Rayhaven
An absolutely stunning city and a beautiful landscape; it's a must see!
It is home to one of the best Dragonguard training grounds and academies in the western hemisphere. The founder of the Dragonguard alliance, Draco Null, was born and raised in Rayhaven.
Demographics
A large portion of the city's population consists of expatriate Dragonguard personnel who attend the academy.
Defences
Rayhaven Dragonguard, the Forgotten Forest provides some protection from inland-ward facing threats, as well as the high cliff faces on either side of the city. Rayhaven's maritime defense forces protect the port / shipyard and seaward facing part of the city.
Infrastructure
Paved roads, mainly solar powered energy with some wind and water, flora integrated into building design, large open areas for big dragons to be able to land. There is also a large port and shipyard / dry dock as this is the south western most city in the western hemisphere.
Districts
Upper, Lower, Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy / Port
Guilds and Factions
On the Map
History
For many years before the settlement was founded, people tried sailing around the south end of Ardenfell to reach the other side. However, this proved difficult during the age of sail. Walking across the continent to the western coastline also proved difficult because of the dense Forgotten Forest. Many convoys had gotten lost and never returned from the forest, which quickly gained its name.In the year 626, a group of settlers from Ravia set out to sail south in search of new land and opportunity. However, due to a strong storm, they overshot their destination for northwestern Ardenfell. The rocky cliffsides of the coastline prevented them from making landfall anywhere along the western coast until they finally came upon the southern bay. The ship made landfall on the beach, and the passengers disembarked. By this time, almost half of the inhabitants had died at sea. When the settlement was established, they constructed a monument to honor the pioneers and named their town Rayhaven, inspired by the rays of sunlight at sunset that shine through the town from the ocean, nestled between the rocky cliffs on either side of the valley.
Several years after the establishment of the town, in 629, a group of people from eastern Ardenfell had finally managed to reach the western coastline. Unfortunately, to their surprise, a settlement had already been established. When they discovered this settlement wasn't started by Ardenians, a very vocal segment of the group left in rage and returned home to urge their kings to take action, while only six families chose to remain. One of these families that stayed became the lineage for Draco Null, who eventually founded the Dragonguard Alliance in 897.
A few weeks after the eastern Ardenians discovered Rayhaven, a few eastern holds banded together to form an Order of Chivalry named the Order of the Four and set out to take over Rayhaven. However, they would not have a navy big enough to transport them by sea in time, so the marshal decided to march across Ardenfell. This was a major mistake, as when they began marching through the expansive Forgotten Forest, their numbers dwindled. The first to go got sick and died, but the further they went in, men and knights began simply disappearing. Eventually, when what few men had made it to the Forgotten Forest Ridge, they could not figure out a way to pass over it. A few turned back to relay this message to the rear Lances that stayed behind in reserve. The men who stayed to figure out how to pass the small mountain were never heard from again.
Weeks had passed without a word, and the two(?) Lances of men that went into the forest were presumed dead. This royally pissed off the kings of the holds and demanded that the marshals, who were in charge of assembling the knights, be hanged for their incompetence and negligence. Soon after, the people started accusing the kings of the same crimes and executed them. In one night, four new kings of these eastern holds were appointed, who became known as the Quartette Kings. They took a different approach from their predecessors, opting not to take over Rayhaven but instead to establish trade and an alliance. The previous Order of the Four was promptly disbanded, and a new one was created, with Rayhaven, called the Order of the Forgotten, in honor of those who were taken by the Forgotten Forest. The founder of this new order was dubbed the Great Uniter of Ardenfell. Today, this order still exists, though as an honorific order of merit more than as a chivalric order.
As the settlements grew over the years, the order became obsolete as technology and tactics advanced. Eventually, members of the order had been absorbed into the more modern organizations, and the order had become an honorific status across all of Ardenfell. When a regional dragonguard was formed, the awards and titles associated with the order were adopted into the dragonguard's honors system. The highest award, the Order of Merit, had been renamed to the Legion of Merit medal.
Points of Interest
Grand Courtyard
This is where most dragonkin come to land and where the Dragonguard meet up. It is a very large open concrete pad with the city hall in the middle. The pavement extends to the side and behind the city hall, up to the seaside, where it turns into a dock. There is plenty of space for the Dragonguard to train, and there are some grassy spots as well.Rayhaven Port
It's a decent-sized port that extends from the courtyard behind the city hall, with a shipyard for the Rayhaven's maritime defense forces.Rayhaven Woods
While walking in a park in Rayhaven and admiring the city, I was randomly handed this postcard, so I sent it back home! This city is absolutely stunning! Definitely coming back someday.
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