Evergarde

Metropolis: Population 39,591 (56% elves, 12% humans, 11% vesperkin, 5% lynoxi, 16% other races)

History

Evergarde is the capital city of the Sudwin Valley region of Arak and home to one of the largest mineral markets in the world. The city is also well-known for its traveling shops that operate out of kiosks or carts that roam the city. Evergarde was once the capital of the Rojek Dynasty before its incorporation into Arak's new democracy during the Restoration period. The last relic of the Rojek Dynasty lies in the city's thoroughfare in the form of a statue of a Vesperkin man, which is known as the Statue of The Unseen Guardian. On the first of Umen each year, citizens leave offerings of lavender around the statue to commemorate the sacrifice of the Vesperkin man, who stopped the assassination of Morn Grantham, the Human ambassador of the Sudwin Valley during the Yzerid Unification War as the rest of Arak was attempting to integrate the Yzerid Desert into the new democracy.

Something that is still painfully fresh in the city's memory is the fact that Evergarde was ground zero for the outbreak of the Grave Rot Plague. In early Quenten of the last year of the Restoration period, the disease appeared seemingly out of nowhere and quickly overwhelmed the Human population by the end of the month. Unfortunately, due to the large amount of trade activity, the disease was carried quickly to surrounding settlements, and then to Hazelwater, which led to it being transported by sea to the other continents of the world. It is still unknown to this day what the cause was, though some Elves alive at the time remember a strange group passing through the city about the same time as the outbreak who hid their faces and were traveling with a member of the Sorcerer's Cabal.

The city feels much more open due to the fact that only the Sovereign Quarter, which includes the Statehouse, the wealthy, and some upper class shops, are located within the walls of the city. The rest of the city, including the markets, residences, and cultural buildings, are located outside the city walls. Some feel uneasy about being exposed without the protection of the city's walls, but most see it as acceptable because Arak has not seen an interstate conflict since the Yzerid Unification War, about 700 years ago. However, with the news of increasing Goblin activity to the north in the Taungar Valley, many residents are calling for Emrys to establish some sort of protection around the city.

Government

The current magistrate, an Elven man by the name of Emrys Amakiir, began his tenure about 10 years ago after the previous magistrate, a Human man named Talfen Chabot, died due to old age. Emrys had no prior experience in politics, which leads some to wonder how he acquired his position in the first place, though most are pleased with him so far with the exception of a few unwise decisions regarding the city's expenses and how he has handled the slums, leading some to wonder if he has their best interests in mind.

Emrys presides over most of the settlements in the Sudwin Valley, with the few exceptions being managed by Hazelwater and Coldrock. The number of settlements that Evergarde is responsible for is much larger than the average city in Arak, and due to Emrys' lackluster financial judgment, several smaller villages feel that Emrys is not doing his duty and have begun to spread rumors about him hoping to discredit him to force an election. It is unclear if the rumors of the Statehouse being haunted is one of these false allegations.

Economy

Evergarde's economy is largely based on the trade of material resources -- in particular, metals and minerals. The city gets most of its goods from surrounding settlements under its jurisdiction. Despite Emrys' inexperience, one decision he made that was questionable and has yet to reveal whether it was for the best is that he allows settlements to pay their taxes using their export goods instead. If they elect to do so, the value of those export goods is at a 50% premium, meaning they are worth more than if they are sold to merchants by themselves. This eases the financial burden on small settlements which don't see as much as Evergarde or Hazelwater, but though the goods are given to local merchants to sell, the loss is recovered by a fee taken out of the profits of merchants who sell these taxed goods. So far it seems to be working for them, but some financially savvy locals seem to believe this isn't viable long-term.

Most goods sold in shops in Evergarde are things such as specialized metals, gems, and things crafted from them. The shop called "The Grotto" earned its position in the Sovereign Quarter due to the sheer amount of profit the owner is able to generate due to his monopoly on certain unique gems which are used widely throughout Arak. Besides the various material trades around the city, there are also several unique resources travelers may find very useful, and quaint specialty shops serving niche interests not catered to in other cities of Evergarde's size, such as The Traveling Teapot, Whispered Whiskers, or Tails & Tales.

