New Goven
New Goven (Elvish: Cyr'goven, lit. 'new crossroads') is a large city in Onóna situated at the convergence of the Tala'mir and Verderun Rivers in the Duin'eldë river basin. Boasting a population of about 7,986, New Goven is the second largest settlement in the Quorel'hrim Kingdom after the capital of Quor'melár. It is the provincial capital of Onóna.
The original city of Goven, now known as Old Goven, was founded several miles north of the city's current location, closer to the Shandalian Forest. It was settled in the Age of the Enlightenment as a crossroads for merchants and travelers trekking across Shandalar. Following a deadly earthquake that severely damaged structures within the former city and caused the routes of the Tala'mir and Verderun Rivers to shift further south, Goven's ruling elite abandoned its previous location and built a new settlement further south, at the new convergence of the rivers.
Owing to its location along the two largest rivers in Shandalar, New Goven serves as a trade hub for the Quorel'hrim Kingdom.
Demographics
Originally founded by the Eladrin, New Goven's population is predominantly of elven descent. However, due to its centralized location and role as the trade center for the entirety of the Shandalar continent, most of Divostra's varied races are represented among the populace of New Goven. Dwarves, Humans, and Dragonborn make up the majority of the non-elven population, with some Gnome, Halfling, and Half-Orc transplants from the rural parts of Shandalar setting up shop in the city to make a living. While rare, it is possible to find even more exotic races who call New Goven their home, especially in Harbortown or as part of the Theater.
The only race absent from New Goven, as is the case with most larger elven settlements, are Tieflings, owing to the elves' long memory of the war with fiends from the Nine Hells.
Government
New Goven is an aristocracy as outlined by the city's charter, which was established by the merchant elite who founded the city and granted the consent of the King Regent. Its governing body is a council comprised of nine members selected from the ranks of the Goven Merchant Guild, with a High Councilor chosen by the King Regent to act as the head of the council and the provincial governor of the Onóna Province.
The council regularly hears petitions from the citizens of New Goven within their council chambers regarding matters affecting the city. However, the council wields complete autocratic power to enact laws and policy within the city's walls, with the only votes in the matter being cast by council members themselves. In spite of this, the laws of New Goven must still fall in line with the laws of Quorel'hrim as a whole. Any changes that would conflict with Royal Decree must be petitioned by the High Councilor directly to the King Regent.
Industry & Trade
New Goven's economy is focused on agriculture and trade. The rich soil irrigated by the nearby rivers makes it perfect for farming; the city's main exports are corn and grains, primarily wheat products. This includes several varieties of grain and corn-based spirits that are famous throughout Shandalar.
Harbortown is a common rest stop for commercial vessels traveling down the Verderun River and the Merchant Guild has established a customs depot which collects tariffs from ships wishing to dock in the harbor. While its shipyard is not as expansive as Port Vermilion to the South, a number of top-class shipwrights make their living refitting and repairing vessels on their way up or down the river. New Goven is known for creating luxury vessels commissioned by the wealthy elite both within the city and from abroad.
With no nearby source of minerals or wood, a majority of the materials used by the chandlers and shipwrights is imported from the Shandalian Forest to the North.
Infrastructure
Having been rebuilt in recent years, New Goven is a modern city. The Hilltop District in particular has cobblestone streets and single-family estates separated by high walls, as well as walls surrounding the entirety of the district with two gates manned day and night by the Merchant Guild's personal retinue. The rest of the city is dirt streets and a combination of townhouses or, in the case of businesses, loft homes above places of work.
Harbortown has a full shipyard with several docks and the infrastructure required to repair, refurbish, and even assemble from scratch anything from light schooners to larger commercial vessels.
Districts
New Goven is divided into several districts.
