Skygarde
The Cultural Beacon spreading influence across the calm green grass plains to all edges of Galfin.
The city of Skygarde is a sprawling metropolis that is home to a variety of creatures and cultures. Built on a series of towering cliffs, the city is divided into multiple districts, each with its own unique identity and atmosphere.
With its beauty and grandeur, Skygarde is a city rife with political intrigue, corruption, and danger. Its streets are patrolled by guards and enforcers, and its alleys and hidden corners are filled with all manner of unsavory characters. Whether you are a noble seeking power, a merchant seeking wealth, or an adventurer seeking glory, Skygarde offers endless possibilities and endless risks.
Districts of Skygarde
Gwynedd District
Dardrake
Melrin
Argyll
People of
Volyn
Magnuson
Aillgin
Rumpag
Dunwich
Foyin
Oubliet
Delgkin
Duluth
Suthweald
Sewers
Jail
Influence Level: 85
Leader: Silver Tung
Title: Highking Regent
Faction: Tung Family
Disposition: Negative
Alliance: ???
Allies:
Curdrake Family
Oligarchy
Boggan Family
Venonim Family
The Triade
Merchant Magnate Guild
Miner's Union
Goldsmiths
Thunderfen
Manastrife Union
Empire of the Iron Fist
The Scourge
Irongut Clan
Halfling Constituency
Spawnhunters
High Elves of Grovesend
Rawlin Clan
Windslayer Family
Bladescum Bannermen
Grimbind Family
Trade Unions of Myst
Trade Union of Ming'ye
The Hold
Zephyrn Fleet
Dhast Family
Tar Barons
Kingfishers
Dwarven Vicourt
High Guard
Spellstrung College
Various Skygarde Guilds
Various Skygarde Burroughs
Enemies: ???
Religion: Dhara
Wealth: ???
Resources: ???
Military: ???
Ambitions: ???
Family: ???
Secrets: ???
Main home of the Vohkin race that settled here after Beowulf Skytracer declared it home. The High Guard protects the people of Skygarde, Magi Guild resides within the Spellstrung College.
Largest city on the Mainland.
Mix of many races and cultures.
Ruled by the Highking, Orion Skytracer.
Broken up into districts. A clear definition of rich to poor.
Nearing the end of the Hearthic Invasion, Malakai destroyed most of Skygarde. This event is referred to as the Decimation of Skygarde.
the Great Plateau province is what it is written as, a large plateau, so that makes it fairly defensible as you mount towers at the hilltops around the province. A few rivers run through it. The largest being Mercator's Schism. Skygarde itself is within a bit a canyon in the centre of the large plateau, with the Mercator's Schism river running around it and a rough terrain of karth stones positioned behind it. The city is well defended by nature. Most of the outer area is very lucrative farmland, protected by the Flatland Militia who themselves are a contingent of the High Guard. The area just outside the city is the Oubliet District, also known as the Forgotten Slums. The city wraps around the centre castle like a spiral staircase. An off center tower connects the 3 major levels of the city, known as the People's Tower. You must pay fees to go up a level so it is very costly for the poor to make their way up for an audience with the Plainsking Salem Skytracer. The Dunwich district is low to mid income housing and shops. The Melrin district is middle to high, more fancy wears and items, guilds and larger businesses are here. Finally the Gwynedd Distrct, royals and nobles live here, less shops and more royal activities like a horse track and jousting yard.
Kingsway is spiralling road from outside up to castle. Most rich folk take peopls tower lift to avoid poorer areas.
Demographics
One of the most diverse cities on the mainland. Although Vohkin Humans dominate, many other humans, dwarves and elves hold up in the walled city. Inside there are districts that divide the poor, middle and high class folks. Many other cities and governments send ambassadors to Skygarde to take part in law hearings.
Government
Skygarde, the Great Plateau and Galfin are ruled by the Highmonarch. A Highqueen or Highking are designated through royal blood descending from the blessed Skytracer lineage. The Highmonarch has many advisors and governors who handle issues arising in their own area of expertise. The Highking or Highqueen allows the other 5 monarchs of Galfin to reign relatively freely over their domains. Only when as issue that crosses borders does it require the ruling of the Highmonarch.
