Ostborough - Northern Capital

Ostborough stands as a symbol of perseverance, blending arcane innovation with technological prowess, and it continues to serve as a fortress and a beacon of progress in Astrium.

Demographics

60% Human 20% Dwarves 10% Gnomes 5% Elves and Half-Elves 5% Other races The Warforged make up a notable part of Ostborough’s population and serve not only as workers and defenders but also as the city’s ruling class in Opheliax’s absence.

Government

Ostborough is governed by a Council of Warforged, who act as proxies for Opheliax's will. These council members carry fragments of Opheliax’s essence, enabling them to make decisions in her stead. Though the Warforged govern the city, a humanoid Sovereign holds ceremonial power and serves as an ambassador to the rest of Astrium. The current Sovereign is Ilyana Valford, a descendant of one of Marblehaven’s founding families. The Head of Defense, both for Warforged and humanoids, is Fulcrum (formerly known as ), a legendary Warforged who once fought alongside Opheliax and has returned to lead the city's forces.

Defences

Ostborough’s defenses are multi-layered and formidable:

• 579 Trained Warriors: A permanent garrison protects the city.
• 9,077 Militia: Can be raised in case of an attack.
• 750 Warforged: Serve as the core of the city’s military might.
• Anti-Magic Dome: A protective barrier enveloping the city, neutralizing hostile magic.
• The city’s strategic placement within the Arid Steppe and its high, impenetrable walls make it nearly impossible to besiege.

Industry & Trade

Ostborough thrives on:

• Arcane Technology: Blending magic and machinery, Ostborough exports everything from enchanted devices to advanced transportation methods.
• Warforged Craftsmanship: The Warforged contribute to building and maintaining infrastructure, weapons, and magical components.
• Enchantments: Custom magical enhancements created by the city’s enchanters.

Infrastructure

Ostborough’s infrastructure is the pinnacle of technological advancement, with the seamless integration of magic and machinery that dates back to Opheliax’s early experiments. The city is known for:

• Transmission Tubes: A network of cylindrical transport systems that allow citizens to move around the city efficiently. Individuals scan a pass to quickly be transported to their desired district.
• Rammed Earth Walls: High, fortified walls that encircle the city, providing a robust defense system. These walls are reinforced with a magical anti-magic barrier to prevent aerial or teleportation-based incursions.
• Anti-Magic Barrier: A dome of protection around the city to neutralize magical threats, particularly those attempting to fly or teleport within.
• The main entrance to the city is defended by the Gauntlet, a narrow, easily defensible corridor designed to funnel attackers into a choke point leading toward the castle.

Districts

1. The Forge Quarter: The industrial heart of Ostborough, where the Warforged work tirelessly to create and maintain both technological innovations and arcane devices. It’s home to factories, smithies, and foundries. Key Locations:

• Angora’s Antiquities: A shop run by Angelique, a master enchanter who offers rare artifacts and magical items.
• Ironclad Innovations: A factory producing cutting-edge Warforged components and weaponry.

2. The Scholar’s Arch:  A hub of learning, this district houses magical colleges and arcane libraries, where scholars study the delicate balance between magic and technology. Key Locations:

• Arcanist College – School of Evocation: Headmaster Kriovar oversees the teaching of destructive and practical magic used for defense and innovation.
• The Chrono Library: A repository of ancient knowledge regarding time and arcane science.

3. The Ivory Spire District: A residential area for both the city’s upper classes and Warforged elites. The Sovereign’s palace and Fulcrum’s command center lie here. Key Locations:

• The Sovereign’s Citadel: The center of Ostborough’s political power.
• Fulcrum’s Command Nexus: Headquarters for Ostborough’s defense forces.

4. The Emporium: A bustling marketplace and trade center where goods from all over Astrium are sold. Here, magical vendors, artisans, and traders meet to exchange rare items. Key Locations:

• The Bronze Baubles: A shop specializing in enchanted jewelry.
• The Technomancer’s Workshop: Selling arcane and technological tools and devices, often custom-made for Warforged.

Assets

Ostborough boasts a variety of equipment and stores to meet the needs of its citizens, especially given its Warforged population: Blacksmiths: Crafting weapons, armor, and Warforged components. Apothecaries: Offering remedies for both humanoids and Warforged suffering from Mana Corrosion. Arcane Stores: Selling magical tools, scrolls, and artifacts.
Tavern - The Burning Respite Owner: Cloak Thundercloud, Female Tabaxi,
Location: Located near a temple near a Temple to Savras The street outside contains a heroic monument and is next to a grand hall. A bard sings songs and tells some tales as patrons request them. Description: The tavern is a stucco tower, with a brown shingled roof and a large cellar. It contains cobwebs in the corners and messy tables covered in cutlery and leftover food.
Tavern: The Bloody Bard Owner: Tana Lingenhall, Female Gnome [Details]
Location: In the main street near the town gate. The street outside has a fortune teller. Description: The tavern is a marble rowhouse, with a small fenced yard and a big brick chimney. It contains antique cabinets filled with oddities and a poker table.
Tavern: The Golden Tongue Owner: Avice Woodhouse, Female Half-Elf [Details]
Location: In the middle of the slums. The street outside is unusually full of carriages. There's a robbery in progress. Description: The tavern is a log tower, with a red tile roof and moss-covered walls. A duck serves as a mascot and greets customers. It contains well-stocked workshop and a huge collection of alcohol behind the bar.
Blacksmith: Travok's Head Owner: Travok Morigak, Male Dwarf
Location: In a temple ward. The street outside ominously quiet and empty and is filled with the smell of damp earth. Will kick out any Dragonborn customers, including current patrons. Description: The blacksmith is a terra cotta single storey building, with large windows and shiny hardwood floors. It contains low ceilings and a large variety of metal tongs hanging on the walls. Specials: Armor of Resistance (dmg 152) (5,768 gp) Ring Mail (phb 145) (27 gp) Javelin of Lightning (dmg 178) (1,434 gp)

Alchemist: Aromatic Hourglass
Owner: Gimgen Ironfist, Male Dwarf [Details]
Location: In the main street near the town gate. The street outside is recently paved with worn brick. Description: The alchemist is a stucco and large single storey building, with a tanned wooden roof and a large cellar. It contains antique cabinets filled with oddities and shelves full of disorganized books. Map Specials: Potion of Climbing (dmg 187) (49 gp) Potion of Stone Giant Strength (dmg 187) (380 gp) Potion of Invisibility (dmg 188) (179 gp)

Jeweler: The Emerald Sigil Owner: Vanuath Nailo, Male Elf
Location: In a temple ward. The street outside is lined with a low stone wall. A couple nobles are having a duel for honor. Description: The jeweler is a adobe rowhouse, with an orange shingled roof and a smooth stone floor. It contains a small wood oven and glass display cabinets with jewelry. Map Specials: Ring of Feather Falling (dmg 191) (1,971 gp) Ring of Resistance (dmg 192) (5,832 gp) Crystal Arcane Focus (phb 151) (10 gp)
Enchanter: Madame's Transmuter Owner: Philomena Littlefoot, Female Halfling [Details]
Location: In a civic quarter. The street outside ominously quiet and empty and is a covered walkway with many twinkling lights. They're doing a sale or promotional event. Description: The enchanter is a wooden and sprawling single storey building, with a black shingled roof and a small enclosed deck. It contains a number of pots and miscellaneous supplies hanging from the ceiling and a magical construct moving supplies between shelves. Map Specials: Bag of Holding (dmg 153) (3,866 gp) Broom of Flying (dmg 156) (7,922 gp) Figurine of Wondrous Power, Silver Raven (dmg 170) (4,884 gp)

General Store: Nurkara's Compass Owner: Nurkara Graybeard, Female Dwarf [Details]
Location: In a side street near the town gate. The street outside is watched by a squad of the town guard. Bards are holding an impromptu music festival. Description: The general store is a marble simple building, with a green tile roof and tile flooring. A small dragon's skull hangs over the hearth. It contains a taxidermied bear near the entrance and jars of bulk candy on the counter. Map Specials: Rope, Silk (50 feet) (phb 153) (10 gp) Pot, Iron (phb 153) (2 gp) Cook's Utensils (phb 154) (48 gp)

Guilds and Factions

• The Ironclad Brotherhood: A faction of Warforged dedicated to advancing Opheliax’s original vision and preserving the city’s defense protocols.
• The Guild of Technomancers: Scholars and inventors focused on blending magic with technology, often working to enhance Ostborough’s infrastructure.
• The Emerald Conclave: A faction advocating for environmental preservation and ensuring that Ostborough’s rapid technological growth does not harm the natural world.

