Darkwall

### Spellcasting

5th - Spellcasting services above 3rd cost double the calculated cost. Necromancy spells can be found up to 7th level.

### Corruption

+8 (to Bluff City Officials/Stealth Outdoors)

### Crime

+4 (vs Sense Motive checks/Sleight of Hand)

### Law

+7 (on Intimidate & Diplomacy, if related to the law/well being of the town)

### Lore

+6 (on Knowledge & Diplomacy for Gathering Info)

### Society

+5 (on Disguise & Diplomacy to Alter Attitude)

Darkwall was destroyed by the **Bronze Emperor** and his Giants on the 27th of Abadius, Year 29. This page is leftover as a remnant of what once was.

## History

During the religious strife of **Ger'kroz**, House Nightshade was particularly effected - Sarenrae abhors Undead, and the Intelligent Undead, while choosing to live relatively peaceful with the Living, felt their days were numbered. It was actually House Nightshade that cleverly manipulated the non-religious populace of Ger'kroz to further inflame religious tensions, giving them more reason to finally break away.

They encouraged other Clans to do the same, and within a few years, the split happened. House Nightshade took an enormous caravan to the coast of the Forest of Zha, primarily for strategic reasons. With House Nightshade in control, Darkwall grew prosperous, without the stifling rule of those who distrust or hate the Undead. Trade was wealthy and consistent, and Darkwall had total freedom.

As time went on, and Darkwall continued to establish itself as a power to be reckoned with in the world, creating a particularly strong Navy that could nearly compete with **Lightreach**. They also actively traded with the **Khaldun Dynasty**, continuing to gain significant growth over the years. By the new age, Darkwall had become arguably one of the most powerful Cities within the Alliance, or at least, in their personal opinion.

## Geography

Darkwall is surrounded by high walls, and built on either side of a river that comes from a large lake, which then feeds into the ocean. It has numerous docks upon the river, and drydocks leading inland which allows them to build ships with ease, and deploy them effectively. Most notably, Darkwall is split into several districts.

* The Living District: The largest of the districts, where the living congregate, live their lives and do all they desire. This takes up the majority of the city.
* The Advancement District: The district where advancements of all kinds happen; magical, technological, and more. Here, researchers of Darkwall endlessly labor to learn more and more about the world, and how to grow their own power.
* The Undead District: The Undead District is a ring around the final district. In this District, mindless undead are kept in numerous crypts for future use. There are also various homes of Sanctioned Necromancers, or lesser Court members.
* The Coffin District: This District is more of an enormous castle, where **House Nightshade** dwells, as well as other members of the Court with high enough standing to have a home within this district.. It is surrounded by the Undead District.

## Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Darkwall live a relatively good life, in most ways. The vast majority of the Living are delegated towards finer, more complicated tasks, whilst Necromancers - often in conjunction with a skilled farmer - utilize large amounts of mindless undead to complete menial tasks, and hard labor, such as farming, mining, wood gathering, cleaning and more. This makes a society where the dead are useful, and the living live a life with few worries.

Although there is a dark side, as with all things. The upper echelons of Darkwall, the Vampires and other, higher functioning Intelligent Undead, often require bodies - or in the case of the Vampires, Blood. It is drilled into the populace of Darkwall's culture that offering blood is a good duty, and although they are paid a small amount, Vampires always want more. That said, Darkwall also has harsh punishments for crime, and will often use Criminals as chattel.

### Government

The Government of Darkwall is centered around it's Queen, **Cordelia Nightshade**; an ancient, and enormously powerful Vampire. She will often sleep for hundreds of years at a time, but has recently woken up after a seven hundred year slumber, in time for the new Age. She rules Darkwall with an iron fist, and thoroughly examines those who serve her for any possible disloyalties.

### Nobility

Nobility within Darkwall is a very exclusive 'club', and often only available to those of significant value, reputation and standing among the upper echelons of Darkwall. The nobility of Darkwall is essentially a popularity club, and the only way one can become Nobility is either becoming born into - whether it is a literal birth, or born again as an intelligent Undead - a Noble House, or Coven, or being elevated if you have achieved sufficient standing among existing Nobility; to do this, you must have a recommendation from a Greater Noble.

