Great Strabain

The city of Great Strabain is one of the largest trade cities that exist within the Basin’s borders; it lies some 200 miles North of Maryat and 400 miles West of Vopanderan: Built upon the meeting points of the rivers Vorgus and Gaben as they join with the Aplar, Strabain has excellent access to both costs and most of the largest industrial and agricultural producing holdings in the Basin. Great Strabain brings in trade from many of the larger towns, providing them with work and monies to increase their standing. Towns such as Baden, St Mundensburg and Zerith to the north, Strabe and Serth to the West and Vobde and Yoban to the East.

Home to a populace of approximately 75,000, Great Strabain’s fame largely enhanced by its ruling family; the Steelheart line: Long famed as doers of justice and honoured of Naed the Steelheart estate has produced some of the most famous names in Basanic history. Strabain straddles the river junctions like a spider in its web and provides the “Gooseneck” or “Swan” or “Duck Barrel”; a fortified trade bridge that arches much like the neck of a Goose or Swan, upon which some of the most lively and interesting trade auctions in the known world take place.

### Commerce

Sitting on the Aplar conjunction as it does, Strabain is a major trade centre, it also serves as an organisation point as a venturing point for missions into the Northern areas of the basin. The largest commercial enterprise is The Eagles Wind Trading Coster, which has extensive holdings in Strabain for use on its trade route from Ironstone bay to the capital via Shriekspire. This company runs a myriad of caravans and barges that are heavily guarded by adventurers and mercenaries. Attacks on Eagles Wind caravans have increased of late and work is frequent and well paid if dangerous.

The city is also known for its fine armour smithing, the finest human quality throughout the basin, as authorities will tell you. Such smithing is courtesy of the house of Larralan currently run by Abner Larralan, a family line who have been smiths to the Basin for over twelve generations. It is also a major transport point for coal and Iron mined from the Razorbacks and Ironstone bay, this trade is dominated by the Garalanis family who have twelve warehouses dedicated to this trade and is slowly expanding its trade into a wide variety of commodities

Strabains importance to trade is demonstrated by the large local facilites of some of the far reaching trade companies and houses such as Phyphor, Fat and Nightstar Trading. These companies regularly hire adventuring companies and such, mainly from the Strabain many to protect and maintain their interests throughout the Duchies of the basin.

Strabain, being predominately a Naedite City, has promoted the Entrepreneurs that have started smaller business throughout the area local to Strabain. These people have managed to build successful business without the benefit of the backing of the merchant houses or a mechant family background. Examples of these are Furlin (cheese), Maykle (weapons and armour), Grun (winery), Filianar (real estate), N’poken (brewery), Zokar (horses) and Ji (grains). The most prominent amongst them however is Zadjan P’Poriton who owns several enterprises that operate on the edge of the law. This retired adventurer owns two prominent taverns; Terref’s Patterns and The Dire Rat, neither of which seem to make any effort to keep out the shaier side of Strabains society. Chief amongst his interests however is a shop that is particularly popular with the adventuring community called P’Poritons Potions and Parasols; whilst expensive the discerning customer can pick up a number of rare and delicate items from across Vaklam and if they are lucky enough may even glimpse some of the unique items that the owner keeps tucked away in his back room.

### Security

Duke Jarmak Steelheart is the popular Lord of Strabain but mainly leaves the governance of his great city to his wife Lady Winter. Lady Winter has hundreds of assorted duties to perform on top of her governance and has gathered a reputation for hard working, honesty and trustworthiness; she never, however, works on the ninth day of each month and this custom is widely respected, known as it is that this day marks the ninth day of the third month on which both of her sons were slain during the Codex Wars.

Heading the Silver Saints garrison is Baron Sedgley Draygal; a distant relative of the King and Keeper of the Peace for Strabain. Sedgley is a tough and fair leader of the militia and he is assisted ablely by Derryck of Gamtha who is a trainee of the warriors guild and member of the Church of Ekimelahw. Together the pairs warrior mentality means that they have a good working relationship and compliment each other well.

Regular patrols head out from the city along the major trade routes and into well known danger spots, a typical force of forty to sixty members of the Warriors guild intermixed with Silver Saints and supported by members of the Churches and Colleges prowl the hills and roadsides keeping the peace. The primary objective of these patrols has been to rid the nearby Sybirithian Forest of various dangers left behind by Orbolom and his campaign against the Steelheart family; this objective has the full support of King Patryck and his court.