Lately, Evergarde has been pulling a lot of business away from Valensir in the metal trade due to a better variety of specialized metals, such as Petrasteel that is imported from Gothir. The Grotto also has a stock of Eskite, which has been controversial, as Myr keeps that tightly under wraps and Nalak could cause an incident if it became widely known that he is in possession of it.

Notable Locations

The Statehouse is located within the Sovereign Quarter inside the city walls, and is fairly large, as due to the number of settlements under Evergarde's jurisdiction, Emrys frequently has to host visiting community leaders, and occasionally foreign magistrates and politicians. There has been a rumor floating around the city recently suggesting that the Statehouse is haunted, and some believe it is the spirit of Talfen Chabot, the late magistrate. They say that they believe the spirit returned because they believe Emrys is doing a poor job, and some even suggest Emrys had something to do with Talfen's death -- though there is a lot of hearsay. Emrys dismisses these rumors as superstitious nonsense and refuses to speak of it. Some of the politicians believe this rumor may have been started by the same groups responsible for other rumors that the settlements under Evergarde's jurisdiction have been spreading in an attempt to discredit Emrys and make him look bad to force an election. However, despite the mystery surrounding this rumor, the Enforcers guarding the Statehouse have seemed a bit on edge lately.

In the city thoroughfare there sits a statue with a striking realistic resemblance to a Vesperkin man. The Vesperkin appears to have a shocked expression on his face with his hands raised in defense. The locals call it the "Unseen Guardian". It is startlingly detailed and lifelike. On the first of Umen each year, locals leave offerings of lavender at the statue, as the Vesperkin depicted in the statue is believed to have saved Morn Grantham, one of the last ambassadors during the Yzerid Unification War, from assassination. It is said that Morn had been in the Statehouse and was followed into a room by a would-be assassin who targeted Morn with some sort of spell using a wand, but the spell did not hit Morn, and instead struck a Vesperkin who appeared out of nowhere between Morn and the assassin. The Vesperkin is believed to have been invisible and though it is not known who this mysterious Vesperkin was, he prevented an event that could have prolonged the bloody war further. None in the city seem to know who created the statue, and there is no maker's mark on it.

There is a lake about two miles north of Evergarde called "Lilac Lake". During the day it is a lake like any other, just with lilac purple water. However, at night, this lake gives off a soft purple glow from deep within the lake due to a type of algae found in the water. The algae is harmless, but if combined with some other local herbs, it can be made into a powerful elixir that can ward off sickness for a day or two. The magistrate of Evergarde limits how much water can be collected from the lake to prevent it from drying up. The local alchemists stockpile this elixir for times of outbreak of diseases.

There is also a field with several crudely constructed stone towers that the locals like to use to play Siege.

There are also a number of unique businesses throughout the city, including:

