Brudavord

The capital of the Kingdom of Magiore, ruled by King Robert Angevin, Brudavord is situated on the confluence of the Maege and Aver rivers, that run into the Wrynova.
Also called the Black Bastion for the thick smoke that permanently cloud its skies, Brudavord emerged as a military settlement on Castle Hill on the south bank of the Maege river and gradually, a town rose on the other bank, making it the focal point of the city's commercial life. The town was originally called Bruuda (our land), and the castle Vorrd, after the old western word for fort. When the two settlements merged together with the construction of a stone bridge across the river, it slowly became known as Brudavord. After the Corvian Invasion of 1240, Queen Beela ordered the construction of stone walls around the city. 
== Culture ==
The Brudurians are many and varied in culture, the city being a large center of commerce and travel, connecting Metina, Valona, Vichin, and the West. They are however known for a certain penchant for rules and punctuality, both of which are upheld as high virtues and taken very seriously (see the Code Legal), as well as rather short tempers. Most uphold the Cister Cartian faith and there is little tolerance for other beliefs within the city walls. 
== Economy ==
The city's main exports are arms and armour, silk, velveteen, and skins and it acts as Magiore's commercial center. Many merchants sailing up or down the Wrynova River stop here to rest and sell their goods. Brudavord is a bastion of production in the West, housing countless craftsmen, forges, and manufactories, that supply most of the Westerlands with iron and steel goods, as well as tanned hides and furs. Acrid fumes spread from the many blazing foundries and portions of Brudavord are forever wreathed in chooking soot and black smoke. The dark clouds hanging over the city are such permanent features, that many use them to navigate in and around the city.
== Layout ==
Brudavord is crowded and dirty with debris-choked alleys, winding strees, and dilapidated buildings, all set against the splendour of the royalty and the wealthy factory foremen. The filth of the city is only exacerbated by the plumes of charcoal smoke from the manufactories. A riot of different architectural styles exist here, from the fortress-like palace on Castle Hill to ramshackle row houses and layered cabins, and the brick factories of the lower city, showing a glimpse of the hundreds of years war damages and rebuilding. A glaze of ash stains the shingles of the roofs and smokes the windows, especially in the winter months.
The city spans both sides of the Maege River, connected by the massive stone bridge called the Bloody Bridge. On the south bank lies Castle Hill and the Upper City and on the north bank, the Lower City sprawls outward from the Bloody Bridge and Industrial Plaza. Another fortification, Reikguard, stand on a large island in the middle of the Maege river, connected to the Upper City through a bridge stretching across the small Aver Island, and to the Lower City by the Iron Tower and its two bridges. The city is divided into four districts:
* Castle District: Commonly referred to as The Heights, this district is a walled in area for the city's aristocracy, who live in fine estates and town houses, placed neatly around the vast palace of the royal family.
* Mercantile Quarter: The finest areas of the Upper City, reserved for wealthy merchants, travelers, artists, and factory foremen, where most of the city's goods and luxury items from all across the world are traded and sold. It is said that if you cannot find what you seek at one of the quarters many fine markets, it does not exist.
* Lower City: The center of production within the city, full of tanneries and factories. It is covered in ash and smoke and the stench from the tanneries is unbearable, even worse than the rest of the city.
* Town Proper: The massive sprawl of houses, taverns, inns, and shops situated in the eastern end of the Upper City, where the bulk of the city's workforce lives. Each day, and sunset and sundown, the Bloody Bridge is nearly impossible to cross due to the mass of workers moving from one end of the city to the other.
== Military ==
Although Robert Angevins armies are said to be the best and most numerous in all of the Westerlands, it consists primarily of city freemen and the landed knights of his vassal lords, spread out across the entire country, so Brudavord is not much safer that any other city. It does not even have a standing City Watch. 
Instead, Brudavord relies on the Cister Cartian Order of Paladins, an armed military force entirely devoted to the church and commanded by Bishop Arrent Mundy. Although the bishop so far has acted in accordance with the monarch's wishes, the church body is not legally bound to do so, and can take any steps it sees necessary to protect Brudavord and the faith. The Bishop is a Wincentene follower and was elected into the position after the old orthodox bishop, Selissa Malay, was executed by Robert Angevin upon his ascension to the throne. A portion of the Paladin Order were enraged by this drastic interference in the church, but were quickly deposed by the King and went off to fight in the Wincentene War.