeping order...usually. Often, he is off prancing around, trying to find a woman suitable to be his wife. The other counsil members include Trake Francis of House Jakoric, who definitely prefers the Black Fountain as his bar of choice. He's been known to "solve" many of the problems of the town as a "favor" to the constable. Many wonder who is really the one in charge. Rae McVae of House Devri is the local magistrate. Her rash actions and her favoring of death as a suitable punishment to most any crime helps keep crime under control. As a matter of fact that seems to be good sir Francis coming this way. I think I will bid you a good afternoon sir.
-Merchant house member and clothseller,Gerebald Vintinzi
Susspin was indeed a different type of city to visit. The merchant rightly described it as diverse, though its militant quality was somewhat off-putting to a man of learning and letters. I found little joy in watching the many armed patrols of Duke Kirka Ironheart III walking the streets from dawn until well past sunset. Their jingling armor and fighting trim is well maintained, the more so for Susspin bordering on two semi-hostile lands. Farther to the west is the great plateou of the desert folk and the distant trade city of Carthen. It has long struggled to dominate the western trade routes with Susspin, and raids into the rich farmlands and herds of Susspin’s people were not uncommon in the year I sheltered there. Moreover, the lands to the east are blocked by the great Ari’i forest, where the Ga’Vin dwell in numbers untold. They have warred with Susspin for longer than the Kingdom of Silverthorne has claimed these lands with none to be the victor. The Ga’Vin are quite bitter about the riders of Susspin holding the plains, and never miss the opportunity to make a meal out of a lone traveler.
Duke Kirka, much as his ancestors, rules with a strict adherance to law and a zero tolerance policy. Lawbreakers do not gain the opportunity to break the law again if they are caught. Summary executions are carried out by the various noble members of his staff, Thanes who serve as officers in his armed forces. In addition, House DeVris is encouraged to send it’s most stoic and solid magistrates to Susspin, to deal with matters of the law in a swift and final manner.
Beyond these factors though, Susspin is indeed a pleasant city. It is very clean, with refuse taken care of nightly, and a sophisticated system of sewers to carry much of the refuse away into burn pits, phosphor springs which lay a short distance from the city walls. Susspin’s people are quite respectful, and polite, rarely turning a stranger from a good meal and good company when visiting. The many inns and taverns tend to be clean and well kept, with ever the rushes in the Black Fountain being changed fortnightly.
It is from this bastion of soldiery and military might that Kirka rules his duchy, and when he is away on campaign he leaves the city in the hands of his granite second, Baron Orun Tallshield. The Tallshield family has served as chancellor of the city for at least two generations, and hold a small keep just inside the north wall. There they hold court over the day to day running of the city and meet with various guild heads over trade disbutes and merchant rights.
A stranger should make sure to purchase the headdress of the Susspinese if male or female, to avoid standing out and being overcharged enormously on goods. The people here tend to wear wool overrobes, the aba, along with a piece of cloth draped about the head called a kefiyah. In addition the women often veil part of their faces. It adds to the mistery and romance of the city, but was originally intended to prevent women from seducing other men and vice versa. These traditions have for the most part fallen by the wayside, but many of the older folk still hold by them quite closely. It is believed that this is a long lasting behavior imported from the desert tribes of the far west.