### Society

Inns and taverns dominate huge areas of Strabain, although the architects of the city have attempted to keep the majority of them in the same areas. These establishments vary greatly in cultural design and the types of food and entertainment that they offer to their clientele, probably due to the large amount of traders and adventurers that pass through the city each year. The most prominent Inn is the recently renamed Duke Jarmak’s rest; since the fall of Naed it has been his favoured drinking spot and a favoured place for the cities elite and powerful. A meal at the Duke will give you contact with important people in the ruling councils and the powerful leaders of the trading companies.

There are of course a number of other High Class bars: The Silver Swan, The Dancing Dryad, Twelve Moons and the Leaping Lion are the popular choices for those with Helms to melt. For those of lesser means The Clansman, Restless Wizard, Flaming Diamond, Rising Stars and the Murdered Maiden provide a reasonable night for a number of shields. Budget hostels, although numerous, include the Severed Cord, Nineteen Knights, Ambling Monk, Dicey Death and the Conjurers Wand.

Strabain of course also boasts several establishments that you may not wish to approach; The Copper Rod and the Fumbling Fish are renowned for their brawls and general violence whilst the Whiskered Polecat is believed to be reserved only for unsavoury characters. The Three Stolen Moments has seen a string of inexplicable and bizarre events take place within over its years and changes hands frequently.

The most popular of the Inns amongst the locals however is India’s Heart, named after a Lady of old who threw many great street parties and such in her time in Strabain. India’s Heart is the centre of Strabain’s nightlife and is cleared each month for the masked ball attended by locals and (rumour has it) the Lords of the Land aswell, although none are allowed to remove their masks during the ball.

### Notable Sites

On top of the many Inns that have already been mentioned the following sites also exist in Strabain:

The Trade Bridge: In truth Strabain sprung up around the Great Trade Bridge that is now the centre of the city. A massive structure that encompasses three rivers and the banks that this entails, the bridge is Forty feet wide at its widest and twenty at its narrowest. It’s total length is just over 1 mile and it has been constructed using just over fourteen tonnes of Wood and Stone. Magically strengthened the Bridge can withstand any standard force known to the Basin. It is covered by great cloth canopies that can be withdrawn if need be and has a staggering twelve guard towers that plunge deep into the rivers and soar Sixty feet into the air above the waterline.

The Bridge is used by tonnes of traffic each day, with literally millions of pedestrians, carts and animals crossing it each year. Below the bridge there are mooring points for barges and other vessels that so choose to use the river and jetties with cranes and such to allow unloading of cargo. Gangs of workers stand ready to take that cargo to waiting carts, carpets and other forms of transport. Built into the banks of the river are the shipping and customs offices alongside a number of berths in which crews can rest, wash up and enjoy a hot meal.

The overall bridge boasts three Inns; The Tall Mast, The Compass and The Weary Traveller; all of which are continuously busy and amongst the most lucrative Inns in the land. Two hotels catering entirely for those tired pilgrims of trade also jostle for position alongside the busy thoroughfare. Hawkers of goods pester the travellers as they make their way across the Great Trade Bridge and entertainers vie for positions as they attempt to make a few extra blades with their lulling music and acts.

Once a week a huge area of the bridge is cleared slowing the flow of traffic dramatically; the area cleared is given over to the auction of various goods from across the land: Cattle, weapons, perfumes and spices to name but a few. All are welcome but the costs for using the Bridge are as follows:

* Pedestrian (unarmed)  10 Blades
* Pedestrian (Armed)     20 Blades
* Mounted Traveller (unarmed) 20 Blades
* Mounted Traveller (armed)    40 Blades
* Small Wagon  40 Blades
* Large Wagon  1 Shield
* Small Caravan            1 Shield
* Medium Caravan        2 Shields
* Large Caravan             4 Shields
* Small Guard contingent          4 Shields
* Medium Guard Contingent     8 Shields
* Large Guard Contingent         16 Shields

Vogels Tower: Many Rumours abound regarding the origin of Vogels tower, the most popular indicate that the Tower has been here since the first Gabrak Wars and was built by one of his War Wizards. The tower is a short Black Tower Twenty two feet in height with metal bands placed every two feet around it starting two feet from the bottom. There are no doors or windows and no user of power has ever managed to divine a way into the building. It sits towards the Northern area of Strabain amidst the warehouses of the Garalanis family. The name Vogel has been determined by magics; it seems to be the only word that the spirit of the tower is aware of.

