Paragan

The City

A thriving metropolis, The City of Paragan is known for its cultural, magical, and technological renaissance. It is a city of inclusivity and tolerance, enforced by strict laws known as the Codus Operandai and upheld by the Vigil, a well-trained city guard. Despite its emphasis on law and order, Paragan is a hub of creativity, with a flourishing arts scene, as well as a strong presence in artifice, craft, and commerce.
The city is characterized by its thick stone walls, narrow streets, and multi-storeyed buildings that compete for space and attention. Tall bell towers, some with a faintly Alagrian design, reach for the sky, while numerous islands are connected by stone bridges and ferries. The central island, L'Ostrica, is the heart of the city, teeming with shops, businesses, and commerce. Within L'Ostrica lies La Perla, a bay that holds the Opaline Palazzo, which is considered the crown jewel of the city.
Paragan owes its wealth and prosperity to its investment in shipbuilding and the significant amount of trade that passes through its bustling harbor. This wealth has been reinvested in exploration, led by the Cartographer's Guild and the Merchant's Alliance, later known as the Spicer's Guild, after the discovery and colonization of The Spice Islands. The discovery of exotic spices, sugar, and maize sparked a commercial revolution and solidified Paragan's status as one of the wealthiest cities in Ara.
One of the defining features of Paragan is the constant presence of Mount Nidofuoco, a formidable volcano that has been made dormant through ingenuity and repurposing to provide heat for various industrial processes. However, the citizens of Paragan have not forgotten the power of the mountain, nor the legend of the red dragon that was inadvertently awakened from within it. As a result, the wealthiest inhabitants reside on the westernmost island of Paragan, known as La Riserva, while the poorest are relegated to the industrial slums closest to the base of the volcano, known as Il Calderone.
Beyond the main city, a second city has emerged with quaint, brightly colored but somewhat crumbling buildings, as Paragan's walls struggle to contain its rapid growth.
The city is composed of several islands, including Le Mura, the mainland within the city walls, split into east and west portions by the River Brigantia. L'Ostrica, the largest landmass off the mainland, is named after an oyster due to its resemblance to one. La Perla, located at the heart of L'Ostrica, houses the royal palace. Il Calderone is the eastern range of the city, situated on the lower slopes of Mount Nidofuoco, and is home to the Caldiran Baths and the Magmatic Foundry. Tremiglia, known as Three Mile Island, is the southernmost landmass connected to L'Ostrica by bridges and houses the largest dock. La Baia, or The Bay, is southwest of L'Ostrica and was originally just sandbanks, but has been developed into an island with harbors and warehouses. Lo Spiedo, also known as The Spit, is a small connecting island between Le Mura, L'Ostrica, and La Riserva. La Riserva, the western island furthest from Mount Nidofuoco, is reserved for the wealthy and well-born.
Paragan is also home to several places of interest, including the Opaline Palazzo, a cluster of rounded alabaster white buildings and towers that gleam with an array of beautiful colors when caught by the light. The central tower, known as the Whitestar, is the tallest spire and is said to be a gift from the dwarves,

Defences

The Vigil – Paragan’s trained city guards, who fight with sword or spear and carry shields. Due to their extensive training, all Vigil guards have the Sentinel feat. Most groups also carry a simple wand of pyrotechnics, which they are trained to shoot into the sky if they encounter resistance from magic users. The signal summons a response from the Affrontare, who can teleport to their approximate location in a matter of seconds.

The Sarissa – Paragan’s elite military guards who fight with polearms (10-foot reach). Each has the Sentinel and Polearm Master feats.

Fuciliere – Milagonian riflemen who use experimental firearm weapons.

Affrontare – upper 3rd tier/lower 4th tier adventurers. Paid a large retainer by the city to act as protectors from mages/arcane threats.

