Stagshead

Stagshead is the capital of the Realm of Talevir, and was once the city-state known as Talevir before the realm expanded to unite outlying city-states and territories.


While the capital of the realm is within the territory of Deer Valley, which is administered out of Hartsport, the immediate sphere of influence of Stagshead affects the entire northern quarter of the territory. Military patrols and movements from the city to extant forts and regional capitals, investigations and checks by the City Watch, and harvests of food and timber on contract to the city extends the direct control of Stagshead well beyond the city proper, into the frontiers of The Spine and much of the area of Deer Valley north and west of the capital.

Boroughs of Stagshead

The city is separated into several sections:

The Old Keep

At the top of a hill to the west of the river plain is the site of the original castle of Talevir. A steep path winds down one side to a landing plateau below, connecting the old keep to the walled city at the lower keep. The ruling family and their retainers split their time between the residences and offices in the old keep and the lower keep, while governance is administered in the Great Castle in the Walled City below.

The Walled City

The Walled City ("The City") is the former city-state once known as Talevir. The nobles, wealthy scholars, heads of military, representatives to the regional capitals and their agents, elite of the wealthier merchants, diplomats, and families connected to the ruling body live within the walls. The Great Castle and Unified Colleges are at the heart of the city, with residences to the north and east. There are five gates to the city: the Grand Courtyard for caravans, traders, and movement of goods over land from the south and west; the Harbor Gate heads southeast through the mercantile area to the east, down to the expansive docks of the Capital Harbor below for movement of goods over water; the High Courtyard leads to the High Road across the Antler, connecting the city to the rest of Deer Valley; the North Gate leads to the primary army garrison for the realm and the two districts on either side of the Northpointe Antler; the Castle Gate connects the Great Castle within the walls and the causeway to the lower keep to the west and the barracks and training grounds for the city watch.

Northgate

Northgate is the relatively wealthy district just north of the walled city. This section includes the Greatfort - the expansive training grounds and garrison for the main military force of the realm. Officers and their families make up a large segment of the residents in this area, followed by the established agents of Deer Valley landowners that utilize the Northgate Docks for moving goods from downriver up the Northpointe Antler. It is connected via the northern extension of the High Road to Forks, on the other side of the Northpointe Antler.

Fort Town

Fort Town is the town that has sprung up north of The Greatfort to support the enormous military presence within the city.

The Harbor

The Harbor is an upper-middle-class area downhill to the west of the walled city down to the Antler, south of the High Bridge. Most of the resident laborers of Stagshead work for the merchants and ship owners of this district, with hundreds of handymen, shipwrights, and cooks commuting in from the north and west to work the docks and services in this mercantile zone. Folks who would never see the inside of the walled city except as porters, messengers, or servants refer to The Harbors as "Downtown" or "The Docks" as it is the low-lying area of the city and is dominated by several miles of moorings and associated warehouses. The Capital Harbor is the farthest north that large vessels can easily transport materials upriver, and is predominantly a port for movement of goods, rather than passenger travel. Docks on the far side of the river cater to personal transport.

Southside

Southside encompasses a large portion of the city just south of The Harbor District. Southside stretches east from The Promenade to the docks along the Antler River. Southside is home to a multitude of inns, hostels, stables, and many bakeries and butchers catering to travelers. Southside is home to some of the the greatest markets in the city.

The Promenade

The Promenade is a somewhat affluent area of Stagshead just south of the Grand Courtyard.

Stags Hollow

Stags Hollow is a largely residential area of Stagshead. The area is a somewhat suburban community of Stagshead. The majority of the inhabitants of Stags Hollow are middle class.  Farther north from the Grain Road, affluency declines sharply.  To the north of Stags Hollow are the Cliffside Slums of the City.

Westbank

Westbank is a generally lower-income and rural zone stretching westward from the south of Southside to the fields of The Stocks.

The Tangle

South of Westbank, high density housing devolves into several slums that are tucked against the cliffs and corners of the city walls. Ramshackle housing crowds in on itself, creating many haphazard alleyways constituting a tangled maze of shacks. A manufactured wetland inlet diverts water from the Antler to the base of the cliffs, where sewer tunnels from under Stagshead discharge waste from the city. Two slums border the cesspool, making use of the fresh water that the inlet brings in and potential scrap found in the cast-offs flowing down the tunnels from the wealthier districts.

The Stocks

South of the Grain Road are a series of farms, small ranches, and pig pens leading to the cliffs to the south of the city.

Upper and Lower Commons

The Upper and Lower Commons are just inside the furthest city walls.  These regions are inhabited largely by servants and peasants.

Western Reach

The Western Reach is an expansive area of farmland and light development outside of the city wall.

Forks

Forks lies to the north of the convergence of the Northpointe and Eastpointe Antler. Generally not wealthy, but not necessarily impoverished, Forks is the district of frontiersmen, lumberjacks, craftsmen, and is the go-to place for mercenaries and adventurers seeking employ or prospects. Community works projects and caravans to Ranger's Reach or the Spine are typically assembled or spearheaded here. Water power from the Eastpointe Antler is not as potent as farther upriver, but is more than enough to power timber mills and cider presses in the district, while barges can be led up the Northpointe Antler with mule trains pulling from the eastern bank, northbound. Forks is populated with the greatest diversity of races in the city and has relative equality in class makeup, though largely as an effect of being the second poorest district in the capital.

Woodlyn

Woodlyn is an area of Stagshead North of Forks. It is a heavily wooded area along the north bank of the Northpointe Antler River. This is one of the newest areas of the city as Stagshead continues to grow.

Eastbank

Eastbank is on the far side of the Antler from the walled city. A dockside village at the bottom of the cliff allows passenger transport up and down the Antler, with most diplomats and representatives arriving at Stagshead through the Eastbank harbor and crossing to the walled city over the High Bridge. A village made up of set of villas and large inns sits at the top of the cliff, with bunkhouses, hostels, and stables hiding behind. A walled fort presides over the road junction and the High Bridge, with a contingent of city watch to deal with happenings on the road. Orchards and vineyards stretch along the High Road to the south and along the Eastpointe Road to the east.

Connections to other Settlements

Stagshead has direct major roads connecting to Goodfields, Sureharbor, and Foal's Landing in the west, Hartsport in the south, and Rangefort to the northeast. Smaller but still well-trafficked roads connect to Cooperage and Deep Hollow via mountain passes in the Spine and a long, winding road reaches down from Ramshaven Range to Dovetail Point.

Getting from one side of the capital to the other can be difficult for those without rank or noble status. Wealthy mercantile elite have some access to go through the courtyards to the south and east sides of the Walled City and may pass through the gate at the Harbors, but an unknown traveler would not have an easy time crossing the many gates to get across the Antler. One option is to go around the capital and enter Northgate from the woods, then crossing to Forks. To cross the main body of the Antler, though, an unknown traveler must either pay for a ferry to cross to Eastbank or go under the docks along the service route that laborers of the Harbors use, crossing up to the High Bridge by going under the periphery of the mercantile quarter. Troops in need of rapid deployment to the southwest of Stagshead can make use of a hidden causeway under the Walled City accessed by raising the bridges to the north and south, providing a straight shot for mass infantry movement from the parade grounds to the Grain Road west.

by Thomas Smith

by Thomas Smith