Ash Hill’s name is derived from a tale from the old wars: Supposedly, Varkesh, an early Appollonian Commander, was very successful in his battle to hold the northern frontier. As the story goes, after each battle he would gather the bodies of the dead, bind them to prisoners of war, and bring them to this location to burn them in great bonfires. Over the ages, a great mound developed, upon which Varkesh Castle sits today. The truth is lost to history, but digging into the soil surrounding the keep reveals an ashen soil. More pragmatic scholars feel that the ashen soot that covers the city for the majority of the year (because of the cold climate) is a more suitable rationale for the name.
Demihumans were non-existent in Ash Hill until the last decade. A small cadre of elves, highly secretive, is rumored to have taken up residence in the city and Dwarves increasingly trade with Ash Hill residents (they seem to be growing quite a taste for their wine).
A council is kept headed by the senior member of House Propertius, Gralius III.
The council, in Appollonian tradition, is formed of 7 members:
- Merchant Family Representative (Segmer Mahend, F14)
Military Representative (Niba Servius (Yemel), Commander of Knights (F16)
Dimensionalist Eór Propertius (Trellius)
Mentalist Mutidder Numidicus (Armonia)
Earth Elementalist Ghal Manius (Gralavsis)
Water Elementalist Is Lucius (Aegio)
Head of Council, Gralius III
Law:
Legal Attitudes: Tolerance
Judgment: Trial by Magic (Duty Performed by The House of the Winds)
City Watch (2,200 F2-4): Spear, short sword, dagger, nets, leather armor
Leader: Durgar the Just
Appollonian Elite (200 (2 Centuries) F4-10): Gladius, chain armor, dagger
Leader: Niba Servius (Yemel), Commander of Knights (F16)
Militia: None, though a mercenary core can be called up (~3,000) and are bribed to support the city and to be available in time of need.
Perfume (specialized – prized), wine (commonly sold throughout Alcirya – varies in quality), and pottery (not very good)
Trade is seldom sent northward with the prevailing winds against them. The climate of Ash Hill is cold year round (20’s – 40’s) though ice flows are seldom seen (unlike up-coast) as the tail end of the cold winds of the Winter Sea grow increasingly warmer in these parts. Most trade comes into the city and is then sent along via river, or on the Old Forest Road.
The Veins is the crowing gem of the city. This masterpiece of an Arena is presided over by it’s two ruling organizations: Sand Net and Achillia. Events are posed daily and there is a lucrative trade in foreign creatures brought to fight in the arena. Some say so go the Veins, so goes the city…
General sentiment is positive. The city is lucrative enough that it can mostly ignore the problems that it has. Being a port city dependant on the trade winds blowing along the Winter Sea, it fares well despite the disappearance of trade from Eistadt. The Council itself does not openly welcome Clan members into the city, though it understands that without trade from the Clans, the city would die so it punishes only situations which go public. This way, the council can continue to look hard on crime but can continue to support their successful economic situation. Likewise, the House of Spires (and Shadows), which, privately, runs the thieves guild and the beggars guild, and publicly organizes the bards guild, has recognized the hypocrisy of the current administration and has run rampant within the interior of the city. The exterior, while not influenced as heavily as the streets, is the home of the House of Varkesh – a group of thugs, extortionists and murderers that all but control the slums outside the city walls. The House of the Wheel, in recent years, has become tired of these petty tyrants and is rumored to have aligned with the House of Waiting Death (assassins guild) to quietly deal with both the Varkesh and the Spires.
Still, despite the problems under the surface, the money continues to flow and enough prosper to turn a blind eye as long as it stays under the surface. Should something go public that is not dealt with swiftly, though, the balance could fade quickly.
Community Wealth: Wealthy
The destruction of The Veins. For reasons unknown, The Veins Arena was destroyed in a massive fire. Rumor has it that the Sand Nets are at fault: they were trafficking in illegal slaves (priests and psions) that they were using to heal their gladiators more rapidly and with fewer long term injuries. It's possible that Gralius III ordered a crackdown and the resulting conflict started the fire. The Sand Nets are now considered enemies of the city and they are to be put to death along with the slaves they kept.
Population
96,000 year round, up to 114,000 in the summer
Notable Buildings
Painbliss Hall
Rumors
Elves have set up shop within the city and are quietly hiring people for odd tasks.
The city’s extensive sewer system, which feeds to the ocean, is populated by a number of sizable creatures – one of which is rumored to be a kraken. Claims are the city won’t investigate.
Gladiators are being assassinated. Some say there is a growing feud between the two factions that has gotten out of hand.
Disease is growing out of control in the city. Some say that the elves are spreading it to destroy the city, others claim it’s a Sebastite plot.
Several members of the council have hired mercenaries to obtain an aretifact of great power called the Soul Gem. They may be using this to oust Gralius III.
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