Eldham (Eld-um)

Large City: Population 13,912 (81% elves, 12% vesperkin, 5% humans, 2% other races)

History

Eldham was founded by the Kingdom of Derunadel early in its existence, and predates Mythwell. It was originally a trade city, with it being only a few hundred miles from the western shores of Arak, but with the founding of Mythwell, it became less of an attractive destination for trade, as Mythwell was a more convenient location and other large cities such as Gloomwatch and Valensir were not separated by the Great Divide. However, despite it not being the most attractive destination for merchants, it sees its fair amount of trade activity, and hosts a trade festival every year towards the end of Lysten where they have a large variety of goods available in the Trade District.

Centuries ago during the outbreak of the Grave Rot Plague Rot Plague, Eldham was hit hard by the effects -- both the disease itself, and the aftermath. When the Elves began to forcibly quarantine even Humans who were not infected, this not only made the disease worse, but the already scared Human population of Eldham, like several other major cities, revolted. This led to riots where the Humans attacked and killed many, both guilty and innocent. It was a chaotic time to live in Eldham. Fortunately, not all Elves were as apathetic to the Humans' plight, and an underground resistance formed that allowed many Humans to escape a situation they otherwise would not have survived. This was possible due to heroes such as Adlar Netheridge, a Human diviner who acted as an early warning system to let freedom fighters know when there was trouble coming, and though it is not well-known, even The Messy Cushion's owner, Reginard Silverstring, used the sewer access beneath his tavern as a way to smuggle Humans out of the city. However, the rioting and resistance left deep scars between the Elven and Human peoples of the city which led to a series of events centuries later that would unfold into tragedy.

In recent years, Goblin activity in Eldham has surged, and the Emerald Company dispatched a group to investigate rumors that new Goblin variants had been spotted which had strange abilities. A local group of adventurers who had been kidnapped by Goblins decided to aid the small contingent of mercenaries and discovered that the Goblins with special abilities had been changed by a mutagen which had been developed by an Elf by the name of Adamar. This Elf was originally a resident of Eldham and had lost his wife to the Human riots during the outbreak of the Grave Rot Plague, which pushed him over the edge and led him to seek a way to finish what the plague started and wipe out the remaining Humans in Aellorah, starting with Eldham. The adventurers managed to stop him, or so they thought, when they located his base of operations, but the Elf they thought they defeated simply turned to snow and began to melt.

The adventurers would later encounter this Elf throughout their journeys working in the background, using his talents as a master of illusion to pull the strings behind the curtain to manipulate local politics in favor of Elven supremacy, working with an enchanter named Rhys to charm Humans living in the city to assassinate Elven politicians who were in favor of anti-Human legislation to implicate the Human community, which led to the formation of a cult called the Paragons of Lys which nearly wiped out all Humans in the city, leading them to seek shelter in Fort Elden, a ruined keep on the border of the Bast Wilds that had been recovered from Goblins by the same group of adventurers.

Following the Paragons' dismantling after the adventurers defeated its leader, Haldir, the magistrate who was believed to be in league with Adamar was deposed and imprisoned while a new, Human magistrate, was installed. However, his governance would be short-lived, as a necromancer by the name of Aubron who had been working with Adamar, fed up with Adamar and the Paragons' failures, initiated his own attack on the city, leading a horde of undead into the city through the sewers during a public ceremony. The city was under siege for weeks, and the new Human magistrate, Garrett Kincade, was killed. The band of adventurers managed to stop the undead by luring them into the town square and using a massive cache of powder kegs the Emerald Company had recovered from Adamar's Goblins to blow them away.

After the adventurers dealt with the undead, The Dawnstar arrived just a little too late to help, and began cleaning up the undead who had escaped the massive explosion or had been hiding in the sewers, and began to help restore order in the city. In the time following, the previous magistrate, Eldar Gilzana, was restored to his position after it was discovered that his actions during the Paragons' time in Eldham were due to his family being held hostage by Adamar and Aubron. He would restore order in the city in the following months, but after the adventurers defeated Aubron, it was discovered that Eldar's family had been dead the whole time. Since that time, Eldar has not made a public appearance.

