Wren's Run

**Wren's Run**, also known as **New** **Hyperia** or **Partridge Hold**, is a city in the Urgovel duchy of the Commonwealth of Higard and is the capital city of the Duchy of Urgovel. It is a modernized metropolis containing some of the few remaining Alfenheim structures left in the world. Since the introduction of the steam train, the city has become a major commercial hub for all manner of interests in the region and is renowned for its public transportation's heavy use of electric trams and steam buses. The Order of the Weave oversees the prestigious Oprix Academy in the city.

Since rejoining with the Commonwealth of Higard under Duchess Kat Steel, Wren's Run has become one of the most powerful and influential cities in the area.

The Emerald Caravan has been to Wren's Run twice over the course of Season 1 of *WovenRealm.*

## Geography

### Other names

* New Hyperia
* Partridge Hold

### Region

* Partridge Vale
* Urgovel, Commonwealth of Higard

## Society

### Cultures

* Higardi
* Selusian
* Albionfolk
* Elven
* Kovithian

### Religions

* Astral Star
* Sel'Adrin

## Commerce

### Imports

* Aether
* Goods from other lands
* Technology
* Ore

### Exports

* Agriculture
* A wide variety of finished goods
* Refined metals

### Other industries

* Education
* Tourism

## History

### 1st Sun

* Yormoth/Ar'Tel'Hyperia marriage
* Foundation of Yormoth Empire

### Notable figures

* Lady Kat Steele
* St. Lillian Partridge
* Duke Henry Partridge
* Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia

## Description

Wren's Run is a metropolis that sprawls within and without its massive walls. As the space within the city walls has become more of a rarity, many of the buildings now reach tall heights utilizing construction techniques from Oriannasburg. Unlike the jagged Gothic structures found in Kovith, Wren's Run's architecture is inspired by old Alfenheim designs giving the city a look of renaissance amongst foreigners. The name "Wren's Run" is a reference to the songbird sign which was celebrated when Arthur Yormoth and Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia were married.

As of 2S 1871, the population of Wren's Run has grown into a major metropolitan area surpassing the population of the Commonwealth's capital, Arnika.

## Geography

Wren's Run is located in the Partridge Vale region of Urgovel and rests on the River Chronithiere. It is close to being located in the center of Urgovel. It is constructed on the border of the Shivering Forest at the end of the adra Arches of the Gods. To the south is the Dynn Swamp and a Marlfax grove can be found traveling west of town.

Well maintained roads provided great safety of travel and trade through the region around the city.

* The Rosyn Road leading out of Wren's Run to the Northwest. It eventually leads to Pine Crest. Lady Katarina's efforts to construct a road around the radioactive Black Cathedral continue to reestablish a road to Cumbria.
* The Chronitheire Road follows the river Chronitheire.
* Korro Road leads to Korrohold, giving easy access to Thunderfell, one of Urgovel's close allies.
* Swiftfoot Road is a recent civil engineering feat, constructing an extensive road through the Shivering Forest to provide better travel between Wren's Run and Bailen.

Like much of midwestern Maywikt, Wren's Run experiences temperate weather that tends toward humid and wet. Summers can get hot and winters can be especially cold. Precipitation is not an uncommon sight in the city regardless of the season.

## Government

Wren's Run is governed by the Duchess of Urgovel, currently Lady Katarina Steel. She works with a city council that is served by councilors elected from each district that are meant to represent the residents of that district as an advisor to the Duchess on matters of the city. These councilors also have some political power and influence in their districts.

### Law & Order

Law and Order is primarily maintained by the Wren's Run sheriff's office with Lady Steel providing most of the local guard. The Ravensguard are the palace guards. City Councilors may often implement their own constabularies in the district they are overseeing. Wren's Run has 2 courthouses, each with an attached jail, located in Aluxburg and Ravenholm, and it is in these courthouses where trials are overseen by judges as well as other bureaucratic, legal cases.

### Crime

The biomancer enclave that was once operating out of Wren's Run under the guise of P. Schuler & Sons was ousted by the Star-Touched in 2S 1841. Wren's Run is not without crime though with the most prominent criminal organization being the Dead Raven's gang that operates of Shriketown. The Watchers are rumored to be operating out of Adam Samuel's Alehouse.

