Dunedeigh

**Dunedeigh** is a Hallengardian city located in the southwest of Hallengard. Dunedeigh was formerly held by the Findlaigh dynasty, though after the War of Daggers the fief was granted to the Rossthorne clan. During the War of Daggers the city was set ablaze by Aedwinian forces under the command of George McCullough, resulting in almost a quarter of the city being destroyed. Dunedeigh is one of the largest cities in the Hales, being rivaled in population by only Fulwood and Marjou Harbor.

## History

### Pre-History

Dunedeigh began as a collection of farming hamlets centered around the Vespir River. As the Hallenic Empire expanded, the hamlets were considered as belonging to the Findlaighs. The most central of the hamlets began experiencing exponential growth after the discovery of silver in the nearby mountains, and soon the developing town became one of the primary holdings of the Findlaighs.

The silver from the mines of Dunedeigh would serve to both furnish other Findlaigh holdings (most notably Findlaigh’s Respite), but also the construction of the crown-city of Mulleburgh. However, while silver flowed out, gold flowed in through trade. Access to the western seas through the Vespir allowed merchants from western cities easy access to the city and a staging point for caravans. The city very rapidly became a hub for both western clansmen and merchants alike.

### Dunedeigh's Decline

Dunedeigh’s growth continued through Oswald’s reign, though it began to slow at the onset of Cedric’s. As the prospect of war with Lauchette loomed, much of Dunedeigh’s merchant class vacated for the more active cities in the south and east. Though the crisis would later be averted, Dunedeigh had already suffered a severe blow which left it struggling to recover. The city’s struggles wouldn’t end there however, as with Oswald’s passing and the beginning of the War of Daggers, Dunedeigh would continue its steep decline.

As the Sutherlands made their preparations for war, Dunedeigh was hit with a swarm of bribes and other agitation like many other western cities. Scholars from the University of Dunedeigh posted flyers proclaiming the Findlaighs’ tyranny. Bribes were distributed amongst the corrupt city guard, who swiftly acted in the Sutherlands’ interests. Soon those who refused the bribes were imprisoned, and Desmond Whitaker, captain of the cityguard, declared rebellion against the Findlaighs.

Whilst the guards were distracted, crime began to spike exponentially. The increase in crime scared many of its merchants away, resulting in shady characters and wealthy monopolists snatching up their property. Brigands and cutthroats soon had control of large swaths of the city and numerous skirmishes took place as the new gang leaders battled for control over streets and city blocks. Eventually, after pressure from the uncorrupt portions of the guard, these criminal organizations banded together and formed an uneasy alliance dubbed the Vespir Syndicate. Organized crime has continued to be a problem in Dunedeigh even in the modern day.

### The Dunedeigh Massacre

Despite Whitaker’s proclamation of rebellion against the Findlaighs, the city wouldn’t be spared during the war. In retaliation for the Razing of Greenfields, a contingent of troops headed by George McCullough marched north to Dunedeigh. McCullough laid siege to the city, despite numerous protests from both Whitaker and men inside his army. Numerous deserters from the Aedwinians entered the city during nightfall and joined the ranks of the guard.

After this was revealed to McCullough, false deserters were sent inside to open the gates and set the city alight. In an event that would come to be known as the Dunedeigh Massacre, more than half of the city caught ablaze. Those who fled from the city were captured and typically executed, regardless of their status or involvement in the siege. The event took upwards of three hundred lives, with two hundred of those being consumed by the flames and thousands of others missing. After a two-day long battle to control the flames, Whitaker surrendered to the Aedwinians and was taken prisoner.

On orders from Pierre de Castellane, McCullough promptly turned south, silently releasing Whitaker on the journey home. In the wake of Dunedeigh’s razing, the local lords convened in a council within the city. The Rossthorne clan, a newly formed branch of the Ross clan, was widely supported as a claimant to the city. Cormac Rossthorne, the clan’s lord, was ordained as Duke of Dunedeigh by Tynan Sutherland at the end of the war.

### Present

Since Cormac’s appointment as Duke of Dunedeigh, the city has mostly recovered from its razing and economic downturn. Buildings have since been repaired and rebuilt, and merchants have since flooded the city. Though a hotbed of subterfuge and betrayal, the Vespir Syndicate still retains a firm grasp on much of the city’s criminal underworld. The mines’ silver deposits have begun to run dry in the past years, and with silver’s value plummeting after the collapse of the Empire, the mines have been gearing towards coal and iron.

## Notable Figures

* **Cormac Rossthorne**: Duke of Dunedeigh and governor of the city, Cormac was born in 8 CE and fought during the War of Daggers. Elected by a council of western nobles after Whitaker’s surrender and later confirmed by Tynan Sutherland.
* **Malcom Rossthorne**: First son of Cormac and the current treasurer and captain of the cityguard for Dunedeigh. Set to inherit the duchy and to become the lord of the Rossthornes.
* **Declan Rossthorne**: Second son of Cormac, formerly served as the city’s treasurer before being sent to Mulleburgh to serve as lord-exchequer. Notable graduate of Dunedeigh’s university.
* **Desmond Whitaker**: Former captain of the cityguard and governor of Dunedeigh before its razing. Whitaker has since reappeared in the Rossthorne retinue and is rumored to be a powerful leader in the Vespir Syndicate.
* **Maoilios II**: Chancellor of the Dunedeigh University and Archdruid of the West. Though not officially a member of the Rossthorne clan’s cortège, he is commonly looked to as an advisor for the court.
* **Alister Sterling**: Owner and lead foreman of the Sterling Mines of Dunedeigh, as well as one of the wealthiest burghers in the west. Primarily exports silver and steel, along with other trade goods.