Kervalden, The City of Blood
The People of Kervalden scare me, they let an Assassin, A Merchant Whore and a Bloody Executioner in their Leadership. They Allow that to happen. No outsider should ever feel safe there. They Let Pirates, Devils and worse in there.
Defences
Chief among the Defenses of the City is Pandemos, The Bloody Valkariye. She aids in the defence of the city alongside the brave defenders and is often instrumental in repelling enemy forces. Very few threats actually exist that truly threaten the city, Often times it is the beasts of the Woods that threaten the city most. But worst of all are the many Hags that call the surrounding wild home.
Assets
The Continet of Moromel boasts many Old World Ruins among its wild lands but the Capital Province has more than all the rest and many remain functional if buried beneath milennia of waste. Many an enterprising Explorer can be found here.
The City also does make use of Old World Tech in the form of its Sewers and a heating system fueled by an unknown power source that provides warmth to the Interior of the city during times of Cold.
Guilds and Factions
The Redmanes - A Warriors Guild led by one of Pandemos' Children, Argent Redmane. He is the child of Pandemos and a Leonin named Guiles Redmane. The guild was formed by Argent after he returned from years of Adventuring and functions similar to the Moledar Adventurers Guild. Argent is the current Leader of the "Shadow Council" that manages the affairs of Kervalden while a King has yet to be crowned.
The Ivory Hawks - A Guild of Thieves, Cutpurses and Assassins, the Ivory Hawks are led by a Human known only as Ebony. They are allowed to persist based on their Leader's challenge and subsequent defeat of Pandemos within the arena. While they are a Guild of Illicit activity, they do target only marks outside the city and they are responsible for much of the City's Wealth. The Ivory Hawks are currently members of the "Shadow Council" that governs the City while there is no king upon the throne.
The Black Horns - Run by a group of Tieflings who felt ignored and downtrodden, this Guild composes the establishments that appeal to the Darker tastes of Mortals, mainly those of Brothels, Taverns and Gambling Halls. Their Leader, Rose Ronleaux, is a Tiefling woman who cares for her employees, though Coin always speaks louder. Rose is an accomplished knife master, having managed to dispatch three seperate assassins sent after her at once and having bested Pandemos in her younger years. She wears a Holy Symbol of Pandemos and is a member of the Shadow Council.
The Bloodguard - The Elite Guardsmen of the City, they are all Arena Challengers and only accept Paladins of Pandemos into their Ranks. They are led by a Human Woman named Ragala Trevent, a veteran paladin and honorable follower of Pandemos.
The Woodfolk - The Lumberers who mark and fell the massive trees that fuel the city's Lumber industry. Their Current Leader is Harold Oakhammer, a retired adventurer. He adovcates for the wilds beyond the city's walls and ensures that the Populace does not grow to greedy.
History
The city was the first permanent Settlement upon Moromel and after the arrival of Pandemos the city became a mainstay and eventually the Capital of the Continent. Following its establishment it was a hub of trade and travel between the three Coastal cities that eventually became the Capitals of the Duchys. As more trade passed through the roads the city grew and it became a frequent stop for adventurers, which led to the construction of the Coliseum and shortly after, the arrival of Pandemos.
With Pandemos' arrival the city blossomed as it was now a Safe Haven from threats with the might of a Goddess protecting it and adventurers wishing to test their strength against her journeyed far and wide to visit the city. After many years of growth and expansion the city crowned a King that the rulers of the three coastal provinces acknowleged and swore fealty to, earning each of them the title of Duke.
For a time within the Old World, Moromel was one of the most powerful regions of the World. Though their lack of interest in Magic did put them at a disadvantage compared to most, they raised heroes known across the Planes, the Greatest of which was Ziel Viendal, Now the Goddess of Law governing the Plane of Axis. Following the start of the Purge War the Continent grew far more dangerous as one of the Dukes was overthrown by Vinalmo Efrezi and his family was executed to prevent a "True Heir" from emerging. The Blackwall family suffered as their greatest child became the God of Tyrants and sought to rule the Hells instead of the family province. After Bane Tyranus placed Edmund Blackwall upon the throne of Castle Blackwall, the province became an enemy to Karvelden and the other dukes. The Domnel Family continued and thrived but they are more interested in sailing the seas instead of ruling and thus a King has not emerged from the ranks of the Dukes in Millenia.
Following the Merging, the Continent of Moromel experienced a rapid Growth throughout its Wilds and the Geography of the realm shifted immensly. Forests sprang up around Kervalden, the trees that had once been were overgrown with ancient replacements, those whose branches reached hundreds of feet into the sky, dwarfing even the grandest citadels and Statues within the City. In the time since the beasts of the Forests have acted as a buffer of Defense for hostile threats and the grand River Kunera has become the City's Lifeline with the outside world. There are a handful of major roads that connect the City to its neighboring provinces but they are unsuited to armies and none can oppose the City of Blood's Role as the Heart of the Continent.
Duke Vinalmo Efrezi has retained his position as the Leader of the Efrezi Province and he has entered a tenuos deal with the Goddess Pandemos, the details of which are shared between a few the Goddess herself Trusts.
King Antonius Thrune of New Cheliax once attempted to force the City into Surrender. His Soldier's Heads were later found impaled on the Spikes of his Fortress with the Entity known as Grandmother Weaver giving his City's Guards a lecture on minding their own business. Princess Abrogail Thrune has been known to venture to the City of Blood and negotiate with the Shadow Council behind her Father's back.
While Lady Elan Tevara has not entered the city her Son, Argunand Blackwall, has done so as he frequently journies to the city in search of further aid for his war with New Cheliax. He has publicly acknowleged that he would be able to Vie for the Crown of Kervalden but he has stated he will only consider such things once New Cheliax has been subdued.
The Domnel Family has yet to select a Family Head of the current Generation but all three of the prospective heirs have declared that they will not seek to claim Kervalden's Throne, but the trio of Pirates have made strong ties among the Black Horns and The Redmanes.
Points of interest
The Coliseum of Heroes is the main attraction to the City as a chance to battle a Goddess is a rare treat for many adventurers.
Climate
Kervalden was once a Temperate City surrounded by small forests but since the Merging it has experienced extreme shifts between the tropical winds from the North and the Icy Winds from Port Oveil in the south.
Natural Resources
Kervalden Exports Lumber in the form of the Colossal Karu Trees that make up its surrounding Forests. Each Massive Tree felled seems to regrow in only a decade and a single one of the largest can sustain the City for a year and the process of cutting one of the Trunks is a masiive endeavor to have the resulting lumber be shipped down the river and spread through the world. It is often said that Kervalden's Lumber is of supernatural quality but no reports of magic within the wood have born fruit.
Alternative Name(s)
The City of Blood, The Forgotten City, The Old Citadel
Type
Capital
Population
589,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Kervaldens
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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