A FLEDGLING CITY

Civil action

Alderheart’s early layout was drafted by Hevod Sunspring, who drew up plans for grand open treetop plazas, as well as blocks of comfortable houses in the city’s center, where non-birdfolk would be safe from falling. Hevod’s grandest designs eventually became the foundation for the city’s Canopy level. With the military-minded Grido Snowtarn’s guidance, Hevod designed the city’s fortified entry points to prevent infiltration by smugglers and bandit scouts. Grido was knowledgeable in the ways of war and wanted to ensure the new city’s defenses were as solid as the mountain homes of his people.   Unlike the later construction, you’ll notice that older buildings and structures in the Canopy aren’t magically shaped out of Alderheart’s living timber. The city’s first phase was built quickly, so very little tree shaping could be used. This architectural legacy can be seen today in both new and old homes belonging to the wealthy in the Canopy. Alderheart’s elites continue to favor a classic architectural style that uses materials from across Humblewood and does not incorporate shaping.   This foundational style emerged from Edwin’s collaborations with Geswick Switch, whom he would later fall for, and relied heavily on the mapach inventor’s efficient system of lifts and pulleys. The dynamic pair established walkways and stabilizing platforms to keep structures built closer to the edge of branches accessible and make them resilient against storms. Edwin, who possessed an interest in astronomy, also commissioned the first great observatory in the Canopy.   As the fledgling city was being constructed, Ferro Keer trained anyone who volunteered in the ways of agile branchto- branch combat and archery. The armed company she founded would become the backbone of Humblewood’s defenses, the force now known as the Perch Guard. While many birdfolk excelled in techniques of branch skirmishing and dive attacks, these fighting styles relied on gliding and weren’t suited to the humblefolk of Bramblewell. Instead, Ferro focused on training the humblefolk to use ranged weapons. Though the Perch Guard of today is associated with the agile, spear-wielding techniques of its birdfolk contingent, the first Perch Guard was equally composed of humblefolk archers and birdfolk skirmishers.