Haven

A minimalist representation of the districts

The city of Haven is considered to be the last safe haven in the Great Desert. It was founded by families from six different regions of Elysia after the Fall.

## History

### **Pre-Fall**

Prior to the Fall the land that Haven sits on was largely unoccupied with the exception of a few farmers.

### **Founding**

It was created just after The Fall by those who were able to find one another and come together in peace after the catastrophe to share the only tenable land left in Terrestia. Surrounded by endless desert and no other options, the people planned out farmland and city walls for the only livable space they had.

At first, they believed themselves to be the only surviving people. Over time, however, an occasional band of survivors would make their way across the Great Desert. These beings, though, were always mutated beyond species recognition and were never able to survive in Haven. Group after group would become sick and die when they stayed within the city. It became clear that whatever adaptations those outsiders had developed had made them unable to exist here. Eventually, others stopped coming. They were alone and would remain this way.

After so many years of genetic isolation, the people of Haven have also developed in some unique ways...

### **Formation of the Senate**

After a series of short-lasting rulers, the people of Haven decided to limit some of the powers of the monarchy by forming the Senate.

## Districts

### **Garnet**

The people of the Garnet caste live outside of the city walls. Their lives are hard, but essential to the survival of Haven. They are farmers, hunters, and millers. They are accustomed to life surrounded by the wild creatures and know how to fend for themselves, not through brute force, but through tricks and traps passed down from generation to generation. They are hardy and rarely get sick.

### **Topaz**

The people of the Topaz caste live closest to the city walls on the eastern and western sides of Haven. They are muscular people who are accustomed to jobs in which they get to use their strength and wit. They are guard captains, engineers, and miners. Their skills in hand to hand combat are unrivaled in Haven, both due to their athletic prowess and their ability to form battle strategies. It is unusual to see a Haven Tournament Champion from any other caste.

### **Amber**

The people of the Amber caste live closest to the city gate, right in the middle of the busy market square. They are the only people who are known to scavenge in the Great Desert, though they never go far. They are known for their love of making deals and their unparalleled hustle. They are merchants, craftsmen, and hospitality workers. Of course, where there is coin, there are those willing to steal it. Hiding in plain sight among the traders and artisans of the Amber caste is a thriving black market, if you know where to look...

### **Jade**

The people of the Jade caste live in a commune in the very center of the city, raising their children collectively instead of the traditional family units of the rest of the city. They are known to be spiritual people and healers. They are priests, apothecaries, and astrologers. They interpret the gods, nature, and the stars, making them accessible to the people. When the average citizens of Haven are in crisis or need guidance, they are much more likely to look to those in the Jade caste before their political leaders in Amethyst. Of course, there are those in this caste that would seek to take advantage of this situation...

### **Sapphire**

The people of the Sapphire caste are descended from those who once lived in the City in the Clouds, protected before The Fall from the world around them by the illusion of being unreachable. This history has been passed down through their own records, which were magically preserved, though the arcane arts have been largely lost to them since. Even after three-thousand years, their culture of meditation and education has largely remained intact. They now live in the southeastern and southwestern districts of the city. They put a high value on brains over brawn. The East Sapphire citizens are known for their scholarly intentions, and often begin schooling as soon as they can talk. The West Sapphire citizens are known for their artistic endeavors, such as painting and sculpting. They known for being tall and lanky.

### **Amethyst**

The people of the Amethyst caste live in a gated district in the south of the city. Their ancestors were the politically minded people of Versayse and were able to easily establish a government structure that worked to their benefit. They are known for being charming and beautiful. They are politicians, judges, and administrators. Many have large collections of art, books, and historical objects, though all just for the sake of outdoing their neighbors. They are typically highly skilled at recognizing and utilizing the subtleties of human interaction, the good and the bad.

## Government

### **Monarchy**

The executive branch of the government of Haven is headed by a monarch. The current monarch is Queen Ione, the oldest surviving child of King Fitzgerald and Leena Suzuki. .

### **Senate**

The Senate is made up of representatives from each district. It is currently headed by Chancellor Ageus Calloway.

### **Judicial**

The Havenite High Court is the highest part of the judicial branch.

## Religion

### **The Five Ways**

The people of Haven follow the Five Ways, a religious and philosophical system based around ten gods and five different paths, each with their own tenets. The Ways are:

* The Way of Life
* The Way of Elements
* The Way of the Physical
* The Way of Philosophy
* The Way of Information

## Notable Figures

### **Political**

* Queen Ione
* King Consort Lawmon Fredrikson
* Chancellor Ageus Calloway

### **Religious**

* Jei'ji Li - High Priestess of The Way of Life
* Ivan Chayka - High Priest of The Way of Elements
* Feng Pak - High Priest of The Way of the Physical
* Akimi Tanaka - High Priestess of The Way of Philosophy
* Tamiko Huang - High Priestess of The Way of Information

### **Celebrity**

* Finley Kennedy - Actor
* Hans Bakken - Head Relaxer

### **Historical**

* Max Gallagher - Former head of the Thieves Guild
* Harmon Helvig - Head Adviser to King Cecillio
* Takamora Suzuki - Grandfather of Queen Ione and spiritual adviser to King Sienno
* Bato Zammit - Master detective and author
* Francis Chavelier - Former criminal mastermind
* Zofia Melnyk - Famous negotiator, Garnet
* Morio Elbaz - Famous negotiator, Topaz

### **Other**

* Emilio Rossi - Head of the Thieves Guild