1. The Giggling Goblin - A tavern that serves imported ales, including the drink that earned the tavern its namesake, the "Giggling Goblin", which never fails to send the consumer into a fit of uncontrollable giggling, along with hiccups. Some find the high spirits present here due to the drink amusing, but the tavern gets its fair share of noise complaints. The tavern is owned by a friendly Elven man named Leliar Adarion, who tends to become eerily serious if you bring down the mood or cause trouble.
2. Inn-cognito - A hole-in-the-wall inn that is located somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the city's outskirts. The owner is known for discretion regarding her guests and will throw out anyone spreading rumors. If you're looking for a place to lie low for a while, Inn-cognito is a safe place to do so. Those that come to the city searching for someone who may be on the run will not find help here, nor will any of the locals direct them to Inn-cognito, as the locals respect its discretion -- they will simply play dumb and point you towards another inn if they suspect you have ill intentions. The inn is owned by a Vesperkin woman named Carissa Shadowleaf.
3. The Grindstone - A blacksmithy owned by an Ettinor man named Cavoc. He sells mostly larger weapons, such as Greatswords, Mauls, and armors such as Full Plate. He also performs sharpening services for a modest fee. He's a bit quirky, and if you manage to beat him in an arm-wrestling match, he'll give you a 20% discount off of your purchase -- though judging by his bulging muscles, it is doubtful this happens often.
4. Out of the Bag - A mobile shop operated out of a cart outside the city walls. The owner, a Lynoxi woman named Moonsong, sells a variety of conventional magical items with very minor effects. Don't come here searching for something to smite your enemies... she mostly carries items such as Glowballs to light your home, brooms that will sweep by themselves, and occasionally bags that hold more than they ought to, among other things. She moves her cart each day.
5. Whispered Whiskers - An information brokerage operated out of a tent that can be found on the rooftops of various buildings around the city. The business is only open at night, and finding it requires befriending some of the shadier characters around the city. The location changes daily because the owner, a Lynoxi man named Mistshade, is wanted by the Enforcers for various crimes, including breaking and entering, extortion, and theft. Mistshade can find you almost any information you seek, but the price may be quite steep. He also provides decryption services, and is quite good at it depending on who you ask.
6. The Traveling Teapot - A tea shop operated out of a traveling cart that is located outside of the city walls. The owner, a Vesperkin woman named Lila Underhill, walks around the city with her cart hocking an assortment of exotic teas, some of which provide health benefits. She seems to have a story for each of the blends she sells as to how she obtained the ingredients -- though some of her stories are less than believable.
7. Tails & Tales - This tent located along the city walls is owned by a Lynoxi man named Sunrunner, who is an Orator. He offers to tell stories of local legends and lore of the surrounding area for a small fee, or for hearing a story in exchange. The local Enforcers seem to like him, and he can frequently be found telling stories to local children for free.
8. The Grotto - A shop located within the city walls that sells precious gems and minerals. It is owned by a strange Ettinor man named Nalak, who seems to not have a very good grasp of the Common tongue, and often describes things in a way that make sense, but sound ridiculous. He carries gems that have special properties, such as Emberyl, which can store heat; Moonstone, which emits light; and Reef Lapis, which can purify and desalinate water and make it potable. He also has a stock of Stormsilver, Petrasteel, and a small amount of Eskite -- but those looking to buy the Eskite must sign a waiver agreeing to not tell anyone where they got it. His shop is under constant guard by the local Enforcers and is one of the most profitable businesses in the city.
9. Fabulous Fabrics - The second most profitable business in the city next to The Grotto, this fabric and tailoring shop is known for having just about every fabric you could possibly want, and more. The owner, an Elven man named Lirin Aydilan, has two particular fabrics possessing special properties not found elsewhere: Charrweave Cloth, which is a flame-retardant cloth; and Void Silk, a material that is completely matte, reflecting very little to no light. Like The Grotto, this shop is under constant guard by the local Enforcers.

Culture

With Evergarde being the first city to succumb to the Grave Rot Plague, they saw the worst of its effects, and like cities such as Eldham, they also had the Humans of the city quarantined. This caused a great rift between the Humans and Elves of the city, but unlike Eldham, those wounds have healed over time, and these days, it is seen as a dark, but distant memory. The Humans of the city are well-incorporated into the culture, being the second most populous race inhabiting it. All Human holidays are celebrated here, including the “controversial” Barebliss festival. And thanks to a more accepting Elven population than other cities from the north, Evergarde is one of the best cities in Arak for a Human to live besides possibly Valensir.

The inhabitants of Evergarde, having such a strong economy, often enjoy a greater quality of life than in cities like Gloomwatch or Eldham. The average citizen can afford to spend money on small luxuries, and there is no shortage of them in the city. Most shops in the city can afford to only be open half of the week if they want to, and use their free time to pursue other passions. One of the passions the citizens pursue is a game called “Siege”.

