VolKirk (Vole-Kerk)

"It's not that folk don't want to leave, they can't. There is a magic here that keeps all but the noble houses from leaving. So people do their best to live their lives, to find some shriveled piece of joy amidst the eternal night of this damned place. Before it's all inevitably ripped away from them by fang and claw" ~ Anje Vasharin
Residing in the southern most reaches of Wallachia, Volkirk is the largest settlement in the region. Once home to the noble Cel Tradat family, the city grew in the middling years of the First Age under the family's guidance and firm hand. Constructed with the similar dark stone work of Averheim, Volkirk spans 5 miles across and is home to 20,000 people. So close to  Vanigraad's southwestern coast, the city prospered on a plentiful whaling industry and provided the settlements further down the coast with a steady supply of whale oil with which to power their cities and their workshops. Though such knowledge on creating the oil has been lost in the Second Age due in part to the calamity, but also due to Wallachia cutting itself off from the rest of the world shortly before the disaster. Those who have attempted to reestablish ties to the area have never returned.
In the Second Age, Volkirk has fallen into the eternal night. The twin moons shining their ghostly light across the city while shadowy figures dart across the roof tops as chimney smoke curls lazily into the sky above. Order is kept in the streets by the Blood Watch, a collection of guards and paladins who owe allegiance only to Olivia Cel Tradat and her Crimson Court. The Watch keeps eyes and ears out for Olivia and any semblance of dissonance within the city is brought swiftly to heel. The house of Cel Tradat will not suffer the insolence of their flock.
Despite that, the city operates much like any other. Blacksmiths ply their trade behind open doors, the clang of iron against iron filling the Trade District with cacophony of sound. Apothecaries travel across Wallachia picking Moon Lilies, Foxglove, Witch-hazel, and many other herbs used in their craft before returning to the city. The Blood Watch takes a tax of all trades done within the city, but never so much as to cause an issue with supply. They benefit from successful trade with the northern Wallachia settlements just as much as anyone else. A fact that Olivia is keen to remind them of. On nights when the moon is full, the Crimson Court takes to the sky on swirling clouds of crimson smoke to descend into the city and the surrounding townships. Extracting their tax from their mortal cattle. The first night of each full moon is a night of blood and screams as the Countess and her court drink their fill. The citizen's of Volkirk can only huddle in fear and pray that they are spared for another day.
Recently however, reports have been coming to the Empress of Averheim that an influx of nightkin have been seen making their way into Wallachia and opting to stay there. Such reports coinciding with the recent disappear of Empress Luciana's sister Margret and reportedly the disappearance of a young prince of Iolan across the eastern sea. Such gatherings are remarkably rare for the vampire houses, as more often than not they are at each other's throats. A dull dread has begun to spread as rumors of the influx have spread across the continent. Even the Black Sentinels are on high alert, something that has not happened since the beginning of the Calamity of the First Age.

Government

Ruled over by Olivia Cel Tradat and her Crimson Court.

Type

City

Population

20,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Wallachians