Valensir

Metropolis: Population 45,291 (62% elves, 16% vesperkin, 9% luminari, 5% humans, 8% other races)

History

Valensir is an ancient city, dating back to the time of the Drakantal Empire in the Age of Creation. The city was created by the Dwarves of the Drakantal Empire, but after they were transformed into the Ashenfolk and driven out of Arak and the Kingdom of Derunadel assumed control of their territories, Valensir was settled by the Elves. None alive remember what the name of the city was before the Kingdom of Derunadel settled it. Ever since then, it has been expanded and has become a hotspot for trade of metals. The city is also home to two very important factions in Aellorah -- the Emerald Company, and the Sentinels.

Due to Valensir's proximity to Astix' Wellspring, the Sentinels established themselves in the city during the Age of Darkness, and eventually spread out to other cities throughout the world. Though the Luminari people do not call any particular land their home, Valensir is where the Sentinels began, and as a result, it is seen as the "home" of the Sentinels. They have a temple near the heart of the city devoted to Astix, one of only a handful of such temples in all of Aellorah dedicated to Astix specifically, which serves as their base of operations. The temple has a unique roof that can be accessed with a long runway that the Sentinels use to fly out into the sky when duty calls and Voidspawn are detected.

The city is also home to the prominent mercenary group known as the Emerald Company, which was created in response to the growing goblin threat in Arak. The goblins breed fast and gather in large numbers, which presents a significant threat to traveling merchants and remote villages that do not have a dedicated contingent of Enforcers to protect them. The Emerald Company will take help from anyone of age who wants to help, and dispatches their members all throughout the continent to not only defend against goblins, but track them to their homes and wipe them out. Their guild hall serves as a base of operations for the Warden of the Emerald Company, and also as a training grounds for new recruits. They also have a small library full of books on every bit of knowledge on goblins known to the world -- some of which was provided by the Dwarves of Reshyk.

The city has seen an enormous boom in its economy ever since a Wellspring eruption from the nearby Wellspring in the late Restoration period transformed the Shadeberry bushes found in the mountains of northeastern Arak into a metallic bushel. When its berries are harvested and smelted, they become Shadesteel, a unique metal which resists all Flow, preventing any enchantments from being placed on it. However, it is also extremely dense and highly carbonated, being 10x harder than conventional steel. Like its name, the metal has a dark tarnished steel appearance. Because the metal is so dense, Flow cannot pass through it -- and while the metal can be damaged by magic, no magic can penetrate it, so armor made using Shadesteel provides a high degree of resistance to magic. However, once harvested, the Shadesteel berries take a very long time to grow back, sometimes as long as five years, and with the limited number of Shadesteel bushels throughout northeastern Arak, this metal fetches an extremely high price. Harvesting the "berries" can also be somewhat hazardous, as the rest of the bushel was made metallic as well and can cut the hands of those reaching in to gather the Shadesteel berries. The Shadesteel berries are the only part of the bushel suitable for making Shadesteel, as the rest of the bushel seems to not result in stable Shadesteel, and those parts of the bushel do not grow back. Many Elves have commented that they were saddened by the transformation, as Shadeberries were a local favorite used widely in the region's cuisine.

Government

Valensir's magistrate is an Elven man by the name of Arromar Sinaran. Valensir's magistrate has jurisdiction over the nearby settlements of Shadevein and Rose Harbor. Arromar is well aware that Shadesteel has provided an economic boom for the city, and spends good money providing protection and support to Shadevein. He only took office two years ago after the previous magistrate, Elyndar Tassarion, was arrested on charges of embezzlement, siphoning the city's funds to afford his lavish and hedonistic lifestyle. The trial is still ongoing and has been the talk of the town for some time, with new evidence coming forth of Elyndar's corruption every month. This has resulted in increased scrutiny into Arromar's life, as the public is unwilling to let such a thing happen again, which has made the position very stressful for him.

