Val'Lanoux
As the capitol city of Orpeva, Val'Lanoux is considered to be the seat of sophistication and culture by many across Alkotas. With a size that covers an area equal to that of several cities, Val'Lanoux is also one of the single largest cities in the world, rivaled only by a few. Over the years as Val'Lanoux has increased in size, the various towns and settlements around it have been annexed to form the various quartiers that make up the body of the city itself.
Val'Lanoux is divided into three major districts in a concentric ring formation atop a gradually slopping hill. The First Division, the location of the original Val'Lanoux of ages past, holds the Spring Quartier, the Highbell Quartier, and the Crown Quartier where the royal residence of Brightcourt is located. The most elevated nobles, richest merchants, and influential figures live within this district with special clearance from the crown being require to even enter from any of the other divisions.
Continuing outward, the second Division holds the Quartiers most associated with high commerce, city defense, and higher learning. Much of the city's middle class calls this division home, with most of the neighborhoods considered to be safe. Despite this, the division houses only two major markets. One of these markets, the infamous Night Market, is only active during the night hours, providing services and goods to the nocturnal races that call Val'Lanoux home.
The outermost ring of Val'Lanoux is the third division. This division handles most of the business that exists between the city and the rest of the realm holding four total markets, each of which is semi-specialized to exports, imports, and crafts between Val'Lanoux and the rest of Orpeva as well as Orpeva and the rest of the Broken Sea. Craftsman, Soldiers, and the Working Class call this division home as do many fae who wish to interact with the culture and attractions the city has to offer without having to be surrounded on all sides by urban sprawl. One section of the Third division, the Hydra Quartier, is more low class than most of the others, with most of its area being an extended slum for those with little to no coin.
Government
Most of the affairs of Val'Lanoux fall within the purview of the realm's Leaf Assembly, which manages most of the day to day affairs of the city itself from the lower judicial courts to elevating concerns and legislation to the Rose Assembly or the Throne. The Thorn Assembly takes priority in matters of defense of the realm, namely in maintaining the military activities that specifically protect Val'Lanoux, but may also take over on criminal matters if the charges rise to standard of crimes against the throne.
The Rose Assembly can make policy specifically to Val'Lanoux, but is typically satisfied to allow the Leaf Assembly to do so, almost always approving whatever matters are put before it by their commoner peers. When the Rose Assembly does take action within the city, it usually involves matters of personal interest or which relate to noble holdings specifically.
Magistrates are managed by the Leaf Assembly, as is the bulk of the constabulary. However it is not uncommon for city guards to be supplemented by members of the Musketeers, who have such a specialized knowledge of certain matters that don't exist within the constabulary itself. Musketeers are the most common military unit to be mixed in on assignment with the city guards but other members of the military such as Chevaliers have been known to do so in the past as well.
Defences
Each district of Val'Lanoux is divided with thick stone walls, with specific gates staved with guards providing the only passage between them. The outer most wall is the thickest of the three, allowing for full troop movement or multiple firing lines of archers in the event of an attack or siege. In addition to the heavier fortification, the outer wall also has 27 defensive towers that contain siege engines including catapults, ballistae, and the most potent of Val'Lanoux's defensive armaments: Cannons.
Because the cannons are still a recent development, there are much fewer of them than there are of the other defensive armaments. While other walls will have ballistae or catapults, the cannons are restricted entirely to use on the Outer wall and the north end of the middle wall that faces the sea. Those cannons facing the sea are specially outfitted to fire chained cannonballs to cripple masts of invading ships and leave them helpless in the harbor to be bombarded by followup cannon fire.
In addition to the sea-facing cannons, Val'Lanoux also has a small flotilla of warships from the Orpevan navy assigned specifically to it's defense. Most of these ships patrol or maintain fixed positions beyond the Isle of Spring, with only a couple patrolling the waters closer to the capitol. This Squadron is commanded from the largest of the warships, the HMS Stormbane.
