Stormhaven

**Stormhaven**

The City of Stormhaven is the largest on North Island, and was the capital of King William's Realm before being conquered by the Elves. The city is spreads over a huge area and is composed of three major metropolitan sites, plus both the Imperial Palace. To the NorthEast can be found the crumbling ruins of the old Royal Palace.

## West Stormhaven

The Western Quarters were in the throes of a major expansion at the time of the Empire's attack. Since that time the local inhabitants have managed to come to an ‘arrangement’ with the Elven Empire, and as a result of this West Stormhaven is the only place wherein the free Human population actually outnumbers the slave population. Elves, by agreement and natural inclination both, are rarely seen here, and those visitors who do venture into its labyrinth of streets and alleyways often do not emerge.

## East Stormhaven

By far the oldest part of the City, boasting buildings said to predate the establishment of the first Royal Kingdom. It is also the site of the Royal University, rumoured to be a cauldron of rebellion against the Empire and melting pot of sedition.

Much of the city was damaged during the Elven assault and the Empire rebuilding program has focussed on utilitarian housing for the Human Slave population. This gives the city very much an Eastern Bloc communist feel, interspersed with obviously ancient buildings.

The population used to be very mixed, however nowadays it is almost all Humans, mainly slaves but with a fair proportion of free. Dark Elves patrol the streets, keeping order but more recently this duty has also been carried out by Human citizens of the Empire.

### Major Personages

#### Terim Paleskin (Male Dark Elf)

City administrator, whilst known for his religious fervor, Terim is known for his moderate views when it comes to the treatment of ‘lesser’ races (hence the nickname Paleskin). He was a natural appointee to administer this part of the city and insofar as it is possible is regarded as popular (or at least even handed) by the human populace.

#### Lazok (Male Human)

Appointed initially as a figurehead to try and help control the human population, Lazok has converted to the Hashadara faith and become almost as fanatical as Sorlor. He nominally has control over the City Guard in East Stormhaven – but Terim has had to remove most of this power or face riots. Lazok still has a small group of similarly minded humans as his personal guard and takes delight in punishing the most minor deviation from the letter of the law. Known as the ’traitor’ by most of the native population, there is believed to be a large price on his head.

#### Santara U’Thang (??? Lizardman)

A senior, possibly high priest of Garm, and ambassador from Ur’Rah to the empire. Once Santara was a regular visit to the Imperial Palace, however since the Lizardman conquest of Dalzon the Empire has barred visits. Every morning at dawn, Santara can be seen standing at the entrance to the Garms Church for an hour, seemingly awaiting a summons that never comes.

#### High Priest Eriza (Male Human)

Eriza would describe himself as ‘correct’, most would call him pompous – just not to his face. Generally bad tempered, liable to nurse a grudge for the most minor of insults and a fearsome berserker in battle a well suited Priest of Sarn. For some unknown reason, he has formed a good friendship with Groundtall, the Wyldwood high priest. They can often be found in taverns, usually engaged in loud and seemingly acrimonious arguments…..yet somehow Eriza has never taken lasting offence to anything Groundtall says.

#### 'Dal Stonegrinder (Female Dwarf)

Nobody can quite remember when the small shrine to Dekatur Judge appeared in Stormhaven, but all are agreed that it was there at the time of the Elven invasion. Dal herself took up residence around 3 months ago much to the surprise of the locals. The Empire seems to pay her no attention and she does not cause any trouble.

#### Straun Torson (Female Dark Elf)

Not much is known about Straun, her name has come up as being associated with the Dark Shadows organisation.

### City Areas/Locations

#### The Shore

The gently sloping shingle beach front in this area is home to a large number of small fishing boats. Fronting the beach there is a formidable sea wall and just inside the wall at the gates can be found small fish markets. Unsurprisingly, the Lizardmen established their Temple to Garm in this area.

#### Garms Church

A large slab of a building, with no ornamentation, it has a single door and no windows. Other than in the morning, when the door is opened for an hour, the Church is closed to visitors. Since the Lizardmens conquest of Dalzon there have been no visitors to the Church and the Empire maintains a close watch on the place.

#### Wildcoast

The single beaches of the shore make way for jagged boulders that extend out a fair distance into the sea, visible at low tide there would appear to be no way of bringing a boat in, but the city still maintains a sea wall here…. just in case.

