With about 4000 permanent residents Alda-Chur is the second largest city in Sartar.
A quick cult breakdown for Alda-Chur:
- Seven Mothers – 500 (major temple)
- Ernalda – 450 (major temple)
- Yelmalio – 400 (major temple with support from Vantaros tribe)
- Orlanth – 300 (major temple closed)
- Issaries – 250 (minor temple)
- Lhankor Mhy – 150 (minor temple)
- Chalana Arroy – 150 (minor temple)
- Other – 200
Important note: Post-Dragonrise Alda-Chur is the main stronghold of the Lunar Empire outside of Tarsh. Now that means that at any given time from post-Dragonrise to early 1627 there are a number of Lunar soldiers roughly equal to or more than the population of the city, far more than the garrison can handle. Initially these soldiers are almost entirely Tarshite, but by winter of 1625 there are increasing numbers of Heartland soldiers. The soldiers are quartered on the local population – as this is intended to be a temporary measure. However, after the defeat of the Lunar Army at the Battle of Queens in the summer of 1626, the soldiers return to the city and are again quartered among the local population. In winter of 1626, the Tarshite soldiers are recalled home, leaving only the Heartland troops, who have far less cultural sensitivity.
For purposes of this exercise, let’s say there are 5000 soldiers, 2500 Tarshite and 2500 Heartland.
This cult breakdown is more interesting, at least to me:
- 3000 Seven Mothers (5 major temples)
- 500 Humakti (major temple)
- 1000 Yanafal Tarnils (worshiped in conjunction with the Seven Mothers)
- 500 Polaris or other traditional military cult.
A few things that jump out from this – Alda-Chur is a crowded powder keg of a city. And after the defeat at Dangerford, conflict between the locals and the sullen soldiers are going to get more common.Unlike in Sartar, the soldiers here don’t have a lot do but wait. And their senior command is not their A-team. Fazzur is gone after Dangerford as are his key generals. I suspect there might be the occasional patrol out to Herongreen or to the Dwarf Ford, but even this gets pretty half-hearted.
Over time, the soldiers change from being almost entirely Tarshite to at least half Heartlanders. After the defeat at the Battle of Old Top in Fire Season of 1626, the soldiers are once again abandoned by the chief leaders (in this case King Pharandros). Sullen, demoralised, and increasingly contemptuous of the local population, conflicts grow and get serious.
The only good thing after Fire Season of 1626 is that Sartar is obviously no threat and is expected to just tear itself apart without a Prince.
Unlike the other Sartarite cities, Alda-Chur was not built according to a plan, but grew organically and haphazardly around a central temple complex. Temples to Orlanth Rex, the Lightbringers, the Seven Mothers, Yelmalio, and Ernalda are surrounded by a disorderly and crowded ring of residences, warehouses, and other buildings. The city is surrounded by high stone walls built by Prince Terasarin.
Pre-occupation languages of the most of the residents was Tarshite, Sartarite, and Tradetalk. Under the Occupation, reduce Sartarite (but don’t get rid of it) and add New Pelorian. Of the Tarshite soldiers, it is New Pelorian and Tarshite. And of the Heartland troops it is New Pelorian.