That said, Nobles often do not last within Darkwall - often falling subject to fatal accidents, dying in duels, or simply disappearing. This results in many Nobles being raised up often enough, and the older, more veteran Nobles retaining their positions of power.

### Lesser Noble

Lesser Nobles within Darkwall are often even lower than the majority of other Kingdoms, due to their small size and lack of land to provide.

* **Knight**: Knights of Darkwall are the lowest rank of Nobility, and typically given to anyone who even remotely impresses a Greater Noble. Most notably, however, is that a Knight is often adopted into an existing House. There are, however, many Knights who are simply given their rank as a reward for services.
* **Sanctioned Necromancer**: Sanctioned Necromancers are their own style of Nobility, and often well-prized within Darkwall for their skill and their essential part within the City. Although functionally the same rank as a Knight, Sanctioned Necromancers are given vastly more respect and standing.
* **Baron**: Barons are the defenders of the realm; often skill combatants, Barons are given small castles and towers within the realm's borders. They often have several Knights and a Sanctioned Necromancer under their command.

### Moderate Noble

Moderate Nobles are often powerful enough in their own right, and clever enough to withstand the Court of Darkwall.

* **Viscount**: Viscounts are your standard Lords and Ladies of the Court; typically they have a manor within the city, and perhaps a small village outside of it, but they likely spend much of their time in court.
* **Black Knight**: Black Knights are a rank of more militaristic displays. They typically care not for the Courts, and are often adopted into a House or Coven to serve as an Enforcer of their will.
* **Count**: Counts are similar to Viscounts, with some extra elevation and duties.

### Greater Noble

Greater Nobles are the highest rank of Nobility; powerful, and incredibly influential. Greater Nobles are the strongest, most arrogant, and oldest of the Court of Darkwall. These individuals are typically Vampire Lords, Liches, and other Greater Undead.

The Greater Nobility of Darkwall have no ranks; if you are one, you are one. You cannot purchase Greater Nobility in Darkwall via RP. It must be earned.

## Religion, Magic, Technology & Military

### Religion

Religion within Darkwall is, unsurprisingly, focused around the worship of deities who enjoy the Undead; Urgathoa chief among them. Darkwall has temples to multiple deities, with the largest dedicated to Urgathoa. There are even rumors that Cordelia is personally blessed by Urgathoa.

### Magic

Unsurprisingly, Magic is well-respected and heavily utilized. Although Necromancy is the preferred magic, other's are utilized in all aspects of life within Darkwall.

### Technology

Technology is only more recently becoming active; the upper echelons of Darkwall are from an older time, and technology is less understood by them, creating a stigma around it. Despite this, technology has gained a significant pace within the city. Although it does not rival the likes of Lightreach, it is still strong enough in it's own right.

## Law & Crime

Law within Darkwall is admittedly harsher than other towns, as the higher-ups of society wish to keep the living in line. Crime is rare, but kept well watched over by the enigmatic Darkguard, the Guards of Darkwall. Any criminals who commit a felony or higher are personally judged by the Rulers of Darkwall, often Cordelia or her chosen Regent.

**Misdemeanors:**

* Trespass
* Prostitution
* Petty theft
* Assault
* Disturbing the peace
* Public drunkenness or lewdness
* Selling shoddy or adulterated goods
* Assaulting, or disrupting a Mindless Servant while it is controlled.
* Raising Undead without a Permit.

**Felonies:**

* Riot
* Inciting riot
* Piracy
* Rape
* Destruction of property
* Theft
* Robbery
* Destroying a Mindless Servant while it is controlled.
* Destroying a body without the proper permits.
* Hiding bodies.

**Capital Crimes:**

* Murder
* Treason
* Arson
* Bribery of an Official.
* Counterfeiting
* Destroying stored blood.