Cliffhaven

Map of Cliffhaven's Former Borders

## Common Knowledge

The smallest of the five great dwarven cities, known for its fine arts. In later years, known for being oppressive, and then for being destroyed just after the Planar War.

## Topography and Climate

Cliffhaven was built into the cliff face of coastal Orelisle, and was harried by seasonal fog and rain. Its climate was a little colder than normal, but otherwise temperate.

## Population

Cliffhaven’s population was almost entirely dwarves or half-dwarves.

## Exports and Trades

Many people in Cliffhaven’s past were artisans or landowners, but as it waned nearly everyone was a miner or laborer of some sort. Its primary exports were ores, raw minerals, and highly sought-after art pieces.

## Government

Cliffhaven began as a monarchy led by a Chieftain, then became an aristocratic republic under the Council of Health and Safety, and then became a military junta in its final days.

## Military

Cliffhaven has never had a traditional standing army, instead opting to mobilize its citizens to various degrees. Prior to the fall of the stars, Cliffhaven was defended by the militarized and perceptive Public Watch. This Watch was an extension of the Council of Health and Safety, which kept the people safe just as much as they enforced the Council’s oppressive decrees.

After the fall of the Council, General Tadmus Adonmus formed a military junta from the now armed and organized citizenry. This formed into the Urist’s Own mercenary company, who did solid work when hired and brought the spoils back to the war at the home front.

## Social Hierarchy and Culture

Cliffhaven prized two things above nearly all others: family, and artistic expression.

Like many dwarven cities, Cliffhaven dwarves tended to align themselves with members of their clan. Some of these clans might have had distant ties to other dwarven cities like Taldoric or Duryem, but most had little such influence outside their cliffside sanctuary. Many clans had rivalries with other clans, but such rivalries manifested mostly through friendly competition.

Though wealth and luxury were one of the primary factors in Cliffhaven’s founding, that wealth could easily be expressed through lavish art made from expensive and rare ingredients. While countless paintings and sculptures were created in Cliffhaven, the ones that garnered the most interest and praise boasted paints ground from exotic plants or hard stone from a faraway quarry. The more valuable the material of a piece was, the more its artist was respected and the more political and social clout they attained.

## Cities, Towns, and Villages

### Cliffhaven

The titular city of Cliffhaven, nestled comfortably atop the cliffs of coastal southeast Orelisle.

## Alliances

Cliffhaven had no formal alliances, keeping mostly to itself, but traded with anyone interested.

## Enemy Countries

Cliffhaven had no enemy countries, but in a sense the Ore-Lands and Cliffhaven were enemies even though they occupied the same physical space.

## Historical Timeline

* 7,951 A.B. - Cliffhaven founded as a retreat home for Taldoric merchants
* 8,093 A.B. - Wealthy children of merchants staying in their luxury housing create thriving party culture
	+ Alcohol, drugs, party magic, gambling, etc. etc.
	+ Entire economy of the city becomes dependent on catering to these events
* 8,099 A.B. - Silverbrand Fire
	+ A party gets far too out of hand, and the Silverbrand Manor burns to the ground
	+ Approximately 60 people die in the fire, with over a hundred injured
* 8,100 - 8,278 A.B. - Cliffhaven Renaissance
	+ Bulgo Silverbrand copes with the loss of his family through art, produces a series of works called “Flushed”
	+ “Flushed” ignites similar works, each telling an experience of the Silverbrand Fire
	+ Ultimately begins a period of beautiful artistic creation that Cliffhaven would later be known for
	+ Mines and other normal businesses open to encourage new arrivals and new styles of art
* 9,889 A.B. - Death of Kegala Haven
	+ Kegala Haven, daughter of the Cliffhaven Chieftain, tragically dies from a high fall
	+ Chieftain Angetlum and the whole city grieve for one year
* 9,890 A.B. - Formation of the Council on Health and Safety
	+ Chieftain Angetlum instructs this Council to keep the people of Cliffhaven safe so that tragedies like this can be avoided
	+ Shortly thereafter, he vanishes for parts unknown
	+ Council assumes direct political control over the clans of Cliffhaven
* 9,890 - 10,015 A.B.
	+ Council of Health and Safety implements new measures to keep people safe and happy
	+ Public Watch increased, more mines built to keep people’s minds off the tragedies, etc
		- Generally well-received decisions
	+ Public Watch militarized very slowly, mandated mining quotas instated
	+ Council effectively using Cliffhaven to fill their own pockets
		- Common people powerless to act
* 10,015 A.B. - The Wish
	+ A man appears before the Council of Health and Safety unannounced, claiming to be able to grant wishes.
	+ After a sufficient demonstration of proof, the Council wishes that the ore of the largest mountain would mine itself
		- If it worked, then they could have the people mine someplace else for an even tidier profit
	+ Ore-acles born under dwarven control, mining profits increase exponentially
	+ Ore-acles eventually rebel, many dwarves on Public Watch die
	+ Council galvanized people against Ore-acles, which kind of works
		- Some believe the propaganda and arm themselves, others leave to parts unknown
* 10,015 - 10,018 A.B. - Ore War
	+ Ore-acles gain ground on Cliffhaven forces slowly but surely
	+ Council of Health and Safety approaches the Binturian Party for assistance, and are turned down
	+ Council usurped by military junta led by General Tadmus Adonmus
		- Lacking a formal government, Cliffhaven reforms into Urist’s Own mercenary company
	+ General Tadmus approached by Delcho, a Vantablack Celestial Dragon, and asked for assistance
		- Delcho promises Cliffhaven a return to power and glory
	+ The Binturian Party assaults Cliffhaven to stop Delcho
		- General Tadmus defeated and flees to Delcho’s ritual site
		- Ore-acle threat quelled peacefully
	+ General Tadmus slain at Delcho’s ritual site, Urist’s Own collapses into smaller groups
* 10,018 A.B. - Present
	+ Total anarchy, territory swallowed by Ore-Land

## Further Information

* The Binturian Party
* Constellations
* Delcho Sinfella
* Draconic Invasion
* Ore-acle
* Ore-Land
* Starless Nights
* [[Marza Military#Structure#Core Forces#Cliffhaven Dwarven Mercenaries (Urist’s Own) [Urist’s Own]|Urist's Own]]