Fidein
The Jewel of Magnus
Upon this ledge on the trail into the Edenal Valley, I am gifted with my first sight of Fidein. A majestic white city whose walls shimmer in the sunlight untarnished. Below me are farms and lodges across the valley, which all lead to Fidein at the foot of Mt. Trensano. I can see orchards bearing all sorts of fruit and patches of vegetables which stretch across the valley floor. And above the shimmering city are many conjoined hands, all supporting something in the palms of the upper pair. -- Josiah Okmun the Traveler
Demographics
According to Head Carissa, in the 400AE census, the population consists of 60% humans, 14% dwarves, 8% halflings, 7% elves, 5% orcs, 3% gnomes, 2% aasimar, and 1% kobolds. Other races that live in Fidein are so minor that they were not included in the census.
Government
Theocratic Monarchy
Defences
Fidein is both naturally and manually defended. Naturally, the valley in which Fidein sits is shaped in a way so that it is a raised valley. There are only three major avenues of passage which lead to Fidein; the Light Passage follows the Gesegnet River to the split point with the Xerzata and is known as a difficult pathway, the Life Passage follows the Evlogimenos River to the split point with the Xerzata and is known as a much easier pass with a well-traveled road, and finally the Faith Passage travels along Mt. Trensano and into the mountain which eventually exits near Jubixalia.
Fidein's manual defenses can be seen as far as three miles away from the city walls in the form of stone watchtowers. Their only purpose is to light fires within the roof to alert the other towers when invaders approach from one of the three passages. They dot Edenal Valley toward Fidein. At Fidein, there are the tall walls and gates made from ivory and steel. Parapets line the walls, from which archers and crossbowmen can fire. Above the gates are murderholes from which boiling oil or heavy rocks can be tossed down onto attackers. Priests and Paladins use magic in order to keep the troops well-healed and able to continue the fight without exhaustion. However, once invaders breach the walls, not much else can save the city. Interior walls block access to other districts and the invaders can have a clear shot at the palace if they decide to swim upriver or fire down that lane. This is a trap, and if the invaders are foolish enough to enter through the river, then they must be prepared to suffer in that killzone. Archers and priests can attack from outside in and soldiers release waterborne river monstrosities from the palace's moat. If that's not enough, the river can be temporarily drained into the sewers; a last ditch effort to defeat the invaders by forcing them into the labyrinthine sewers beneath the city at the cost of river flow through the valley.
Infrastructure
Fidein is surprisingly modern for a renaissance era city. This is because of the Shepherds and their proficiency with the plans left behind by the Ancients. The city includes paved roads throughout its interior, ten gates, an expansive sewage and water system, watermills along the central river (the Xerzata), a district which is 75% parks (the Faith district), and a beautifully decorated plaza below the Ivory Palace.
Assets
As a city, Fidein offers a wide variety of goods, from farming tools to exotic and magical items of yore. From potato sacks to lavish and noble dresses. There are food stores established by the farmhands, taverns where the weary drown in their tankards, magic shops where scrolls glimmer with magical power, and much more. There are some laws against certain magic here and divine power trumps all here, as a result, the stores bend to these rules.
Guilds and Factions
Listed here are the major factions of Fidein:
The leading faction of Fidein is the Great Kingdom of Verinsten, which is run by the royal family and the pope who are descendants of the Shepherds.
The Wayfarers own a small guild in the Entertainment District. They are an old guild who specialize in exploration and discovery.
There are rumors of a criminal syndicate who lurks in the underground of Fidein. Not much is known about these shady individuals and those who may know are keeping their lips tight.
The Sewage Maintenance Delvers are a band of hardy individuals who maintain and clear the sewers of debris, trash, and monsters. They have a very high turn around.
The Good Clergy are well-known and respected in Fidein. They travel throughout the city and its outskirts magically healing and blessing the needy. They also have a group of inquisitors who hunt monsters and heretics at night throughout the city.
The Verinsten Merchant's Guild is a union for merchants, traders, and distributors who seek fair and equal trade. Within this organization, merchants can share leads, issue orders, and regulate business among themselves.