The Singing Towers

Placed along the city walls of Paragan are several five storey towers specifically moulded to harness acoustics and engraved with flowing runes to harness and conduct magical energy. When the wind blows in certain directions the towers will sing in soft, harmonising notes. When actual music is played from the pinnacle of these towers, it is amplified tenfold.
When a spell is cast where the verbal component is sung or with a musical instrument as the material component, the caster may choose from the careful, distant, empowered or extended spell metamagic options and apply the effects to the spell. The effects of bardic inspiration are also magnified so that any ally who hears it may benefit from its boon.
When manned by the most powerful of bards, the Paraganese Muses, their harmony can even summon a formidable defensive magic known as a mythal that can protect the entire city.

Districts

Much of Paragan is built on series of islands, formed long ago from the volcanic expulsions of Mount Nidofuoco.

Le Mura Literally “the walls”, this is the mainland of Paragan, within the city walls. A common expression amongst locals is to describe a location as being “within the walls”. Split into east and west portions by the River Brigantia.
L'Ostrica The largest land mass off the mainland is named after an oyster, which it loosely resembles.
La Perla The pearl at the heart of the oyster. Holds the royal palace.
Il Calderone The cauldron is the eastern range of the city that lies on the lowest slopes of Mount Nidofuoco. Home of the Caldiran Baths and the Magmatic Foundry.
Tremiglia Three mile island, the southernmost land mass, connected to L’Ostrica by bridges. Houses the largest dock.
La Baia The Bay is southwest of L’Ostrica and was previously just sandbanks, before an island was constructed to house a series of harbours and warehouses.
La Riserva The western island, furthest from Mount Nidofuoco and reserved for the well-born and the wealthy.
Lo Spiedo The Spit is a tiny connecting island between Le Mura, L’Ostrica and La Riserva.

Guilds and Factions

The Bravura

No specific symbols
Colourfully dressed swordsmen and women who frequently duel one another for fame, glory and the spoils of victory. Spoils are normally chosen by the victor but can be anything from money, to a particularly fine hat or the opponent’s sword. Bravura normally favour the rapier for its elegance and ability to be embellished with elaborate hilts and cross guards. Duels are legal, but must be witnessed by the Vigil. Many forms of contest exist, including first-blood, yield and more rarely to-the-death. Combat is based on skill with the blade alone and magical interference is not permitted under pain of forfeit.
Bravura are pompous and proud. Challenges can result from the slightest affront and begin with the curious ritual of a glove being thrown at the offender’s feet. The offender is then expected to slap the aggrieved with the glove to confirm the insult and accept the challenge. Refusal to do so results in the offender being labelled a coward and subjected to the jeers of the other bravura and any interested parties in the general vicinity. Crowds often congregate near where bravura hang out in the hopes of catching the spectacle of a duel and as a result local tavern and business owners will often try to entice bravura to settle neat their establishments.

The Cartographers

Symbol: A golden sextant
A group of explorers whose goal is to scour every corner of the world until everything has been mapped and measured.

The Carvers

Symbol: Mason’s and woodcutter’s tools
A powerful guild of craftsmen and artisans that includes stonemasons, carpenters and boatwrights, with eyes of expanding their influence into mining, metalworking and even government. Membership of this faction is almost exclusively reserved for dwarves.

The Doomsayers a.k.a. the Obliviati

The Obliviati has progressed from a secretive cult to a public, if ridiculed, believers in an inevitable apocalypse. They can be seen in marching through the streets as groups of dour-faced doomsayers. Whilst some still hide their colours, truly devout members of the Obliviati wear the symbol tattooed into their forehead for all the world to see. Several dangerous and deranged minds now hide in plain sight, using coercion and propaganda to bring more followers to their cause, whilst presenting a public face of almost clownish nonsensical dogma.

Harvest Mice

Small-time pick-pockets and street thieves. Mostly orphans and lightfoot halflings.

Il Golosi

A wealthy organisation of people who want to eat rare and dangerous creatures. Sponsor expeditions and exploration via the Cartographers/Spicers.

