The Ruins Of Harmonia

The Ruins of Harmonia are the remnants of the ancient capital of Terresancta - the continent that became The Shattered Isles. After the Goddess Wars split the metropolis in half, civilized cultures abandoned the city. Now gangs of outlaws, runaways, and outcasts work together to control the remains of the once-holy capital.

History

Harmonia was the capital of Terresancta when all nations lived in harmony. Due to the blessings of the Goddesses, scarcity was not an issue. Instead of fighting for resources, the races of Terresancta focused on trade, culture, and praise of the Goddesses. For 2000 years, this peace lasted. When the Goddess War occurred, Harmonia was left shattered.
With The Tear forming a great divide between the north and south, a cultural rift began to form between both ends. The newfound scarcity had left both sides selfish, preferring to care for their own in the following years instead of trying to reform as one unified front. There were attempts to repair Harmonia and recover items. These attempts failed due to crumbling terrain, unstable architecture, and gangs seeking to carve out territory in the more hostile, godless world. This lead to Harmonia being abandoned by broader civilization, becoming a territory controlled by outlaws.

Government

Bandits and various other outlaws run the districts of the shattered city. There are five major groups, with each group using their district as a hub for activities, funneling wealth to the leaders of each gang. These groups form a "federation" of outlaws ruled by a clan in the city's center.

The Royals

The Royals are the oldest gang in the ruins. Lead by a woman dubbed [ROYAL_LEADER_NAME], they rule the ruins from [CAPITAL_DIVINE_TEMPLE] - a spire built as a tribute to the Goddesses in the center of Harmonia. They manage the logistics of keeping the city running, including the flow of food, stolen goods, and building materials. Members can access the treasury that stores the highest quality weapons and armor from the old world. They also get the first pick of captives from the outside world to use as servants or food. Members of other gangs are given an audience before [ROYAL_LEADER_NAME] regarding their districts, and [ROYAL_LEADER_NAME] has the final say on taking action on any issues that require the resources of The Royals.
Members of The Royals tend to be the strongest or most intelligent members of other groups. Those who prove their value are scouted out and offered food, luxury, and safety beyond what those in other districts have. Few who receive such offers refuse. Recruits move into the abandoned high-quality housing in the central part of the ruins.
The Royals hold loyalty in high regard. They ask for a tribute of stolen goods, captured people, and food from the other groups. In return, groups receive their protection, resources, and help in managing peace between gangs. Those who refuse to pay tribute or otherwise disturb the balance of the system become exiles. The process of exiling someone from The Ruins is harsh - in a public ceremony in the center of town, The Royals gather a new batch of exiles. There are two rules in the ceremony: If you escape without getting eaten, leave and never return. If you help the exiles, you're on the menu. All members of all gangs are free to hunt you after a 1-minute countdown, given as a head start. There are no recorded escapees of this ceremony.

The Ornamental

The Ornamental are women seeking sex, focusing on BDSM with them the dominant role in encounters. The group lives near the ruins' entrance, set up in a festive area not unlike a red-light district. They're known to seduce adventurers and scavengers that venture into the ruins into paying for their services. Generally, it's safe to spend the night at one of the many brothels in this area. You may be missing a few coins or a trinket or two, but most people make it past this area with no danger to their lives. However, an unlucky few travelers disappear after a night with these women.
This group uses colorful clothing from the ruins, tweaked to accentuate each woman's most attractive features.

The Warlords

The Warlords are a group of warriors and exiles that have gained a reputation for extreme violence, hunger, and greed. In the near-immediate aftermath of The Goddess War, these women sought to give themselves an advantage in resources by sacking cities and towns across the land. Members usually come from bandit groups across The Shattered Isles seeking to escape the law. They seek shelter and kinship with their fellow outlaws, and together this group makes up the brunt of The Ruin's martial might.
The group largely stays on the eastern end of the ruins, with additional camps and outposts spread through the town. The less bloodthirsty among them are trusted as guards and help defend the other districts. Adventurers who travel into the eastern end, or stumble upon groups of these bandits away from the more civilized ruins, will be in grave danger. The Warlords kidnap, rob, or devour most adventurers caught unaware in their territory. The stronger an adventurer appears the more likely a group of bandits is to attack them. Warlords live for the challenge of battle and dominating their enemies, and there is nothing more glorifying than defeating a stronger opponent.

The Mystics

The Mystics are a group of magical outlaws shunned by greater magical society. There are types of magic seen as forbidden or artifacts deemed too dangerous to use. Members of The Mystics see these restrictions as useless barriers to advancing the world through magic. In the western district of the ruins, the group lives in the remains of the old school of wizardry. They collect spells, magical artifacts, and ancient technology from the ruins or the outside world and study their properties.
The Mystics work closely with The Royals, teaching curious members magic and defending the city with their mages. In return, The Royals provide a steady flow of subjects for the group's experiments, in addition to magical items taken from adventurers.

The Shadows

A group of assassins and thieves dubbed The Shadows lives in the catacombs underneath the ruins. Originally The Shadows was made of two distinct groups - a group of thieves and fences and a group of assassins. Over time these two groups merged into one out of convenience. This group is the most well-organized of the gangs of the ruins. They have regular contact with the outside world and prioritize training new members on not getting caught.
The Shadows act as a secret police force for the ruins. They are the eyes and ears of The Royals - their multi-talented members are skilled at deception and integrate with the other groups of the ruins. These agents report plots against The Royals and can stealthily take out threats to the fragile peace between groups.

Assets

Harmonia was a melting pot of all the cultures of Terresacnta. It was also a place of worship. The founders dedicated the city to the Goddesses, building a great spire as a tribute. Due to its roots as a religious and cultural hub, the ruins of Harmonia hold a tremendous amount of treasure from the old world. This treasure includes cultural and religious documents, historical accounts, ancient artifacts, and magical knowledge.

Defenses

Due to the egalitarian and peaceful nature of Harmonia, the giant metropolis lacked any military defenses. Instead of being placed for strategy, the people of Harmonia built walls to separate the city into distinct cultural and functional districts. These districts are now further separated by makeshift barriers created from the remains of the city's buildings.

Geography

Harmonia sat in the low-lying area where two river valleys intersected. The Tear artificially split this area during the Goddess War. As of 0 PGW, the rivers on the north and south ends create waterfalls that flow into the river below.

RUINED SETTLEMENT
0 AGW

Founding Date

2000 PGW

Type

Capital

Location under

The Tear