Whitebridge

The City of Whitebridge has been an important trading port for centuries. It was founded where the first bridge was built over the Singing River, and was a Free City until very recently. The Pavo family spent decades making trade agreements, exchanging artisans, supporting the arts, and generally building trust and relationships. A few years ago, in exchange for the promise to build the University, the Pavo brought Whitebridge into the Empire of Stars. This brought them wealth, power, and prestige. It also shook the other city states in the region to their foundations, as the Four Free Cities became three.
The city is ruled by a Grand Duke, a hereditary title. The Emperor, Mayura Pavo, agreed to leave the family's title intact. She also married her granddaughter to the grandson of Grand Duke Rett Cemizo. It's an open question whether the other families will allow the Pavo family to rule Whitebridge once they take the throne.
In the meantime, the city is thriving. Whitebridge serves as a point of contact between the Free Cities and the Empire, allowing the inland Empire of Stars access to Orcish trade without exposing it to raiding. Wealthy merchant houses send out trading parties to Dwarven, Elven, and other lands, bringing back rare commodities much in demand throughout the Empire.
Set very near to the shores of beautiful Rosedale Lake, Whitebridge is a picturesque city. The city proper is largely constructed of the local honey colored stone. The streets are wide and clean, and the buildings separated by plenty of open spaces, including parks. Many of these are home to beautiful statues and sculpture, the result of the many artists supported by wealthy patrons. These patrons often have apartments and offices in the city, and enormous country houses on the shores of the lake.
The original bridge is long since gone. In its place is one of the wonders of the known world. The Great Bridge spans not only the river, but also far into the banks on either side. It is tall enough that even the tallest ships can pass beneath it, with room to spare. The foundations on each bank are sunk right down into the bedrock by powerful magic, and the enormous stones that make up its span were lifted into place by the arms of giants. Shops, markets, merchants, artisans, and moneylenders have set up under the bridge on each bank. The Grand Duke periodically hands out commissions to artists, asking them to carve friezes into the bridge. A commission might be for the scene of a great battle, a portrait of a family member, or simply something beautiful and unique.
The Ducal Residence is nearby, on the South bank. It's a fairly old-fashioned castle, square and solid, of honey colored stone. Many outbuildings have been added over time, connected to each other by gravel pathways or arching overhead bridges. The grounds include extensive gardens full of pools, grottoes, statuary, and outdoor theaters. Different types of roses are everywhere, and are grown in special buildings even during winter months. Cut, fresh roses are always found throughout the residence, sometimes kept fresh by magic.
Whitebridge University is still in the planning stages. The Grand Duke and Mayura Pavo have been purchasing land to build a campus. The Pavo family are skilled Illusionists, so that school will likely be a specialty. The Grand Duke has made it known that Bardic and Divine Colleges are a priority for him, and the city already has large resident populations of Enchanters and Favored Soul Sorcerers. The University's token will be a rose.

Type

City