Brimstone

The great shadow of Mount Kevley enshrouds a secret, in the crater of its erstwhile days as a volcano lies the great City of Brimstone. The smoke you see from the foot of the mountain does not herald an eruption but the fires of Industry. Indeed, Brimstone may be one of the most advanced cities in the world. It is also one of the most secretive. It is a city of mages surrounded by nations who distrust them. It is also the city of Gunpowder. Brimstone produces nearly all the gunpowder in the Orlessian Kingdoms along with many of the special enhanced varieties as well. The city allows only mages within the mountain’s walls and rarely lets any whiff of its activities out. It is the only safe haven for mages in the east with Lukastria far away to the west. A bustling city of 40,000 magi it is a beacon of freedom for those blessed with mana. This freedom comes at a price however, the city is ruled by the Powder Guilds, and in some way every job, every store, every home is associated with one of them. Only the church and the City Watch remain free from guild influence. And through it all, there are whispers of the phantom guardian of the city...

Demographics

Free Human
Arlathian Elf
Tanrian Elf
Dellian
Khavri

Government

Brimstone is ruled ostensibly by The Powder Council, made up of the guild masters of the various Powder Guilds of Brimstone. They decide the city laws, taxes and all other manner of city ordinances. The Council meets in the Council Hall located in Guilder's Square in the Freemage District.
There is a sixth member of the council, only ever seen on council meetings, and presumed to be some scribe they all trust to record the meeting's notes and keep them safe. This sixth person has never been identified.

Industry & Trade

Guild Powders

The power of Powder is both the bane and survival of Brimstone. Long ago when Brimstone was just a place for exiled mages to hide before trying to make their way west to Lukastria, a mage trying to keep themselves warm one winter set fire to some logs in a cavern formed by the old eruption, the resulting explosion nearly killed them but they had made a discovery. The nitrate of the mountain, as well as the elemental potency of the volcano had made an exceedingly strong explosive reagant.
Guns were just beginning to come into popularity in Orlessia and while the gunpowders of the Dellians was strong, it was not refined. The mages set up shop in the old crater and attracted new attention, and eventually Kevleyan Powder was developed. Twice as powerful as Dellian Powder, it was a game changer, even if the kingdoms distrusted mages, the powder's potential to turn battles spoke deeper to the monarchs than their people's fear. While technically illegal, the powder that flows from Brimstone is in tremendous demand. All industry in Brimstone revolves around the Powder. Money flows in from across the continent, as well as spies. Even if no non-mages are allowed, some mages under the employ of the Empire or the various crowns have attempted to steal the secret to no avail, none have ever returned to their masters alive.
Each Powder Guild produces a variety of gunpowder with different properties, ranging from explosive power to enchanted shots that imbue bullets with spellfire. From that small group of mages came the Kevleyan Powder Guild but as time has gone on, other guilds have sprung up, fostering an intense rivalry and business competition.

Guns

Some of the guilds have also moved into the gunsmithing trade, providing the entire service, lock, stock, barrel and powder. Guns produced in Brimstone come with enchants unable to replicated elswhere using runework entirely foreign outside the city and using methods not yet discovered outside of the city.

Infrastructure

The city is one of the most industrialized in the world. Using both magic and the volcanic geothermal potential below their feet the mages of Brimstone have great forges to make their special guns and a great series of mining projects to harvest the materials to craft the infamous "Powders" which are particularly strong gunpowders made with Orlessian Magic and fiendishly powerful. Even the Empire's own blessed Powder is not as sought after as the varieties made in Brimstone.
There are also various city works such as water, farming and housing that the city takes care of. These resources are very limited up on the mountain and are strictly controlled.

The Institutions

Cinderfield Farmers Guild
Waterworks & Transportation Union
(Supported by Silvermaine)
Bank of Brimstone
Iron Rook Metalworks Union
(Supported by Coalstone Powder Guild)
Blackford Gunsmiths Union
(Supported by Kevleyan Powder)
Kevleyan Publishers Union
(Supported by Arcane League)
Brimstone Apothecaries League
(Supported by Alchemist's Alliance)

Districts

Freemage District

The largest residential and leisure section of the city. Here cafes and restaurants are found here, with fine dishes made by skilled magi-chefs exiled from palaces and towns from across the world. The well off workers live here, usually craftmages, tradesmen or civil servants. This is also home to the Guilder's Square, the main square of the city where the Council Hall overlooks with a grim vigil. The Church of Brimstone, a chuch that holds no high priest and merely shrines to every god under the sun forms part of the skyline of the city here with the Bank of Brimstone forming the other side of Guilder's Square.