The objective of “Siege” is to capture the opposing team’s “castle”, which in this case is a crude stone tower that the citizens built for the game. Each team must reach the top of the other team’s tower, remove the flag found there, and return it to their own tower. If you touch a member of the opposing team, they are considered “out” and must go to the penalty area to rejoin the game. Some have even created simple enchanted gloves to prevent cheating that color their opponents’ skin temporarily to “mark” them as out, and returning to the penalty area removes the color. Some people who become more serious about the game even implement “traps” in the form of simple hidden mechanisms that grab the opponents’ feet, which marks them as out. There are quite a few variations across the teams across the city. A team usually consists of 10 people.

The citizens of Evergarde also love a good ghost story, as evidenced by the rumors of the Statehouse being haunted. Sunrunner, the Orator, will frequently have night-time gatherings in the city thoroughfare where people can come and listen to his many haunting tales, some of which he claims actually happened to him or people he knows. Unbeknownst to some, he has several magically inclined friends who enjoy using illusions to “enhance” his stories.

Defenses

Although Evergarde has long been the capital city of the Sudwin Valley, well into the Rojek Dynasty’s past, people are surprised by the fact that the Sovereign Quarter is the only portion of the city encircled by the city’s walls. It’s not uncommon for cities to leave some buildings outside the walls when its population outgrows the original planned size, but it appears that the Rojek Dynasty did not value the lives of its lower class citizens, and in cases of attack, they would simply leave them to their own devices while the wealthy sat comfortably behind the Sovereign Quarters’ high walls. While Arak’s new democracy makes interstate conflict a thing of the past, many locals do not like that they are simply left to die in the event that something were to attack the city. The magistrate has assured them that they will be permitted to enter the Sovereign Quarter in the event something like that should happen – however, they are not convinced.

The Sovereign Quarter’s walls are a towering 40 ft. tall and 15 ft. thick. While the walls have no magical enhancements like Mythwell, they are coated in an alchemical substance which seems to prevent the stones from wearing down over time, and there are numerous “murder holes” installed at the base of the wall, archers’ windows, and cauldrons at the top meant to dump boiling oil on invaders.

The city has a host of well-trained Enforcers who protect the citizens, as well as those inside the Sovereign Quarter. Due to the lack of outer walls protecting the city, many of the Enforcers patrol the city’s outer limits, keeping an eye out for wandering monsters, such as the ever-present Goblin nuisance. It is rare for Goblins to slip through the city’s patrols, but it does occasionally happen, and those on the outskirts of the city have been killed as a result. Some of the locals living on the outskirts of town have come up with their own crude defenses as a result.

Crime

Like many large cities, Evergarde has a problem with drugs. Evergarde in particular fortunately doesn’t have much of an issue with illicit drugs – just Hush. Hush is made from a plant called Bindweed found throughout Arak, and when diluted into a liquid, can be ingested to cause a euphoric high. However, there is a side effect in that it restricts the vocal cords for about a day, making it nearly impossible to speak. Because this drug has no dangerous side effects, it is not illegal – however, its users are seen as deadbeats, as it can be addictive and its users can end up spending all of their time seeking the drug. Though the drug itself is not illegal, those who succumb to the addictive effects of it can sometimes do things that ARE illegal to obtain it.

Due to the success of the shops located in the Sovereign Quarter, they are under constant guard. The goods found in these shops are highly valuable, and there are those who seek to loot what they can. There was one successful heist from The Grotto years ago that resulted in the loss of several large pieces of Eskite, which might not sound like much, but considering its rarity, it was a significant loss for Nalak.

With almost all of the city’s residences being located outside the city’s walls, the city occasionally has strings of break-ins and burglaries from bandits located outside the city. The Enforcers do what they can, but they cannot remain alert to every square inch of the city’s perimeter at all times. There is one bandit group in particular that call themselves the “Barrow Wraiths” that are responsible for the majority of these burglaries.