5001-HârnWorld/3rd Edition/18

Compared to other regions on western Lythia, Hârn is not very urbanized. No more than 10% of the population live in towns. The largest urban center on the island is Coranan, with a population of about 12,500. It is perhaps the only center deserving of the name “city,” although this term is commonly applied to any walled town. There are eight walled towns on Hârn.

In addition to these cities, most settlements marked as castles and keeps on the regional map have small unwalled towns adjacent to them where a market is held at least once a month. Several of these, notably Dyrisa, Kiban, Shostim, and Telen, are budding walled towns with populations of 2,000–3,000.

Government of Towns
In a strict legal sense, there are two different kinds of towns on Hârn: freetowns and feudal towns. Aleath, Golotha, and Thay are freetowns and enjoy a fairly

high degree of independence from external authority. Azadmere, Cherafir, Coranan, Shiran, and Tashal are feudal towns, held directly by the king or state. To the average citizen, the distinctions are minimal. All towns tax their citizens and pay aids and taxes to the king or state. However, taxes levied by freetowns tend to be less onerous and collected with less enthusiasm. To a runaway serf, the distinction is crucial. Only freetowns allow the serf to claim freedom after a year and a day of residence. Feudal towns offer no such protection.

Town Charters
Freetowns possess a charter from the crown that sets out the rights and privileges of their citizens and their obligations to the king. Each charter is unique but all have some basic common provisions. These include the right to build and maintain a city wall, hire mercenaries for defense, hold markets and fairs as often as desired, and freedom from feudal or other obligations to anyone except the king. Various clauses detailing the form and powers of civic government, responsibility for taxation, defense, and the administration of justice are also laid out in a town’s charter. Feudal towns have no need for a charter but often have a document outlining the form and nature of town government.

City Officials
Governments in both kinds of towns tend to be similar in form. Civic offices are mainly filled by guildsmen, while military offices go to men with military experience. The officers described below are common in Hârnic towns.

= =