Harcourt
Districts of Harcourt
East Shore The only part of Harcourt on the far side of the Ravuma River, it is the original location for the small town that would become this major city. It is the home to a handful of noble houses closely tied to the military of the city, as well as a non-arcane branch of the Benu Academy. The Grey District ("Grey City") This walled off district is the city cemetery, ossuary, mausoleum, and the home to a church to Bwimb the Keeper . There are a number of separate cemeteries within: Potter's Ward: An ossuary for the unnamed and the poor. Everyman Ward: The largest section made mostly of mausoleums and small graves. Gold Ward: Impressive marble and granite mausoleums researched for nobility and military leaders. The Heights Located on Citadel Hill, the Heights is the home to the richest people of Harcourt and the Benu Academy. There are three major sections to The Heights Citadel Hill: The home to the oldest and richest families of Harcourt. Most have blood ties to the noble families of the original Kaduna kingdom. Cliffside: With the Orphaned War, many wealthy people fled their lands and ended up in the distant land of Onitsha. Those that survived the final battles ended up building homes here. The Academy: The Benu Academy's largest campus may be in the small city of Ibadan, but the study of wizardry and arcane secrets moved to Harcourt in recent years. The Amir gifted the walled in family mansion to the wizard school so they could study safely away from the rest of the city. Midland When most outsiders think of Harcourt, they think of the cosmopolitan and friendly business of the Midland. Home ot the Harcourt Guard and Green Company headquarters, it is one of the most crime free districts. Notable locations in the Midlands Amir's Walk: A large open plaza where no businesses are allowed to operate. Many people come here to meet, eat, and talk during the day. It is the common place for celebrations and weddings in the evening. The Lazy Librarian: An inn built in the remains of a library lost to a fire. It is considered the social spot for adventurers. The Palace: Sitting on top of a pyramid that predates the old Kingdom of Kaduna, the palace is where the royal family lives. North End Many of the city's oldest non-noble families live here, and it is the location for many business and government offices. Notable locations in the North End City Hall Long Acre: The biggest and busiest courthouse and prison in Harcourt. Monastery of the Blue Stone Old Harcourt Covering all of Elden island, the longest settled part of the city. It is now the home to the poorest of Harcourt. It is the only place where the homeless are not chased off of the streets. It has a dangerous reputation as many shady businesses are known to pay a "sin tax" to the Akrona noble family so they might operate openly without being harrassed by the guards. Notable locations in Old Harcourt Fort Harcourt: the original headquarters to the Harcourt Guard, it is now the private home to the only noble family in Old Harcourt: The Arkona. The Arkona personally pay the salaries of the Harcourt Guard that patrol their district. The Shingles: When the poorest could not find homes, they built them upon the existing buildings of Old Harcourt. Now a perilous stacking of shacks and lean-tos cover many areas of Old Harcourt. No accurate map of these areas exist, and it is said there are many dangers hidden among the roughly built maze. South Shore The newest district of Harcourt is the home to the nouveau rich and growing merchant class. It is known for its spacious homes and parks.
Shore's End
Located on the east shore across from Harcourt, it is not an official district but a sizable number of people live here.
There are few, if any, permanent residents of Shore's end. It is a part trading spot for merchants and suppliers and part refuge for those looking to make a home in Harcourt. There are few buildings here. Most structures are tents, wagons, and lean-to's. A large population of non-humans live here.
Demographics
Predominately human, there are small racial neighborhoods that can be found throughout the city. Visitors from other lands have begun to move to Kaduna, and people that have interacted with the fey could be dramatically changed. The people of Kaduna tend to be open minded about unusual looking peoples.
Government
Amir Azuedo III
The amir/king of Kaduna is in his eighties and with no heir after outliving two wives. Many people are nervous of what will happen when he dies.
Seneschal Neolundus Kale
While the amir makes the big decisions for Kaduna, it is the seneschal that makes the day to day decisions that run the government for the country.
Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras
The current mayor of Harcourt is not well loved by most citizens, and is appointed by the seneschal.
Defences
The Harcourt Guard
The city guard of Harcourt. They are generally perceived as a fair police force, but the growing crime taxes their limits.