History

Ostborough was build quite quickly following Opheliax's arrival in 4AD with the help of her creation the Warforged. The secret is lost to time and has not been able to be replicated as of yet; however these beings quickly shut down in the Sins battle in 7AD with an anti magic bomb being set down upon the city. Through the years Opheliax continued to build the cities technology in secret, often disguising it as magic, which in turn, disabled the Warforged across the continents. Through the years Warforged have come back online in random parts of the world, with the directive to head back to Ostborough to report for duty.
Today ostborough serves as a technological pioneer for all things infrustructure and travel.
Ostborough is the Northern Capital of Astrium - founded by Opheliax Ostbourough in 4AD after the fall of Marblehaven. Opheliax took people of Marblehaven and her creations the Warforged across the Arid Steppe to settle in a highly defensible position.
he city is quite simple in its design but the infrastructure is anything but, using the first known mixtureof arcane and technological means (before the current age) people are able to move about the city quickly using transmission tubes. Small cylinders that move people to the location scanned on their pass to move about the city effortlessly. The pinnacle of infrastructure is the Guantlet. A straight line of minimal cover and very thin side streets as soon as you get in through the main gates, enough for 2 people to fit across. The city uses this choking point to force people towards the castle but also to act as a way to reinforce manpower throughout the city giving them only one defensible position to hold. The rest of the city is surrounding by very high walls with an anti magic barrier over the top to make it harder for people to fly or teleport in.

Points of interest

Arcanist College - School of Evocation - Headmaster: Kriovar (Half-Elf) - Angora's Antiquities - Angelique Owner of this branch.

Temple of Savras Priest - Jendille boldaxe (Dwarf)

Endless Possibilities - Bar and Gentlemans Club

Ruled by Fate - General Store with some magic items

Angora's Antiquities - Angelique Owner of this branch.

• Fulcrum’s Command Nexus: A fortified compound from which the Warforged leader orchestrates the city’s defense.
• The Transmission Hubs: Centers for the city’s tube transportation system, these allow for near-instantaneous travel across the city.
• The Gauntlet: The first line of defense for Ostborough, this narrow corridor leads straight to the city’s heart, channeling invaders into a tight space.
• The Sovereign’s Citadel: The political heart of the city, whOstborough stands as a symbol of perseverance, blending arcane innovation with technological prowess, and it continues to serve as a fortress and a beacon of progress in Astrium.ere the Sovereign resides and the Warforged Council gathers.

Tourism

Though primarily a city of industry and defense, Ostborough attracts scholars, inventors, and adventurers:

• The Gauntlet Tour: Visitors can tour the infamous Gauntlet, a marvel of defensive design.
• Angora’s Antiquities: A must-visit for collectors of rare and ancient magical items.
• The Arcanist College: A hub for those interested in advanced magical studies, often drawing in arcane practitioners from all over Astrium.

Architecture

• Brutalistic Structures: The city’s buildings are designed with defense and durability in mind, featuring high stone walls, minimal windows, and metal reinforcements.
• Arcane-Machinery Hybrids: Much of the city’s design integrates magical elements with industrial machinery, resulting in an aesthetic of glowing runes and gears.

Natural Resources

• Stone and Metals: Used in constructing the city’s defenses and infrastructure.
• Arcane Crystals: Mined from the earth and used to power the city’s magical components.

Founding Date

4 AD

Founders

• Opheliax Ostborough

Type

Capital

Population

~100,000

Owner/Ruler

Majesty - Ostborough

Characters in Location

• Commander Fulcrum Prime
• Prime Consul Verrik Thassel