The following excerpts from several chapters cataloging the most relevant moments in the history of Riverweld.
The Beginning
Nobody knows when exactly but the city that became Riverweld was originally built as a resupply depot by the Dwarven Oriate Guild. The dwarves started by tying some barges together, filling them with supplies and lashing them to a mysterious gray and silver stone ziggurat peeking above the surface water of Lake Matsaya. The floating city of riverweld served for nearly two hundred cycles as the halfway point across the lake. Riverweld grew slowly over this time, gradually becoming home to crafters, merchant marines and traders. Wayward ships lashed themselves together, constructing a flotilla around the stone tower. The pyramid while impressive in size was unremarkable in construction and so continued to function as an anchor.
Across the waters to the east, the Fa Clan grew in their own naval power. As the two fleets eventually met at the centermost point of the lake the mistrust and fear gave way to common use of the ports in Riverweld. The Fa and the Dwarves arranged treaties. As the port grew and more people chose to stay, the flotilla became a home. Transforming from detritus lashed to an impenetrable stone pyramid to a bustling harbor full of homes and shops. As time progressed the city drew the interest of the Arcanum. The magical scholars offered their services in trade. They would build a structure to protect the town in exchange for studying the stone pyramid. However, with resistance and mistrust from the Oriate and the Fa Empire the Arcanum was rebuffed.
The War of the Lark
Another century of seasons passed and Riverweld continued to progress. The once fledgling town grew piece by piece, dock by dock, ship by ship. The governance of the floating city passed to the Fa Empire as the Dwarves pulled their empire back to their capital of Dun Bok, and far away from Riverweld the Fa Empire and the Tefferan Sultanate made contact. The two prideful military forces went to war, throwing themselves at each other on land and sea. Their conflict was felt across Lake Matsaya as the Fa Empire diverted more troops away from the floating town and towards the battles with the Sultanate’s royal military, the Lark Society. The Fa Empire was not prepared for the prowess of the Lark Society and pulled enough sailors out of Riverweld that the Lark Society was able to occupy and take control.
Under the Larks, The Arcanum was welcomed in to construct a series of pylons that would keep the flotilla safe from rough weather and flooding. The Lark Society allowed The Arcanum to study the stone structure that ran deep below the lake’s waters. Any remaining Fa military were allowed to remain in the city as long as they threw down their arms and agreed to abide by Emserian law. With the newfound protection from the elements Riverweld grew faster in the following decades. The Lark Society metered justice and defense while the new Merchants Guild administered trade. The Arcanum constructed a library tower in the center of the city and helped to bring some of its researchers to live in the city.
Time progressed and while the war raged on elsewhere the Arcanum was able to open the top of the Ziggurat. Progressing down into the structure the Magical researchers were able to open a door to the water and allow small ships from Riverweld into the pyramid. Unfortunately, after several decades of work they could progress no further. Frustrated, with the lack of progress the Arcanum turned part of the structure over to the Lark Society to use as a prison. With only the most dangerous criminals housed in the stone walls, the gray and silver stepped pyramid earned the name “Sterling Shores.”
The City, having been protected from storms by the Arcanum and raiders by the Lark Society, the population bloomed. The Lark Society patrolled the streets and kept the people safe while the Arcanum spread academic and magical education. The city became a melting pot of cultures from around Lake Matsaya. Halflings, humans, half-elves, dwarves, gnomes and half-orcs. Everyone was welcome and coexisted peacefully. Elsewhere, battle weary soldiers from the Fa Empire and the Lark Society drew a truce. Borders were drawn, territory exchanged and Riverweld was once again back under the rule of the Fa Empire.
With the city under a new ruler suspicious of arcane magic, the Arcanum pulled back into its tower. While they were allowed to continue their practice of public education, they were no longer allowed to send research parties into Sterling Shores. The Fa Empire filled the pyramid with prisoners and criminals while the Arcanum was locked out. The magical scholars held their tower and continued to send research expeditions away from the city to explore ruins and rumors on the shores of Lake Matsaya. This practice and tentative truce continued for nearly ten cycles before a cruel night fell on Riverweld.
The Troubled Nights
Unbeknownst to the Arcanum, the Fa Empire had continued to research and explore Sterling Shores. With an almost accidental success the Fa Empire unlocked something in the depths of the ziggurat. An ancient evil awakened and attacked the city. Each night the rooftops of the city would swarm with creatures hungry for blood. The floating city descended into chaos. The Fa Empire and the remaining Lark soldiers blamed each other and the people of Riverweld took shelter in the Arcanum tower. The troubled nights plagued the city for nearly an entire summertide season. City blocks were turned into battlegrounds during the day and the vile creatures prowled the night hunting anyone foolish enough to be caught outside. Some say it was vampires, some say it was evil shapechangers. The people of Riverweld were dying, driven from their homes and the canals of the city ran thick with blood. Then, as if by a miracle, a group of adventurers under the employ of the Arcanum defeated the evil deep within sterling shores and saved the city.
In the aftermath of the troubled nights the Fa Imperial navy withdrew from the city, claiming that it no longer held any strategic importance. The members of the Oriate Guild were precious few after so many were killed and the dwarves now kept to the northern district of their city. The Lark Society was certainly not in control of the city and what soldiers they had, chose to remain at Sterling Shores and ensure the criminals housed within did not escape among the battered people of the floating city. For the first time in the city’s six hundred cycle life, the people of Riverweld were left in a new and precarious position. What is to become of them? Who shall rule them and how shall they take care of their needs? A small council was formed. Representatives from the city’s districts volunteered and set to work building a new city, their city.
