Valford - Western Capital

Valford, the proud Western Capital of Astrium, was founded by Cedric Valford I in the aftermath of the Marblehaven Divide. It rose from the need to defend Astrium’s western frontiers and protect its fertile plains and resources from threats that emerged during the Pandora War. The city embodies the legacy of Cedric Valford, known for his valor and discipline, and stands as a fortress of strength, surrounded by golden grain fields and bustling with trade and martial life. While Valford is known primarily for its military prowess, it also plays a vital role in agriculture, producing crops, leather, and livestock for Astrium.

Demographics

Humans: 65% Dwarves: 20% Elvess: 10% Other races (Elves, Gnomes, etc.): 5%

Government

Valford is governed by a council of warriors known as the Iron Circle, with a chosen High Commander serving as the chief leader. The current High Commander is Frederic Valford, a descendant of the city's founder, ensuring that the legacy of Cedric remains closely tied to its leadership. The Iron Circle makes decisions on matters of defense, trade, and governance, heavily focusing on maintaining the city’s military and economic strength.

Defences

Valford is one of the most heavily fortified cities in Astrium. Its towering stone walls are reinforced with watchtowers at every major corner, providing constant surveillance. Ballista platforms line the walls, and trained archers patrol its battlements. The city has three main gates, each guarded by an elite unit of Valford Knights, and a subterranean tunnel system connecting to secret escape routes and defensive positions in case of invasion.

Industry & Trade

Valford’s primary industry revolves around its farmlands, leather production, and military supplies. The fertile plains surrounding the city provide vast quantities of corn, barley, and grains, which are traded across Astrium. Its beasts of burden provide meat, leather, and hide for use in everything from armor crafting to trade goods. Valford also specializes in high-quality weaponry, armor, and military tools, which are sought after by other cities.

Infrastructure

The city’s infrastructure is built to support both military and civilian life. It boasts fortified walls, watchtowers, and barracks alongside farmlands, granaries, and markets. Roads leading into Valford are well-maintained for the transportation of grain and livestock, while inner-city roads connect its military district to marketplaces and living quarters. The city’s central Hall of Heroes serves as a meeting place for warriors and leaders alike, commemorating past battles and planning future strategies.

Districts

• The Forge District: The heart of Valford’s industry, this district is home to blacksmiths, armories, and leatherworkers. Weapons, armor, and gear essential for defense and hunting are forged here.
• The Barracks District: This area houses the city’s many soldiers, training grounds, and war colleges, where future commanders are trained in the art of warfare. The Iron Bastion sits here, the headquarters of Valford’s military forces.
• Grain Market District: Valford’s agricultural hub, where crops like corn, barley, and small grains are traded. It also deals in livestock, with stalls filled with meats and leather goods.
• Halls of Valor District: The cultural center of the city, where stories of Valford’s heroes are celebrated. It features public squares, gardens, and statues honoring past commanders and warriors.
• Ironkeep District: It houses the city’s main barracks and training grounds. The Ironkeep District is always bustling with soldiers training, blacksmiths working, and messengers delivering strategic commands. At its center stands the Fortress of Val, a massive stronghold that serves as both a military command center and a symbol of Valford’s strength.
• Mercantile Row: The bustling commercial hub of Valford, Mercantile Row is lined with markets, shops, and trade halls. Farmers bring in grains and livestock from the surrounding plains, while merchants from other parts of Astrium sell weapons, tools, and luxury goods.
• The Vaults: An affluent district located near Valford's central square, The Vaults is where the city’s wealthiest citizens, military officers, and landowners reside. It’s filled with opulent mansions, administrative buildings, and banks that manage the city’s finances. This district is also home to the Hall of Valford, a grandiose building where Valford’s history is preserved through stories of heroes and military victories.
• The Underway: A shadowy district beneath the main streets of Valford, The Underway is a network of hidden tunnels and sewers where secretive dealings take place. Here, The Clutch, the city's elusive thieves’ guild, operates in the shadows. The Underway is also known for its black-market dealings, providing illegal weapons, stolen goods, and access to the city’s hidden underbelly.
• The Grainholds: Located at the edge of Valford, this district is home to vast grain silos and storehouses where food supplies are kept. The district is crucial to the city's food security and ensures that Valford’s soldiers and citizens are well-supplied, even during times of siege or conflict.

Assets

The Red Anvil (Blacksmith): Famous for its finely crafted weapons and armor. The Roasted Hoof (Butcher/Meat Market): Valford’s top shop for meats and leather. Bardona’s General Store: A marketplace staple, selling everyday supplies, crops, tools, and potions. Steelclad Tailor: Specializing in practical, durable clothing with an emphasis on military utility.

Guilds and Factions

The Iron Circle: Valford’s ruling military council. They oversee city governance and military affairs, ensuring the protection of the Western Capital. The Blackmantle Hunters: A guild of elite hunters who protect Valford’s outer farms and settlements from wild beasts. They also supply the city with meat and furs. The Grain Barons: A powerful merchant’s guild overseeing Valford’s agricultural trade. Their wealth and influence rival the Iron Circle at times. Order of the Crimson Helm: A faction of knights who act as elite bodyguards for the city’s leaders and serve in ceremonial roles during public festivals and events.
The Clutch is a secretive thieves' guild operating out of The Underway. Known for their skill in burglary, smuggling, and espionage, they have a network of informants and operatives embedded throughout Valford. Despite the city’s strong military presence, The Clutch has managed to thrive, using cunning and stealth to evade capture. They are rumored to have connections with mercenaries and even some corrupt officials, allowing them to manipulate trade and goods within the Mercantile Row.

