Havere
by Dreamstudio
Demographics
Havere is a major port city whose main income is made from the sea traders or caravaneers that take the goods from port inland. Humans are the majority of the city population but more and more Gnomish traders and engineers are starting to become a bigger demographic. Like all large cities peoples of all races and colors can be found. Most of the elves are the Sea Elvish who dwell on the Western Isles and come to city to trade or start a new life. Less common are the Dwarvish the majority of which come from clans from the Hidden Mountain.
Government
The Monarchy
Havere boasts the longest uninterrupted rule of a monarch in all of Aasha. Its ruler is currently King Pierre Du Mer VIII, Defender of the Sea and Master of Trade. While the king is the figurehead of the city and country, the majority of the day-to-day bureaucracy is lead by His Majesty's Trade Council who has been an almost equal power in governement ever since the Boy King, King Garcon Du Mer, Pierre's great grandfather. The King of Havere is the Head and Official ruler of the country. He is the leader of the standing Army and Navy of Havere and may legislate by declaring official edicts from the throne.The Trade Council
Is comprised of representatives of the six largest companies or trade organizations that are headquartered in Havere. They have been given power to regulate commerce in the country as well as carry out the edicts of the King. All actions made by the council can be vetoed by the king but such occurrences are rare.Laws and Crime
Trade is the of the upmost concern for the Trade Council, so anything that could reduce the flow of ships or caravaans coming in and out of Havere is dealt with swiftly and with impunity. Corruption is highly illegal and often the sentence is death for bribery, tax fraud, and other financial schemes. Conversely, crime in general is handled with mercy. Havere might be the only place in the world where there are more auditors then city guard.Defences
Havere has long outgrown its city wall, and in an event of attack the populations outside of the main city will have to be moved inside. The city wall itself is well maintained and well guarded. The Harbor Watch (the local city guard) often uses the outer wall to patrol and to move resources and men quickly throughout the city.
On the Seaside, fortified ramparts have been built with ballista and catapults to defend the harbor from an amphibious attack. It all of its long history, no one has been able to take the city.
The King and his guard occupy the Citadel d'Havere a large and well defended castle.
Industry & Trade
Profits from traders bringing goods from foreign lands and selling them to caravaners around the world make up the bulk of the wealth in Havere. Their famous sea routes are secret and vary from trader to trader. All of the trading ships have banded together and split profits from respective routes.
Secondary to the trading and caravaaning is the bustling textile business. With new styles coming in from around the world at a regular pace, the Havecois have fleeting and frequent style tastes. This then fuels a constant and high demand for textiles and therefore dyes and wool. Therefore to support the textile industry, the farms (aside from growing food) grow indigo and violet (the colors of Havere), and the ranchers are prolific sheep raisers.
Infrastructure
The Pride of Havere is its famous Crystal Port a Harbor built entirely from white marble. It is said that the port gleams, and even at night the harbor sparkles with the lights of the city. To guide night-faring ships, the North and Sound ends of the harbor are protected by two giant 10-storey statues that also serve as lighthouses. Together, they depict the defeat of Ozumat - a giant Kraken. On the Northside of the harbor is the statue Ozumat with a giant fireball in its maw. On the Southside is Queen Margot Du Mer, The First Defender of the Sea conjuring the fireball that ultimately slew the beast.
A more recent addition Havere is Winktod Gasketank's state-of-the-art water/airmill he likes to call Wat-air-mill Supreme. It is located slightly out of town along the Rouge River. It was a huge gamble to actually finance the construction of an idea that had suddenly came to Master Gasketank after consuming some questionable mushrooms. But now built, Gasketank has become the most successful textile weaver in the whole country and the newest member of the Trade Council of Havere
Guilds and Factions
Harbor Watch
The Harbor Watch serves as the city's main military and police force. They are a branch of the greater Terdiore Royal Army. The Watch as they are colloquially known are a very disciplined and incorruptible unit. Only those of the highest integrity are selected to be part of the Watch, and as result there is a sense of pride and elitism among the Watchmen. They man the City Wall as well as various police watch stations through out the city. Expect any encounter with them to be very formal.The Guilds
While there are many trades guilds in the city, the majority of them are not powerful politically with the exception with the Banker and Moneychanger's Guild and the United Textile, Weaver, and Spinner's Guild. Engagement in any type of economic activity will undoubtedly also involve an encounter with one ore multiple guilds. Be sure before one starts any sort of real estate of business venture, that you check with the local guilds about local regulations. Many people have overlooked such regulations and have themselves barred from city service or another until restoration has been made.The Banker and Moneychanger's Guild
International trade has brought much wealth to the traders and caravaners of Havere. As a consequence, banking and moneychanging has arguably the largest industry in the city. The bankers are the financial engine for Havere's wealth. They finance the construction of tradeships, caravans, factories, and store fronts. They invest in expeditions to other continents and new technologies that the Gnomish have come up with. As such, they are the most powerful guild in the city, and closely guard each other and regulate competition. They, through their influence in the Trade Council, effectively regulate all finance in the city including: the setting of short term and long term interest rates on loans, setting of exchange rates for currencies of other countries, and the setting of interest paid to savings accounts.The United Textile, Weaver, and Spinners Guild