The Ring Districts

To the west and east are the Ring Districts, as part of the rim that is overshadowed by the craggy remnants of Kevley's Peak. Mostly residential with some small shopping areas along the River Threnn, they are usually quiet. The Eastring District mostly houses workers and shopkeepers of the Iron Rook District, the Gunworks or the Arcane Alley. The Westring District is home to workers and business owners of the Powder District, Ashford University or Waterworks.

The Hollows

On the northern edge of the volcanic rim lies the Hollows, a massive mining network that scales from the heights of the overhang to deep below the city itself. Long ago the whole wall was mined of metals and the chemicals used in powder production. Now the mines go deep into the mountain and the upper caverns have been left abandoned. The homeless, the criminals, the desperate, and the rest of the dregs of Brimstone make these treacherous holes their haven. The lower levels are much more controlled and under the thumb of the guilds. Here the smoke and fires still warm the caves and mineshafts that delve into the mountainside. The tent and shack city that sprung up in these drafty tunnels are sometimes called "the Dredge".

The Waterworks

On the southern shore of the rim on a set of small islands sits the Waterworks. The city depends heavily on Powder Exports and it can only do this thanks to the aquatic infrastructure provided by the Waterworks. Barges, Water-Taxis, pleasure boats, ferries and other watercraft come out of the shipyards here and serve the entire city. The Blackport is the only way Powder can be sent out of the city. It sits over the mouth of the River Threnn which flows down the mountain and reaches the borders of Rhodania, Demria, Starland and Thrennland. Each border crossing holds the only outposts of Brimstone where mages can still be free. Those who man these posts are absolutely loyal to the city and guarded by the most elite of the City Watch. Hydromancers accompany the Powder Barges to help transport them back up the river and re-enter via the Blackwash Elevator, which is a small tributary that feeds into the River Threnn from the other side of the Waterworks.

The Iron Rook District

On the northern part of the central city lies the billowing spires of the Iron Rook. The Industrial District rumbles between the Powder District to the west and the Gunworks to the east. Using the volcanic pocket below for heat these metalworks help siphon the mountain's unrest to forge the fiery heart of Brimstone Industry. The metals produced here are used in construction, the nearby Gunworks or export. The Forge Magi are the masters here, using their skills in pyromancy in a manner entirely alien to the rest of the world.

The Blackford Gunworks

One of the newer Districts, the rise of the firearm has swallowed many of the old smiths and artisans who used to work here. Only on the outskirts can one still find one of the old masters who make melee weapons instead of guns. Most streets are lined with firearm and firearm accessory shops with the odd outfitter squeezed in promising protective gear against their neighbors' weaponry. The shops are nearly entirely run or owned by the Kevleyan and Coalstone Powder Guilds who fiercely compete here though currently the Kevleyans reign supreme.

The Powder District

If the Iron Rook is the fiery heart of Brimstone, then the Powder District is the lungs. All that Brimstone is, is because of the Powder Guilds and their tremendously powerful gunpowders. At the advent of firearm use, they were conveniently positioned to produce gunpowders in ways the other Orlessian nations could not or cannot. Every guild has a walled enclave in this District like a series of castles scowling at each other from which the guilds produce their own unique powders which are sold all over the world.

The Ashwood

An ingenious if mad effort by the botanists of Brimstone who have fostered a forest in the heart of the dormant volcano, using the rich volcanic soil and seeds cultivated over long decades the trees grown here are destined to become the rune-scribed stocks of rifles or timbers of the ever demanding building projects, even so, the wood is far too small and only helps to keep imports of lumber from outside under control, a difficult process to be sure.

The Cinderfields

Also taking advantage of the fine soil provided by the volcano, the cinderfields are the main food producer for the city. With magic and skill, the bounty of these fields feeds the thousands of mouths of the city. The hunter lodges for the meat suppliers are also found here, with secret trails leading out. The guilds have their fingers in every field and home here, ensuring that no one guild monopolizes the very food supply of the city, though of recent times, there have been labor movements by the farmagi to push back against the guilds demands.