Due to the tragic events of the last few years, Eldham's population has dwindled from over 20,000 to just shy of 14,000.

Government

Eldham, like the rest of Arak, is governed by the democratic system that was created after the Kingdom of Derunadel was dissolved in the Restoration period. Eldham has its own magistrate which handles their affairs. The magistrate is elected by the people, as well as a council of 21 other elected officials who are responsible for representing the people's wishes. There is no limit for how long someone can hold the position of magistrate, but elected representatives can hold their position for no longer than a term of 50 years. This limit is to prevent politicians who become out of touch with their community from holding office for too long, and it prevents Elves from holding office for extreme lengths of time. The magistrate can be elected out of office at any time if enough of the townsfolk agree to a re-election, or if the previous magistrate dies.

The elected politicians of Eldham correspond with their constituents by mail or personal appointment. Public forums are rare because with so many citizens, it can be chaotic, and depending on the state of affairs in the city, it can even be dangerous. There was one instance where the group of adventurers responsible for ousting Adamar and Rhys were duped into delivering a package to a pro-Human legislator in the aristocratic district which turned out to be a parcel bomb, which killed the official -- which was sweeped under the rug due to the corruption in the Statehouse.

The magistrate conducts their affairs in the Statehouse, holding meetings with Eldham's elected representatives and occasionally hosting private functions with visiting officials. Despite the Paragons of Lys being dismantled, some still remain in the city, and despite the chaos in the city following the undead outbreak, there is fear that with so much unknown about the membership of the Paragons that what remains of them could one day infiltrate the Statehouse and reignite the flames of hatred of the Human population. However, for now, the Statehouse has been focused on rebuilding the city.

The towns of Carran, Oxfrost, and Mistmouth fall under the jurisdiction of the magistrate of Eldham, and pay taxes to the city for protection.

Economy

Eldham is no longer the trade destination it once was thanks to Mythwell's superior location, but it still sees a good amount of trade, and has a strong economy for it. There are quite a few shops with conventional and rare goods available, though the only source of enchanted items comes from Chandira's Hole-in-the-Wall, which appears within a pocket dimension on the outside wall of the Messy Cushion periodically. However, Eldham's economy largely focuses on material resources gathered from the mountains in the Great Divide, including common resources, such as iron, copper, and silver. However, the real money comes from their one export good, Shadowflame Coal, which is plentiful in certain areas of the Great Divide and in the mountains near Wildshire.

Shadowflame Coal is a special type of coal with a subtle blue hue that is invaluable in the production of magical goods and any kind of forged magical equipment. It is especially necessary to work with Petrasteel, which can only be made hot enough to forge in the temperatures of a forge using the blue flames of this special coal. The coal itself is magical and is used as a catalyst to make metals which normally resist Flow more malleable and more capable of taking an enchantment. However, even Shadowflame Coal cannot overcome Shadesteel's resistance to Flow.

There are many bakeries in Eldham, and they seem to specialize in savory pastries, especially those that use Emberberry, a favorite in Arakian cuisine. Despite the presence of taverns in Eldham, most alcohol is imported, as there aren't enough locally produced resources for breweries -- although, Reginard at the Messy Cushion is starting a little venture in his cellar, formerly used as an escape route for Humans during the Grave Rot Plague, to produce some craft beers that he hopes will become popular especially in the wake of reduced trade following the undead outbreak which halted trade for nearly a year.

