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Description
The Northern Cities

The most important of the Taribian cities, which have been grouped under the name 'Northern Cities' since the Taribian Empire, are Letran and Tetraos along the Amaar, Taribai, Nemis and Hannai on the Sheyshen, and the Taribian foundation of Berresh, far to the east, at the mouth of the Barbesh.

Also large and important is the oasis of Menrish, located far to the south near the sanctuary of Harna, at the foot of the Dragon's Back. Although this oasis is not even fortified, it is often considered one of the Northern Cities. There are also numerous villages near larger settlements and along the Taribian Road, as well as a number of inhabited oases along the caravan routes, beside Menrish, some of which are as large as small towns.

The water, which was so valuable to the early Tarib, because it was not available everywhere, is available in abundance in the cities located on large rivers: at every crossroads there is a public tapping point from the water pipe system, often in the form of large fountain basins with roofs, in the piazzas occasionally surrounded by trees, that provide the longed-for shade. There are numerous bathhouses with several pools of different temperatures spread throughout the cities, and the houses of people who can afford it are even supplied directly via the water pipes. The simple urban houses usually have a courtyard with a well and rich greenery or a kitchen garden, that can be reached directly from the kitchen. To ensure that these gardens are maintained as families grow, houses in cities are usually expanded by adding height.

This wealth of water, which seems almost fairytale-like, leads to the immigration of simple farming families from the countryside to many large cities, especially from the progressively desertifying areas south of the Sheyshen. In contrast to the almost familial connections in the tribes and villages, in the city people are completely dependent on themselves and their own skills - and on the ability to earn their living, which is heavily based on money - if they are not lucky enough to 'belong' in a culturally homogeneous district and to be welcomed by the community living already there.

As a result, poverty and homelessness are an omnipresent evil in these cities, which the city guards move to a run-down outskirt, if possible, so that the nobility are not bothered by the unsightly sight of starving people. Because only a few of the nobility, reading the Written, understand the therein requested duty of care for others as their personal obligation. At most, as part of large festivals, one or another city ruler or rich nobleman presents gifts not only to the citizens but to everyone within the city walls, but there are usually no permanent, official charitable solutions.

For young, able-bodied men in the cities, there is always the opportunity to enlist in the city's army and thus earn the living; women and children often only have the option of turning into prostitution, if they do not have talents that are useful elsewhere.

* * *

The German text I wrote in 2023 for my website, the English version of the text was made by me in 2024 with help of the Google Translator (for enhanced vocabulary) and 'Language Tool' (to check spelling).

The graphic consists of six graphics, I drew separately in 2023 with a ball pen, trying to capture the foremost marks of each of the Taribian Northern Cities as they might be depicted on coins. Then I scanned the drawings, edited them moderately in GIMP and made each of them a city symbol for my text. For this more general overview, I put the six graphics together in one.

Description
The Northern Cities

The most important of the Taribian cities, which have been grouped under the name 'Northern Cities' since the Taribian Empire, are Letran and Tetraos along the Amaar, Taribai, Nemis and Hannai on the Sheyshen, and the Taribian foundation of Berresh, far to the east, at the mouth of the Barbesh.

Also large and important is the oasis of Menrish, located far to the south near the sanctuary of Harna, at the foot of the Dragon's Back. Although this oasis is not even fortified, it is often considered one of the Northern Cities. There are also numerous villages near larger settlements and along the Taribian Road, as well as a number of inhabited oases along the caravan routes, beside Menrish, some of which are as large as small towns.

The water, which was so valuable to the early Tarib, because it was not available everywhere, is available in abundance in the cities located on large rivers: at every crossroads there is a public tapping point from the water pipe system, often in the form of large fountain basins with roofs, in the piazzas occasionally surrounded by trees, that provide the longed-for shade. There are numerous bathhouses with several pools of different temperatures spread throughout the cities, and the houses of people who can afford it are even supplied directly via the water pipes. The simple urban houses usually have a courtyard with a well and rich greenery or a kitchen garden, that can be reached directly from the kitchen. To ensure that these gardens are maintained as families grow, houses in cities are usually expanded by adding height.

This wealth of water, which seems almost fairytale-like, leads to the immigration of simple farming families from the countryside to many large cities, especially from the progressively desertifying areas south of the Sheyshen. In contrast to the almost familial connections in the tribes and villages, in the city people are completely dependent on themselves and their own skills - and on the ability to earn their living, which is heavily based on money - if they are not lucky enough to 'belong' in a culturally homogeneous district and to be welcomed by the community living already there.

As a result, poverty and homelessness are an omnipresent evil in these cities, which the city guards move to a run-down outskirt, if possible, so that the nobility are not bothered by the unsightly sight of starving people. Because only a few of the nobility, reading the Written, understand the therein requested duty of care for others as their personal obligation. At most, as part of large festivals, one or another city ruler or rich nobleman presents gifts not only to the citizens but to everyone within the city walls, but there are usually no permanent, official charitable solutions.

For young, able-bodied men in the cities, there is always the opportunity to enlist in the city's army and thus earn the living; women and children often only have the option of turning into prostitution, if they do not have talents that are useful elsewhere.

* * *

The German text I wrote in 2023 for my website, the English version of the text was made by me in 2024 with help of the Google Translator (for enhanced vocabulary) and 'Language Tool' (to check spelling).

The graphic consists of six graphics, I drew separately in 2023 with a ball pen, trying to capture the foremost marks of each of the Taribian Northern Cities as they might be depicted on coins. Then I scanned the drawings, edited them moderately in GIMP and made each of them a city symbol for my text. For this more general overview, I put the six graphics together in one.