Jackdaws

Symbol: Black jackdaw
Paragan’s fully fledged thieves’ guild. Collectively known as a ‘clattering’, members of the guild are ranked into fledglings, talons and beaks. Secret headquarters known as the Roost.

Leith’Quessir/ free people

Wood elf gypsies displaced from their ancestral home by mass deforestation needed to build the warships and merchant ships that helped Milagon rise to prominence and power. A radical group of Leith’Quessir called the N’di’thang (literally ‘not slaves’) now live as bandits and saboteurs famed for attacking and robbing travellers in the few remaining areas off forest and woodland.

Order of Evangeline

Symbol: An angel of fury
Aloysia Evangeline is perhaps Milagon’s most famous monster slayer. A legendary paladin of vengeance, it was she who struck down the red dragon Caldira and averted Paragan’s complete destruction. She was handsomely rewarded for her troubles and the Order of Evangeline continues the paladin’s enduring message of fighting monsters wherever they are to be found, for a price.
If you can meet their fees, members of the Order are formidable fighters and experts in the study of monsters (Teralogy) who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. It’s a violent life and few live long enough to die old, but many are remembered in legends (or at least local folklore). Their headquarters, aptly named the Ostia della Vendetta, can be found in northern Paragan, its angel of vengeance unflinchingly staring down the looming might of Mount Nidofuoco.

The Quell

Bladed letter Q
Dangerous and secretive assassin’s guild that are not openly spoken of. People avoid speaking the name of the Quell for fear that they instantly appear. It is said that when someone with enough coin wants another person dead, a voice will often whisper from the shadows asking, ‘Who do you need Quelled?’

The Spicers

Symbol: A carrack with an S on the sail
A merchant company who control the waterways between Milagon and The Spice Islands.

The Triumph

Symbol: A brass trumpet with banner
The headmaster of the Bard’s College is given the title Maestro, a rank which currently belongs to a wild-haired Gnome called Cornelius Cantoventus. He leads a group of powerful bards known as the Paraganese Muses.

History

Paragan was founded during the late Valerian Empire as a rival to the grand city of Valeria. It was declared capital of Milagon in 602AR by Amato I.
"Paragan" is derived from the local word "Para," which means "high" or "elevated," and "Gan," meaning "city" or "metropolis." The capital city was established by the prominent volcano, Il Calderone, overlooking the surrounding islands (onto which it where it later spread), which provided a strategic advantage for defense and governance. Hence, it was named "Paragan" or the "High City," signifying its elevated status as the heart of the empire.

Points of interest

Opaline Palazzo
Court of Faces
Il Grande Postoletto
The Silken Curtain
Caldiran Baths
The Singing Towers
Mercato Centrale and La Soffitta
Magmatic Foundry
Subterraneum
River Brigantia
Manolunga

The Temples and Religious areas of Paragan

The Ormadian Repository
The Onda
The Bridge of Lugos
Duomo dellAlba
Infermieri del Vischio

Architecture

Paragan was famed for its breathtaking buildings and skyline.
Aping the styles of Ancient Valeria, Paragan further expanded on the characteristic semi-circular arches with more ornamentation. With more solid ground on which to build, they were able to build grander and higher than their predecessor capital.
The most impressive artitice are the Singing Towers, a hymn to both art, acoustics and defence.

Geography

Paragan is built in the volcanic Caldera of Mt Nidofuocco and is composed of a number of small islands in the River Brigantia connected by many bridges.

Maps

• 

  Paragan

Related Ethnicities

• Leith’Quessir

Location under

Aguna

Included Locations

• Il Calderone
• Infermieri del Vischio
• La Baia
• La Perla
• La Riserva
• Le Mura
• Lo Spiedo
• Ostrica
• River Brigantia
• Subterraneum
• Tremiglia

Owning Organization

Milagon

Characters in Location

• Lavanel Daenorin
• Montserrat de Cisne
• Palaneus Mal’Salma