Lebenheim

A loose representation of Lebenheim, not drawn to scale.

Alfor Mills - Representative of Farmers, Fisherman, and Millers

Elora Carver - Representative of Artisans and Craftsman

Giselle Branton - Representative of Drifton, Caretaker of the Wellespring

Welleside

Leafside

Drifton

Lebenheim Militia

West of the **Everwood** there is located a large open valley, miles upon miles from its furthest point inland to the shore. It is said that, centuries ago, a band of nomads had come upon this valley and settled here, establishing a series of settlements. The initial settlement was known as **"Lebenheim"** with smaller settlements around it, each with their own leaders and functions. Over time these settlements grew larger, they took in more people, travelers and migrants wanting a new home, and eventually they all grew into one another and became the larger whole that is Lebenheim today. The settlements all became districts of a now immense city state that occupies the valley.

## ***A New Life's Home***

Hundreds of years before the current era a band of nomadic
tribals, after months and years of leaving some forsaken home, had come upon a
large open valley practically walled off from the rest of Aneos by massive,
towering mountains. It was a new home where they could
plant their roots and grow into a brighter future. For these wanderers, their
new life’s home became the village of **“Lebenheim”** in the center of this coastal
valley that was teeming with natural life. A clear, cascading river of clean
water flowed from mountain to see. Miles of healthy grassland plains covered a
majority of this valley, and beautiful, bountiful forests line the foot of
those towering walls of earth. All filled with lush flora and resplendent
fauna. Sands of bright white and brilliant black both make up the coast, with
seemingly sparkling clear blue water of the ocean to meet at these shores. A
mostly temperate climate, Shieldcliff Valley, commonly referred to simply as “the Valley”
by many of the locals is known to get particularly scorching
days at the heart of the summer and relentlessly cold nights in the dead of
winter.

### **Growth**

With time, more and more drifters and wanderers entered into
Lebenheim. From lands distant and near, and even from overseas. All bearing
with them different creeds, different talents, tongues, skills, and gifts. Over
generations Lebenheim became a place of mixing, and a place of welcoming, a
place of home and life. Where any and all could come, could settle, as long as
they were willing to contribute to their community. And with more people, and
more settlement, there of course needed to be more village to accommodate them.
With Lebenheim growing from the center outwards, with fisherman and sailors
settling at the shores, farmers and millers settling in the plains and near the
forests, and more residing nearer the mountains. More village settlements
sprouted within the valley. With *Lebenheim* proper as the prominent centerpiece,
from it there came **Waveside**, at the
coast. Then **Leafside**, nearer the edge of the plains and entering into
the more forested region at the western side of the valley. At the innermost
vertex of the valley, at the foot of towering cliffs and looming mountains
there is **Welleside**, where sits the primary source of the valley's fresh water. And finally, a couple miles from the coast there is the
small island of **Drifton**.

With more time the four villages of the valley came into
each other, expanding and growing. Collectively they all became Lebenheim, and
each of the villages became more so districts to the larger village city as a
whole. What was once just the epicenter village of Lebenheim had become **“Sentral”** Lebenheim to the locals from then on. Each of these districts
had their purpose, their responsibility to the communities and to Lebenheim. Harmony and prosperity was had from the perfect cooperation of
everyone in this large village, with little greed or hate, and conflict often
sought to be resolved with as little harm as possible to all parties involved.
Those who harmed their community, or who acted selfishly, who acted with only
greed and malice in their hearts were punished by the collective community in a
way that was appropriate to the transgression.

## ***Withering***

Good things don’t always last, however. As Lebenheim welcomed
more travelers more harm would eventually be introduced as well. Technology
evolved at a slow pace, but with conveniences came laziness in some numbers.
Herbs were always used as medicine for curing the injured, the sick and the
weak. But drugs and alcohol dug deeper and slowly ravaged the population.
Turning hard workers into incompetent addicts, the generous into the greedy and
self-indulgent. Now drug and substance abuse run rampant in what was once a
pure and prosperous landscape. Lebenheim’s economy suffers slightly more each
year as less travelers come unto its streets to trade, and less locals are
willing or capable of caring for the lands like what was customary or necessary
since the city’s founding. Lebenehim still stands the test of times with a
dedicated few committed to keeping it afloat, but it is all but a worn husk of
what it once was. Waning and breaking.

