Deastok (DEE-uh-stock)

Travelers in the Truscan Vale find the city of Deastok at the southwestern edge of the Dwendalian Empire. The sister city of Kamordah to the north, Deastok is a borough that appears unusually affluent for its size, largely because House Truscan has called the city home for many generations. Fine cobblestone streets connect numerous modern buildings and charming country shops, while elegant entertainment venues and picturesque views make the city a quaint holiday location for many wealthy travelers.

Basic Information

Government: Starosta Deter McGinneas is nothing more than a puppet who answers to Prime Arbiter Truscan in Rexxentrum.
Defense: Deastok enjoys the protection of the Crownsguard. The city supplements its defenses with a small army of sellswords and private bodyguards.
Commerce: Basic goods and services can be found alongside comfortable lodging. Some imported, rare goods can be sought by those with black market connections.
Organizations: A single temple to Bahamut is the only official religious locale. The Truscan family and their allies hold tight to their power, while Myriad influence grows in secret.

A Bit More In Depth

Government

While Starosta McGinneas is the Crown-appointed leader of the city, it is no secret that the Truscan family is the real guiding force in Deastok. The Starosta and all titled subordinates within the city were assigned at the behest of Prime Arbiter Sydnock Truscan and his sister, Amanni. It is widely assumed that anyone in power is somehow related to the Truscans by marriage or blood, or is deeply indebted to them.

Crime

The clean, well-maintained streets are surprisingly free of crime for a city so socially stratified. There's a good reason that precious few petty criminals exist in Deastok: they've all been recruited by the Myriad!
Under the guidance of local crime boss Cosal Dumon (an alias for Korshad Seddiki), this city has been a major Myriad hub for decades, with secret subterranean bases and pathways beneath the city that enable the organization to go about its business unimpeded. Those that attempt to blow the whistle on Myriad activities vanish or meet a terrible end, so most city folk turn a blind eye to organized crime.

Defense

The perimeter of the city is known as the Jeweled Gates, where the Crownsguard barracks and small military reserve are located. The soldiers guard the city and take shifts atop watchtowers with good visibility over the city and beyond it's walls. With good weather, a guard can see for tens of miles across the fields that supply the city its food. But during sudden foggy conditions stemming from the mountains, the watchtowers can become all but worthless.

Commerce

The adjacency to the large platinum harvesting operation at the Herethis Mines combined with the robust political power of the Truscan family has elevated the economic status of Deastok above what one might expect from a moderate city. Logging is a standard operation due to the proximity of the Cyrengreen Forest, but the unfriendly locale regularly hinders these efforts.

Organizations

The only official religious temple worships Bahamut. However, many residents, particularly farmers, hold small public services to the Lord of Agriculture and Father of the Dawn, Pelor.

Geography

Deastok is a tidy city bordering the Cyrengreen Forest, with a beautiful collection of quaint homes, fine goods, and affluent citizens. The central metropolitan portion of the city is divided into three areas. Most of the residential homes are located in the Garden Grounds, framed by curling parks and greenery. The Bursar Plaza marks the industrial district where shops, markets, and busking spots are carefully arranged for both commerce and atmosphere. The perimeter of the city is known as the Jeweled Gates, where the Crownsguard barracks and small military reserve are located. The soldiers guard the city and take shifts atop the Cyrios Mountain watchtower.
Most of the city is built atop a large, leveled hill, surrounded by farms that continue for hundreds of acres on the western, northern, and eastern sides. At the southern end of the city, where the hills slope down toward the Cyrengreen Forest, a number of lumber mills bustling with gnomish technology harvest timber from the forest with impressive efficiency. On a clear day, and with a good vantage point, residents can also see the Cyrios Mountains steadily rising from the horizon.

Deastok Adventures

Elements of intrigue, noble finery, and The Myriad define adventures in Deastok. Characters might have adventures centered around grand parties, social gatherings, and whispered rumors.

Type

City

Population

10,090 (60% humans, 26% dwarves, 10% halflings, 4% other races)

Location under

Marrow Valley

Owning Organization

Dwendalian Empire