A Definition of the City

a study by Sage Lochro of Peakshadow

A city is a large and permanent town of at least 1000 free men (generally, at least 3000-5000 people) that has been chartered by a monarch (king, emperor, or sultan) and is therefore allowed to build an encircling wall. Only the Alds (the old cities of the Free Provinces who are to remain permanently breached) do not boast such defenses intact. 

A city pays tribute to its monarch, just as a baron does. And, like an individual baron, a city is allowed to make its own laws, collect its own taxes, and raise its own armies. It is presided over by a Lord Mayor or a military governor. It has a Magister and a High Priest who serve it. A mere town, in contrast, remains part of the local baron's administrative purview (and tax base). 

Some official positions within a city usually include a Council which advises and elects the Mayor; the Tax Collector, the Scalesmen (whose job it is to keep weights and measures honest), the Slaughtermen (who inspect meat and poultry), the Grainsifters (who inspect produce), the Customer (who elicits fees from travelers and traders). Additionally, a city will have a Judge and his Beadle (issuer of summonses), Bailiff (leader of the judge's own guard), and Wardman (jailer).

All cities host Markets and the monarch's Banker. Because cities are centers of trade and commerce they are heavily attended to by representatives of the various guilds. So in addition to the political officials mentioned above, every one of the guild will provide each city with a Guildmaster, a Purseman, and a Conner.

In addition to such privileges, cities are are tasked by their monarch with seeing to the impoverished within their walls. A city's paupers cannot be evicted to become the responsibility of the local baron, and some cities have lost their charters thereby.

The law enforcement officer of a city is the Constable. He employs both the Guard as well as the Lamplighters & Criers. The Guard typically keeps the wall while the Lamplighters & Criers maintain the city lamps or lights at night, and also insure the sanctity of curfew. Lamplighters & Criers also carry bells, make announcements and spread news as required throughout the day. Because the city is entrusted by the monarch to enact their own laws, they must also police their populace and subject them to a Judge as necessary.