#### Old Tradetown

At the time of the Empire invasion, this area housed the majority of the cities markets and craftsmen. A great fire gutted most of the buildings in the area, and the Empires rebuilding certainly has not been in character to the historical buildings. Now largely residential, with large bunkhouses occupied by slaves.

#### City Hall

One of the few larger ancient buildings to survive the invasion reasonably unscathed, this used to be a Merchants guildhouse. It has now been taken over by the Empire as an administration centre and barracks.

#### Cathedral of Sarn

The bright red sandstone used in this churches construction makes it extremely distinctive, surrounded as it is my drab grey blockhouses. The Church her promotes itself as an arbiter of justice, seeking to right wrongs. Of course, this causes a little bit of a challenge since most locals have a grudge against the Empire itself.

#### Temple of the Dead

A small shrine set in the garden of a fire damaged mansion house. There is only one priest in attendance, a short (even by her races standard) female dwarf. The shrine does not attract worshippers per se, but many mourners come to seek reassurance that the recently departed have been judged satisfactorily and will find peace in the afterlife.

#### Central Park

Well it used to be a park, but now is just more drab blockhouses containing human slaves. “A walk in the park” is becoming a commonly used phrase for becoming very depressed.

#### New Tradetown

Less damaged during the invasion, this area still retains some of the old cities character. Most of the free humans in the city dwell in this area, and small businesses such as inns, shops and market stalls have sprung up. Though the area functions well, there is still a constant tension in the air, particularly when Empire patrols pass through.

#### Royal University

The oldest building in East Stormhaven, the core construction is Orcish but the building has been expanded multiple times so there are a variety of styles visible. A bardic college of great repute, with a particular focus on crafts and craftsmanship. Even with the occupation, there are still at least two hundred students and apprentices in residence and the Empire has made it clear that they will allow this to continue, providing that empire citizens are free to attend as well. Recently there has been gossip on the street that the University, or elements within it are looking to forment a rebellion in East Stormhaven. These rumours are of course forcibly denied by the University, but still there are tensions beginning to develop.

#### Halltown

his area still bears significant scars from the Empires invasion, gangs of slave labour are working to clear away rubble and make safe any damaged buildings. Those few residents that remain tend to be free humans.

## Central Stormhaven

This is the site of both the civil bureaucratic buildings of the old Kingdom and the Elven Empire. It is also the site of the South Side Market. Those Human slaves who are not working to produce for the Empire are used to be sold en masse at this market. Since the treaty between Alvera and the Empire has been in place this trade has been rapidly dropping away.

## The Imperial Palace

The heart of the Elven Empire is built around the reconstructed ruin of Hahsandra's sacred grounds. This is the Administrative centre of the Empire's efforts in the North Island, it also houses both the Imperial Magic Guild and the somewhat bizarrely-named Golden Tulip Inn. The Inn is open to all races, but it’s prices preclude any but the richest from entering. Some would have it that the Golden Tulip makes the Dunes in White Beach seem like a broken down roadside stall.

## The Royal Palace

A few miles to the NorthEast are the ruins of the King Williams old palace and Summer Residence. Massively run down and largely abandoned save for the use of its extensive Tournament Field and Barracks, remnants of the old Palace buildings are maintained as a permanent reminder of the power of the Empire.

## Info known before our visit

Stormhaven is a Teleport Sink

History: The creation of the Royal Kingdom, for example, was quickly followed by the rise to power of the cities through the Council of Mayors in Stormhaven. And in this mutability, this ability to adapt to changes of environment and circumstance, lay perhaps Humanity's greatest advantage.

Stormhaven hosts the Wyldwood Shrine of Life

There was a temple of Barosa here - it's current status is not known.

### Elven invsasion

With mighty fleets, including their afeared Sky Fleet, they landed near Pearlstone and drove quickly up the central channel past Vagen to fall upon Stormhaven.

Some of the refugees that had managed to flee the city told fantastical tales of a flying city appearing above the Royal Palace raining fire down upon the defenders whilst huge warships suddenly appeared in the harbor disgorging large number of Elven soldiers.”

Player characters originating from Stormhaven: Caradoc

## Major Magic Guilds/Universities:

Imperial Magic Guild

1. ↑ Day 75 - Fleet of Foot
2. ↑ Background
3. ↑ Caradoc
4. ↑ Email2020-12-10 13:43