Havere is also known as the fashion capital of the world. Their dealings with the rest of the world has brought many new and interesting textiles, materials, and styles to the city and all merge to form the distinct Havercois style. Fortunately for the UTWS, that style changes quickly sometimes from week to week. Meaning there is always a large demand for new textiles and different colors, styles, and materials. The President of the Guild is Vidal Larue who until a year ago was also a member of the Trade Council. Other than the weavers, the spinners, and dyers of the city are all part of this union which strive to make lives of all in the industry better.Major Corporations and Companies
The Royal Bank of Havere
The largest bank in Terrdiore, keeper of the Royal coin, and Terrdiore's Central Bank. Its main activities are making loans to companies for investment or to other countries if they need funding. The Royal Minister of Trade oversee's all bank activities and also serves as the King's representative on the Trade Council.The Immaculate Textile Company
Built from a dream that a clever but humble gnome had, The Immaculate Textile Company is the largest manufacturer of textiles in Terridiore and possibly the world.Rising Sun Trading Company
The largest cooperation of trading ships that bases its operations in Havere.Other Factions
The Mages Guild
The study of magic has long been a tradition among the Havecois since their storied history involves being saved multiple times by Mages in the past. As consequence the Mages Guild has a notable presence in the city. The local guild is always appointed one of the Royal Family to lead it who to this day is still a descendant of the Defender of the Sea.The Black Heart
The biggest and most connected gang in the city. The Black Heart controls and directs most of the underground economy, but is often challenged by the smaller, lesser gangs.The Dolphin Pirates
A fearsome group of pirates the raid the surrounding islands and seas for trading ships. Many rumors hear that they command a great deal of sea creatures to their aid. They have an outpost somewhere in the Western Isles.History
Havere was built on top of the ruins of an ancient Elven City named Ellrantheas which was destroyed in 4BA during the casting out of the Old Gods. After the conflict, the refugee elves scurried to the Western Isles while others tried to make a new life in the Feywilds. Decades later weary Humans after crossing the newly formed Serpent Sands stumbled upon its beautiful ruins and crystal harbor. The humans decided to refound the city and named it Havere - for it was a harbor against the wilds of the desert and a harbinger of hope.
However, as soon they started to build ships to export the Western Isles, they awoke Ozumat, a kracken left over from the War of Ascension. Sensing that the city was again alive a well, besieged it. Margot and a small group of adventurers were able to conjure an orb of destruction. To get rid Ozumat, they baited the kracken into the harbor and trapped him there long enough for Margot to use the orb and destroy him. Having organized the defense and destroyed the beast, the Havercois renamed her Margot Du Mar and named her their first queen. Ever since, the Havercois have used the protection of the harbor to build ships and explore the world.
by DreamStudio
Architecture
All of the buildings in the Old City are of Elven Architecture to some degree built from white crystal marble. Most of them include an Elven Arch and and dome somewhere in the design. So much so are the Arch and Dome integrated into the architecture of Havere, that even new human and dwarven structures are built with some sort of Arch on the facade and a dome on the roof.
The most classical of Ancient Elven architecture can be found in the Citadel d'Havere which, at its highest is a large brass dome supporting an unusually tall spire. The dome is supported by white marble arches all around who are in then in turn supported by external curving buttresses. Scholars agree that originally the citadel was not meant to be a defensive building but most likely some sort of Ancient temple, but the addition of ramparts, towers, portcullis, drawbridges and other fortifications throughout the millennia has turned this building into a strange combination of Elven grace and Human practicality.
The Gnomish have completely turned a quarter of the city into a miniature Gnomastra complete with slanted copper roofs and windmills. The locals affectionately call this part of Havere Little Town because everything is just a bit smaller optimal of someone of Gnomish stature.
Outside of the city center, you'll find many buildings made of stone from the hills to the south or from wood gathered from the Western Isles. Most copy the traditional arch and dome but very few keep anything else in common with the old city.
Geography
The city is split up into informal districts. On the Westside next to the ocean are the Harbor and the Peninsula. To the east of the Harbor district is what the local call the Crown. The Crown gradually slopes upward towards the Citadel d'Havere at the top of the hill. The Temple or Market district lays east of the Rouge but south of the Crown district. The district along the southern wall is called the Boot.
Outside of the official city walls, is what is called the Outer city. On the Northside, is the small but growing Out North. On the Eastside of the Crown the locals call the Neck. South of the Neck is Riverside but its now called Little Town because of all of the Gnomish moving into the city. Across the river from Little Town to the East is Over River.
Maps
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Havere - The Crystal Port
Map of Havere
Alternative Name(s)
The Crystal Port
Type
Large city
Population
45000
Inhabitant Demonym
Havecois
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
- Havere - Chapter 1, Session 1: The Gang Bumbles Around Havere
- Havere - Chapter 1, Session 2: A Contract from Gasketank
- Havere - Chapter 1, Session 3 : Does that tail do more than wag?
- Havere - Chapter 1, Session 5 : Into the Black Heart
- Havere - Chapter 1, Session 7: Into the Black Heart (Part 3)
- Havere - Chapter 2, Session 1: Orgy?
- Havere Chapter 2, Session 2: Trying the Goods Report
- Havere Chapter 2, Session 3: Take me to Church
- Havere Chapter 2, Session 4: Side Quest Catch-Up
- Havere Chapter 2, Session 5: Teamster Life, Teamster Death
Related Reports (Secondary)
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