## Trade

With it's location on a major river and the extensive infrastructure built around the city, Wren's Run is a hub of commerce and trade. It's location on the fringes of the Higardi Commonwealth make it a primary stopping point for trade coming from either Kovith or Albion. Although, like many Higardi settlements, Wren's Run still has burgeoning agriculture industry, as the city has modernized, its economy has come to rely heavily on the logistics of trade and travel. It is also one of the few cities in the Commonwealth fully modernized, meaning its industry provides much of Higard's produced goods. As a center of trade, many types of goods and services are available in the city.

The prestigious Oprix Academy brings not only large income from the academic sphere, but it also brings with it the highly respected status of having a Weave presence in the city. The city features a few of the remaining Alfenheim structures left in the world, and along with Marten's legend, the city is somewhat of a tourist destination for folks in the region. It also hosts a number of banking institutions making it the city that is largely in charge of tending to the Commonwealth's finances.

During their adventures and after, the Star-touched have built up something of a fandom, due especially in part to the Duke Nettle Swiftfoot *Heroes the Assembling* promotional campaign. Many of these folk as well as journalists often visit hoping to earn a recess with the legendary Lady Katarina Steel.

## Culture

Given its size and influence, Wren's Run is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population of citizens coming from various ancestral heritages and cultural backgrounds. Being in a traditionally Higardi land, Wren's Run has a majority population of Higardi people. After years of Kovithian occupation, despite their rule being driven out, many of their population remained in what is their home. Many different folk call Wren's Run Home with the city boasting a higher than usual elven population with it being historically founded by the Alfenheim Empire with many of these elves trying to live their traditional culture. Selusians from Cumbria have always lived in the city, but additional Selusians have moved to the city from their Kovithian occupied homelands. Wren's Runners are known for being a tenacious and independently minded people and tend to be social. Although Wren's Run is proud of its own history, the citizens often have a worldly perspective that continues to grow as Wren's Run experiences cultures from throughout the realm.

### Fashion

Wren's Run fashion follows primarily Higardi conventions, dressing in bright colors and expressive fabrics. A primary difference in the fashion of Wren's Run compared to the rest of the Commonwealth is the implementation of modern styles, threads, and fabrics. There is a notable Alfenheim style that is often adopted in the dress of mages and elves.

### Religion

There are a large variety of faiths and religious practices observed throughout Wren's Run due to the diverse population. As is common in Higard, there is a large portion of the populace who practice the faith in the Astral Star. With the ancient Alfenheim Adra Temple located in Sparrow Town, many of the elves in Wren's Run turn their religious worship to the elven pantheon of the Sel'Adrin. There are a variety of other deities practiced, with the Church of St. Clarion specifically referencing worship in the Sovereign in Alabaster. Due to Kovithian occupation, there is a Kovithian Church in the city as well. With Higard's tolerant views on religions, it is quite common to find many varieties of faiths, and possibly those not commonly practiced in many corners of the realm.

### Festivals and Holidays

In addition to the standard holidays and festivals, Wren's Run has a few special, local holidays:

* Songbird's Day: A special holiday passed down from the days of the Yormoth Empire celebrating the marriage of Arthur Yormoth and Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia. Originally intended to celebrate the founding of the Yormoth Dynasty, the festival's interpretation has been changed to celebrate the diversity of folk amongst the Higardi people found through choosing peaceful coexistence of violence. It is not uncommon for many weddings to be celebrated on this day as this holiday is also seen as a celebration of love. Celebrated in Borealum.
* Hyperia's Day: A holiday primarily celebrated by members of the Weave and those who attend or work at the Oprix Academy. It commemorates and pays homage to Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia. Usually celebrated in Selladee on a changing date in accordance with the lunar cycle.

## Defenses

### Armed Forces

Wren's Run maintains a city guard overseen by Songbird Castle. Each district has their own city watch that can effectively serve as a militia defense force under the command of their respective councilor. After retaking Wren's Run in House Partridge's name, Lady Steel had to restructure Urgovel's army from a group of irregulars into a full-fledged fighting force capable of battling the Commonwealth of Higard's enemies at home and abroad, and thus, the Ravensguard were formed. The Ravensguard are the primary armed forces of Wren's Run and rely less on numbers and more so on well-trained and experienced soldiers. The Ravensguard oversees most of the defending of Urgovel.

Wren's Run benefits from Oprix Academy attracting many powerful mages to the city as well as providing the metropolis with a connection to the Order of the Weave.

Lady Swiftfoot and her daughter Sophia maintain a regiment of Ruff Riders within Wren's Run.

In times of war, Wren's Run may call upon the armies of the Commonwealth of Higard to aid them.

