Huygepel

Demographics

Whilst there are slightly fewer dwarves than usually found in the towns and cities of the Viden League, the population of Huygepel broadly reflects the makeup of the League at large. Humans are the majority, closely followed in numbers by dwarves. The smaller elven population typically find employment as sailors and merchants, whilst the few mostly bronze-scaled dragonborn put their natural abilities to work as caravan guards, soldiers, and marines.
Atypically for the south of Eira, there is a small but well-established community of gnomes within Huygepel, originally migrants and itinerant clergy from the Sun Cult.

Government

Chancellor Arhe, a bronze dragonborn with a cool and purposeful demeanour, wields executive power in Huygepel. Much of her time is spent trying to root out smuggling gangs in the town.
Admininstrative power is held by Principal Heyden. A calculating and subtle elf, there are rumors that he is linked with the smuggling gangs.
The Rector, a bookish human named Caspar, has control of military and academic matters. In practice, military duties are delegated to Caspar's brother Bartol, as Caspar's infatuation with Chronomancy and deferential personality make him ill-suited to the role.

Industry & Trade

As a major trading port, Huygepel sees commerce from all the nations of Eira. As well as technomagical and religious trinkets, the trade route between Huygepel and the Sun Cult facilitates the transfer of Tame-Suns. These volatile masterpieces of arcane and divine research are shipped under heavy guard in specialised containment vessels, and command such an astronomically high price that the entire Viden League has become rich on their sale.
Whilst trade with the Sun Cult has left its mark on Huygepel's culture, vogues from other nations quickly rise and fall within the town. Currently, silks from the Republic of Namu are popular amongst the upper classes and academics, traded for mundane timepieces.
Domestically, the docks support a number of fishermen that feed the town.

Infrastructure

Huygepel lives and thrives off its sprawling docks, where all manner of goods, tools, scholars, and priests are traded primarily with the Sun Cult in the north. In particular, the trade in Tame-Suns is facilitated exclusively through Huygepel. The market square in the center of town sees trade from all manner of merchants across Eira, as well as more mundane local goods from Viden farmers and fishermen.
Located to the south, the academic enclave spirals up from the town as a cluster of grey stone clock-towers and chronomantically-shielded laboratories, in which the study of time magic can be performed with a minimum of interference.
Huygepel lies on the Circle of Wisdom, the circular road connecting most of the major settlements in the Viden League. To the east lies Keppel-Brahem, and to the south, the trail to Gerichem winds into the mountains.

Architecture

As a result of a similar climate and strong trade relations, the common architecture of Huygepel has a distinct element of Sun Cult style. Whitewashed houses climb up the hills and line the river and coast, the hot sun reflected by the pale walls. The academic enclave is an exception, built in the Viden style of spiralling grey stone towers that loom over the rest of the town.

Geography

Huygepel is located on the west coast of Viden. A river flows through to the south from the mountains, creating fertile floodplains and grasslands, which are farmed for grain, meat, and hardy vegetables.

Type

Large town

Population

25,000

Owning Organization

The Viden League