The University of Great Strabain: Of all of the Universities of the Basin none can compare to the University of Great Strabain; this sprawling edifice was founded over six hundred years ago and has come to represent the highest levels of education that can be found across Vaklam. Only the Halls of Wisdom in Shriekspire hold anywhere near the levels of information that can be found here.

### Notable Citizens

Duke Jarmak Steelheart: Jarmak was orphaned as a child on the steps of the Church of Naed; his is a long and stirring story worthy of a much longer tale. It is enough to make these mentions of him: Jarmak is a hero of the land and has stood, over the years, against the foes that have threatened to crush the life from not only the basin but Vaklam itself; Gabrak, the Challengers, Arcathain and Sarkith are a handful of names against whom Jarmak has pitted himself and won. A High Priest of Naed and keeper of the legacy of the Steelheart family Jarmak is a champion of the people and despite his responsibilities to the area that Strabain is located in he still wanders the lands seeking injustice and meting out his own brand of justice against those who oppress the peoples of the land.

Jarmak has become re-united with his family after many years of being alone: His parents were in the service of Duke Dazak, a close friend of Jarmak, closer then he knew as the two are now brothers. Jarmak continues his crusade against Orbolom who was responsible for the separation of his family and for many years of their suffering.

Lady Winter: Wife to Jarmak, Lady Winter is the last descendent of the pure-blooded Winters that can trace their lineage to Dreskussen Winter, the first of their line. She is a firm and fair leader and has taken over the day to day running of Strabain from her husband. Lady Winter has already lost one husband and both of her sons, she never intended to marry again but fate led Jarmak to her: She dwelt previously in Fort Winter, the ancestral seat of the Winters, on the borders of Ironstone bay. Without her husband she almost lost control of the Fort to nobles from Ironstone bay; only through her swift marriage to Jarmak was she able to keep the Fort in the hands of the Winters. Despite the nature of their marriage Lady Winter has made it publicly known that she does not regret her decision and that she loves and respects her husband.

The people of Strabain feel a great sadness and empathy for Lady Winter; She is now beyond the age of reproduction and it is widely known that she would like to have given the Duke an heir. She mourns the loss of her two sons greatly and the passage of time seems to have done nothing to lessen the loss she so clearly still feels.

Morris Thurlock: Morris Thurlock was born 145 years ago on the vessel Junipers Wake. He was raised at sea, which is odd for a Flame Elf, but his parents were fleeing in exile from allegations of assassination. These allegations where later disproved but Morris never knew his parents and they certainly never returned home, instead he was left aboard the Junipers Wake to be raised by Captain James Thurlock. Morris spent many years with the Captain learning the ways of the sea merchant, unfortunately James was human and his adopted son was bound to outlive him. The vessel was bequeathed to the young Flame Elf and the crew stayed loyal, however the purpose and the name of the Junipers wake was to change forever.

Morris had for a long time watched the waterways and had become increasingly aware of a contingent of Pirates and Slavers operating around the Eastern coast of the basin. Morris despised and detested those that impeached on the liberty and freedom of the common people and decided it was his place to do something about this obscenity. The newly re-named and re-commissioned Crimson Knight began a 10-year campaign against the group that ended in Victory for Captain Thurlock but also destruction of the Crimson Knight.

Morris was rescued by a Fishing Smack of grateful folk from the port towns that had been subject to the Pirate raids and returned safely to dry land. With the destruction of the vessel that had for so long been his home Morris decided to leave the sea and return to his homeland. He made it as far as the fair city of Vopanderan where he was instrumental in overthrowing a tyrannical governor who held the city in a grip of fear. There he joined the temple of Tremalian, the old God of Neutrality, working with and for the people, he earned himself a name for his selfless care and attention for the people of the land. After the Pantheonic war he slid easily to worship of Naed and Five years ago was nominated to lead, forming the council of the key and becoming the High Priest.

Since then Morris has taken very little role in the adventuring career that he once maintained but has instead taken to the political arena. During this time he met, fell in love with and married Katarina Steelheart the heir apparent to the Steelheart estates. The two moved to Strabain to be near her ancestral home and denounced the title to the estate in favour of Jarmak.

### Religion

Temples to Naed and Bethylak dominate the streets of Strabain although churches to all legal Gods are prominent throughout the city.