The Red Seal

On the central island of Brimstone, surrounded by red flowers, is what at first glance appears to be a nice city park, but the truth is a little more grim. The central island holds the magical seal that keeps the volcano dormant. It has twice ceased an eruption before it began, but it must be repowered every year. There may come a day when it cannot hold, but surely that is far away?

Guilds and Factions

The Powder Guilds

The heart of brimstone and lead producers of Powder. Kevleyan Powder Guild
Coalstone Powder Guild
Alchemist's Alliance Powder Guild
Arcane League Powder Guild
Silvermaine Powder Guild

The Unions

While better than the Gangs, the Unions are still led mostly by the loudest mouth or strongest person and are simply "legal" as they are supported by various Guilds. They are little more than hired muscle for the guilds and bought loyal workers. Each Union is led by a Boss.

Iron Rook Metalworks - Led by Boss Findlay

Blackford Gunsmiths - Led by Boss Ludo

Waterworks & Transportation - Led by Boss Holladay

Cinderfield Farmers - Led by Boss Sutland The only Union to truly be unaffiliated with any guild, not that they haven't tried. They are de facto in control of the city's food supply, but they do not have the full support of the farm workers and as such not nearly as much power as they'd like.

The Gangs

Brimstone like any large city, has a handfull of gangs, the ones here just have access to magic with which to push their power around. Boss Dmitri of the Ravenhooks - Robbery/Fencing

Chief Klaus of the Frozen Fingers - Gambling Dens

Boss Scanda of the Green Knives - Elf Gang/Drug Smuggling

Papa Burnley of the Ash Family Gang (GL) - Crime Family/Smuggling

Boss Gorman of the Cave Dwellers (GL) - Street Gang/ Racketeering

Mama Deyla “Twofingers” of the Wildbird Family - Crime Family/ Gem Smuggling

Boss Ana Winters of the Fusiliers Gang (GL) -Gun Smugglers

Milo Kresselian- Fifth Street Brigade - Orphans - Jobbers, Thievery

Unknown Leader- Northside Gang - Street Urchins - Thieves/Robbery

“Sly” Petrov- Penny Pinchers Gang- Thieves

-Defunct- Red Flame - Andaros Cult, shows up every once in a while but not for long.

The Church of Brimstone

While a power of its own, the Church has no leader and mostly just provides spiritual sustenance with priests for every god for the myriad of peoples. They operate on a strictly neutral function and run the only free Apothecary and hospital along with the city's orphanage. Many members of the orphanage seem to end up as members of the City Watch.

The Grey League

While not the largest gang, the Grey League are the most powerful gang in Brimstone. They run the Black Alley, a miserable tunnel that is used for smuggling goods in and out. They are in a constant match of cat and mouse with the City Watch (and the Inspector), they seem to be allowed to operate for the most part and the city watch only gets directly involved if they see the need.

Ashford Mage Academy

Not especially a faction of its own, the Mage Academy is a new institution that the guilds jointly funded and built in order to educate the younger mages born and raised in the city. Previously most mages were educated elsewhere before being forced to flee to safety, but now, generations have grown up never knowing any other way of life but have only had private schooling, the Academy is to be that answer. A place to learn orlessian magic in a proper way, and one united in structure. No guild tries to influence the school directly but they keep an eye out for any promising students to perhaps bring into their guild after graduation.

The City Watch

While officially a militia, the City Watch is truly called The Inspectorate by those in the know. Nothing happens without their knowledge and the members of the City Watch are intensely loyal to The Inspector who leads from the shadows.

Brimstone, the Smoking City

Type

Large city

Population

~40,000

Included Locations

• Brimstone City Map

Owner/Ruler

The Powder Council

Additional Rulers/Owners

• The Inspector

Characters in Location

• Chief Alchemist Casparian Flüg
• Chief Arcanter Isora Acaellius
• Forgemaster Keppo Trevelnodd
• Guildmaster Valeri Vandemann
• Powdermeister Taloran Bravant
• The Inspector

Native Magic

Orlessian Magic

Religion

Gods of Orlessia