Industry & Trade
While Orpeva as a whole is known for it's production of high end luxury goods and art, Val'Lanoux is perhaps the primary driver of this reputation. The city takes in a large amount of materials from all over Orpeva and the Broken Sea to create powerful magical items, high end luxury goods, flavorful spiced dishes, and masterfully crafted arms and armor. The bulk of intake for these goods and the mundane supplies required to keep the city running are handled through Hay Market in the Lion Quartier. Unlike many of the other markets of the city designed for buying and selling to the residents of the city and those who visit, Hay Market is specialized almost entirely in buying from the rest of the realm. The market is the primary intake point for all product produced from the farms across Orpeva and redistributes them to the various shops and markets of the city and other parts of the realm. Because of its proximity to the Grove Quartier livestock are generally more calm and docile while here and are much easier to move around in large numbers.
Most of functional crafts made in Val'Lanoux are produced in the Craftsman Quartier, with the bulk of the product being sold at Whiteheath Market in the Whiteheath Quartier. Some areas of the Craftsman Quartier maintain shopfronts to specifically cater to a local clientele in Val'Lanoux and leave larger exporting for the market. While all manner of crafts can be found here from blacksmithing, to glassblowing, to woodworking, the Craftsman Quartier's most famous craft are the Swords produced in the small neighborhood of the Sword District. The Sword District is responsible not only for a massive amount of Orpevan blades to all of Orpeva, but also produces nearly all of the weapons wielded by the military.
The Rosepool Quartier is where most of the high end luxury items and art pieces are created, most of which is sold in the nearby Rose Market which was once a secondary market to Whiteheath but has developed it's own character and flare over the years. Though other wares can be found in the Rose Market it lacks a fraction of the diversity of Whiteheath in favor of catering to artists and their patrons. Rare materials can be found here for nearly every form of craft provided they can be sold legally. Other decadent goods can be found here as well such as perfume, lingerie, and expensive concoctions.
Infrastructure
Beyond it's art, fine architecture, and craftsmanship, Val'Lanoux is known for it's roads, waterways, and public transportation. The roads are well kept in nearly every part of the city, allowing for easy passage by cart or by foot. Aqueducts handle the distribution of fresh clean drinking water to various quartiers while a maze of sewer tunnels winds around the underside of the city to provide disposal of waste as well as ease of access for various city workers.
Ashmoor
Amid the sprawling cemeteries and graveyards of the Tome Quartier stands the Grand Mausoleum of Ashmoor, a vast complex of tombs and funerary facilities that caters exclusively to the royalty, nobility, and heroes of Orpeva. Not only are the remains of these individuals entombed here but vast detailed ancestral libraries can be found here as well chronicling the events and achievements of the family lines over the ages. Ashmoor has stood since the earliest days of the Rhilan empire and many of its older volumes exist only in the fallen empire’s ancient language. The Chimera Carriage Service
One of the most famous features of Val'Lanoux are the "Phantom Carriages" of the Chimera Carriage Service. Originally founded as an independent company in the last age, the Chimera Carriage Service is now overseen by the Leaf Assembly with the soul purpose of providing easy public transportation to all of Val'Lanoux and limited destinations outside the city limits. The carriages are famous for their intricate design, cleanliness, and of course... their lack of beasts to pull them. All carriages run by the service do so seemingly on their own, with only a single coachman for each carriage to receive and check fares. Carriages provide regular service to preset stops throughout the city until 2 Bells with additional limited services that run later to select Quartiers. The Night Market
Open only from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise, the Night Market is a large Market located in the Raven Quartier that is known for catering to nocturnal races and those who ply their living entirely at night. Composed of various market stalls and small restaurants, the market is lit entirely with red lanterns to preserve the vision of those accustomed to the dark. Waterlight
Set astride the river itself and made of series of massive ancient trees and their entangled roots, Waterlight serves to treat and purify the water of the river running through the city as well as a scenic bridge that spans the river. The trees are always in some stage of bloom and at night the blossoms of the trees glow giving a gentle shimmer that allows any creature with low light vision to see as if by daylight. Creatures without low-light vision can still see well and in the spring when the blossoms become more numerous suffer no penalties on sight-based checks.
