Ludvoskan

"City of Smoke..."

Benefitting from much of the technological advanced discovered by The Houlon Empire, Ludvoskan has taken things even further with its many industrial furnaces and workshops that fill the city air with a constant, thick smog, as its many furnaces are fueled by the coal acquired from the neighboring mines.
The city stands at the southern coast of the Imperial Gulf, where it meets the World Sea. It is the site of many innovations, and is credited with the development of the printing press, as well as many other novelties and advances. It's citizens have had trouble with magic in the past, at various times being subjugated by rulers wielding strong arcane powers. As such, they pride themselves on innovations driven by machinery instead of the arcane or divine. The trade-off is the constant state of pollution the city currently finds itself in.
The irony of the mini industrial revolution occurring within the city walls is that it is, at least partially, powered by arcane forces. One of the early conquerers of Ludvoskan built a series of towers along crisscrossing ley lines and at the four corners of the city. Powerful structures reaching through the smog towards the clouds. These towers are magically linked to many of the city works, including its massive series of lamps that glow with an ethereal, haunting light both day and night. Many residents resent the magic of their previous rulers, especially in how ubiquitous it is in their daily lives. However, there seems to be either no way of removing it without destroying the city, or no desire from the current administration.
The city is run by a Lord Governor and his attending city council, which consists of six premiere members of the local nobility who are tasked with drafting and approving legislation, city ordinances and public works. The city treasury falls directly to the hands of the Lord Governor himself. The current Lord Governor is an aging man named Milkov Vonnerat, who despite his age, still casts quite a long shadow.
Ludvoskan is a free city, in that all its citizenry has a say in the election of their officials. This comes on the heels of their recent liberation from a band of blood mages who previously conquered the city. The conflict to remove the taint of the blood mages was so violent, that it resulted in the destruction of a large portion of "Old City," at the heart of Ludvoskan. This decimated section of decrepit, crumbling structures is also the final resting place to many of the most notorious defiling wizards who took the city by force so many years past. It is said that because of their great power, along with the fact that most magical ley lines terminate within the Old City, this still uninhabitable portion of the city is haunted to this very day. Because of this, the blasted section of Old City is known as "The Spectral Quarter, or "The Ghost Downs."

Demographics

75% human, 10% elven, 5% gnomish, 5% dwarven, 5% mixed other.

Government

The city is the center of a small feudal territory run by the local lords of their respective lands. Ludvoskan is ruled by a Lord Governor and his appointed Council of Six. The current Lord Governor is an aging war hero named Milkov Vonnerat. The position of Lord Governor is an elected one, with all citizens participating in the vote which occurs every eight years. There is no term limit that a Lord Governor must adhere to, besides the one imposed by popularity.
The laws of the city are interpreted by a series of appointed Magistrates who issue warrants, prosecute trials and pronounce judgements (amongst other duties).
Like all cities where money is the name of the game, Ludvoskan has its own share of crime bosses, both organized and otherwise. The largest consortium of criminals comprises the "Lantern Blacks" who are so named for their behind-the-scenes control over much of the arcane magic emanating from the tall spires of the blood mages. Some think the Lantern Blacks are led by blood mages who remained, even after the city regained its independence. It is rumored that the ruling blood mage is himself (or herself) a vampire of great power.
The Lantern Blacks can be found in an almost eternal struggle for turf with the other significant crime syndicate within the city, the "Dark Walkers" (sometimes known simply as "The Darken"). There are many rumors and much speculation as to the possibly supernatural nature of its leader as well. Some even go so far as to claim the crime boss is a ghost.

Defences

Ludvoskan is defended internally by a force of 1,000 city watchmen known as the "Slick Coats" (due to their signature, rain repellant overcoats). The Slick Coats are led by a series of investigators known simply as The Inspectors, who are assigned to the more violent crimes within the city walls and who also serves as Ludvoskan's constables. The city also maintains a small, private army of roughly 4,000 soldiers often referred to as the "Black Hats" (for their easily identifiable, and somewhat sinister, helms).

Industry & Trade

Ludvoskan trades heavily with its neighbors in the region, its own vassal settlements, and even beyond, via the World Sea. As its people are consistently on the vanguard of new mechanical inventions, and due to their ability to employ their many plants to mass produce such items, the eyes of the world often turn to Ludvoskan for new products that often ease life or increase productivity. Not surprisingly, the city is known for its high quality (yet extremely expensive) iron golems.

Infrastructure

The city is an odd mishmash of modern technologies (including many forges and industrial plants) chugging alongside a series of arcane towers that provide a constant flow of magical energy to the city.
Beyond this, Ludvoskan also features a preeminent center for learning known as "Cardihal University." The university was initially founded to provide training to potential future industrial guild members, however it quickly grew into a well-rounded center for the study of all subjects, and it is highly regarded around the world for the quality of its graduates.

Assets

Ludvoskan is one of the preeminent centers of technological progress in the east, and even the entire world. Many innovations had their start within its walls, including (and most impactful) the printing press. Further, the workers of the many mills and forges have innovated the use of coal for the production of heat energy.
Unfortunately, Lunvoskan also has a reputation for the quality (both high and low) and accessibility of its illegal drugs, many of which are native to the city and its industrial practices.

Guilds and Factions

Each of the different industries within the city feature their own professional guilds, with most workers gaining membership based upon either family ties or personal achievements. The most highly regarded guild is the "Ground Breaker Board of Innovations, Inventions and Industry," which requires members to have both achieved a grand master status from another existing guild, as well as at least the proper plans for a some new and unique invention or innovation. There are several prominent "non-industry" guilds as well, including the "Inkers Guild" who are responsible for the publishing and circulation of the city's weekly "sheet," known as "The Ludvoskani Weekly."

History

Ludvoskan was founded roughly 1,000 years ago by a cabal of sea merchants looking to establish a base far from the eyes of their competition. It is known as possibly the most repeatedly conquered city in the known world. Over the years, it has been forcibly taken more than ten times, with the most well known involving a branch of blood mages who intended to strike out on their own (instead of joining The Lentokki). These mages built the mighty towers that supply the city with its constant stream of arcane energy.
After several hundred years of occupation and the cruel demands of the blood mages, the people of Ludvoskan finally rose up en masse and overthrew their conquering rulers. This violent series of skirmishes led to the eradication of a great majority of arcane casters within the city, including many innocents who had nothing to do with the blood mages to begin with.

Architecture

Metal and stone structures reach high into the polluted skies, while sprawling factories belch coal fumes and clouds of smoke as they produce many of the world's most renown mechanical devices.

Geography

Ludvoskan is located along the southern tip of Golthien, where the Imperial Bay empties out into the World Sea. The land both north and east of the city is fairly lush and provides for decent farming, however the lands within the city itself have long been paved and ruined for any agricultural prospects.

Natural Resources

Coal from the numerous adjacent mines, along with iron ore from neighboring deposits. Ludvoskan tends to import its food from its allied towns and even from The Houlon Empire (and occasionally Theiros).

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Smoke and Flame

Type

Large city

Population

120,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Ludvoskani

Location under

Golthien