Wave's End
City
Territory 50,000 square miles
Population 22,000 (Humans 50%, Half-Orcs 10%, Halflings 20%, Nezumi, 10%, Other 10%)
Ruler Governor Hendrick Valar
A brave explorer, Callam Valar, approached the mage-lords of Raven and Aurion with a plan to explore and settle the lands beyond the Samm Sea. Having received sponsorship from both cities, Callam set out with a flotilla of colony ships, the Pegasus, the Wyvern and his flag ship the Arcane Eye. The journey was perilous, but all three ships survived until the final stretch, sailing through the Widow’s Passage, an area plagued by perpetual storms.
The storms and the unexpected faltering of their arcane and divine protections caused the three ships to sink. The survivors were cast on to the western shores of the Soulcleft Marches. Callam Valar himself survived the ordeal and led his people to the safety of a large patch of dry, raised ground amid the swampland. Using debris from the cast-off ships the survivors built a small settlement here, which they named Wave’s End. Callam, refusing to admit defeat, drove his people to ever expand this settlement, from a hamlet to a village, to a town, to a small city. Their activity attracted others from the region. From tribes of humans and orcs to wandering Nezumi, many people moved to the relative safety of Wave’s End. By the time Callam died and his son, Roland Valar, took over, Wave’s End has grown into a city with over 15,000 people.
Roland wanted to continue his father’s quest and sought to expand the city’s influence over the region. Lacking the arcane power his people had relied on back home, he made an alliance with the city of The Great Work. He expanded his army and provided his knights with magical arms and armor and powerful arcane devices. The first target for Wave’s End’s expansion was easy to find. The Soulcleft marches have but one other major settlement, the small city of Vilemar. This small city of wooden buildings on stilts offered little resistance to the military might of Wave’s End. While Roland did not intend for his expansion to stop there, the inhospitable and difficult to traverse swampland of the Soulcleft Marches brought his army to a halt.
Wave’s End also began to experience some internal turmoil. Tribes now within the territory claimed by the city began to act out against their new lords, using hit and run tactics to attack supply caravans or reinforcements.
The final nail in the coffin of Wave’s End immediate plans came when Roland Valar contracted a strong fever and died a few days later. His son, Hendrick Valar, accepted his father’s title of Governor, even though he is only 20 years old. In his short rule he has shown himself to be far less ambitious and more moderate. The city’s nobility consider him a weak ruler and political opposition against Hendrick is growing, even though the people of the Soulcleft Marches seem to approve of him.
The materials used to build Wave’s End mostly came from ruins found in the Soulcleft Marches. These were most likely northern outposts of the Fomorian Empire that ruled these lands thousands of years ago.
The city is lead by a Governor. This title is passed from parent to child. The governor oversees the daily operations of the city and is the head of the army. As most funds come from the guilds and noble houses, the governor is often forced to deal with their requests and demands through courtiers.
The silence of the gods and the instability of magic caused some concern at first, but scholars of the Sevento Academy deduced it to be a result of an ancient curse. This explanation is generally accepted and both the academy and the church of Edon have made it their mission to find a way to break that curse. While the silence of the gods does not allow clerics to receive spells, a few people have the ability to hear whispers from the gods. It is believed the location of Wave’s End near the edge of the cursed lands allows them to partially break through the interference. These people are considered prophets and are welcomed into the temple and protected.
While not hostile, the relationship between Wave’s End and Akek is cold at best. Both see the other as a direct rival for influence in the region. Akek’s current focus on Amon has caused the rivalry to be on the backburner for now as they cannot actively opposing Wave’s End’s actions.
Azul is Wave’s End’s second largest trading partner. That city’s relationship with Chandra, and her history with the god of magic, does not sit well with the priests of Wave’s End, but so far, they have been unsuccessful in convincing the Governor to break of ties or go to war.
Finally, Wave’s End controls the most western region of the Soulcleft Marches, from the sea to the city of Vilemar. The local tribes and clans did not agree with this expansion and oppose the city’s rule whenever possible. Vilemar itself is kept peaceful by a garrison of soldiers, although an underground rebellion is growing.
Population 22,000 (Humans 50%, Half-Orcs 10%, Halflings 20%, Nezumi, 10%, Other 10%)
Ruler Governor Hendrick Valar
History
A little over a century ago, the god of magic, Matt Mattonwy, fell. His predecessor, Edon, then returned to reclaim the mantle of God of Magic. The return of Edon ushered in a new golden age for the Arcane Jewels, mage-run city states north of the Samm Sea. With this golden age came the ambition of territorial expansion. Surrounded by strong neighbors, the mages cast their eyes to the unknown lands to the south.A brave explorer, Callam Valar, approached the mage-lords of Raven and Aurion with a plan to explore and settle the lands beyond the Samm Sea. Having received sponsorship from both cities, Callam set out with a flotilla of colony ships, the Pegasus, the Wyvern and his flag ship the Arcane Eye. The journey was perilous, but all three ships survived until the final stretch, sailing through the Widow’s Passage, an area plagued by perpetual storms.
