Varuumae Corona

"The Peoples' City"

The capital city of the Southron Lands of Varuum, Varuumae Corona is a vibrant metropolis of half a million people. This only refers to the permanent residents. Nearly as many world travelers enter its bay as those in Angleport. It is the seat of power in the south, and houses the opulent palace of the Grand Hassir himself, "Hassikhan House" (sometimes referred to as the "Tower of All Things and Nothing"). Here, the Hassir is attended by his court, and protected by his private guard, the Valuum.
The city lies just south of the land-bridge known as The Throat, and extends west to the shores of the Great Sea. The island nation of Mitluvia lies just two hundred miles from it's shores.
It is notable for housing several organizations, including the Colleges of Magic, and the enigmatic Custodians (keepers of all knowledge in the world), who serve "society" from their lofty and intimidating Tower of Light.
In comparison to Angleport, it is significantly smaller, however it's streets tend to be more densely packed with people and buildings. No spare space in Varuumae Corona goes unused. When the city planners can no longer build horizontally, they show much ingenuity in building up, vertically.

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HISTORY, THE RULING CLASS, AND RECENT EVENTS

Varuum Corona, "City of the Glittering Crown," was constructed nearly two thousand years ago as a direct response to The Sundering. Here, exiled mages from Hariel Majour created an oasis for magic and knowledge, along with the fantastical and the forbidden. The capital city is built around (and encompasses) lands previously within the domain of Kalastian (now a defunct nation), which the newly collected mages of the north conquered at the end of their exodus.
The nation is a autocracy, ruled by a line of Grand Hassirs sharing a common bloodline. The current ruler, His Excellency, The Grand Hassir of Varuum Serasnian Arabata IV, is advised by his Vizier, Valon Vandegraff. It is rumored that Vandegraff is secretly a member of the assassin's court, "The Club Masters of Varuum" (reminiscent of the Thuggee assassin cult... see The Club Masters for more information).
It is a trusted rumor that Serasnian is losing his wits and that his fourteen-year-old daughter Naiya is secretly ruling Varuum in his stead. It is said she keeps the council of a deceased Boorka mage, reborn and entombed in a giant mechanical body ("Magister Clickwild," with a telescope for a head!). This rumor is not as widely believed, but happens to be true.
Two years ago, Serasnian was visited by a sacred priest of Chronos with "a message" for the Grand Hassir. What the priest showed his lord drove the man mad. The priest was executed before he could reveal what transpired between them. Since then, the madness of the king has steadily grown.
The court necromancer, called The Consummata, was called in to interpret the dead priest's motives and to "consume his dying thoughts." She came back with what she called inconseclusive gibberish, but secretly she is working with Vandergraff at the hub of a great conspiracy to break the royal blood line and cede power to him.
Naiya's own protector and Vizier, Master Clickwild, realizes she is not safe in the city, but knows the headstrong girl will not leave without greater cause. He pushes her to call a council for both the surface reasons, but also as an excuse to move Naiya to a "safe" locale.

Demographics

A true melting pot, including assorted ex-patriots from Golthien.

Government

Monarchy under the rule of the Grand Hassir of Varuum, his excellency Serasnian Arabata IV. The Grand Hassir is assisted and advised by his royal court, which includes his Vizier, a man named Vandergraff, and a court magician, the warlock known only as The Consummata.
Some say that although the city has a figurehead monarch, it is actually ruled from the "underground" by the various influential (and massively rich) crime lords known as The Club Masters.
Though wielding enough power to assume some form of political control, The Custodians of the The Tower of Light have no such aspirations. It is said that they do pull more strings behind the scenes than they would care to publicly admit, at least when it comes to advising the Grand Hassir himself.

Defences

The Valuum oversees the city army, comprised of roughly 10,000 soldiers referred to as the "White Cloaks." The city guard is independently managed, and consists of approximately 5,000 officers known as the "Hounds." Assisting the Hounds is a volunteer citizen city watch, which fluctuates in size from 2,000 to 8,000 on a regular basis.

Industry & Trade

Magic, in all its varied forms. Knowledge, and the trade thereof.

Assets

The greatest repository of "open magic" in all the west.

Guilds and Factions

The Thieves' Guild of Zanzakkar, The Custodians, The Thornblack Assassins' Guild, many of the same guilds present in Guilds & Factions of the West. Along with these come the warring crime bosses (or "capos") competing for dominance of the city itself. One particularly odious crime faction is "The Eye," ruled (appropriately enough) by a half-blind aging beholder named Xaxmenethan. The Eye employs many orphaned children, along with a group of subterranean "Darklings," as it's agents and enforcers.
Another powerful faction within the underworld is "The Bloody Garrote," consisting of both thieves and assassins, and headed by the half-orc known as Garvistan. It should be noted, however, that rumors have cropped up that Garvistan has gone missing, and Xaxmenethan may have something to do with it.

History

The Southron Lands are the dominant seat of magic in all Hariel. After the Sundering, most mages, fearing for their lives, fled Hariel Majour for the smaller, southern continent, where they established fantastic cities featuring their now famous schools of magic. The farther north one travels, the less magic is either seen or appreciated in the lands.
The Wizard Nation of Varuum is the primary power in the south, positioned at the northern edge of the continent, just south of the land bridge known as The Throat. Varuum boasts the robust, glittering seaport Varuum Corona (often called Varuumae), the City State Capitol of Varuum (featuring a traders bay rivaling that of Angleport).
Varuum is a Magocracy, governed by a council of mages, acting under the Grand Hassir of Varuum, who rules from the “Tower of All Things and Nothing” at the center of Varuum Corona. There is a rumor that the Grand Hassir has taken to madness and only serves a puppet to forces unknown. This is but a rumor, however his 12 year old daughter, Naiya, has taken his place in more than a number of recent meetings. She is said to be always accompanied by her servant, a towering automaton named Master Clickwild. The mechanical beast is rumored to contain the brain of the former court wizard.
Many organizations, both legal and illegal, have chapters in both Angleport and Varuum Corona. For example, the notorious Thieves Guild of Zanzakkar, sometimes called “The Takers,” has a hidden guild hall in both cities, one they share with the Thornblack Assassin's Guild.

Architecture

Smaller in surface area than comparable cities, such as Angleport, Varuumae Corona solved this problem by building upwards (instead of outwards). As such, buildings are of far stronger materials than those found in other cities, with even the most impoverished sections featuring monuments of stone and steel.

Geography

Jungle to the southwest, desert to the southeast, temperate at its center.

Alternative Name(s)

Varuum, The Capital of the South, The City of the Glittering Crown, The City of Beautiful Chaos

Type

Large city

Population

500,000 and counting...

Inhabitant Demonym

Varuumae, Southron Peoples

Location under

Hariel Minuta

Included Locations

• The Tower of Light

Owner/Ruler

The Grand Hassir of Varuum

Characters in Location

• The Grand Hassir of Varuum