Notable Locations

Eldham is an average city with a variety of shops and services available, and like all major cities in Arak, it has a Statehouse. The Statehouse is the building where the magistrate of Eldham, currently Eldar Gilzana, conducts his stately affairs. Due to tragic circumstances, Eldar has not made a public appearance in months, and those working in the Statehouse have spread rumors that he has been heavily drinking. In the meantime, Eldham's other elected representatives have stepped in to fulfill his duties. The Statehouse is protected by an addition wall that separates it from the rest of the city, and is guarded at all hours to prevent unsavory types from entering.

In the center of the city is a large open area, the Town Square, where there are many market stalls selling various types of food. Locals like to come here in the morning for breakfast, and occasionally, ceremonies and official proclamations shall be made here by the Statehouse. Ever since the events involving the Paragons of Lys, when Lys herself made an appearance in the town square during a speech, in which she condemned the actions of the local Elves and greatly diminished their lifespans, a patch of purple lilacs and yellow marigolds inexplicably grows under the stage despite nobody maintaining them -- even growing back on their own following the explosion a group of adventurers used to dispatch the undead that had overrun the city. The local Elves see this as a reminder of their wrongdoing and a symbol that they need to do better.

Like many cities in Arak, there is a temple dedicated to Lys that is located in the city's Cultural district. All faiths are welcome in the temple, which has shrines dedicated to all Seven Sisters, but given the overwhelming Elven population in Arak, the temple was specifically erected in Lys' name. Many such temples can be found in Arak. During the undead outbreak which plagued the city, it was revealed that the high priest, and Elf named Belegor Maerdrym, was apparently the illusionist named Adamar in disguise, and he had taken Belegor's form so that he could falsely show support for the Paragons of Lys so the local Elves would believe that the church itself supported their actions. In the aftermath of the outbreak, once the Dawnstar cleared out the remaining undead, Belegor was found imprisoned in an abandoned warehouse in the Human district of the city.

There are a number of shops worth a visit here, including:

• The Dead Goose Inn - A popular inn located by the northwestern exit of the city with a sign on the front depicting a bleeding goose with comical Xs over its eyes. It is known for a cozy interior and good food. Once owned by an Elven woman named Tabitha who had inherited the inn from her late parents, she never wanted to be an innkeeper and sold the inn to one of the local adventurers, an Luminari named Icarus who has a habit of coming up with unconventional and strange foods. After buying the inn, he renovated it, adding a display counter where he sells his homemade baked goods. The adventurers who dealt with Adamar and the Paragons of Lys got their start meeting with the Emerald Company in this very inn.

