, but it is so much more than that. Before the Last War, the city had a complex reputation as a place of knowledge, magic, secrets, riches, and trade. Named for the brilliant crystalline lamps which line its glittering streets, the City of Lights was the first to introduce these innovations and other magical wonders dreamed up by the mages at Arcanix. Today, this reputation for inquisitiveness and trade has been twisted into a reputation for secrets and smuggling, but there are many who remember the place Fairhaven once held for the people of Khorvaire and, now that peace has arrived, the place it may hold again.
At a glance
Population Mix: The 92,500 people who call Fairhaven home are largely human and half-elves with some gnomes and elves as well. Though this is the population mix of most of the city, some areas have drastically different populations. The
Grangehall Ward is mostly shifters and goblinoids which at least equal the human population of that ward, though numbers are uncertain in the tangled streets of the Warren and Kaeltusk. The
Whiteroof Ward has a larger than average population of half-elves while
Rordan's Gate has a riot of different races from all over Eberron.
Government: Because it is both the capital city of
Aundair and a large metropolitan area, Fairhaven has a tiered governmental system. The ultimate power in the city, as in the rest of the nation, is Queen Aurala but she does not deal directly with local matters except in emergency situations. The daily head of the city is the Lord Governor Aurad ir'Wynarn, cousin to the queen and the head of the city's bureaucracy. He is served by an army of city officials, the Fairhaven Watch, and with the permission of the queen even divisions of the Army of
Aundair.
Commerce: Trade in Fairhaven is focused on three main areas,
Rordan's Gate, the
Eastway Ward, and the
Whiteroof Ward. Trade goods come in along the roads to Fairhaven, from the fertile farmlands of central
Aundair or the timber forests and mountain mines of the north, and enter through the gates on the east and west of the city. From there what isn't used in the city itself is brought to the city docks in the
Whiteroof Ward where they can be loaded onto barges bound for Scions Sound and trading points beyond.
See also: Shopping in Fairhaven
Defenses: Fairhaven is surrounded by a thick, strong wall built in several stages over the many centuries that Fairhaven has grown. The only points of entry to the city are
Rordan's Gate and the Eastgate, as well as the docks of the
Whiteroof Ward along the river. Defense in the city is centered on the garrisons which stand around the central point of
Fairhold like points on a star. These garrisons house the Fairhaven Watch as well as some Aundairian soldiers in
Fairhold itself and the dragonhawk calvary division in Vaucote. The city's defenses have never been seriously tested, not even during the Last War, but the strength of its defenses are surely a contributor to this record.
City of Lights
Fairhaven is certainly not the only city in Khorvaire to use magical artifice to light its streets, but it was the first and, arguably, it is the most brightly lit of all. Everburning lanterns light the streets, renewed each evening by artificers of the Lightwarders guild. Patrols of the Watch all carry devices known as patrol lanterns which allow the patrol to see at night without drawing attention to themselves as well. Private light sources also fill the night and most upper- or middle-class residences are outlined with magical lights after sunset. Besides creating a magical look to the city, the omnipresent lanterns throughout Fairhaven project a sense of stability and power. Visitors are shown that the crown of
Aundair is always present and watching and is able to fill the city with its authority. To the residents of Fairhaven, the lanterns along the streets or in the hands of Watch patrolmen are a reminder of the protection and authority that extends into their lives from the shining walls of
Fairhold.