The storms and the unexpected faltering of their arcane and divine protections caused the three ships to sink. The survivors were cast on to the western shores of the Soulcleft Marches. Callam Valar himself survived the ordeal and led his people to the safety of a large patch of dry, raised ground amid the swampland. Using debris from the cast-off ships the survivors built a small settlement here, which they named Wave’s End. Callam, refusing to admit defeat, drove his people to ever expand this settlement, from a hamlet to a village, to a town, to a small city. Their activity attracted others from the region. From tribes of humans and orcs to wandering Nezumi, many people moved to the relative safety of Wave’s End. By the time Callam died and his son, Roland Valar, took over, Wave’s End has grown into a city with over 15,000 people.
Roland wanted to continue his father’s quest and sought to expand the city’s influence over the region. Lacking the arcane power his people had relied on back home, he made an alliance with the city of The Great Work. He expanded his army and provided his knights with magical arms and armor and powerful arcane devices. The first target for Wave’s End’s expansion was easy to find. The Soulcleft marches have but one other major settlement, the small city of Vilemar. This small city of wooden buildings on stilts offered little resistance to the military might of Wave’s End. While Roland did not intend for his expansion to stop there, the inhospitable and difficult to traverse swampland of the Soulcleft Marches brought his army to a halt.
Wave’s End also began to experience some internal turmoil. Tribes now within the territory claimed by the city began to act out against their new lords, using hit and run tactics to attack supply caravans or reinforcements.
The final nail in the coffin of Wave’s End immediate plans came when Roland Valar contracted a strong fever and died a few days later. His son, Hendrick Valar, accepted his father’s title of Governor, even though he is only 20 years old. In his short rule he has shown himself to be far less ambitious and more moderate. The city’s nobility consider him a weak ruler and political opposition against Hendrick is growing, even though the people of the Soulcleft Marches seem to approve of him.
Architecture
Wave’s End is built very much like the grand cities in the north. While the oldest part of the city still resembles the small wooden town built using parts of three destroyed ships, the outer districts contain stone buildings, two or three floors high. The city is built like a wheel with large lanes venturing out from a central keep, like spokes. The city is surrounded by a tall stone wall.The materials used to build Wave’s End mostly came from ruins found in the Soulcleft Marches. These were most likely northern outposts of the Fomorian Empire that ruled these lands thousands of years ago.
Culture
The people of Wave’s End still cling to the culture of their forefathers. Even though arcane magic is unreliable at best, a grand university (the Sevento Academy) was built, and being accepted into it is one of the highest honors in Wave’s End. The focus of study shifted from magic to history and other sciences. Artisan Guilds and Noble Houses, most with historical ties to the cities of Raven and Aurion, control most of the city’s law and trade.The city is lead by a Governor. This title is passed from parent to child. The governor oversees the daily operations of the city and is the head of the army. As most funds come from the guilds and noble houses, the governor is often forced to deal with their requests and demands through courtiers.
Religion
Wave’s End refuses to accept any other religion than that of the Pantheon of Gods. Edon, god of magic, is the most worshipped deity in the city. A large temple in his honor was constructed close to the keep.The silence of the gods and the instability of magic caused some concern at first, but scholars of the Sevento Academy deduced it to be a result of an ancient curse. This explanation is generally accepted and both the academy and the church of Edon have made it their mission to find a way to break that curse. While the silence of the gods does not allow clerics to receive spells, a few people have the ability to hear whispers from the gods. It is believed the location of Wave’s End near the edge of the cursed lands allows them to partially break through the interference. These people are considered prophets and are welcomed into the temple and protected.
Army
The previous governor created a large standing army of knights armed with magical weapons and armor. Crossbowmen and spearmen supplement the heavy cavalry. Wave’s End probably has the largest standing army, save for the Yosh-Oni Shogunate. They do not rely on mercenaries and have well-trained, professional soldiers.Relationships
In search of alternatives to arcane magic, Wave’s End turned to the artificers of the Great Work. Trade between the two cities is common. The military alliance between the two has the other cities in the region worried.While not hostile, the relationship between Wave’s End and Akek is cold at best. Both see the other as a direct rival for influence in the region. Akek’s current focus on Amon has caused the rivalry to be on the backburner for now as they cannot actively opposing Wave’s End’s actions.
Azul is Wave’s End’s second largest trading partner. That city’s relationship with Chandra, and her history with the god of magic, does not sit well with the priests of Wave’s End, but so far, they have been unsuccessful in convincing the Governor to break of ties or go to war.
Finally, Wave’s End controls the most western region of the Soulcleft Marches, from the sea to the city of Vilemar. The local tribes and clans did not agree with this expansion and oppose the city’s rule whenever possible. Vilemar itself is kept peaceful by a garrison of soldiers, although an underground rebellion is growing.
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