• The Messy Cushion - A very old tavern located in the city's Cultural district, owned by the old Elf named Reginard Silverstring. During the riots of the Grave Rot Plague, Reginard joined the resistance, providing shelter and safe passage out of the city through a series of tunnels connected to the sewer access found below his tavern. These days, the hidden area below his tavern has been converted to his very own secret brewing laboratory where he has developed several craft ales in the wake of reduced trade following the undead outbreak with the help of a local adventurer. The outside wall of his tavern is occasionally claimed by the Vesperkin wizard known as Chandira, who will slap a portable hole on the wall leading into her shop, full of magical goods. Visitors to the tavern will swear that Reginard always seems to be polishing the same glass when he's not serving drinks.
• Eldrin's Emporium - A general goods store owned by a simple Elven man named Eldrin. He is amicable, though a bit skittish -- just don't sneak up on him. He is in his first millennia and though he won't admit it to a stranger, he has been plagued by nightmares since he was a child depicting a shadowy creature following him at night through the streets of Eldham, always in the periphery of his vision. He has been seeking answers for years but has never found anyone who knows where his issue stems. He will pay good money for relief from his night terrors.
• Hans' Workshop - One of the most frequented blacksmiths in the city, owned by a Human man named Hans. The smithy closed temporarily during the Paragons of Lys' inquisition in the city and the undead outbreak. However, Hans is back in business and business is booming with the city having to rebuild so much. Hans is a sturdy man, but polite, and gets his work done quickly. He seems reluctant to open up to customers about his personal life, though. Most Elves don't bother to ask, but the Humans in the city are concerned that he seems depressed.
• Eldham's Excellent Elixirs - This popular herbal remedy and potion shop was originally a small business at the border of the Human quarter and trade district that struggled to make ends meet due to Elven treatment of Humans in the city. When the Paragons of Lys began their inquisition looking to rid the city of Humans and Half-Elven children, the owner, a Human woman named Giselle Prestcote, was nearly a victim of their hatred. However, a local Dwarven adventurer named Dain Brawnanvil, who was part of the group that dismantled the Paragons, bought her shop from the corrupt real-estate mogul that threatened to take her shop away from her, and let her continue to do her work, hiring a sympathetic Elf named Alathar to be the "face" of the shop while she produced the goods. Unfortunately, during the undead outbreak, Alathar was killed, but Giselle survived and went with her two children to Fort Elden to take refuge, providing assistance to the adventurers. After things calmed down, she was able to move back to Eldham to resume business and is thriving now that Elven attitudes towards Humans have begun to shift.
• Myrtle's Bookshop - A small bookshop in the trade district owned by a Vesperkin woman named Myrtle who is easily distracted. Her selection is mostly novels, especially those featuring the famed Orator "Diara Broadwool". However, she has some basic reading material for those looking to get their start in magic, but she charges more than what is reasonable for them because she knows the only other option is for customers to brave the Bast Wilds and visit Mythwell. She also cannot keep a secret to save her life and likes to spread rumors when she hears a particularly juicy piece of gossip from a customer.
• Chandira's Hole-in-the-Wall - A literal "hole in the wall", this traveling shop is owned by a Vesperkin woman named Chandira, a wizard and member of the Sorcerer's Cabal who specializes in Conjuration. She has aided the adventurers of the city numerous times, even assisting in rounding up the undead that had overrun the city and leading them to the town square to be blown up. She is quite feisty, but as long as you're respectful, she is very kind and helpful. Her shop exists in a pocket dimension that is accessed via a portable hole that she casually slaps on the side of The Messy Cushion whenever she is in town. She is friendly with Reginard and can be found drinking in his tavern after she closes up shop for the day. She does not bother to use a door for her shop, as she can bar entry through the portal when it is time to leave for the night.

Culture

The locals of Eldham are a mixed lot. Like most of Arak, Elves are the predominant race found in the city, though every other race can be found here -- though a Dwarf is an extreme rarity, like most of the world outside Reshyk. As a result, most of the city follows Elven cultural norms. Though the scars of hatred between the Elven and Human people run deep, the attitudes of the two people are beginning to shift now that the Paragons have been dealt with. In the wake of so many Human lives being lost, many strides are being made by the local government to feature Human tradesmen and cultural observations in the city's event planning -- although, the Elves of the city are still very opposed to the idea of letting the Humans practice their Barebliss festival, where Humans shed their clothing, drink, and make merry while dancing around large bonfires wearing crowns of woven red azaleas on their heads. This festival is meant not only to help Humans bond by making themselves vulnerable, but the drinking helps them open up about themselves as well. The festival is very spirited and most Humans look forward to it. The festival is held on the first full moon of Lekaris during the month of Lekaren.

Defenses

The city has a contingent of Enforcers in the employ of the magistrate as almost all settlements in Arak have which defend the city in the event of attack, and investigate civil matters, acting as a policing force. However, judgment for crimes is carried out by a judicial group of 5 Chancellors, who call forth witnesses and peers to act as jury during trials. In addition to the Enforcers, the city has a large 30 ft. stone wall protecting it that is 10 ft. thick. Their walls are not as well-maintained as cities like Mythwell, but they also do not face many threats these days, so it hasn't been seen as very important to maintain them ever since Arak's democracy was established. They have a number of ballistae on the walls, but not enough of them to fend off a real threat.

In the wake of the undead outbreak, there has been an ongoing discussion about the possible need to bolster their defenses.

Type

City