San Valento

A city-state free from the restrictions of the Empire, folks from across the continent congregate in San Valento for trade, art and entertainment. On the surface, a place that worships freedom and self-expression, and beneath a deep tradition of maintaining this freedom in whatever way necessary. Many question why the Empire is yet to claim this city, but those in the know are aware of how daunting a prospect this truly is.

While there used to be poor relations between San Valento and the Empire, they are now on quite good terms, as the Empire provides guards to ensure that crime is kept down, particularly regarding mages. This started after the Tragedy ravaged the land, and some of the more anti-imperial Lords were vanquished in the fighting.

The City operates under an oligarchy, led by numerous Lords and Ladies.

## **Guarding the People**

The City Guard was a highly trained military organization of fully-armored soldiers responsible for defending the great city of San Valento and patrolling its surroundings. The City Guard served many purposes related to defending the city. Within San Valento, the Guard protected the city walls, gates, and its important buildings, as well as provided escorts for government officials. It also patrolled the harbor and the roads leading from San Valento to the Levissian border. The City Guard's duty was to investigate foreign threats to San Valento and to protect the city against them. Their duties included guarding the city's gates, important locations, and citizens.

## Watching the Streets

The City Watch's purpose is not only to enforce the law, but also to ensure the well-being of San Valentians. The City Watch performs everyday policing duties. They rarely act outside the walls of the city and do not pay much attention to the city's sewers. They are a peacekeeping force, also responsible for solving crimes and apprehending criminals.

## **The Xanathar Guild**

Beneath the city streets lurks a criminal underworld known as the Xanathar Guild. Little is known about their leadership or whereabouts, other than that they use the sewers for transportation.

## **Greywatch**

An individual who has served in the Watch or the Guard is eligible to join, as are characters who are willing to swear oaths to defend San Valento, its citizens, and its laws with their lives. Adventurers who show promise might be invited to join the Greywatch, a faction overseen by **Ramona Shepard**, a retired mercenary, who is stationed in the **Greytower** (located in the Castle Ward). Members of the Greywatch complete assignments dictated by Ramona. Greywatch is an elite cadre of specialized individuals, drawn from the ranks of the City Guard and City Watch, whose fighting prowess is matched only by their loyalty to the city. The Greywatch attracts the best of the best. Characters don't begin their adventuring careers as members of Greywatch, but they can work up to that status. Whenever San Valento has a problem that can't be handled by diplomats or the city's other armed forces. The Lords have the option to mobilize the Greywatch. Such action is usually taken as a last resort, since some past members of the group have exhibited a tendency to indulge in wanton violence, causing as much damage as they ostensibly prevent. Although the Lords set mission goals and parameters whenever the unit is activated, the Greywatch team needed to complete any given assignment is made up of individuals handpicked by Ramona. If members of the Greywatch are arrested for a crime, the Lords or Ramona will usually intervene on their behalf and facilitate their release.

## Cuisine

San Valento has a high production process standard. Foods are prepared slowly and with care creating quality blends, rich in taste and texture. San Valentians hold strong to their heritage and only produce the best.

They cuisine is based in simplicity; less is more. Simple, fresh ingredients combine to create unique meals bursting with paramount flavors.  Oftentimes, a favourite San Valentian dish is a simple combination of a few ingredients, including tomatoes, potatoes, olives, corn and grapes, as well as creamy cheeses, sauces and fresh herbs.

Typical dishes include pizza, pasta, arancini, gnocchi, parmigiana and lasagna.

## Fashion

Typically, masculine clothing consists of a short tunic fitted at the waist over tight breeches and a coloured cloak, whilst feminine features two overlapping garments of different lengths. Leather is also used, especially sable and fox.

A strange fashion from the city of Overflow has made its way into San Valentian culture. Nobles wear shoes called "ciopine" or " calcagnini " which have platforms of up to 50 centimeters. These shoes are worn by the common women and prostitutes of Overflow not to appear taller but rather to walk on higher than the water and avoid dirtying their dresses. The imagination of San Valentian cobblers was captured by these "sculpture on pedestals" that moved through the streets of the city, and thus the style was brought to San Valento. Due to the extravagant height, wearers are oft needed to be accompanied by service ladies so as not to fall down.

## Art

Due to the melting pot of beliefs present in the city, art in San Valento typically involves spiritual iconography and ethereal, otherworldly figures. Flat compositions and unrealistic color palettes are also currently popular, with artists using oils as well as painting alternative canvases such as walls and ceilings in builidings, as well as great murals on the sides of structures.