Economy

Valensir has always been an attractive destination for trade because of the abundance of valuable metals present in northern Arak, especially Zegrumite, Safrium, and Adamantine. Some of the world's most skilled metallurgists call Valensir their home. Ever since a Wellspring eruption in the late Restoration period however, with the transformation of the Shadeberry bushels in the mountains near Valensir and Shadevein, there has been a big boom in the economy for those seeking Aellorah's newest metal, Shadesteel. The metal is highly sought by adventurers seeking protection from potent magic, and fetches a king's ransom. A single ingot of the metal can go for 400 gp. Finding a blacksmith that can adequately work the metal is a task in and of itself. The supply of Shadesteel peaks every few years and slowly dwindles as foreigners rush to purchase their supply.

The mountains around Valensir and in other parts of northeastern Arak are also plentiful in Zegrumite, Safrium, and Adamant, which is used to craft Adamantine alloy. Safrium is fairly difficult to locate and has highly specific applications, but Zegrumite is far more desirable to adventurers who are hunting creatures from other planes or anyone who is trying to protect something valuable. Adamantine is more accessible than Shadesteel, and to the untrained eye, looks very similar in appearance to it. This confusion in appearance has led to a number of shady merchants who will buy Adamantine and try to pass it off as Shadesteel. The telltale sign to watch out for to distinguish the two is whether the metal reflects a purple-white light under magical light.

The only metals that merchants in Valensir have not been able to procure for its market are Skiantine and Eskite, as the Dreaming Wastes of Arak where Skiantine can be found are an extremely dangerous area that none who venture into it have returned from, and Eskite is kept under heavy guard by the Myrmidons of the Rathmore Empire in Myr.

With so many smiths and craftsmen already operating in the city, it can be incredibly difficult for a newcomer to make a living and stand out from the rest of the competition. Usually only the top graduates from the Ironwright College go on to get apprenticeships in the city.

