Zenshahn

At a Glance

The walls are new, tall, and vigilantly guarded by veteran soldiers with longbows and a full range of siege equipment. The city bustles with activity; excitement and hope for the future are growing.

Temples

The Temple of Armed Conflict, the Way of the Berserk, the Halls of the Valiant, the Church of the Life's Fire, the Face of the Free, and the Inevitable Order of Time have temples in the city, with a dilapidated shrine to the Founder's Creation outside the city's walls.

Mages & Sages

The civil wars initially appeared to be a boon for mercenary wizards, but the fighting grew thick and deadly, and a great number of wizards died before peace returned. Wizards are presently rarer in the kingdom than ever before. Concerned about the state of affairs, Whanavi has begun building a school he calls the University of Arcana, an investment he hopes will encourage a new generation of wizards in the city.
The university's designer is Mushahnohz. "Mushu" is egotistical and pedantic, but he is a gifted wizard and legendary combat mage. He is wise enough to know that he best offers the embryonic school his name only. He has no patience for teaching and has no clue how to handle the finances or paperwork involved with a school. Until he can find another to fill in, however, he is the only instructor the school has.

Underworld

Smugglers have become firmly entrenched. They have public support because they bring in Foreign goods cheaply to which many commoners and merchants have become accustomed. The smugglers are raising their prices and blaming the price on the greater threats from the duke's tariff collectors. One thieves' guild, the Dark Omen, acts solely as black marketers, bringing in wines, weapons, and cloth at prices a third less than the usual market. The Dark Omen's leader is Isvanosh, a gap-toothed man with a disarming smile and no scruples at all.

Demographics

Most demihumans who survived the tumultuous civil wars have left.

Government

Zenshahn is the seat of Duke Whanavi's duchy. He recently engaged in a fierce war of domination with Duke Dovizhem II. Dovizhem, now known as "The Bloody" gave an impassioned speech in front of the unaligned dukes at the Council of Mewhi and won over their support. From his fortress at Svomwhi, 2,000 foot soldiers and Fully 3,500 horsemen stormed west and south, striking at the black-garbed knights faithful to Whanavi.
Whanavi, supported by a core of paladins and allied with tribes from the Vohven jungle, repelled the initial attacks, but he was still outnumbered two to one. Clever diplomacy won him temporary allies from Ahznomahn and Ozhvinmish, and a band of dwarven mercenaries striking from the north managed to tip the scales in his favor. Over the course of another year, constant fighting drove Dovizhem and his troops back to the Ixhoven River, where his allies changed allegiance in return for amnesty. Since Dovizhem's capture and execution, the nation has been relatively peaceful, with most nobles deferring a position of respect to Whanavi but nothing more. While Whanavi's army is too weak for him to claim any kingship, his son Yahan might be in a good position to claim the vacant throne in another 30 years. Zenshahn is growing economically stronger and it will eventually recover from its military losses.

Defences

Whanavi relied heavily on his expert cavalry, and they took heavy casualties during the recent fighting. They now number only 2,000, with half of that number stationed in the Zenshahn. Their pride is great, as is their impact on the economy. Most of the cavalrymen are wasteful and spend a considerable amount of coin in the marketplace, inns and taverns of the city. Ironically, Whanavi's infantry gained in strength from the campaign due to land concessions from Dovizhem. Their morale is not as great as that of their mounted counterparts, but desertions are nevertheless few.

Industry & Trade

The economy is still reeling from the blood and destruction of the recent civil war, but peace is settling in. Since Whanavi opened up peaceful relationships with some of the Vohven natives, new trade routes have allowed opportunities that did not exist before. The tribesmen are nor all peaceful, however, and many of them do not appreciate the intrusion of the northerners.
Zenshahn exports worked metal goods to the Vohven tribesmen in return for the exotic goods needed for her Famous poisons. Poisons, veteran mercenaries willing to undertake questionable tasks, and jet from the Imomena Hills generate the greatest income of Zenshahn's exports. Whanavi has a fine port in his central city, but it sits empty more often than not because of the extreme distance from the busiest trade routes. Brolenese traders who come this far to do business with Ronazagh sometimes veer east to Zenshahn, where they bring troubling news about Kargi wealth and military strength.

Type

Large city

Population

24,700 Svimohz.