Highguard
"Never have city walls made me feel so safe. This city and its castle are an exemplar to all that walk these lands. When I first stepped foot on Dalvalerian soil I felt a presence keeping watch over me. It is not a harmful or disconcerting presence. It is a peaceful one like an older brother watches over his younger siblings. It is comfort. It is the feeling of guiding hands on your back telling you it is okay to climb higher, for if you fall, someone will be there to catch you. Now that I have seen the city, I know where it comes from. One might expect me to honor the royal castle, or the King's smile, or the town guard with this comforting presence, but I realized it is none of those things. It is the very people that live here. Each with a heart of gold, whether they believe it or not, act in such a way that it makes you feel like you could do anything, be anyone. This land has shown me what true freedom feels like." - Eldoraan Fleetfoot
Demographics
The city is comprised primarily of humans, but there are a significant number of Half-Elves, Dwarves, Wood Elves, and Halflings that inhabit the castle's walls. Less common are the occasional High Elves, Gnomes, Half-Orcs, and Goliath.
Government
The King is usually pretty lenient in making laws. Dallenvale does not host an official army. Dallenvale's army is entirely militia and volunteers. This means that taxes are often not necessary. Trade provides the King with all the wealth he needs to fund his town guard and city upkeep. The town guard is what keeps the common rabble in line, but that is usually all it is. Intense altercations rarely find their way to Highguard as a result of the responsible people that live there. If a problem does arise, Highguardians are usually pretty quick to resolve it in a peaceful manner. While crime does occasionally make its way behind city walls, the High Order is quick to shut it down. Compared to most cities, however, Highguard is considered to be one of the safest and calmest cities in the lands.
Industry & Trade
Highguard is famous for their abundance of natural resources in the form of clay, lumber, grains, fresh meat, and most of all their delicious baked goods. As for imports, while Highguard is mostly self sufficient, the people love beautiful items and crafts. Thus, much of their money is put towards hand made items from Gandahar to the North as well as glimmering jewels and metals exported out of Moradin to the south.
Infrastructure
Highguard hosts a number of famous structures that are known across the lands. Of course, the Shimmering Palace is a sight that most would describe as unforgettable. In addition, the Bluewater shipyard is one of 3 major trading ports along the Azure Coast, trade of all kinds flow in and out of the ports. One of the greatest works of archetecture, designed by Gundra herself back in pre-era, are Highguard's unbreakable walls. Built of a metal alloy which can be forged only in the depths of Irkanthand, these city walls were also designed to serve as an aqueduct that provides water to the whole city. Much of the land inside the city is paved over with straight cut stone walk ways. Wherever there isn't stone, there is short green grass that takes its place. Many of the buildings are made of wood and have expanded upwards in height as a result of the growing population that lives there. The Highguardian markets are just as, if not more, fruitful than the docks. The 3 different market squares are built on the 3 main courtyards built in honor of the 3 principles of Rhonin. Each is home to a different selection of items: food, hand crafts, and forged crafts.
Guilds and Factions
The High Order is a group of volunteer investigators and skilled fighters that hunt down and root out corruption before it takes root in Highguard. They serve as the lead investigators in most serious crime and are rewarded by the King in full. Their symbol is a spear and sword crossed in front of a shield.
The Ordent Scribes is a guild of historians, scribes, and calligraphers. It provides the city's institutions and merchants with most of their literary needs. The guild makes it its mission to hunt, acquire, and copy every tome of knowledge ever written to share it with the world. They work with the King openly, but they run out of their Grand Library in Gandahar.
The Stalwart Adventurers' Guild is a five story tavern that sits just outside of the Liberty Market Place. The guild administers permits for taking on jobs posted on the guild's quest board and directs adventurers during states of emergency in the city, which rarely occur.
The Golden Grain is a trading guild the joins together to discuss rules and present trade items on an official platform. The guild is represented throughout the Azure Coast, regulating trade at almost every port.
The Courier's Guild works out of the inner sanctum of the city. Their members are often referred to as "green and blues" based on their uniforms. Of the 100 students they take each year, usually only 10 graduate and are capable of the high performance requirements demanded by Post Master Sam Slywizen. The Couriers Guild operates all throughout Dallenvale.
The Fellowship of Nothing Ventured is a mutual aid society for retired treasure hunters, adventurers, and explorers. The Fellowship is a place of celebration as most who go out on adventures rarely return, much less with something to show for it, so when they do, they receive praise and glory beyond what they have already received in their previous lives. They are a source of wisdom for both the town guard and the young adventurers of Highguard.
The Traveling Peoples aren't a guild per-say but rather a loose coalition of a dozen caravans or so. They don't hold enough power to be a major player in politics, but they hold enough respect. They don't have any particular services, but their travels result in a lot of information being passed on orally. They are a great source information for a rather low price, being comprised most of half-elves and the occasional halfling or half-orc.
The Sea Shags' Gamer's League is a guild of gamer's staged out of the Bluewater Shipyard. They own a three-story tavern called the Dirty Pearl that utilizes wenches as the waiters for the establishment. They have but one rule: "It's not cheatin' if ya don't get caught."
The Yawning Artists' Guild is an arrogant and pretentious group of singers, thespians, and artists that proves to be the most difficult guilds to work with in the city. They have complete control over all the theatres, amphitheatres, museums, and even circuses in the city. The guild is actually a conglomeration of the Bard's Guild, the Painter's Union, the Luthier's League, the Society of Circus Performers, and the Actor's Alliance. They all joined forces to work towards the goal of actually making money as artists.
History
The city was first built around Mograine's Golden Palace in the final years of the Leviathans. Mograine requested Gundra's help in building a city that would stand the test of time and serve as a beacon of hope and freedom to all the could see it. With Gundra's help, Mograine created a stronghold that not even the strongest army could breach. In the year 132, the Dallenvale Kingdom was formed. Mograine's son, Darion Lightbringer was the first king to rule, and he would go on to lead the warriors of the High Order to push back the bandits and marauders that ruled the surrounding lands. Darion freed the settlements that were plagued by chaos and hate, and brought them honor and peace. The Lightbringer bloodline has remained in the throne since Mograine himself, and it has gone undisputed thus far. The current king, Alexander Lightbringer, still wishes to keep his lands free, especially against the Queldashi Empire, formed from the very bandits that his ancestors defeated so long ago.
Architecture
The walls of the city are smooth and flawless, built from malacore, a metal that can only be smelted from the depths of Irkthand. The roads are paved with stone, contrasting the buildings that are cut from brown oak wood. The Golden Palace, however, is made almost entirely of marble. The common area buildings generally stand several stories high and are wooden not only outside but inside as well. The general architectural style are 6 windows on every story facing the street and a single brown door as the entrance. Houses are usually defined by their white washed exterior with brown trim and brown roofs; whereas, shops, stores, and taverns are entirely brown paneling.
Geography
The land surrounding Highguard is all flat plains with beautiful long emerald grass and bountiful wheat stalks. It sits on the mouth of the Slow River as it opens up into the Soft Wool Channel.
Natural Resources
The city's surrounding land yields abundant amounts of grain from the fields, as well as numerous cattle, sheep, goats among other livestock from the nearby plains. The city also imports clay and lumber from deeper into the countryside of Dallenvale.
Alternative Name(s)
The Royal City, Beacon of Hope, The Golden Palace
Type
Capital
Population
200,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Highguardian
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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