Notable Locations

1. Valensir's Statehouse is in a secluded region of the city surrounded by a lush park. This park area was built for the people when the increasing industriousness of the city made some of its residents feel disconnected from the world, so that they could have a place to get away from all the metal trade and blacksmith's hammers in safety. The Statehouse itself is small compared to other Statehouses in Arak, but has ample amenities for visitors. Outside the Statehouse in the park is a speaking area where the magistrate can address the public. The magistrate that was responsible for building the Statehouse of Valensir was a bit of a paranoid man, and as a result, there is a rather large storage area underneath the Statehouse with food stores and access to different areas of the city, as well as the sewer. These days, the storage area is used for emergency food for the people, and the extensive tunnels underneath the city are used by some to cross the city without being noticed.
2. The Astralon is a temple dedicated to Astix near the heart of the city that is the home of the divine order of the Sentinels. The entrance chamber is used for the general public to make offerings to the Seven Sisters and pray, while the rectory and the meeting hall for the Sentinels lies in the back of the building. The second floor has armaments, a training area, a watchroom, and a staircase leading to a runway on the roof used by the Sentinels for takeoff to pursue Voidspawn threats. Unlike most temples dedicated to the Seven Sisters throughout the world, many report feeling an unseen presence in the Astralon, and a feeling of peace and safety. The leader of the Sentinels, called the Primarch, is currently a Luminari woman named Eollel, who is responsible for training the Sentinels and dispatching them when she detects a Voidspawn. There is a magical map in the watchroom where Eollel can project the location of a Voidspawn to instruct the Sentinels where to go.
3. The Emerald Company Guild Hall is the main headquarters of the entire Emerald Company operation in Arak. Outside of Valensir, most Emerald Company mercenaries convene in taverns or they will rent housing together. The guild hall serves as a training grounds and source of information about goblin activity across the continent. Their library holds a wealth of information about goblins, including their weaknesses, the traps they employ, and their combat tactics. The leader of the Emerald Company, called the Warden, is currently an Elven woman named Verrona Gwaelon. The Warden is the most knowledgeable and capable fighter in all of the Emerald Company. They do regular patrols around Valensir with new recruits to find stray goblins to pick on for practice.
4. The Ironwright College is the best school for learning metallurgy and blacksmithing outside of Reshyk. Many blacksmiths choose to simply apprentice, especially in remote villages, but those that can afford the trip or who are local prefer the formal education the Ironwright College provides. Not only do its graduates excel in blacksmithing, but they get a foundational knowledge of how metals work, their properties, how to make various alloys beyond the well-known ones, and many other useful skills. The magistrate provides funding in the form of scholarships -- he pays the tuition fees of the top 25 performing students on their graduation day. Many graduates go on to work in the city.
5. The Shadowflame Hearth is a popular tavern also has an inn above it and serves both cool and warm drinks, with a popular one being the Shadowflame Scotch, which is a scotch that has been infused with dried Emberberries which the owner, a Human woman named Natali Blackwell, uses a simple cantrip to change the color to a dark blue. Natali's brother, Killian, who is mute, runs the kitchen. Some of the more vulgar guests like to abuse Killian when he is out front and taunt him about not being able to speak. If Natali sees this, she is easy to enrage, even going so far as to pull a dagger on anyone caught doing so. In the colder months, Natali will toss a few pieces of Shadowflame Coal in the hearth to change the color and give off more heat. She gets a good deal from the Forgemaster's Palette and may be willing to put in a good word if you get on her good side.
6. Shades of Steel is a blacksmithy owned by Omara Aendryr, who is assisted by her son, Thaniel. She is one of the most notorious blacksmiths in Valensir because she is one of only a handful of blacksmiths in the city capable of forging Shadesteel with any proficiency. The Ironwright College teaches the craft, but none of the instructors or students have near the level of knowledge and proficiency that Omara does. The College has petitioned her numerous times to request that she teach her craft, but she has refused because she knows how valuable her skills are, and has chosen to pass this knowledge down to her son Thaniel, who has shown great promise. Omara has a very vitriolic opinion of the Ironwright College because, due to their failure to recruit her, they have begun stalking her son, trying to persuade him instead, and the boy has been filled with anxiety as a result. Omara has petitioned the magistrate to put a stop to it, but Arromar has done nothing -- leading her to believe he approves of their tactics.
7. The Forgemaster's Palette is a warehouse, owned and operated by the foreman, a Human man named Orel Kroft, who employs a handful of employees to maintain his stock and take in shipments. The Forgemaster's Palette contains an assortment of almost every metal in Aellorah, with the exception of Eskite and Skiantine. Orel keeps his stock well-organized, with metals displayed in a colorful array from light to dark and with metals that have color organized in a prismatic presentation.
8. Edge of Perfection is a smithy that specializes in custom weapon orders, and produces the sharpest blades any in the city can produce. The owner, an Elven man named Melias Eroth, uses a unique magical process to hone his blades that he keeps a closely guarded secret. The Sorcerer's Cabal has approached him a few times interested in knowing this special process, but Melias seems uninterested in payment for the information, believing that his blades would lose their value if the knowledge of how to produce them became public. Though his sharpening process is magical, his knowledge of other enchantments is limited, so his enchanted weapons are of the more basic variety.
9. Gleam & Glimmer is a small gem dealership that has a large collection of common gems, as well as a handful of rare ones. The owner, a cheerful Vesperkin woman named Marra Glitterbird, is fascinated by shiny things and loves to inspect the armor of adventurers that visit her shop, often ignoring what they're saying while she admires it. She offers polishing services for both gems and armor, and will give your armor a mirror shine if you so desire it. It is rumored that she has a small stock of Ettranite, but she does not keep it on display due to how rare it is.
10. Talfen's Toolbox is a small tool shop owned by a Human man named Talfen Hornraven, and he is in the process of training his daughter to take over the business once he retires. He has a small-scale smithy and produces high-quality tools that crafters all over the city use. He makes usage of a variety of metals to produce tools capable of handling Shadowflame Coal and other specialized purposes. Though she is diligent in learning the craft, his daughter, Aryanna, seems entirely disinterested in pursuing the trade, and seems to want to go to Mythwell to enroll in the Ars Aurum Academy, but her father has discouraged this, telling her that magic won't get her anywhere in life.

Culture

Valensir is a city of craftsmen and artisans who take great pride in their creations. People come from all over Aellorah to learn from the Ironwright College or find an apprenticeship, as well as purchase the variety of metals found in its market. This culture of metalworking is pervasive everywhere throughout the city, but there isn't much more to offer. As a result, Valensir isn't much of a tourist destination. People mostly come here to purchase goods or learn the trade, if they're not involved with the Sentinels or the Emerald Company. Beyond that, there isn't much to do...

