Vheninggrave

### Description

Vheninggrave is a trade city on a northern island, in the Southern Hill Clan Coalition. Although there is no official capital for the Coalition, Vheninggrave is often where the most governing takes place, with many of the most powerful figures in the Coalition living there, or at the very least often making trips there.

### Geography

Like much of the Southern Hill Clan Coalition, the small island that Vheninggrave sit upon is surrounded by leafy trees and rocky, hilly terrain. The Makadin river flows north, then splits around the island, with the riverbed being especially sandy, with few large sandbars. The river's fast flow north, wide edges, and deep waters, allows for easy passage to the western Sea.

### Government

The city has been historically governed by the Harewind family, who own most of the land in Vheninggrave, along with many of the most profitable businesses. Officially, the city is ruled by a counsel of prominent business owners, which in turn vote on policy, along with the members of the counsel. To date, no Harewind has been removed from the counsel without the unanimous vote of all serving Harewinds. Along with being the defacto rulers of the city, the Harewinds also have always represented the Southern Hill Clan, and with the city serving as their residence, most view Vheninggrave as the capital of the Coalition.

### History

Like most permanent non-human settlements in Veshen, Vheninggrave was established during the latter part of the Purge Era. The island had spent centuries serving as a refugee for various non-humans fleeing the Arkonians and other humans seeking their extermination, with many settlements coming and going between human incursions. In 4029 (PE), Rodomi Harewind claimed the island as his own, organizing other, lesser, gnomish clans to secure the Makadin river to prevent human ships from using the superior route to the western sea, forcing them to fight the powerful currents of the channel separating Arkonian territory from the Coalition.

Once the river was secure and the Harewinds established a greater presence on the island, they constructed a system of docks, and began to allow humans from Igorland to use them in exchange for a small fee, and promises of protection from their Arkonian neighbors. Although the United Arkonian Theocracy and Igorland never came to do combat with one another, Igorland's promise of protection never once waivered, even while the Arkonians would warn Igorland against supporting the settlement.

Eventually, Vheninggrave would grow under the leadership of the Harewinds and the protection of Igorland, leading to it becoming the largest non-human city in Veshen.

### Trivia

* In contrast to much of the Southern Hill Clan Coalition's buildings being made too small to accommodate the taller peoples of Veshen, Vheninggrave's buildings all are designed with taller ceilings and taller doors. This is due to the amount of human travelers that have frequented the city and the many elves and orcs that live there.
* Rodomi Harewind leads the city as the most senior councilman, with several of his children and grandchildren also serving the city in various capacities.
	+ Radi Harewind one of Rodomi's grandchildren, and is usually the first person to arrive when an issue is noticed in Vheninggrave.