Valor
The Bronze Dragon Birinj was long known to make lairs along rocky and inaccessible coastlines, strongholds straddling land and sea, until he realized if his lair could soar through the sky like himself he could more easily police the world for evil. Enter, Valor. As the old world fell and the new world found peace, Birinj ran out of virtuous battles to take part in, and so he turned his attention to sports. Valor is the athletic center of the new world, their teams always dominating against the other cities, and hosts of the famous Battle Royale.
As a mobile city, Birinj's magical effects on the surrounding area moves with Valor. Ghostly naval ships appear on waters to escort well-meaning creatures in need of help toward the city. Sailors both above and below glimpse the shadowy, illusory form of the dragon in the depths below them, keeping pace with their vessel. Even on solid land beneath the city terrain actively works to foil stealth. Leaves change color to contrast with those trying to hide among them, branches move to reveal creatures, fog clears, and so on.
No Hand-Outs
Birinj sees himself as a hero, but he demands payment like any other dragon out of a matter of principle. Paying even a small fee for his land and services allows you to feel like you've preserved your dignity. It’s really for your benefit. Unless of course, you've risen through the minor league ranks to get a slot on any of Valor's sports teams, in which case you get to live rent-free.Culture
Valorants have high expectations for themselves and others. Passivity is shameful, but you must also ensure you aren't on the wrong side of a conflict. They try not to lie but they do choose their words carefully. They demand self-control from themselves and would never abandon or break their word to a comrade. It's a lot of pressure for anyone to bear, and Valorants generally don't believe in mental health, trusting their guts more than anything. People here are forthright, lacking interest in chitchat or insinuation, and they are respectful as well. The weakest creatures sometimes display the greatest courage.Government
Valor has some of the strongest regulations in their government to prevent abuse of power. Everyone has a responsibility to refuse immoral orders, and anyone giving them will be immediately stripped of power.
Defences
Valor treats its opponents honorably, but not at the expense of strategy. Both in athletics and city-wide security, a quick defeat is its own kind of courtesy. Birinj is especially interested in repurposing other societies ' military technology, magic armaments, and siege engines. The bigger, the better.
Industry & Trade
Valorants are responsible for a majority of magic weapon manufacturing, which are sold regardless of the buyer. This creates conflict which further drives the evolution of magic weapons. Valor is also an adventuring hub, where groups take on jobs cleaning up messes and items often created right in town.
As mentioned, Valor is also a sporting hub. The sporting leagues of Loom are outlined in the Fighter character class section, but every class could find their way onto the field of the sports listed. Valor also annually hosts the Battle Royale, the ultimate challenge for adventuring parties. Gamemasters take the floating city out over an Old World dungeon and drop every competitor from the floating city to the ground below to race and fight over a magic item. Whoever recovers the proper item is rewarded a massive gold prize and the treasure itself.
Tourism
Birinj has arranged many of his favorite trophies for public view in the Hall of Fame. Treasured trophies such as:
- A painting of the bronze dragon alongside Cole Mirari wearing an Old Bonner military uniform
- An ornate, mostly complete collection of Oristene’s multi-volume Military History of the Outer Planes
- A heavy cloak of shimmering blue scales, with an attached half-mask - taken from Cerulean long ago
- An oversized key of living wood, with seemingly natural whorls in the bark that form the words, “For service not forgotten”
- A dragon-sized drinking vessel crafted from a behir horn
- Framed blueprints of a siege engine called the Moonhammer
- An aquatic howdah made of sharkskin and bearing an emblem of a lonely black tower perched high atop a sea stack
- A statue of a dishonored elf general, which is surrounded by historical treatises recounting the general’s disgrace and notes that suggest the dragon has vowed to redeem this former hero he once bonded with long ago
- An idol of an insectile devil, with a blindfold tied carefully around its compound eyes
- An elaborate clockwork zoetrope that, when activated, displays a moving picture of a bronze dragon fighting a red dragon over a burning city
Architecture
When it comes to his city, Birinj values function over form, and studies potential building sites with a military commander’s eye for defense. He appreciates the solidity of cliff-side undercrofts or stone fortresses, often reinforcing existing defenses with clever traps and bulwarks. At the same time, Birinj understands that he is his own best defense in a siege, so he was careful to maximize his mobility with multiple ways in and out of the city.
Geography
The foundation of Valor was a battlefield where hundreds of giants were annihilated in a devastating magical assault. The giants that escaped have long promised revenge.
Founders
Type
Large city
Inhabitant Demonym
Valorants
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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