Dreadmere
*Castle Velnoir*
Sanguine was also one of the first cities to be fully constructed using the new power of steam machines, allowing for the quick builds of sturdy streets and superb living spaces. Shortly after the building of this new town, others on the mainland heard of this place, and the promises it provided, and they too began to relocate. Quickly the town grew larger and larger, and within just 2 years the once diminutive population sprung to more than 20,000. This quick growth causes many pandemics and problems. The once serene landscape, become home to many, and with many came lack of food, various viruses and disease, minimal resources and mostly importantly lack of peace. The once beautiful and clean spring was now nothing more than a toxic sludge. And due to all the steam building, what was once a clear sky for all to behold was now nothing more than smog, haze covered metropolis. Sanguine very quickly forfeited all that it had been built upon, and the locals quickly renamed their city Dreadmere. This angered the founding families, as they lost what they worked so hard to obtain, their perfect portrait of tranquility was lost so swiftly. It is believed that in the year 18,554 T.B., the twelve founding families built a magnificent chapel, known as "The Dark Herald" and started a following what would be known as "The Bearers of Crimson and Black". In an attempt to reobtain their land from the outsiders, this new belief would give a second chance to peace. They became extremists, and had radical belief. Their followers donned colored garments of their choice, be branded on their flesh and give praise to a new unknown deity. Leading this new faith was the Velnoir family, who made it known that any who did not succumb to these requirements would be executed and hung in the streets for all to see.
This quickly lead to anarchy, as some did oblige in an attempt to stay in Dreadmere and possibly rekindle the promising city, while others refused, fought back and were murdered. In the year 18,558 T.B. the cult following reached numbers of up to 12,000+ on the New Morning Island, and their beliefs were soon being presented on the coastal of the mainland. But they were met with quick denial and refusal by the like of many, which included the city of Limani. They swiftly vanquished the new following from the mainland, from there Limani amassed numbers and went north to the city of Dreadmere to due away with the extremist. A 3 month long battle ensued, and many lives were lost in Dreadmere from both sides. This battle became known as "The Battle of Passion". The some 12,000 followers of Dreadmere were dwindled down to just a few hundred and were scattered throughout the island region, the Velnoir Castle was vandalized and heavily damaged during this time, and the chapel once praised by the radicals in shambles. The city would slowly become a skeleton of its former self, now home to just a few hundred residents, the streets are eerily empty. With many of the homes abandoned and destroyed, this once grand city is now host to vandals, and strange minded individuals. A metropolis of boarded up windows, unmarked grave sites and vast bleakness haunts Dreadmere. Many who have visited the area since those dreadful days claim to still hear hymns of the cultists echoing the streets to this day.
Infrastructure
The founding families of Dreadmere were some of the first to use steam powered machines to help pave their streets and build their grand homes. Although a good means of hastedly assembling large projects, this soon became part of their doom. As now the city has a almost permanent haze between itself and the sky. A smog that some believe poisons the very lungs of those who breath it, while others believe that the toxious gas can cause one to suffer schizophrenia.
Assets
A once quick and pretentious wealth was stored in Dreadmere some believe. It was rumored that the founding families not only showed up to the new land with serene intentions, but also a mighty pocket for of gil. They were able to harbor the help of gnome tinkers and artificers to help build their steam machines. And the cost of such a project does not come so cheap. But not only were the steam machines funded, but so was the foundation and building of Castle Velnoir. Rumors are that the little remaining locals of Dreadmere are in constant search of the wealth that the family may have stored somewhere within the city walls.
*A street view of Castle Velnoir*
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