benbergerFree City of Benberger
Benberger is a city located in the central regions of what was known in ancient times as Germany. It lies in a valley surrounded by rolling forested hills. Due to its remote location it maintains very limited diplomatic relations to neighboring cities. It was founded on March 4th 3026. Since then Benberger has grown to the size of a formidable city, surpassing a population of 1.000 on April 19th 3026.
People and Culture
The people of Benberger pride themselves on a deep sense of community. In the evenings, various taverns become local hotspots of activity, where many citizens gather to celebrate everyday life.
The Fountain Plaza is the main cultural hub of Benberger. Festivals like the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival are celebrated here. The plaza is located at the center of the city, right at the crossroads of Benberger's two most important streets.
- The Spring Festival:
- Celebrated on the 1st of Mai, all of Benberger comes gathers at the fountain plaza to celebrate the mild spring climate. During this time the plaza is filled with market stalls of all kinds. It is customary to wear crowns made of flowers and to dress in colorful garments. In the afternoon, a flower parade travels from the iron mine west of Benberger to the port village in the northeast. The day concludes with the lighting of a large bonfire in the centre of the plaza accompanied by music and dancing.
- The Festival of Iron:
- The Festival of Iron is celebrated during the first weekend of July to honor the craftsmen who saved Benberger from collapse during the Great Tool Crisis. For three days, the Fountain Plaza is transformed into a massive open-air smithy. The most renowned blacksmiths from the city move their anvils to the plaza to demonstrate their craft. A highlight of the festival is the Master's Tournament, a competition where craftsmen race to create the best tool within a single day. The winner receives the title of Master Craftsman. The festival concludes with miners carrying lanterns filled with glowing embers from the various iron mines to the Town Hall, symbolizing the fire that keeps Benberger alive.
- The Lantern Festival:
- This festival takes place at the end of september. For an entire week the city is decorated with thausends of lanterns, creating a colorful spectacle of light at night. Every evening, different events are being held at the Fountain Plaza.
Heraldry:
The coat of arms is a shield divided horizontally. The top half consists of two crossed black hammers on a field of gold. The bottom half shows a silver wheel flanked by two sheaves of wheat on a red background.
Industry
Following the Great Tool Crisis, the city has focused heavily on establishing a stable production of metal and tools to ensure such an event never repeats itself. Nowadays, there are several iron mines around the city. The ore from these mines is refined into useable metal and delivered to the many tool workshops within Benberger, where expert craftsman create high-quality tools.
Other local industries consist mainly of agriculture and forestry with notable production of glassware and alcoholic beverages.
Trade
The primary trading facility is the Harbor of Benberger, located northeast of the main city. However, trade is complicated due to limited access to navigatable waterways. Therefore, Benberger also relies heavily on overland transports. Its main trading recourses are food, grain, beverages and ore.
Politics
Benberger is governed by the City Council, which consists of 20 elected members and the Council President. The Council is elected every two years by every citizen over the age of 16. There are no political fractions. The council resides in the town hall in the western part of the city.
Histotical Events
March 4th 3026: Founding of Benberger.
March 14th 3026: The population of Benberger reaches 100.
March 29th - April 5th 2036: The Great Tool Crisis:
- Benberger was struck by a severe shortage of tools who are needed to maintain vital industries. At that time Benberger lacked an own tools production. Cathastrophy was narrowly avoided by the construction of a central market and the establishment of trade routes. After several days a trade deal was reached. The tools obtained were used to create the first iron mine and refinery of the city in order to establish an independent tool production chain.
April 19th 3026: The population of Benberger reaches 1.000
Mai 4th 3026: The population of Benberger reaches 2.000 and the construction of the stadium is finished.