Pandona
Capital of Veluna. Site of one of the oldest known temples of Vespera in Anoria which also serves as the meeting place for the Council of Kings.
Demographics
80% human,
10% dwarf,
10% various races
Government
Pandona is the capital of Veluna. It is controlled by the Overlord, who acts with the general consent of the Temporal Council. Veluna is an oligarchy, with the heads of each of the major merchant houses having a position of power in the Temporal Council. The Overlord is chosen from among these merchant houses. The succession of Overlords can be conducted by a vote of the Temporal Council, but also follows a "might makes right" policy, wherein if a House is overthrown by another House, they also absorb any noble titles, including that of the Overlord. The Overlord is a hereditary position which can be held within the same House until it is overthrown or is there is no clear line of succession, requiring the intervention of the Temporal Council.
Industry & Trade
In addition to the trade from the various Merchant Guilds, Pandona is known for the skill of the continent’s finest silk weavers who also utilize the flax, cotton, and linen of Amaranth to make all manner of textiles and tapestries, and the finest clothes, some would say even finer than the elves, though the elves would doubtless debate that.
Guilds and Factions
House Oberion specializes in importing exotic ingredients for the fine foods that the upper class of Pandona consume. Their private security force are the Shadow Men, mysterious monks who consume changa root in small doses to boost their strength and endurance though at the possible expense of their sanity.
House Dracus specializes in importing silver and spices. They are currently the ruling House, holding the title of Overlord of Veluna. Their security force is the Amita K'un, ninja practiced in an ancient art passed down by Pellish descendants of immigrants from the Eastern Kingdoms.
House Margrav holds the monopoly on liquor wholesaling. The only merchant House whose family is non-human, the dwarves of House Margrav have formed an elite squadron of dwarven axe-men to protect their noble lineage.
House Vharday competes with House Dracus in the spice trade but also specializes in medicinal herbs. Though not an official pact, House Vharday has relied increasingly on the society of contract killers known as the Doomknights to protect their interests, leading some to speculate that it is only a matter of time before House Vharday contracts the Doomknights to work for them exclusively.
House Rhylym was a flagging house for many years but were recently revitalized when Lord Severus managed to convince the most prominent weaver's guild in town to cancel their contracts with House Eichon and work exclusively with House Rhylym. House Rhylym does not employ a security force outside of their own House guards, but does hold the exclusive contract with the notorious poisoner Arvinae, one of the most dangerous assassins in all of Pandona.
House Eichon has been struggling recently as well. After losing the weaver's contract, House Eichon saw their monopoly on the Southern gold trade lose value thanks to several recent gold strikes in the Ironreach Mountains. House Eichon utilizes the Bloodguard, which some say are just a pale imitation of their sensei Ashikaga's former team, the Amita K'un of House Dracus.
Guild Mearas are silversmiths contracted with House Dracus.
Guild Darangar is contracted with House Vharday, providing them with coveted herbs from Greenwood Forest and the Angoran Jungle.
Guild Angar are famous across the Seven Kingdoms for their leatherworkers;
History
825 CE - The first Temple of Vespera which will one day be declared the heart of the Church of Vespera is constructed in the lands which will be known as Veluna. The high priestess of this temple is a human cleric named Pandona.
2300 CE - Pandona is founded on the site of the first Temple of Vespera and named after its first High Priestess.
2320 CE - Pandona establishes the Temporal Council as its governing body.
3150 CE -Lord Rogel of House Dracus exchanges a blood vow with Master Kang, Sensei of the Amita K'un. The Amita K'un is the first ninja security force to swear allegiance to one of Pandona's merchant Houses and will become the template for other Houses to seek outside aid in guarding their interests.
3575 CE - House Eichon declares Vendetta against House Dracus for an unknown slight. House Dracus is victorious, and Overlord Uramae, facing execution or exile, hangs himself. In an act that many view as folly, Lord Kitaya of House Dracus, upon accepting the title of Overlord, shows mercy to House Eichon and allows Uramae's teenage son Namara to remain alive as acting Head of the house. Namara's mother has also died under mysteriously circumstances, but the orphaned boy Lord installs a new House security force, the Bloodguard, and begins a careful plan to return House Eichon to power. That year, House Dracus welcomes a new member with the birth of Overlord Kitaya's son, Mako.
