Dovala

Can you feel it? The tension in the air? Something's a-brewing. Been that way for decades. Dovala was never meant to bow to mainland authority, but the Loshkva sold out the rebellion for their own glory. When the fires of revolution burn again, they'll be the first to go.

— Dovalan stranger

Dovala is a city on the southwestern shore of Havenvern Island that once served as the de facto capital of the island. It now serves as the seat of power for the Vinato-appointed island council, along with the Loshkva pulling the strings behind the scenes, and is the busiest port city on the island due to its ease of access from the southern mainland.
Dovala straddles the mouth of the Preschev Flow, the river leading to central Havenvern, giving it control over the easiest route to transport goods to that part of the island and bring resources out. This level of power has always made it one of the most influential settlements on the island, but that was further cemented during the Queendom period when it became the primary trading port.
Following the fall of the Queendom, Havenvern was largely ignored by Vinatan authorities who were theoretically in control of the island. This led to the rise of self-government, with each settlement electing a governor responsible for negotiating intra-island relationships and policies as well as how the island interacted with the mainland. The Havenvernian governors met in Dovala, establishing the city as the de facto capital. The conversion of the city's crypt to a place of torture for criminals in 775 made it central to the criminal justice system of the island. Dovala saw much benefit from its importance, leveraging its location as a way to retain many of the resources coming down the Preschev. The the building of Kyakan Tower in 876 would remain a symbol of this fact.
Dovala became the center of Vinatian reforms during the Clocktower Uprising in 1038. The violent rebellion led to destruction of parts of Dovala as well as hundreds of local and military casualties. Dovren Loshkva, the governor of Dovala at the time who was leading the uprising from his hiding place in Kyakan Tower, eventually negotiated a cease fire that spared the rest of the city from destruction and himself from being tried for treason. This would lead to the appointment of a council by mainland authorities and the consolidation of power by Loshkva.
Today, little happens in Dovala that is not permitted by the Loshkva, despite the family holding no official authority. In addition to trade, Dovala also sees much tourism, especially by those drawn in by the city's macabre and violent past.

Type

City

Location under

Havenvern Island