Winterford

The largest trade city within Reis, and the northernmost stop for traders before leaving the western side of the Vidroyan continent, Winterford stands as a shining gate to the rest of the world. From wyverns to ships, shops and a rather nasty prison, this city has earned its fame many times over.

Demographics

Balanced population, well mixed and diverse. Few Tabaxi settle here, however, due to the high amount of slavers that come and go from the port on their way to Tarregia or Kaltrenia.

Government

Ruled by the royal family of Reis. The king keeps an appointed governor within the city, referred to as the "Chancellor".

Defences

Winterford has a sizeable store of munitions, having once been a military fort. Various forms of cannons line the walls, all well maintained and ready to fire. The city also boasts one of the best airborne defense arrays in the world, due to the constant threat of wyvern or dragon attacks. Bladed and barbed powder-rods make it difficult for anything to fly over the city without prior permission.

Industry & Trade

While not the most technologically advanced, they do produce some of the fastest smaller-class sea vessels on the continent. Many of the locals earn a living as deckhands, sailors or ship-builders for hire. They also export a large amount of wyvern meat and ice from the nearby Whitewind Peaks, fueling much of the off-season economy for the large settlement. Anyone who doesn't work the docks can find employment in the towns various shops and factories, or join the local barracks. Some even decide to work at the local prison, The Hole, famous for its peculiar construction.

Infrastructure

The city is fairly remote, but still modern. While not the most technologically advanced, they do produce some of the fastest smaller-class sea vessels on the continent. They also export a large amount of wyvern meat and ice from the nearby Whitewind Peaks.

Assets

Many shops and tradesmen line the streets of Winterford. Gary's Garments and Getups , Douse and Burnham Inc. ,  and the Sinful Sorcerer are some of the most popular, though by no means all there is to offer. The famed dwarven Paladin and smith, Kett Ogolakanu , lives and practices in the Northwind District. 
Being a major trade center , the town is home to one of the World Bank's main vaults, and boasts a protective force to match. Security is top of the line, and has only ever been breached once in it's 400+ year history.

Guilds and Factions

The Merchant's Guild holds a steady presence in the city, only matched by that of the Theives Guild. The latter is denied by the local government, but a deeper look and one can find evidence of their existence. In recent ages, the Chancellor has commonly been a higher member of the Merchants Guild, sprouting rumors of favoritism and manipulation amongst the population.

History

Winterford was established in 2231.B out of a long forgotten fortress, a refuge for a few farming families looking to escape the then ridiculous taxes of the greed-filled king. Eventually, they settled the land and as their farms expanded, more settlers flocked to the new area. In order to protect themselves against the nation they had fled, they rebuilt and refortified the walls and armaments, moving the majority of their population within.

King Herades launched an attack against the town in 2257.B, claiming they were "traitors" and "had to be expunged for the sake of the kingdom and it's honor." Upon arriving, they laid siege to the city, blocking land and sea travel to and from the town. 

In a desperate attempt to survive, the townsfolk sent out one of their runners, a young girl named Evie. Her task was to contact the dragon that was said to live atop the great Ivaether, the largest mountain in the Whitewind Peaks. The mountain stood over the city, and a small trail led directly up it, though people stayed away as no-one had ever come back from the path.

13 days passed, and on the evening of the last day, Evie burst back into the town tavern, clutching a letter. She had spoken to a woman in white on the mountain, and as she spoke, she told her that she was the very dragon the girl was searching for. She agreed to help them, under one condition. They were to evacuate the city, taking refuge within the mountain. She would destroy the kings army, the fleet and the city all at once. Upon rebuilding, they must build a gate at the entrance to the mountain. This gate was to never be passed without her consent, or she would come back and once again destroy it all. She also asked that the underwater elven ruin, sitting beneath the harbor in crumbled disarray, be rebuilt and maintained. She said the governing body of the town should remain her, paying respect to the purpose the palace once had served. 

The townsfolk quickly agreed, sending the girl back with their reply. Another 2 weeks passed, and by the morning of the 14th day, all of the town had taken refuge within Ivaether. The mountain shook and rumbled, then grew quiet. The doors blew open with a great cold wind, and there before their eyes was a burnt and destroyed swathe of land from the edge of the mountains to the coastline. The fleet sat burning within the harbor, and the bodies of the kings military laid strewn about the fields. The townsfolk referred to the day henceforth as " The Day of Freedom ". To this day, they celebrate the Freedom Feast yearly for 2 weeks, in honor of the two weeks they sheltered within the mountain. 

They honored their agreement, and to this day the White Gate stands undisturbed, and the Blue Palace towers above the icy waters, shining as a constant reminder and symbol of authority within the city.

Tourism

Visitors to the city can enjoy various amusements and sights , including but not limited to the following : 

• The Wyvern Nests
  
• The Blue Palace
  
• The Docks and various ship-builders
  
• The Hole
  
• The Wanderlust Inn
  
• The Heavy Hammer Forge & Smithy
  
• Ivaether
  
• Leviathan sightings
  
• The "Woman in White" sightings
  
All of these and more make Winterford a pretty active tourist spot.

Architecture

Winterfords architecture is a mixture of the old fort walls and towers, reinforced with modern steel and frame. The town is well-developed, spouting a largely wood and stone infrastructure with various culverts for water and runoff from the nearby mountains. The Blu palace stands in stark contrast to all of this, an old Elven palace meticulously rebuilt to it's former glory.

Geography

The city is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Whitewind Peaks, the only pass to the east opening for a brief time in the spring and summer each year. To the west is the Sunlit Sea. The land between the pass leading down to the city is a constant but gradual incline, allowing the city to be viewed from miles away once one has cleared the pass.

Natural Resources

The city has large reserves of local wood, iron and ice. Wyvern meat is plentiful due to the local population. The city also has a large amount of adamantine deposits, highly guarded and regulated by the local government.

Founding Date

2231 B

Alternative Name(s)

The Jewel of the North

Type

Large city

Population

Est. 147,000