Hilltop District
The wealthiest part of the city, the Hilltop District is home to the aristocracy and well-to-do merchants. The district sits atop a hill at the center of the city and is walled on all sides, separating the elite from the common folk. The homes here are either walled-off estates or semi-attached housing units. City Hall is located in this area as well as the New Goven Opera House. Most of the businesses in this area offer rare or luxury items only available to those with significant wealth, including jewelers, seamstresses, tailors, as well as the city's only magic shops which are all located along Arcanist's Alley. Security within the walled-off Hilltop District is handled by private bodyguards enlisted by the merchants' guild, who are expected to patrol the streets and guard the walled-off estates of important guild members. These soldiers are garrisoned in the Hilltop Barracks near the south of the district. The Golden Otter Tavern and the Alabaster Lodge provide shelter for foreign dignitaries visiting the city, either for diplomatic or recreational reasons. A temple to Corellon is located in the southern end of the district at the end of Arcanist's Alley.Golden Ward
The Golden Ward is located south of the Hilltop District and contains several governmental buildings and the Bank of New Goven, which also serves as the merchants guild hall. A satellite office of the Beryl Registrar is located in this ward to maintain records of arcane artifacts and magic users within the city. The barracks and quarters of the city's Green Guard regiment are located in this ward. This area is also walled off from the rest of the city.Harbortown
Harbortown covers the entirety of the Northeastern sides of the city outside the walls of the Hilltop District and the Golden Ward, where the city meets the waters of the Verderun River. The coast is lined with docks and this area is home to the businesses of shipwrights and chandlers, while further inland several inns and brothels see to the needs of travelers staying overnight as they sail down the Verderun River.Craftsman's Row
The businesses owned by New Goven's elite class are located in this area south of the walls of the Golden Ward. The working population of Crafstman's Row either lives above the shops that populate the district or commute to work from their homes in West Goven. About 40% of the shops in Craftsman's Row are owned by Merchants' Guild members who live in the Hilltop District, and all businesses owners within Craftsman's Row are in some way associated with the guild, either as voting members or through their apprenticeship system.West Goven
Encompassing the entirety of the city's western area, West Goven is the largest district in the city. It is primarily residential, featuring rows upon rows of townhouses for the city's working class residents. The northern part of this district is dominated by the large fairgrounds, where both the common folk and the elite will mingle for events such as carnivals, military parades, and speeches by government officials. While mostly residential, small independent businesses have popped up across West Goven and the residents have created a support network and commercial community all their own. The Merchants' Guild allow these businesses to exist outside of the guild system only because they can still bring in funds from these residents in the form of taxes. There are several inns in West Goven, as well as small temples dedicated to the Platinum Dragon, Corellon, and Pelor.Tourism
Owing to its central location, New Goven has a thriving tourism and entertainment industry.
The Hilltop Opera House is renowned across Shandalar for hosting plays, operas, and concerts, as well as speeches by dignitaries. It is famous for the quality of its orchestra and resident acting troupe. However, it is also seen by the poorer citizens of New Goven as a symbol of the wealth disparity within the city; tickets to events at the Opera House can be prohibitively expensive, shutting out a majority of the population of the city.
For the common folk, the West Goven Fairgrounds is the main source of entertainment. Every weekend, farmers from the surrounding countryside bring their wares into the Fairgrounds and set up a farmer's market, where the common folk can purchase fresh produce, meats, and other groceries. It also allows craftsmen and artisans lacking a normal place of business to set up shop and sell their wares. From time to time, the Fairgrounds will host traveling carnivals, acting troupes, or other forms of entertainment and depending on the notoriety of the event, can even attract the attendance of the elite from the Hilltop District. In these instances, there is always an increased military presence at the Fairgrounds, to protect the ruling class from the rabble.
Maps
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New Goven
Founding Date
513 ME
Alternative Name(s)
The Crossroads
Type
Capital
Population
7986
Inhabitant Demonym
Goveners
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
- Anduín Maripol
- Archimedes Lilygount
- Arnie "Whizbang" Chemison
- Bellas Ma'Culuina
- Chipped Tooth
- Dime Karmukaga
- Fritzy Gembatón
- Ghey'raa Sa'hande
- Idris Feldspar
- Júgan Emberbrew
- Kazsithsyn'saropheles
- Lovilas Andan'yarro
- Luigi Moreo
- Mae Shadowsprite
- Mario Moreo
- Marvella DeLorde
- Mattus Tallowbraid
- Maureen Grundhause
- Mirian Genedia
- Orville Brownfeather
- Paleoma Hatepsut
- Priscilla Medici
- Quevarde Enheir
- Reván Genedia
- Seth Evandire
- Silk of the Isle
- Tabitha Stonecutter
- Taysir Levar
- Telemir Apabarell
- Thaddeus Plyne
- Tina Karmukaga
- Wislyn Corlyrath
- Xara Lotóre
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