Garonne, Capital of SaromatiaGaronne is, in a word, splendid. In their efforts to increase trade, the three most recent queens have filled their capital with all manners of wonders from around the realm, and even the world. It does not command the most trade, but the simple presence of the queen guarantees that it will remain the most wealthy of the Saromatian cities.
GeographyGaronne is located near the eastern sea, inland about twenty miles - well away from any siren calls. The Red River supplies the city with fresh, clear, garnet-colored water. No one is sure what causes the river to be red - bedrock, plant matter, magic? - but the water is no less safe to drink than water elsewhere. Bottles of Red River water are exported as novelties at prices that make the locals laugh behind their hands. It's only water, after all! The water from various cisterns and wells inside Garonne is not red.
Notable SightsMany of Garonne's wonders are open to the public; Saromatia may be the first nation to discover tourism. There are public gardens with sculpted shrubbery and statues to view. Fountains spout clear water (drawn from wells) and red (piped from the river). The zoological gardens and Museum of Antiquities and Oddities (home of Smokey, the largest dragon ever killed, now stuffed and mounted) have moderate entrance fees. Along the riverbank, baths have sprung up, offering heated plunges in the river's famous red water. The Royal Aviary is open only to visitors of quality, although lesser lights often stand on the streets around it, hoping for glimpses of the rare birds within. The Aviary itself is somewhat of a marvel, for over the entire area hangs a huge, fine net made of rare silk, to permit the birds to fly in beauty yet not escape.Blancheflor is the queen's palacial home, located on a large park inside Garonne itself. The complex is walled - a memory of the time when Blancheflor was Garonne, more or less - and mounted knights patrol the grounds. Its soaring white towers are visible from most points in the city, but most common folk never get a good look at Blancheflor itself. It is rumored to be fantastically carved, the work of hired dwarven sculptors.
TemplesThose who have been to Blancheflor console those who have not with the sight of the Temple of Saromata. The Temple - or, rather, temples, for each Face and Aspect also has a hall of worship here - is even larger than the royal residence. The largest and grandest hall is dedicated to Saromata in her Unity. The Throne, the temple to the Queen Aspect, is next in grandeur. The queen of Saromatia is also the high priestess of the Queen, after all. The high priestesses of the Warrior Maiden and Death Crone also dwell in Garonne.
GovernmentGaronne is ruled by Baroness Elisea, Chatelaine di Garonne. Garonne is still the queen's personal estate, and as such, she has put it into the power of her chatelaine. As Garonne has grown, though, so have the chatelaine's responsibilities and duties. Of old, the chatelaine was nothing more than a very powerful servant, a freewoman but certainly no noble. Elisea was a lady in the queen's service and has only a lady's lands; so long as she remains chatelaine, she also recieves revenues from trade in the city. If the queen should ever see fit to remove her from her post, she will be a very small baroness indeed. This drives Elisea to govern Garonne faultlessly.
Back to Saromatian Cities Saromatia Home | Geography | Religion | Civics | Organizations | Culture | Races | Bestiary | Game World Index |