The Black Coats operate a School of the Weeping Elk within the walls of the Wren's Run, aiding the defense of the strange creatures that often crawl out of the Shivering Forest. By Hex-Templar code, they are required to remain neutral in political conflicts.

Being a transportation and travel hub, it is not uncommon for adventurers to pass through Wren's Run.

### Structures

The Partridge Wall that surrounds most of the city provides the city with a citadel-like defense against invading armies. A specialized tram system built along the walls allows soldiers and guards to quickly move around the borders of the city and connect to other transport. Massive gates allow the city to completely seal itself away from invaders.

Songbird Castle serves as a great defensive point, housing various siege weapons and a strong castle built on a rocky foundation that is difficult to take.

## Transportation

Wren's Run is always busy with its streets, avenues, and boulevards constantly congested throughout the day into late into the night. The streets are often monitored by local constabularies of the city watch or the sheriff's office. The streets are well labelled with signage and the Oprix Academy has gone as far as to implement magical signals. Powered gates work in tandem with electric sensors to secure railroad tracks for crossing trains.

The railway system leading to and from Wren's Run handles both passenger and cargo trains, fueling the cities trade. The Grand Central Station provides a central transportation hub for steam trains and connecting passengers to trams or coaches.

Wren's Run is renowned for its extensive public transportation that utilizes the latest in technology. Along with the extensive steam train railway system, Wren's Run takes advantage of the extensive tram railway that the Kovithian occupiers had constructed. Since taking over, Lady Steel's government has expanded this tram system extensively to better provide transportation to greater portions of the city. Multiple hire-coach and carriage businesses operate within the city, but they have to compete with the government provided steam omnibus service. Rail lifts utilizing an electronically powered pully system help with citizens traversing the cliffs of Marten's Bluff and the Weeping Elk School. Prices vary depending on transportation method.

In recent years, with the advent of the airship, Wren's Run has constructed an airship rigging and port.

## History

### 1st Sun

#### Early History

The city that became known as Wren's Run was originally known by the proto-Higardi people as Godsgrove and was viewed with a special sanctity by the early Stargazers. Over time, high elves, attracted by the natural adra deposits and the Arches of the Gods, came to settle the region, leading to some of the earliest conflicts between the Higardi and the elves. The elves came to name the city Hyperia to honor the gods and the sun. Hyperia was added to the Alfenheim Empire's sphere of influence early on and became an integral city within the culture of the Empire.

Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia was born in Hyperia and was taken as the apprentice of Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir as a mage. A powerful archmage in her own right, Oprix constructed what eventually became the academy that would bear her name to this day. Hyperia was all but laid to waste by Yormoth's Higardi forces, but Oprix was able to spare her academy, and secure many of the former Alfenheim territories under Yormoth's rule, by marrying into her people's greatest nemesis. Historians debate amongst themselves if there was any attraction between the elf archmage and human warrior king, but many scholars subscribe to the believe that Oprix's move was to spare many of the elves as well as spare her greatest acheivement, the academy she constrcuted, and preserve her people's legacy.

Arthur and Oprix were married in the Arda Temple by an Astral Star priest where Oprix was made to renounce the Sel'Adrin and accept the Astral Star as her god. This marke the end of the conflict between the Alfenheim Empire and the Higardi and signaled the beginning of their joining together as one culture. The aspect of the songbird is the constellation most often associated with love and weddings, and thus, Wren's Run was given its name to commemorate the great historical marriage of Arthur Yormoth and Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia, which many consider the beginning of the historic juggernaut, the Yormoth Dynasty.

#### Golden Age

Wren's Run grew into a cultural center due to its proximity to the Yormoth Capital of the Spire of the First King. It was the center of Yormoth magical studies with the Oprix Academy.

### Sunless Era

With the fall of the Yormoth Empire at the iron claws of the demonic dreadlords, much of Wren's Run was destroyed in the conflict, sparing only two of the original Alfenheim structures.

### 2nd Sun

After the Battle of New Dawn, possession of the Duchy of Urgovel changed hands often in the tumultuous period after the Sunless Era between the Kingdom of Higard, Albion, and the Kingdom of Cumbria and eventually came to enjoy sovereignty as an independent duchy for 110 years until a revolt in 2S 1824 by the local populace when the ducal Partridge Family was found to have been utilizing the services of the a biomancer. After deposing their duke, Imperial Kovith took the opportunity to establish their rule in 1825.

