Valenacht (VAH-leh-nacht)
"The sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep. Welcome to Valenacht."
Cyril, primary broadcaster of the Valenacht Community Dreaming Station
Demographics
Valenacht is primarily a human settlement, though there's a solid mixture of most others too.
73% human, 10% halfling, 7% dwarvish, 5% gnomish, 5% others (full elves don't seem to reside in Valenacht at all, for whatever reason).
Government
Valenacht's government is simultaneously harshly oppressive and extremely liberating. Essentially all governmental power is given to the City Council, a multiheaded entity of unknown origins that deposed the settlement's earliest residents' attempt to create a colony in the name of Tempora's Melan Dynasty. They've been in power ever since, and no one has particularly cared to deal with them. This group also controls the Hidden Guard, a police force only accessible by the Council itself - if you've got an emergency, too bad!
Defences
Oddly enough, Valenacht has never been invaded and likely never will. Outside aggressors from the Material Plane are typically turned off by the extraordinarily horrendous vibes they receive when entering Valenacht's sphere of influence, and would thus rather secure somewhere less strategically advantageous but more pleasant to be around.
Industry & Trade
In comparison to other similarly-structured towns in Uthilith, Valenacht is significantly more self-sufficient due to the settlement's overall history. Being isolated on a peninsula for half of a century with essentially no contact to the outside world might do that to you.
The primary industries in Valenacht are agriculture (grains and root vegetables) and livestock. However, it's quite possible to make a living in more specifically odd ways than in other settlements.
Infrastructure
Valenacht has one of the most robust sewer systems in Iacchus Argentum, and for good reason - strange things often fall from the skies above, and rather than let corpses of livestock or blood stand stagnant in the streets, the people of the town would rather send it to the earth below.
This settlement is also an extremely walkable town. Most of the roads aren't wide enough for a carriage or cart to fit comfortably, so the residents tend to stick solely to walking wherever they need to go. However, a few roads have been built circumventing the town for easier access to the small port in town or for farmers to get to the farmer's market without interfering with daily life.
Assets
Valenacht has a strange relationship with the conception of magic. It's an incredibly supernatural town due to its place on the intersecting ley lines that traverse all of Uthilith, but the ruling power and majority of the residents are scared of learned arcane arts. Thus, it lacks the robust magic systems found in all other comparable civilizations in Uthilith.
The City Council hoards the high majority of the town's magical artifacts, as to 'protect' the city from themselves. Most of the names of these valuables have been lost to the sands of time.
Guilds and Factions
They aren't necessarily "factions", per se, but Valenacht is split into five wards to divide socioeconomic classes and particular activity/industry within the town.
Downtown Valenacht is the largest urban hub on this quarter of Iacchus Argentum. It contains the majority of entertainment, educational, and religious institutions within the town. Most residents who work in Downtown Valenacht tend to live in or above their respective shops, though some do commute from Old Town. The Obelisk (otherwise known as the Tuesday Cult's center of affection) is a major landmark that individuals across the world who hear whispers of another realm flock to every few years.
Old Town Valenacht is primarily the residential district of Valenacht. It contains the most affordable housing and there's a certain charm to the businesses here. The Mourning Wood, a tavern with exceptional wings, resides here.
The Prime Ward is where the upper-class of Valenacht tend to live. These folks come from old money and have the most sizable houses of anyone in town. However, they pale in comparison to the wealthy classes in places like Oakenward or Sakha.
The Farmer's Ward is the agricultural district of town, and it's populated by the fewest folks. Jean-Pierre, y'know, the farmer? He owns effectively all of the viable land in this ward and hires a lot of individuals from Valenacht to help with planting, cultivation, and harvest.
The Farmer's Market is the catch-all for essentially everything else, but it's primarily the merchant portion of town. It's known as the Farmer's Market because that's what is primarily focused on, but this area of town has a few boutiques and restaurants.
Founding Date
Verdant Moon 29, CY 679
Alternative Name(s)
Abode of the Smiling God
Type
Large town
Population
10,572
Inhabitant Demonym
Valens
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
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