Starfell

Demographics

Starfell consists almost exclusively of vampires, with Shells for feeding and servitude. A very small number of favoured, loyal humans do take residence there, though they are very rare to come across.

Government

Morwenna is the governess of the city, and rules alone. She does have a court of sorts, populated by the most loyal or influential vampires who vie for patronage and political power within the court. In fact, Morwenna keeps her rule stable mainly through the use of such mechanisms; by offering titles and jobs to those who best serve her and distributing power fairly evenly among her court, she is able to maintain their loyalty despite their cutthroat nature. Of course, there is plenty of backstabbing and feuds within the court itself, making any social interaction practically a minefield. Morwenna revels in this, as the lust for power of her followers is what enables her to hold such an iron grip over the region.

History

Starfell is one of the older settlements in the Shadowfell despite its pristine appearance. Tales suggest the original palace was crafted by an elven necromancer who traveled to Shadowfell to live in solitude with his undead horrors. When the Silverbloods began to rise to power and prominence, the necromancer was incredibly distasteful of undead who were not under his command and sought to destroy them. Much to his surprise, he greatly underestimated their power and he was eliminated with the ruthlessness and efficiency typical of the vampires. Morwenna was immediately enamoured by the architecture and beautiful views and decided to populate it. Jakob, pleased with her strategies enabling the capture of the palace in the first place, agreed.

Architecture

Starfell is by far the most grand settlement in all of Shadowfell, consisting mainly of glimmering towers, elaborate sculptures and carefully crafted and planned out streets. In particular, Morwenna takes great pride in the plants that line every alley and avenue; despite the naturally hostile conditions of the Shadowfell that normally stunt plant growth, large purple blooms and bushes with fan-like ivory leaves are kept in perfectly manicured beds across the city. The magnum opus is the greenhouse in Morwenna's personal palace, where every inch is decorated with beautiful flowers and flora. These plants were crafted specifically by Morwenna to thrive in the Shadowfell; much like the vampiric inhabitants, the plants feed off blood in the soil and use moonlight to grow. Despite their fragile appearance, most of these plants are carnivorous and have the unusual trait of hostility towards mortals, while remaining completely passive around vampires.

Geography

Starfell lies right on the shoreline of the great, dark Moonsea, allowing for some awe-inspiring views from its magnificent towers. Of course, similar to almost all things in Starfell, its beauty is only surface level. The Moonsea itself is unsailable, and has dragged a great many sailors (both human and vampire) to their demise. The ground itself is clogged with blood beneath the surface, as it is pumped directly into the soil by a series of pipes to help the growth of the plants within the city. The city is also built on a literal graveyard; its history as the abode of a necromancer means a vast series of crypts runs beneath the city streets. Rather than clear them out, Morwenna decided she had little use for them so simply filled in the entrances and left them.

Type

City

Location under

Shadowfell

Owner/Ruler

Morwenna Silverblood

Owning Organization

The Silverbloods