### History

Strabain itself has long been a trading city; its ample defences have made it a bastion of safety throughout several wars and the city has never fallen enemy hands. The area around Strabain however has a wide and varied history due mainly to the presence of the Steelheart family:

Ages ago the estate was huge well tended affair with a centralized mansion housing, amongst other things, a huge temple and training area. The estate was home at any one time to between 8 and 30 family members and 100 household staff. The estate was almost a Holy site with pilgrimages there almost every month by noble and commoner alike. One relic that the travellers wished to view above all others was the sword: Steelsong.

Whomsoever held the seat at the Steelheart mansion was anointed Duke by the reigning sovereignty with their offspring being landed Knights. The Steelheart Duchy: Authonay, meaning resurrection in the old tongue was home to several hundred thousand souls, the main towns of which were: Strabain, Vollis, Turmock and Villial. Only Strabain is still inhabited the other towns having been swallowed up by the massive Forests that were once well tended on the Steelheart land.
When the last Katarina was attacked however a great tragedy befell her lands: Hordes of daemons and Undead descended on her land and butchered her family and retainers. The horde was purportedly led by a 4 headed figure wearing the emblems of house Steelheart and archaic armour.

Since that time some 37 years ago the land has fallen into turmoil and darkness. The estate has become overgrow, the villages deserted. Rumours purport to spirits and Undead wandering the land in great numbers

When the Steelheart family fell the town of vollis emptied of life almost immediately. A dark pact had been made whereby the inhabitants of Vollis were to become the vessels for the Souls of the Undead; whilst the town slept Necromancers in the woods enacted a foul ceremony and the souls of the villagers were ejected from their bodies to be replaced by the corruption that is the walking dead. The souls of Vollis fled to the Steelheart Family Crest awaiting for a Steelheart to return to the estate and avenge them.

Long ago the wood that was carved into the Steelheart family crest was a druidic repository for powerful souls. This was to enable the Druids to speak directly to the spirits of the earth and of the trees.

With the return of Katarina the Spirits of Vollis have been released and have returned to their now overgrown and devastated village. They continue their life as they did when their bodies still held their spirits safe. They have no concept of the fact that they are dead nor that they have been ensconced within the crest for so long.

Originally the home of an extremely profitable cattle market Turmock was the prize of the Steelheart estate and received much in the way of investment over the years. This lead to the building of schools and temples here with Steelheart money to which many of the surrounding populace flocked. Turmock was a happy and prosperous place filled with the sounds of happy children and busy thoroughfares, that is until the undead of Vollis strode into Turmock.

The horror that night was unspeakable; Children, women, men the elderly, all slain by their neighbours from Vollis. These deaths were not swift or merciful, most were calculated and many of the victims took hours to die, some days. Only one family survived that horrible night, a man and a woman in love, their infant son and teenage daughter. Everyone else was murdered to a soul and their bodies consumed; carrion for the dead.

Now the town of Turmock lies abandoned of life, no trees grow, no plant or insect moves, not even the breeze ruffles the thatch in the rooftops. The village remains perfectly preserved the Undead not caring much for material objects of life. The only remains of human life that exist here are the bloodstains that spill across the streets and the haunting of the departed souls that play out the last moments of their lives.

Home to the artisans of the Steelheart estates, Villial was a bubbling cauldron of theatres, bars, studios, galleries and the like. Villial had already produced some of the basins most controversial artists in the form of Learman and Briggs. People from across the Vaklam travelled to see the excellence of the artists that performed there. At the time of the fall of the Steelhearts many of Vaklam’s greatest performers were present, making what occurred an even greater tragedy.

Just over 2000 people had gathered in the great Berrik Steelheart amphitheatre, open air and packed. The play?: Salacin and the great castle of Bone; a re-writing of Salacins fabled and tragic assault against Sarkith during the first Gabrak Wars. The play was a phenomenal success the audience hooked to every word, to every action. Then during the final act, as Salacin stood facing the great Sarkith and 40 of his Daemons it happened:

The actors playing the great Daemon Lord and his minions changed before the audience, becoming larger, more real. As one they tore the actor playing the great Daemon hunter to pieces, the applause was tremendous, the tumult great, but then the Daemonic foe turned for the encore. The shouts turned to screams and the aisles ran thick with blood, peasant and noble mixing alike.

For the rest of the night the Daemons tore through the town of Villial destroying all they came across. Nothing was spared, not even a plate or a table. Their act of destruction complete the Daemons left the smouldering ruins of Villiail behind them and moved onto the Steelheart seat proper.

Now only ruins remain in Villial, ruins and the haunting strains of music and laughter; The ghosts of the muses are all that hold sway in Villial now