Ellri said
If we've got basically standard earth atmosphere, those mountaintop residences should not exceed 5090 m (16700 feet) in height above sea level. Thats the Earth limit for where higher up there is no possibility for growing/raising food. Even then, its hard. Just curious about that kingdom... What made them establish a trade emporium? Wouldn't such make more sense in a society near rivers or major roads?
The mountains, obviously, have an abundance of items that can sell well, namely jewels and raw materials like iron or gold. Stuff like that. Now, there are little valleys between the mountains, and there are primitive tribes that dwell there, and so the people of Helia trade with them for wood and food, but not very much. As the people grew and they expanded, and their few farms around or in uninhabited areas at the mountains provided well enough for a time. Then, of course, their numbers began to grow more than they could provide, and they were not very good farmers. They were miners, craftsmen, and traders with primitive people. As they grew, they made two new cities in the very much larger valley where they would previously only go as a wilderness vacation. As the two cities grew, one became the capital, as the people banded together, and the other became a trade city, being closest to a bay. The third city was more of a patchwork: Helion craftsmen and traders made their homes there, but it wasn't completely part of the Kingdom. It's at the large bay to the north of the mountains. The people ship their goods to the Capital, which is at the base of the mountains as far in as you can go into the valley, and extending up one. Streams from the mountains become rivers, and were used to power the systems for carts, of sorts, to ship goods down the mountains to the Lake, and from the Lake, the Lakeside City. Unlike Amaryth, it has neither a fortress nor an inner city. Just an outer wall, with different districts separated by large roads running through town, to make way for goods. Boats come up and down the river from the Bay up north, to the Lake, and ship goods back and forth. From the Bay, they go out to the world. After that, they can get plenty of food. Plus they are also becoming richer. They aren't blind to the world, though they don't always keep up with it. It'd be over a year by the time the King would hear of the fall, or the invasion, of Amaryth. Then he'd do nothing but strengthen his walls and defenses. Ballista and catapults, whether on towers or on wheels, are common.
