Uskar

Former independent duchy that was decimated during the Uskarian Tributary War against the Collective of Numiria.

General layout

Uskar is built around several squares where markets were held. Around these squares are workshops of merchants, currently still trying to rebuild of whatever is left, and homes of most of the population. The walls around Uskar are still being rebuilt, so there is still no clear defined line between the city itself and the farmlands outside.

Society

Uskar is inhabited by Humans, (Half-)Elves, and Dwarves. Most halflings had fled the city during the final years of the Uskarian Tributary War. Half-orcs and Goliath are also slightly more common here, but they are mostly veterans of the Uskarian Tributary War. What little merchants are still daring to travel past Gaias Maral can also be found here, but are much more rare than in towns like Merridan.

History

Uskar used to be a powerful vassal of the Kingdom of Karessia where it was a sprawling trading hub, easily rivalling Merridan with the amount of goods that were traded. Due to the death of Queen Albina II of House Vidament in E6Y231, Uskar received its independence from the Kingdom of Karessia, taking Merridan along outside of the Karessian sphere of influence. Thanks to its riches received, it was able to become a powerful player in the region. This buildup of riches caused the duke Cyran Gwernig to become more haughty by the day, and eventually set his sights on the city states that now make up the Collective of Numiria. The duke launched a surprise attack on Guardian in E6Y514, beginning the Uskarian Tributary War. Guardian was able to resist the siege for a long time, and eventually also dragged Numiria and Nambuhr into the war. In E6Y536, these cities, together also with Appleby signed theDecree of Stone and Blood, uniting the forces under the banner of the Collective of Numiria, organising their troops more efficiently, setting the stage for the counter attack. Baron Daewarin Goissone, preferring the rule of the Kingdom of Karessia over that of Uskar, joined in on this meeting, supplying information and promising to block the Uskarian supply lines, in exchange for remaining untouched in the war. When the armies of the Collective of Numiria finally stood in front of the gates of Uskar, nothing was able to stop their wrath. The city was decimated, with many of its inhabitants killed or driven away. In the aftermath, both Uskar and Merridan accepted the vassalisation by the Kingdom of Karessia in the same year still.

Recent events

Uskar remains struggling with its recovery after the Uskarian Tributary War. Many of the dead rotting on the battlefields have not found their rest, and the mausoleum at Gaias Maral is suffering the same fate. Because of this, many trading caravans that make their way from Vertigen via the road along the Wildshire Vale have been scared off, now preferring to hire a boat across the Great Lake towards Merridan, or downright refusing to travel any further.