Money speaks volumes in this city. Certain rich folk like Oxford Regalsmith and the Tung brothers are examples of people not officially in power who can sway laws.
Defences
The High Guard are the elite trained city guard and the Highking’s personal body guards.
Around the 6 pronged star shaped city are guard towers every 150 metres. Also each district is divine by a less dense stone wall. Atop the towers are ballistae, catapults and numerous other siege weapons. The entrance to the castle is one of the most well guarded areas. The People’s Tower is the central passageway from any district to another. There are 6 levels of. Checkpoints and taxes to ensure people stay where they are supposed to be and pay what they own the crown. The entrance to the castle is not at the foot of the keep but on the uppermost floor, only accessible from a drawbridge 500m in the air connecting tot he People’s Tower. Once you enter the castle you are greeted by more High Guard soldiers protecting the Hall of Heroes. Statues to the 6 Liberators of Men and all the Skytracer line following.
Industry & Trade
The rich live off investments put into the middle class, mostly living in luxury but showing up on occasion to show their ownership of successful businesses. The middle class run many shops as well as work at many of the government run larger establishments. The poor work where they can, scrubbing latrines, working the mills, poorly paid stone masons or knockerups.
Skygarde does not naturally bring much to the export table but the trade community here has made it necessary to other nations being able to sell their goods. The Great Plateau is large enough that it can tax highly on merchants who don’t sell in Skygarde because there really is no way around crossing their borders.
Infrastructure
Skygarde sits atop an underground river that can be tapped in most corners of the city. They have built a sewer system with the help of the Miner’s Union.
Most roads are paved with cobblestone created and mended by the rockmenders, small earth elementals that naturally graze around the city. They eat rocks for sustenance and have a particular knack for fine architecture.
The south of the city houses the slums where the poor live who can’t afford taxes inside the walls, they are usually allowed to live as long as their is minimal trouble and someone maintains the water mill.
Assets
One of the wealthiest cities in Galfin. A pact with the Mine Dwarves holds a lot of gold within the government and private banks. Hundreds of small stores run by entrepreneurs and 30 or so major stores to buy any goods you might need.
Guilds and Factions
Many different factions reside in the walled city. A few are the rebuilt Spellstrung College, the Mages Guild, the infamous Syndicate, the High Guard, The Church of Dhara and the Noble blodlines.
History
Founded by Beowulf Skytracer after the Liberation of Man. He was at peace with the 5 other rulers and offered his flat travels and rich farmlands to others as a spot to trade goods from the centre of the continent. It slowly became the economic powerhouse it us for the next 555 years until it became Capitol of Galfin when Ella Skytracer defeated the insurrection of the Purple Curtain. She was dubbed the first Highqueen and no longer was on equal terms with the other 5 monarchs. During her triumph, she also partnered with the elves who had been in hiding for centuries, damaged by what the Onyx elves did for 1000 years. This led to a resurgence and ancestral ground being given back to the elves.
Architecture
The stonemender creatures work tirelessly to keep the stone work of this heavy walled, beautiful city in good condition. The menders can build everything from common ones to grand cathedrals. In recent years, Highking Hector kept the rock elementals inside the keep’s walls but on occasion they are sent out to clean up damaged buildings. Important buildings stand 3 to 6 stories tall while most other shops or homes are no taller than 2 stories.
Geography
The cheater of a great plain with vast farmlands, manageable forests and fish mines across the province. Fresh water runs underneath the city. And old well systems allow clean drinking water to all residents. The the North and West you can see the looming Firefang jags blocking out the morning sun with haze and rock. Great fields of wheat and flowers grow between the well maintained roads between farmland.
Natural Resources
Hector’s Wood is the Skygardian’s main source of hardwood. The gold that runs through the Bilden mine is accessible to the monarchy, although the dwarves can be tough bargainers.
Founding Date
462 BHM
Type
Capital
Population
~200000
Inhabitant Demonym
Skygardian
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization