Mavin

History

Mavin is a large city near the northern Maw in Ithellon. The city saw massive growth several centuries ago as people discovered ancient ruins and large structures, later determined to be sealed portals, in the Maw. Mavin became a center of exploration, learning, archeology, and the center of the growing antiquities trade. As the exploration of the region continued, it was discovered that the Maw held far greater riches than the ancient ruins in the form of rich mineral and ore deposits. The city grew even more as the riches poured in, with an even greater focus on trade and advanced metallurgy.
The massive growth of the city created several problems, however. The city's proximity to the mountainous Maw meant that the land was difficult to farm effectively, creating a dependency on foreign trade in order to feed the city. As the focus shifted between exploration, learning, and antiquities to the far more lucrative mineral, ore, and metal trading, internal conflicts arose as the city "moved away from its roots." The sudden growth also caused a sharp increase in crime and the ever-increasing disparity between the rich and poor. Several areas of the city fell into disrepair, creating "shantytowns" within the city walls.

Year of Chaos

Despite the problems, the city continued to prosper. Then the events of 1317 hit - the "Year of Chaos." Fortunately for the city, the Sudaga War had only a minor effect, having to weather but a single moderate attack. More damaging than the war was the sudden opening of several portals in the Maw - all leading to dead worlds. With that event, several things happened almost at once.
Creatures, now known as Kylon, emerged from these worlds. They were clever and destructive creatures, getting into the city once before we realized their true threat. Next, the Weave became very chaotic, making the magic that many relied on unstable and destructive. Even simple magic items began to go haywire, causing fire, death, and destruction throughout the city.
Almost overnight, the Elves abandoned their homes in the Elven District - taking with them an invaluable source of ancient knowledge and skill. And finally, the Clerics faced new challenges in these trying times as the Gods, trapped in this world for over a thousand years, returned to their divine domains.

Shadowkind

In the midst of all of this, a group of Elf-like people emerged from one of the dead worlds, now known as the "Shadowkind*." Where did they come from? Early expeditions revealed worlds completely barren, devoid of even plant-life with the exception of the then-hibernating Kylon (if only we had known then...). Nothing remained but stone and rock. No metal. No wood. No bones. When they were discovered, our scholars tried to get answers from them but it was like they just woke up from a dream. Their memories were fractured, out of order and incomplete. Sometimes it was as if they had the memories of multiple different people. And it seems that none of them have memories that tell us how their world died or why.

Chaos in the Empire

In 1318, due to the unrest caused by these events throughout the Empire, Emperor Anghime II was assassinated. The culprit was never found. The new emperor - Emperor Vedullus I - wishing to quell the unrest, began to take measures to calm the population and restore order. He publicly worked with the heroes who defeated Kheshura the Vengeful - Niko, Gliptwang, Vafir, Balmur, Arsinoe, and Oramar - to control the use of magic and magic items through new laws, to have scholars and mages such as Niko investigate the changes in the Weave and attempt to predict and stabilize its effects. He also sought to find ways to explore the new worlds - looking for clues and information regarding the state of the world and the final statements of Kheshura alluding to an invasion and attempt to control the destruction of the natural world inflicted by the Kylon.

Renewed Importance

The new Emperor focused on our city of Mavin due to its history of exploring the Maw and its ruins and due to the city's diversity and knowledge. He reorganized the Dawn Preservers and similar organizations into the five "Pattern Guilds" - focused on learning to control the Weave in the wake of the Year of Chaos and to determine who is fit to wield such chaotic power and to train them, taking responsibility for their testing and licensing. It became illegal to publicly wield magic or superhuman or magic-like abilities in public without a license.
Our city became a significant home to these guilds so they could be situated close to the portals to the new worlds. Next, he created the Belios Nexus Guild to organize and control the exploration of these new worlds and put its center of operations in our city, taking over the abandoned Elven District.

Lumev

Finally, just two years ago in 1326, a new portal opened to reveal - finally - a living world, now called Lumev. The Nexus Guild eagerly sent scholars, archeologists, architects, and explorers. It didn't take long before the first significant discovery was made - a strange cave full of constructed beings - now known as "Automata*." Who created them? Why were they created? Where are their creators now? These and many other questions are still left unanswered.
Lumev turned out to be a dangerous place full of dangerous creatures, strange ruins, and difficult landscapes. While the first expedition into the new world was a success, despite the losses, disaster loomed near. Another expedition discovered a large crater with some sort of buildings of unusual design in the center. They returned but another, larger, expedition was sent to investigate this crater. That expedition never returned. A follow-up group was sent after, who with the utmost caution crept up to the crater to find the entire lost expedition... vaporized. In the distance, they could see their feet, some hands, some equipment. But it was as if their bodies were melted. This, last, expedition quickly retreated to report back to the Guild.

Present

And so we come to the present. The Nexus Guild has carefully selected gifted, with the help of the Pattern Guilds. New expeditions with be performed not by scholars and archaeologists but by "adventurers" trained to deal with very dangerous situations. In order to avoid the many problems that this can cause, new candidates with large potential have been sought and are currently being trained for future expeditions.
Sudaga*, loathed and feared throughout the Empire, now take refuge in our city in the Sudaga Ward - given a chance to reintegrate after forced to endure the horrors of the war being controlled by alien minds.
The "Circle of Thorns" has consolidated control of most of the criminal elements in the city, brokering an uneasy alliance with the nobility to keep crime under control. This group now controls the Red-Light Districts in the city.
Two of the noble houses have lost their holdings in the city in order to make way for noble houses from the nearby kingdoms of Merthy and Thomer in order to seal their cooperation, forming an uneasy alliance.
And the city's focus, once again, has shifted toward exploration, antiquities, and now the new worlds - creating conflict between various groups in the city.

Factions

WIP

Districts

WIP

Maps

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  Mavin

Type

Metropolis

Population

35,300