Amid the sprawling cemeteries and graveyards of the Tome Quartier stands the Grand Mausoleum of Ashmoor, a vast complex of tombs and funerary facilities that caters exclusively to the royalty, nobility, and heroes of Orpeva. Not only are the remains of these individuals entombed here but vast detailed ancestral libraries can be found here as well chronicling the events and achievements of the family lines over the ages. Ashmoor has stood since the earliest days of the Rhilan empire and many of its older volumes exist only in the fallen empire’s ancient language. The Chimera Carriage Service
One of the most famous features of Val'Lanoux are the "Phantom Carriages" of the Chimera Carriage Service. Originally founded as an independent company in the last age, the Chimera Carriage Service is now overseen by the Leaf Assembly with the soul purpose of providing easy public transportation to all of Val'Lanoux and limited destinations outside the city limits. The carriages are famous for their intricate design, cleanliness, and of course... their lack of beasts to pull them. All carriages run by the service do so seemingly on their own, with only a single coachman for each carriage to receive and check fares. Carriages provide regular service to preset stops throughout the city until 2 Bells with additional limited services that run later to select Quartiers. The Night Market
Open only from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise, the Night Market is a large Market located in the Raven Quartier that is known for catering to nocturnal races and those who ply their living entirely at night. Composed of various market stalls and small restaurants, the market is lit entirely with red lanterns to preserve the vision of those accustomed to the dark. Waterlight
Set astride the river itself and made of series of massive ancient trees and their entangled roots, Waterlight serves to treat and purify the water of the river running through the city as well as a scenic bridge that spans the river. The trees are always in some stage of bloom and at night the blossoms of the trees glow giving a gentle shimmer that allows any creature with low light vision to see as if by daylight. Creatures without low-light vision can still see well and in the spring when the blossoms become more numerous suffer no penalties on sight-based checks.
Assets
Magic Item Availability
| Base Value | Minor | Medium | Major |
| 20,800 | * | 4d4 | 3d4 |
Guilds and Factions
The Court of the High King of Spring
Many realms with a fae presence have a local court aligned with one of the seasonal courts, but few can claim to play host to one of the main residences of a high Monarch of such courts. The High King of Spring calls Val'Lanoux his home for a portion of the year, with his arrival in Orpeva signalling the beginning of spring around the Broken Sea. While in Val Lanoux the monarchy of Orpeva gracious hosts the High King of Spring for various events and even allows the monarch to sit in on various official matters of state, even seeking out council on certain matters. The relationship between the two courts is strong and for the spring season many consider Val Lanoux to be the city of two kings. The nobles of Orpeva have been known to take issue with such an arrangement and, knowing there is nothing they can do to change it, try to keep the most important matters regarding their business and the business of the realm at large tabled until the Summer season when the High King of Spring departs. Though the High King of Spring will reside in Val Lanoux for much of the spring, he also maintains a fortified estate in Verr'Jardin on the Isle of Spring just off the coast of Val'Lanoux The Night Masks
This thieves guild based out of the Hydra Quartier was founded by Tanuki who settled in Val'Lanoux during the earliest days of Orpeva. Though small, the guild is accomplished and prides itself on its stealth without a high level of physical confrontation. Though there are various legitimate businesses throughout Val'Lanoux that function as fronts and places to fence stolen merchandise, the Tanuki Den in the Hydra Quartier is one of the more well known due to its willingness to do business with small time operators that are not formal members of the guild. The Unseen Order
Though this secretive guild of elite assassins maintains a deadly presence in numerous major cities throughout the Broken Sea, nowhere is its presence heavier than in Val'Lanoux, the city long believed to be it's base of operations. Though the guild caters primarily to a clientele of the wealthy and noble born, they don't tolerate assassins from outside of their ranks operating for anyone of any class or status operating within the city limits. Among the few who dare speak of the Unseen Order, there is a common belief that it goes back to the days of the Rhilan Empire, making it older than the Kingdom of Orpeva itself.