#### *SteamSpell* & Pre-Campaign (2S 1841 - 1870)

After the Duchy of Bailen was granted an edict of relief and taken by Higardi forces and added to the Commonwealth, the local populace of Wren's Run wished to be no longer beheld to their Kovithian occupiers, though there was a strong loyalist movement that saw the Kovithians as providing industry and infrastructure. During her quest for vengeance against Dr. Branson and his biomancers, Kat Steel learned she was of the Partridge Line, thus establishing a legitimate claim to Urgovel's throne. After destroying the biomancers and adventuring for a few more years, in 2S 1848, Kat Steel, with backing from Duke Swiftfoot and Sir Gregor Voland, led a rebellion movement that overthrew Kovithian Occupation and installed her as their duke.

Lady Kat took on the monumental task of rebuilding Urgovel's government from the ground up, but she decided to build upon the infrastructure and technology the Kovithians constructed throughout the city. With support from the Commonwealth of Higard, Wren's Run was quickly rebuilt, and for the first time since before the Sunless Era, Urgovel was willingly a part of the Higardi nation. The biomancers operating in the area were effectively wiped out by Kat's Ravenguard working with Zeppenstein's Inquisitors.

#### Campaign (2S 1871)

Oleander spent a large portion of upbringing in Wren's Run living with Sancha Espino and Sigismund Jaegermacht. She was taken in as a ward of Lady Steele. Oleander works at the Oprix Academy, who have employed the Emerald Caravan as arcane procurers. After the events in Shiverdelve, Wren's Run made a move to supply military support to the town against Gorgoth and the Sheriff's coalition, which led to rising tensions between Urgovel and Maywood. Wren's Run mobilizes for a potential conflict with Maywood.

## Notable Locations

### Districts

* Marten's Row
* Aluxburg
* Shriketown
* Sparrow Town
* Lillian's Gate
* Ravenholm
* Songbird Castle

### Buildings & Landmarks

* Airship Port
* Aluxburg Park
* Arches of the Gods
* Black Coat School of the Weeping Elk
* Elven Arda Temple
* Grand Central Station
* Jaegermacht Apartment #26
* Lord Netram Manor
* New Prospero Bank
* Oprix Academy
* Ponyhosen Pet Palace
* Scalecut DDS Stadium
* Songbird Castle
* St. Clarion Reiss Chapel
* Swiftfoot Acreage

## Inhabitants

### Guilds

With Wren's Run being a center of business and commerce, there are many guilds and organizations that have established a headquarters within the metropolis. Many guilds, especially merchant and craftsman guilds, are located in Marten's Row. Under Lady Steel, Wren's Run sees the existence of multiple laborer unions that many of the workers are a member of

#### Guilds of note

* Black Coats
* Watchers
* Order of the Weave
* Silver Sentinels

### Nobility

Most of Wren's Run's nobility was wiped out during the 1848 uprising leaving Katarina Steele and St. Lillian Partridge as the only remaining nobility of Urgovel still alive. The social class often occupied by the nobility in many places is instead occupied by business owners, transport tycoons, and the locally elected city councilors.

### Merchants

The Marten's Row district is home to many different merchants that exist outside of the standard guilds. Many small and locally owned businesses operate in Wren's Run. Many retired wizards from the Oprix Academy often open magic shops.

### Adventurers

Being a geographic center of travel and trade, Wren's Run can host many adventurers who flood can flood the city at any time. Some organizations, such as the Oprix Academy, provide lucrative, yet perilous, employment for intrepid adventurers, such as the Emerald Caravan being hired as arcane procurers by the Academy in Season 1 of *WovenRealm.*

### Notable Characters from Wren's Run

* Oleander Morgenstern
* Lady Katarina Steel
* Sigismund Jaegermacht
* St. Lillian Partridge
* Brother Prosper of Eternal Trust
* Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia

## Trivia

* Wren's Run is the city where Oleander was sent to live after staying at the Baumer Haus orphanage in Weidenhafen.
* Wren's Run is featured briefly in S1E8, 'Dreams of Home.' The Emerald Caravan's next visit in S1E16 'Berserker' and S1E17 'Werewolves of Shiverdelve' was longer with them exploring the city at some length.
* Wren's Run was featured as a location extensively for the final part of *SteamSpell* while Urgovel was still a Kovithian territory.
* The theme of using songbirds and other birds for the naming conventions and themes comes from Lucy's decision to make Kat Steele's true name "Partridge" in *SteamSpell.*