Residents in the city crave entertainment, as even the festivals unique to the city involve metal. There is a festival called the "Ironwrought Gallery" held on the first full moon of Lekaren each year where students of the Ironwright College and residents will bring artwork made of metal to the promenade for display for visitors and other residents to admire. Some even purchase the artwork. But it isn't much of a festival -- some street vendors will move to sell food near the event, but it's a rather dull event. Valensir observes most Human and Elven holidays, though the Elves in residence are rather revolted by some Human festivals such as Barebliss, so some of those festivals are held in the park next to the Statehouse.

Unfortunately the city does not have much space for sports, and there aren't any that are really played. Some residents will play simple games in the park or outside the city walls, but none of the popular sports throughout Arak have really caught on.

Defenses

The city may not have the infrastructure that other cities employ to defend themselves, but about 3/4 of the city is surrounded by 30 ft. walls, as is standard in cities of its size, with ballistae adorning the battlements. The real defense behind the city, however, lies in its residents. Due to the culture of smithing and craftsmanship, nearly every resident in the city is armed and trained with at least one type of weapon. There is a standing contingent of Enforcers, but in times of attack, they are prepared to turn every capable resident into a militia.

Beyond the everyday residents, the presence of the Emerald Company and Sentinels also gives their defensive capabilities a significant boost. Though the Sentinels mostly concern themselves with stopping Voidspawn threats, they will come to the city's defense in times of crisis. The Primarch herself could easily decimate a conventional army single-handedly using her divine magic. The Sentinels prefer not to get involved unless the threat is serious, as they need to conserve their strength to deal with a Voidspawn attack at any moment. The Emerald Company is a bit more stingy, averse to offering help without payment, especially if the threat does not involve goblins. However, they will often take up positions on the walls with ranged weapons if necessary, as many of their number are proficient with ballistic weaponry.

Because of the concentration of craftsmen and blacksmiths here, there will be occasional innovation in defensive weaponry that the crafters will offer to the magistrate in return for tax reductions.

Crime

A city filled with so many valuable goods is bound to be rife with crime, and Valensir is no exception. The businesses most affected by thievery in the city are those selling rare and valuable ore or gems, such as anyone selling Shadesteel, Zegrumite, Safrium, Adamantine, and Ettranite. The Enforcers do an adequate job of mitigating these occurrences, but the more valuable metals and goods attract more skilled thieves. Ever since Shadesteel first appeared, it has been sought after by groups wanting to investigate the more treacherous applications of the metal. One of the more devious ways Shadesteel has been used is to create a powder out of it and line things like crates so that magical detection spells cannot see inside. As a result, these containers can be used to avoid magical detection by groups like the Aura Assurance Authority in Mythwell, which monitor for illicit magical goods entering the city. Tools made of Shadesteel can also bypass magical defenses and cut through simple wards.

Shady merchants also have a habit of selling poor quality or even fraudulent goods in the city to those who don't know how to spot such things. This is especially a problem for specialized metals like Shadesteel and Zegrumite. Because Shadesteel is very similar in appearance to Adamantine, there are cases of criminals passing off Adamantine as Shadesteel and making a killing off of it. However, there is an easy way to spot Adamantine to make sure you're getting the real thing. Adamantine will give off a purple-white reflection when exposed to magical light, whereas Shadesteel remains the same color. Zegrumite is very similar in appearance to gold, but has a very tarnished look to it, and some criminals have simply used alchemical processes to tarnish gold to resemble Zegrumite -- however, it is not very profitable to do so because the difference in value between gold and Zegrumite is not large enough to warrant such a scam. Some will use brass instead, because it has a gold coloring, but the color difference between Zegrumite and brass is far more noticeable. But there are a number of dishonest dealers in the city with a number of tricks up their sleeves to deceive buyers. A simple magical detection spell will easily spot false Zegrumite, as Zegrumite gives off an aura of Conjuration magic.

Type

City