3593 CE - A new Vendetta is declared against House Dracus by Lord Namara of House Eichon. House Dracus allies with a team of Adventurers formerly employed by Tarrus the One-Eyed, but now hunted as traitors by the Lord of Liem. The Adventurers succeed in capturing Lord Namara (who is later assassinated in Castle Dracus's dungeon by Arvinae the Poisoner). They also discover that Overlord Kitaya's younger son Mako has betrayed House Dracus to conspire with House Eichon. Despite a seemingly successful assassination by the Adventurer Adrienne Kirk, Mako survives and is transformed into a vampire by Lady Bloodmist, House Eichon's ancestral vampire who still resides within Castle Eichon's crypts.
Points of interest
Castle Dracus - now a smoking ruin after the last Vendetta, Castle Dracus was once one of the largest and most opulent of the noble seats of power in Pandona. It remains to be seen if it will ever be restored to its former glory.
Castle Eichon - the ancestral home of House Eichon is a magnificent structure built in the Pellish style of castle-building.
Golden Lute Tavern - the famed halfling bard Raskin the Raconteur often makes this tavern his home away from home when visiting Pandona.
Stolen Mug Inn - it is said that Tarrus the One-Eyed survived an assassination attempt while staying at this cheap but tidy inn.
Lesym's Quill - Lesym prides himself on providing hard to locate magical writings for those with an inclination and gold to spend.
The Dusky Fox - a shop where rare magical artifacts can sometimes be procured. The shopkeeper is an odd woman named Johanna Vaugn who mostly keeps to herself.
The Chapel of Accuris - tucked away in one of the less affluent sections of town, this tidy little ivy-covered temple is run by the elven cleric Cerisian of Celadon and a small cadre of loyal clerics.
Tourism
People of Note:
Overlord Kitaya, Head of House Dracus;
Lord Kalkin, acting Head of House Dracus;
Lord Mako, formerly of House Dracus, acting Head of House Eichon;
Master Sun, Sensei of the Amita K'un;
Harrat, Major Domo of House Dracus (deceased) ;
Lord Namara, former Head of House Eichon (deceased) ;
Lady Narya, Head of House Eichon;
Asharok, the Lady Bloodmist, Founder of House Eichon (vampire) ;
Ashikaga, Sensei of the Bloodguard (deceased) ;
Lord Kax, acting Head of House Margrav;
Lord Keshnin, Head of House Oberion;
Lord Nashar of House Oberion;
Lord Severus, Head of House Rhylym;
Lord Ardak, Head of House Vharday;
Raskin the Raconteur, famous halfling bard;
Aebrah, proprietor of The Stolen Mug;
Johanna Vaugn, owner of The Dusky Fox;
Lesym, proprietor of Lesym's Quill;
Arvinae, House Rhylym's master assassin;
Cerisian of Celadon, elven Priest of Accuris;
Overlord Uramae, former Head of House Eichon (deceased) ;
Lord Rogel (historical) ;
Master Kang (historical) ;
High Priestess Pandona (historical)
Architecture
Partially funded over the years by generous donations to the Church of Vespera, as well as the wealth brought in by the merchant lords, Pandona has been the site of some of the most ambitious building projects in all of Anoria. From the massive Cathedral of Vespera, built on the site of the original temple, to the castles of merchant houses like Dracus and Eichon, built in the Pellish style, to the towers of the Guild Lords, Pandona is perhaps the tallest city in Anoria, topped only by the tree-top cities of the elves or mountaintop strongholds of the dwarves.
Geography
Located in a fertile valley in the wooded hills of Veluna, the original Temple of Vespera was built near a deep aquifer which continues to provide fresh water to the citizens Pandona to this day.
Founding Date
2300 CE
Alternative Name(s)
The Jewel of Veluna; The City of Smoke; The City of Towers
Type
Capital
Population
25,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Pandonans
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments