Houlm

Nominally the capital of the confederacy, its lords have held the title of Archduke for nearly a century. Its occupants consider it to be the beating heart of the country, and few could fault them for that opinion. Standing in its main square, you would be hard pressed to think of anywhere more bustling or important than the city itself. Houlm sits tucked into the crook of lake Tarbel, whose shores boast the most fertile lands in the entire country. Much of the Routot population is concentrated in this central region of the confederacy, providing ample manpower and political strength for its rulers. The city is ruled by the Welf family, whose extended members are nearly without counting. Each minor branch of the dynasty seems to have some sort of control in the city, and they are rarely shy to exercise it. The urban nature of the city is impressive, with elaborate and fantastic architecture a common appearance. Its cosmopolitan population is nearly as diverse as that of Caulois, offering sizeable neighbourhoods of many races. Its docks bristle with river traffic from locally around the lake, and from Cars and Breige beyond.

Politics

Houlm itself has been ruled by the Welf family since its earliest days. A notable and powerful family, their Kings have been pillars of Routot society for some time, being integral to the formation of the confederacy. Ruling as Archduke has made them wealthy and even more influential, providing plenty of prestige to their name. As such an established name, their family tree is extensive, multiplying with every generation of siblings and cousins. All manner of cadet branches sprout from the main rulers, from favoured ministers to despised sycophants. All have some sliver of the prestige that comes with the Welf family title, and each bears some aspect of importance within the kingdom itself. Whether simply landowners, or some more affluent merchants in the city itself, each strives to increase their own influence with the main family line. Each member knows the connections between them, to some degree, able to pinpoint major figures throughout their family that each could derive from. All of this makes for a terribly complicated political landscape, with practically no other important families within the kingdom. Any who do are inevitably swallowed up through marriage into the Welf clan, continuing to expand its numbers ever greater.

Groups

Gangs of Houlm

With such a massive population, it should come as little surprise that Houlm carries within it a very large criminal underworld. Tucked away in the neighbourhoods and ratways of the city reside all manner of rogues and other outcasts, each trying to carve out their way in the world. Many of them band together under the banner of especially notable and successful criminals, forming various levels of gangs and crime families in the city. From even the most rough street thugs to the most sophisticated burglars, many are affiliated somehow with one of these gangs, their allegiance depicted through clothing or tattoos or some other sort of marker. The gangs and their members fight among themselves, and also with the authorities in the city, each trying to extend their influence beyond their own meagre turf or holdings. For their part, the city watch do a good job to keep much of this fighting out of the streets themselves, though there have been periods of time in the city where the mob has ruled. Punishment is taken seriously by the elites of the city, the Kings of Houlm having built many prisons to house these ruffians. Despite the pitfalls associated with the career, few find themselves able to avoid falling into a life of crime, with legitimate options for social advancement blocked for much of the lower classes.

Landmarks

Fronde, the Alcove

A squat, square structure on the northwestern side of the city, the Fronde functions as a prison for the Kings of Houlm. It was originally built as a fortress to protect the expanding capital of the kingdom, though since has become somewhat obsolete in this endeavour. A relatively small keep, it has nonetheless played a major role in the defence of the city. This importance has declined over time, as the city it was built to protect surges ever outwards. The garrison remains, however, still a vital part of the city’s defensive scheme. The Fronde has found a new purpose in the past century as a jail, hosting at first key political prisoners and now more general criminals. The dungeons of the city are well-feared, and a stay under its roof is a mark of honour among the street gangs in Houlm. Achard Talbots is the commander of the garrison here, a refined and sadistic man who takes immense pride in his dedication to the Welf royal family.

Notable Personalities

Archduke Alberic Welf, King of all the Routot

The current Archduke, Alberic, is a haughty and ambitious man. He has little time for those who work against him, and tends to be utterly ruthless in crushing their goals in favour of his own. And yet, he cultivates an image of magnanimity, working hard to keep all of his underhanded dealings behind the scenes. He is the most powerful of all the central Routot kings, and accordingly exerts tremendous influence over the entire realm. His stature and importance has greatly enriched the Welf name, allowing the entrenched cadet branches of the family to act far above their station. Little more than counts or barons, they roam the region as petty kings of their own, with few brave enough to stand up to the might of the family. Alberic has done much to further the power of the Archduke’s seat, curbing some autonomous kingdoms and bringing them further under his sway. All of this has sat poorly with some of the other strong rulers, who see him as a threat to their own hegemony. Alberic is a middle aged man with nearly shaved black hair. His face is tight, with small eyes and a pointed nose. His lips are pursed tight, and a cunning frown tends to crease his brow. He is of average height, yet quite thin. Temperance is his main virtue, with a priority on restraint.

Buonot, Underkeeper of Vir

Vir is one of the main deities of the Routot, a god-snake of the underworld. He feasts on the souls of the dead, and their flesh too. His largest temple is in Houlm, a massive cave system set back from the lake. Buonot is the selfish deity’s high priest, holding court at his temple within the city’s catacombs. A grave and stern man, Buonot is a serious figure within the church hierarchy. He is its youngest head, being just past 30, and yet few doubt his commitment to the cult. He began his career as an embalmer, and still practices as often as possible. A truly odd character, he is humourless and yet full of mirth. He finds the strangest things hysterical, yet is completely deadpan to others. Despite his oddities, he has fit in remarkably well amongst the strange church of Vir, and has managed to keep the temple in remarkable order. Rumours abound that he hides thieves or worse within the catacombs under the city, though none have challenged him directly with such accusations. Buonot is very pale, from nearly a lifetime underground. He is reasonably tall and thin, with long bony fingers and limbs. His hair is patchy, and a wispy moustache plays across his top lip. He is often smiling, though usually with some crooked humour.

Olympe Goulet, Fence and Crime Lord

Olympe began her life as a poor peasant, born to a farming family outside of Houlm. As a teenage girl, she fell in love with a travelling merchant and stole away with him, marrying in secret before moving with him to Houlm. Here, her dreams of an idyllic life in the city were cut drastically short by the reality of her situation. Her husband was not what he claimed, being little more than a drunk and itinerant beggar. Destitute, she turned to petty thievery to feed herself, eventually training a group of other women and children to do the same. She resold everything they stole, eventually becoming one of the most prolific fences in the city. Cultivating an aura of gregarious affection, she has managed to avoid crackdown by the watch, seen as a benevolent force in an otherwise bloody underworld. Her underlings are not as kind, however, and her gangs have a mixed reputation.