Points of interest

Places of interest

• Warrior’s Plaza: Home to the monumental statue of Cedric Valford and the Hall of Heroes, where legends of the city’s warriors are commemorated.
• The Iron Bastion: The fortified headquarters of Valford’s military forces, training grounds for soldiers, and war strategists.
• The Forge of Flame: A famous blacksmithing district where Valford’s best weapons are forged.
• The Crimson Spire: A tall, red watchtower on the city's western edge, offering panoramic views of Valford’s plains and its farmlands.

Hall of the Just Hand – Valford The Hall of the Just Hand is a fortress of stone and iron, standing stoically in the heart of Valford. Its grim exterior reflects the serious, unyielding nature of Tyr’s justice. The temple is less ornamental and more utilitarian, its design serving as a fortress for justice rather than a mere place of worship. Iron gates bar entry to those who seek only to exploit the law, while those who seek fairness are always welcomed. The halls echo with the sounds of sparring paladins and clerics training under Tyr’s banner, preparing to carry justice into the world’s darkest corners.
At the temple’s entrance stands a towering iron statue of Tyr, blindfolded, his sword raised in defense of the helpless, while a broken chain dangles from his other hand, symbolizing the release of the unjustly imprisoned. Inside, the clerics and paladins are known as Judges of the Iron Will—individuals who train in both law and battle, upholding justice in the courts and on the battlefield. The temple is divided into chambers dedicated to different aspects of justice: one hall for teaching law, another for martial training, and a final hall where citizens can come to seek judgment on disputes. The Hall of the Just Hand is revered by those seeking fairness, as well as by those wronged by corruption or tyranny.

Tourism

Founder's Day is one of Valford's most cherished holidays, held annually on the 6th of Thundralis to honor Cedric Valford, the legendary warrior who founded the city. This day is a celebration of Valford’s martial heritage and its enduring values of strength, honor, and unity. The day begins with a ceremonial Guard March where the city’s soldiers, clad in gleaming armor, parade through the streets. As they march, citizens line the roads to pay their respects, throwing flowers and singing songs that tell of Cedric's triumphs. Following the march, the Halls of Valor open their doors to the public, hosting storytelling sessions where bards and historians recount the epic battles Cedric fought, his unyielding leadership, and the founding of Valford after the Pandora War.
The centerpiece of Founder's Day is the Festival of Blades, a grand martial tournament that takes place in the city’s main square. Warriors from across Astrium gather to test their strength, skill, and strategy in a series of challenges, including sword duels, archery contests, and jousting. The winner of the tournament is awarded the Valford Blade, a ceremonial sword crafted in honor of Cedric himself, and is named the champion of the city for the year.
As the day transitions into evening, Valford’s citizens gather for a Grand Feast held in the central square, where communal tables stretch for blocks, and food from the surrounding Grain Market flows abundantly. Local farmers and traders contribute their finest produce, meats, and drinks, symbolizing the unity between Valford’s agricultural roots and its warrior spirit.
The celebration concludes with the lighting of the Eternal Flame at the heart of the city, a large bonfire that symbolizes Cedric Valford’s enduring legacy and the eternal strength of the city. As the flame is lit, the people of Valford offer silent prayers or make small dedications to their ancestors and loved ones who fought for the city’s survival.
The day is not only a remembrance of Cedric but also a moment for the people of Valford to reflect on their own strength, perseverance, and the values that continue to shape the Western Capital.

Architecture

The architecture of Valford is a mix of grand fortresses, sturdy stone buildings, and functional agricultural structures. Fortified barracks, grand statues of warriors, and towers dominate the skyline. Residential areas are simple yet durable, designed for practicality over extravagance. The central monument to Cedric Valford, located in the Warrior’s Plaza, is the city’s most iconic symbol, its raised sword pointing westward, toward the horizon.

Geography

Valford is located on the western plains of Astrium, surrounded by vast fields of grain and small forests. To the east lie the rolling hills that separate it from the rest of the continent, while the fertile soil and moderate climate make it ideal for agriculture. The nearby Wolfback River provides water for both the city and its crops.

Climate

Valford enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and cool, crisp winters. Rainfall is steady throughout the year, ensuring fertile conditions for crops, though harsh winters can sometimes limit agricultural production.

Natural Resources

• Grain Fields: Valford’s plains produce corn, barley, and other grains essential for trade and sustenance.
• Beasts of Burden: Livestock raised for meat and leather, including cattle, horses, and oxen.
• Stone and Clay: Local quarries provide building materials for Valford’s fortifications.

Founding Date

1AD

Founders

• Cedric Valford 1st

Type

Capital

Population

110000

Owner/Ruler

Cedric Valford 14th

Characters in Location

• Cedric Valford 14th