Ortvale
Ortvale is a settlement on the northern border of Melirah, close to the desolate part of Mask.
Toponomy
Ortvale is named after the old common words "oreta", meaning "old eat", or "leftovers" and vale. The city has been named after the leftovers and scraps that were shared by travelers after leaving the trail in Mask's mouth.
History
Ortvale started as a small encampment for merchants and travelers. Its position, between Azulago, Mask's Mouth and the rest of Orlon made it the ideal location to thrive into the city it is now. The traveling merchants didn't take long to trade their wares, food and scraps in the valley south of Mask's Mouth. Not long after that, merchants built stalls to sell food to the people traveling towards Azulago and back. More and more stores arose, and not long after inns and houses.
Since the early beginnings, Ortvale has evolved into a fully city with a residential area, market, guards, some shrines to mostly Melira and Mask, and everything a small city could need. They evolved into a city that prized itself on the assimilating the two cultures of Mask en Melira. That opened up an entire touristic district for all the travelers. As they are on the only route to and from, that gave the owners of the city a chance to really improve their touristic district. Themed restaurants, serving typical Ortvalian dishes, antique shops and souvenir shops (at extravagant prizes.)
Government
The city of Ortvale is ruled by the local mayor, Keldan Springhold. He runs the city as a hotspot, with a focus on merchandise and trading.
Stores and Sights
Inn/restaurants:
A bit of Ortvale:
Owner: loben Lorgator, an older gnome man, in his late 60s, grey hair, balding spot
Description: It is a fancy decked out store, with a podium on the side of it where they perform live shows every night. The staff is dressed in "traditional Ortvalian wear", in dresses for both men and women.
Produce: They have food and beds for the night. They praise themself on their version of the "Ortvale valley", a local dish, made with meats, cheese and in the middle of valley for an egg. But they also serve less culturual food, for the homesick
Last Rain inn:
Owner: Calliope Hollowpot, a female halfling, hair in three buns on her head, a scar running over her left eye.
Description: The last rain inn is a seedy bar in the less visited part of Ortvale. It is a dark bar, with multiple water stains on the walls and floor, the few tables have scratches all over them. The only upkept place is the bar, which increases in height further to the walls as to accommodate the different races of Ortvale.
Produce: Though it is an inn, it deals much more in information. If something is to be known in Ortvale, Calliope either knows it, or knows who to ask.
General Goods:
Moonwatcher:
Owner: Aryllan Balefrost, a female high elf, looking late 30 year old. She has long blond hair in an undercut.
Help: Elise, a female halfling, brown hair in a bun with several braids across, burn mark on her right arm, dressed in dark browns
Description: It's a small wooden shop
Produce: The moonwatcher sells general goods, with supplies for everyone, from travellers to adventurers.
She sells basic supplies, food, but also healing potions. For people who know how to ask, she also sells more hidden items.
Devil's Fork:
Owner: Maetheus, a male tiefling, with dark blue skin, small horns, short spiky brown hair
Description: The devil's fork is a family business, owned by the family of Maetheus for the last 100 years, and it looks likes it. It has some decaying wooden beams to keep it up.
Produce: general goods, for the common folk.
Events:
Since Ortvale lies in the region of Melira, they celebrate the day of life on the 6th of Meliroh. They celebrate with a big festival in the touristic part of the city.
As the city is mostly founded by merchants coming from Azulago and the Mask region, Ortvale is also a great celebrator of the night of Masks on the 27th of Skam, honoring the god Skam, and Cities' day on the 9th of Lortyc.
Ortvale also celebrates its founding date at the beginning of fall on the 3rd of Skam, when the city gained its rights. They celebrate with traditional dances, food and music.
Notable people:
The mayor, Keldan Springfield, a male elf in his late 50s. He rules the city and makes sure the city gains enough profit from the merchants and adventurers passing by.
The drifthunts, the family you would most call nobility in Ortvale. They are a family of wildhunt coyote-like shifters, who gained the most influence when starting the trade between Azulago and the rest of the continent. The current leader is Flint Drifthunt.
Other people:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Aryllan Balefrost | Owner of the Moonwatcher, a general store, and seller of acquired goods. A female high elf, looking late 30 year old. She has long blond hair in an undercut |
| Atalya Greenbrook | The local herbalist and the wife of Ferel Greenbrook, has been missing for the last weeks Short greying hair in a pixie cut, multiple cuts and knicks on her arm from the plants. |
| Calliope Hollowpot | Owner of the Last Rain Inn, and seller of information A female halfling, hair in three buns on her head, a scar running over her left eye. |
| Cavian | A new guard of Ortvale, learning the ropes. A young slender human male, mid 20s, dressed in leathers provided by the guards |
| Elise | Assistant to Aryllan in the Moonwatcher A female halfling, brown hair in a bun with several braids across, burn mark on her right arm, dressed in dark browns |
| Ferel Greenbrook | Friend of Aryllan, husband of Atalya, one of the guards of Ortvale, since then joined Pluukr |
| Loben Lorgator | Owner of A bit of Ortvale An older gnome man, in his late 60s, grey hair, balding spot |
| Maetheus | Owner of the Devil's fork, a general goods store A male tiefling, with dark blue skin, small horns, short spiky brown hair |
| Mikael Falbek | A dealer in legal and illegal animals, owner of the pet store Barking Mad A male dwarf, his longer red hair in dreadlocks. Late 40s, dressed in armor |
Surrounding Area:
To the north, through Mask's Mouth, in the province of Mask lies the Humid Respite, an inn in the middle of the Mouth, a day's travel from Ortvale. A day further north lies Azulago, the capital of Mask
To the east lies the emerald forest, with the biggest village on the border, Wrohan, a little over 2 days of travel from Ortvale.
Southeast lies the Tyche region, with its capital conglomerate Elurra. The beginnings of Elurra lie 3.5 days away from Ortvale, and it takes the rest of the fourth day to get to the marketplace.
1 day of travel to the south lies the capital of Orlon, Remnis.
Southwest of Ortvale is the remainder of the Melira province, with 4 days between Ortvale and the capital city, Debes.
Ortvale serves as a main rest stop between Ellura, Remnis, Debes and Azulago
Current leader
Mayor Keldan Springfield
Founding Date
178 AA
Population
6501
Inhabitant Demonym
Ortvalians
Demonym
27% elves, 18% humans, 14% halflings, 12% gnomes, 10% shifters, 7% leonins, 6% tieflings and 6% other races