Many realms with a fae presence have a local court aligned with one of the seasonal courts, but few can claim to play host to one of the main residences of a high Monarch of such courts. The High King of Spring calls Val'Lanoux his home for a portion of the year, with his arrival in Orpeva signalling the beginning of spring around the Broken Sea. While in Val Lanoux the monarchy of Orpeva gracious hosts the High King of Spring for various events and even allows the monarch to sit in on various official matters of state, even seeking out council on certain matters. The relationship between the two courts is strong and for the spring season many consider Val Lanoux to be the city of two kings. The nobles of Orpeva have been known to take issue with such an arrangement and, knowing there is nothing they can do to change it, try to keep the most important matters regarding their business and the business of the realm at large tabled until the Summer season when the High King of Spring departs. Though the High King of Spring will reside in Val Lanoux for much of the spring, he also maintains a fortified estate in Verr'Jardin on the Isle of Spring just off the coast of Val'Lanoux The Night Masks
This thieves guild based out of the Hydra Quartier was founded by Tanuki who settled in Val'Lanoux during the earliest days of Orpeva. Though small, the guild is accomplished and prides itself on its stealth without a high level of physical confrontation. Though there are various legitimate businesses throughout Val'Lanoux that function as fronts and places to fence stolen merchandise, the Tanuki Den in the Hydra Quartier is one of the more well known due to its willingness to do business with small time operators that are not formal members of the guild. The Unseen Order
Though this secretive guild of elite assassins maintains a deadly presence in numerous major cities throughout the Broken Sea, nowhere is its presence heavier than in Val'Lanoux, the city long believed to be it's base of operations. Though the guild caters primarily to a clientele of the wealthy and noble born, they don't tolerate assassins from outside of their ranks operating for anyone of any class or status operating within the city limits. Among the few who dare speak of the Unseen Order, there is a common belief that it goes back to the days of the Rhilan Empire, making it older than the Kingdom of Orpeva itself.
Architecture
The Architecture of Val'Lanoux represents Orpevan design at it's best. Utilizing organic shapes in all of it's construction, there is no question as to the fae and elven origins of the city from the days of the Rhilan Empire. Though metal isn't frowned upon, most structures are build with wood that has either been carved or shaped into organic shapes through mundane and magical means. Some parts of Val'Lanoux, particularly in the Spring Quartier of the first division and the Grove Quartier of the third division, have structures that are constructed entirely from still living trees bent and shaped through magic.
Metal, when used, is similarly made to resemble organic shapes and gravitates toward brass in the second and third divisions while making heavier use of gold in the first division. Wherever metal is used, most will stay away from the use of Cold Iron because of the heavy concentration of fae residents in the city. Those who do make heavy use of iron usually do so not out of malice but out of a desire for security or privacy, either created specific points of entry or barring magical spying.
Glass is used heavily throughout the city, with many buildings in the second and first divisions sporting windows that would be considered massive by the standards of most other cities even within Orpeva. Temples and government buildings are particularly known for their stunning colored glass windows.
Geography
Val'Lanoux sits atop a group of hills with a river that cuts through the center. The innermost part of the city where the First division is located has the highest point of these hills with the other two divisions being lower along these points. The Lanoux river that runs through the center of the city feeds various canals and aqueducts that supply water to the rest of the city before meeting up with the Sea. The River's path through the city has been diverted multiple times through large public works projects through out the ages to allow it to pass through each of the divisions as the city has grown.
Alternative Name(s)
The City of Two Kings, The Second home of Spring
Type
Capital
Population
250,000+
Inhabitant Demonym
Lanoan
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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