The Green Company (aka "The Nettles")
The Nettles are what currently make up the Kaduna military. The ones assigned to Harcourt support the Harcourt Guard and act as an unofficial fire brigade.
Knights of the Silver Horn
This small militaristic group of paladins are easily identified for riding rhinoceros. While they do not answer to any government and are typically more interested in dealing with more monstrous threats, they will support the Kaduna government and uphold any laws they see broken.
Guilds and Factions
History
What was once a small town supporting the local baron's hunting lodge, the Orphaned War turned the backwater barony into the entire Kaduna kingdom.
In the past few years, Kaduna has faced a lot of changes. During the Return of the Runelords, many refugees fled to Harcourt, and the city's population exploded. Even with them defeated, many families built a home and stayed in Harcourt. Crime and wealth disparities grew.
The Marriage
The Amir survived two wives without an heir, and people were surprised when the eighty year old man married a twenty year old woman. There was public outrage that the Leosa Rabasti's family was not from Kaduna. While the Rabasti family was rich, she suffered minor snubs from the Kaduna nobles and outright scorn from the other people of Harcourt.
Everything changed when she gave birth to the Amir's son, Azuedo IV. Having a direct heir has charmed the hearts of many people, but Leosa still suffers scorn behind closed doors.
The Yuan
Another big controversy in the recent years was the opening of an embassy to the Yuan in Harcourt.
Even before the Orphaned War, the secretive lost tribe of the Yuan were rarely seen on the mainland of Kaduna. They were rumored to have eaten their own god, and became snake obsessed apostates.
When they showed up in Harcourt, flying in on giant balloons, people feared an invasion. Instead, the brought words of peace and gifts to the people and Amir. The Yuan are still cloaked in mystery, but the people of Harcourt have learned to live, awkwardly, with the people in their city.
The Rise of the Adventurer
The chaos created by the two Runelords emboldened other nefarious individuals and beings to get a foothold in the country. The overburdened guards and military gave way for small groups of adventures to make a name of themselves in Harcourt.
These include:
- The Iron Delvers
- The Banner of the Bat
- Daughters of Verna
- The Accord
The latter is the most famous. The Accord became famous in Harcourt when they stopped a sewer-based clan of buda (cannibals that shape change into hyenas) from tricking the populace into consuming healing potions tainted with human blood. They cemented their fame when they caught and killed the urban druid, Danalise . The druid had been poisoning members of the Benu Academy, and the Accord brought her terror to an end.
The Infestations
A few years back, a wizard apprentice at the Benu Academy discovered a text that would allow them to summon a demonic imp for a familiar. It became a popular fad to have such a creature indentured, but while the summoning of the imps prove to be quite easy... enchanting them to be a familiar was much more complex. It did not take long for a sizable number of free imps to make their home throughout the city. A regular nuisance, the imps have never been organized enough to cause serious problem or draw serious attention.
Except. Since last year, a growing number of pseudodragons have been seen throughout the city hunting imps.
A day doesn't go by when someone in Harcourt doesn't witness the cat and mouse games being played between the imps and pseudodragons above them.
Tourism
The people of Kaduna love live performances: plays, music, dance, poetry, or story telling. Harcourt is no exception.
It is rare to find a tavern that doesn't have a small stage set up in the corner.
Finer establishments look like a cross between restaurants and theaters.
Due to its popularization through the church of the New Divinity, bagpipes are a popular musical instrument.
Type
Capital
Location under
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
- Azuedo III
- Cecei Veray
- Cressita Sun
- Danalise
- Dredge
- Eolie Grandwhistle
- Falish
- Fenne
- Graree Applestride
- Hakum Sciacallo
- Irea Firetouched
- Leosa Rabasti
- Mister Muggins
- Muraty
- Neolundus Kale
- Nokobyrn Bottlebranch
- Oba Musa
- Oganya Iherjirika
- Paeula Leafeet
- Reythyra
- Shiraal Sellak
- Shomari Ateino
- Tadele
- Vargo Bartan
- Vatina Tossun
- Vulnademus
- Yosira Fogfinger
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
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