Vark

**Vark** or sometimes **Vark Run** is a city in Fleur in the --- west of the Region of Wilemette and bordering Korevna in the east. The city sits on the banks of the Vark River.

## History

Vark was established in the 1250s AE by Norduren settlers spreading south from Higd. Originally started as a small hamlet, its position on the Vark River fork made it especially strategic for transporting goods, people, and growing crops. By 1100 it was being referenced on maps of the region as Vargholden, the name most likely deriding from the keep that had been built on a raised earthen mound there. This keep would eventually be destroyed in a conflict with Korevna in 964, the ruins eventually being incorporated into the expanding city. Walls were completed sometime after, referenced in letters from 930.

Vark would eventually expand past the original walls, becoming quite large by 700 when it was sacked in the --- War with the Arimanians. So badly was the city damaged that it was left mostly uninhabited from 700 to 695 AE. From 694 to 690 a large rebuilding operation occurred, as the area had been deemed strategically significant. Remnants of the old city remained, including the cathedral, most of the original walls, and a handful of buildings. By 600 AE Vark was being referenced once more as the trade hub of east Fleur.

In 585 AE the road leading from Isgerdia through Vark to Wilemberg was deemed the only legitimate point of entry into Fleur from Korevna. An immigration office was established there as well as many buildings for the inspection of goods. A building project began the following year by Queen ---- of Flowers to build a stone wall along the border of Fleur, starting at Vark. Called ---'s Wall, the project would never be completed, though its remnants stretch from Vark as far west to the God's Lake and north as Korested along the border with Forzen. In 476 AE Vark was declared the capital of the ---- area and a family was chosen to be titled and govern the region, with House Erinov being chosen at the time.

From 400 to 300 Vark would expand massively, rivaling the capital at the time, Skjol. At one point it was considered a possibility that Vark might be made the new capital of the country, with plans underway to begin preparing for the move. A new castle fortress was constructed there, part palace as well, outside the city, called Rivereach. Several governmental buildings were also constructed, such as a council hall which was eventually converted into a museum. Conflict with Forzen in 289 AE would lead to the cancellation of the move to Vark. In 330 AE the city was hit by the Palus Flu outbreak and put under quarantine until 325, being responsible for carrying the disease into Korevna. The city was sacked on 3 Shados 287 AE, leading to many casualties and a lack of growth in the region for several years after.

By 200 Vark was stabilized again. It acted as the main entry point for goods into Fleur. In 138 AE the White Plague decimated the population of Vark. It was said that the river was clogged with bodies as people desperately attempted to remove them from the city. Following the War of the Twins, Forzen was dissolved with most of its land going to Fleur in 130 AE. This greatly expanded the land controlled by --- making House Boran, the new rulers of the area, very powerful. Vark experienced massive levels of prosperity into turn of the eras.

During the Two Year's War, Vark was captured on the 1st of Dagotep 116 CE by the Korevnans. Following the disastrous Battle of Allister Field on 8th of Netep, the city was declared part of Korevna's newly acquired territory. House Boran fled to Wilemberg, though Duke Aleksandr Boran III was taken as a prisoner and held at Rivereach for two years. Many Korevnan immigrants were brought into the city to replace Fleurian citizens who were forced onto massive tenement farms established on both sides of the river. During the Fleurian Civil War, on 3 Hathoria 119 CE, the Fleurian peasants revolted, ousting the Korevnans and reclaiming the town for Fleur. After successfully fending off a recapturing attempt by the Korevnans on the 15th, a host of Fleurian forces, led by Queen Cassandra Wilem of Flowers herself liberated the town. The queen met Duke Boran in the city square, gifting him the sword of General Ivan Korenavich, Anguish.

Following the liberation of the city, Vark has been working to rebuild, now with the help of a city planner from Wilemberg in an attempt to stave off future disasters.

## Description

Vark is an old city, though most of its original buildings are loss, save for the original chapel, called Chapel Vark, located near the northern portion of the city. Its several layers of ruined or semi-standing walls divide its districts in odd jagged fashion. Houses built against these walls sometimes include catwalks along these walls, from which one can more easily get over them. In the poorer area near the market, is the famous River Market, a series of platforms, bridges, scaffolds, and raised rickety additions to the city's ruined ancient architecture from which a wet market has emerged. Here, goods from Fleur, Korevna, The River Lands, and Palus are all sold. The architecture of Vark is a mix of Fleurian, Neo-Fleurian, and Old Northern Style with a slight Korevnan influence.

## Noteworthy Locations

* Chapel Vark - The original chapel built by settlers of Vark in the 12th century AE. Now dedicated to Saint Cyril the Unbent, patron of Vark. It houses several reliquaries of said saint.
* The River Market - A wet market built around the pre-existing architecture of the city. Spans over and around the Vark River.
* Rivereach - The large palace castle built to house the Flower Queen when Vark was being considered for the kingdom's capital.