The Fellowship of the Flower is a paladin organization devoted to the protection of relics and defenseless people in need. They primarily do what is right in the spur of a moment, acting as an extremely powerful wandering band of heroes; but their true goals are to secure lost elven relics and watch over them for the preservation of elven history and lineage.
Architecture
The architecture of Fidein is a mix of Greek and German styles. Most structures in Fidein are open-air structures, meaning they are supported by columns and have few to no walls. These public spaces will feature rugs and curtains to keep dust and dirt from entering the premises.
People use these spaces as walkthroughs, to browse, or to hang out. The more private rooms have walls and primarily humble living conditions.
Homes are also walled, but some may have an open-aired room for lounging. Homes can reach up to two floors with staircases within the building. Many people who own these homes turn the first floor into a small business and the top floor their living space. Rooves are a mahogany color and made of a type of stone. They can be either done shaped or squared, depending on the privacy of the building; dome-shaped rooves are above public spaces while square-shaped rooves are above private spaces. The walls are mostly a very light grey or white color from the stone of the valley. Doors are wooden and are precious, with some being painted different colors dependent on the family who lives within the residence. These colors could represent guilds, coats of arms, or nothing at all.
Geography
Fidein sits within the Edenal Valley at the foot of Mt. Trensano. The mountain is the largest mountain on the continent, stretching high up into the clouds above. Only on a clear day can someone see its blue, hazy peak. Mt. Fidein is part of a chain of mountains known as The Spine. Edenal Valley is the largest valley of this mountain chain. The valley is raised roughly 1200 feet above sea level and is shaped like a bowl with two missing pieces on its southern side.
Down Mt. Trensano flows the Xerzata and the Ysim, with the Xerzata being a major river and the Ysim being the minor. The Xerzata pools within Fidein from two seperate waterfalls which are split by a large statue of supporting palms reaching up to the sky two hundred feet above the Ivory Palace. The Xerzata then flows through Fidein, providing a natural waterway and fresh water for the city. The Xerzata flows out into the valley, providing more sustenance for the surrounding farms and wildlife before being split, again, by a solitary mountain and waterfalling into another lake 100 feet below the valley. The lake has an exit river which travels southward to the Mistral Sea, which cannot be seen from the valley.
The terrain of the valley is mostly grasslands with a few dotted trees and strange stone and ivory spires. Legend claims that the spires are from the ancient battle of the gods to lay claim over Serentheim, which includes their weapons and their bones. But many dismiss those legends, because the ivory spires are not invulnerable and can be broken down by contemporary tools.
Natural Resources
Within the Edenal Valley where Fidein rests are fertile lands, rivers, stone, and ore deposits. There are three major rivers which all teem with freshwater life. For example, salmon is very abundant here and will visit the valley to mate and spawn. Fertile lands cover the majority of the valley with minor patches of stone and ivory along the valley floor. The people of Fidein use these lands to primarily grow vegetables such as carrots and cabbages. There are a few orchards here as well which grow many tree fruits, however they are privately guarded and protected since the wood and fruit are so highly coveted. Those who own the orchards are normally nobles due to their high expenses. Within the valley are plenty of domesticated animals as well, such as horses, sheep, and cattle. These types of farmers are a cut above the rest, because their animal products are delicacies for those of Fidein. Along the edges of the valley one would find less fertile lands and more rocky surfaces and caves.
Here, stone and iron are abundant and are mined daily. Miners use scaffolding, cantrips, and hand tools to extract the resources and escort them back to the city's Market District. The caves of the valley are used as homes for many of the valley's wildlife and monstrosities, making the edges of the valley and the interior of the mountains very dangerous. Some caves are actually tunnels which connect to other caves and/or caverns. Some tunnels even extend further downward toward the Underdark. These cave systems are home to even more resources, such as cave foliage and ores. Large deposits of ivory can be found within these caves and are possibly the bones of giants and even gods. This ivory is known as "lichen ivory" for its magical properties and energetic blue growth masses. Other more mundane ores such as copper, gold, and silver may also be found depending on how deep one travels.
Alternative Name(s)
The Jewel of Magnus
Type
Capital
Population
~150,000
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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