## ***The Districts:***

Starting as a cluster of small village settlements that cooperated with each other for the purposes of mutual benefit and general prosperity, eventually these settlements all grew large enough that they began to grow into one larger city structure. Now only small distances of open road and terrain separate them if any at all, and even then there are houses and buildings scattered throughout. These different villages now act more like districts or sections to one whole, being the city or village of Lebenheim. These "Districts" are as follows:

### **Sentral**

Formerly just the village of Lebenheim, the largest and
centermost section came to be known simply as “Sentral” by the local populace
as the different village settlements grew into each other and all of it became
known collectively as Lebenheim to the outside world. Sentral is easily the
largest, and the most densely populated section of Lebenheim with the largest
residential areas and the most ground covered being situated directly in the
center of the valley’s open grassland.

Sentral is at least fifty percent residential area, packed
tight with homes both small and somewhat large. Houses made mostly of wood with
some having stone in their make as well, a majority being single-story homes
with two-story and even a handful of three-story dwellings housing larger
families and households. The layout of Sentral’s residential infrastructure can
be described as a complete and utter mess. Since the villages were never
pre-planned projects in any capacity, and just something that grew bigger and
bigger over time, there is very little organization to the layout of the city
and its streets today. The newcomer could lose themselves easily in what can
almost be a labyrinth of winding roads amidst a sea of homes, but it is
something that the Lebenites have just always handled without complaint.
Fortunately, Lebenheim is not of the scale of the modern capitals such as
Victorix or Kan Lodar, so the messiness of its layout is not the worst thing in
the world.

Other than the fifty percent residential area, there is a
large market and business area at the epicenter of the city. It is here
primarily where Lebenheim’s economy and trade take place. With market stalls,
stores, shops, warehouses, and business offices where dealings both formal and
informal take place. Where meat and crops are brought from the farms, wheat and
grain from the mills, fish and salt from the sea, jewelry carved from bone,
wood, and stone, or weapons and armor and tools. It all congregates here, at
Lebenheim’s epicenter of business and trade. Along with the shops and the
business office you can also find artisans at their craft, smiths and carvers,
fletchers, thatchers, haberdashers, and cobblers. Many situate their workshops
in the market area, though some also keep their shops closer to their homes as
well.

Directly through Lebenheim, and through Sentral, flows the
valley’s river. The water runs down from the mountain to the ocean, branching
and splitting both naturally and by mortal hands. The Lebenites have always
cherished their primary source of water, developing irrigation techniques to
provide water to a greater area, to sustain themselves as well as their crops
and their livestock. Thus, in Sentral where much of the water from the river
splits into different irrigation channels, there are farms set up to best
utilize this abundant source of water and maximize their crop yield. Sentral is
where Lebenheim’s primary farming operations are maintained with crops such as
corn and potatoes, cabbage, and a small variety of fruit. Cows, pigs, chickens,
and goats also make up a large chunk of these farms’ livelihood. And on the
western side of Sentral, closer to Leafside there is also grown wheat and
grains.

Sentral is where everything in Lebenheim comes together. It
is the primary bastion of trade and government in the valley, acting very much
as a bridge between all the other districts, and also as the heart. Sentral is
also the home of most of Lebenheim’s internal conflict, holding most of the
population and holding most of the traffic of people and goods. This is where
the corruption took root, and where the weakness has become strongest. With
Lebenheim’s heart failing, the rest will eventually follow.

### **Waveside**

Named as such on account of it being
the coastal area of Lebenheim. Miles of sandy shore stretch along the
coastline, with white sands at the east, and black sands at the west where the
coast becomes rockier. This is, obviously, where
all of Lebenheim’s marine traffic comes to, and where any ocean-based work
takes place. Such as the catching of fish, and harvesting of seasalt. The
beaches turn into grass and sparse amounts of trees going a small distance
inland, with much of the land flat and open. The landscape gets somewhat
hillier the further inland you go, the land itself rising slightly the closer
you get to the valley’s mountains.

The homes here are not quite as packed as they are in
Sentral, but there is still that messiness to the infrastructure as the houses
and buildings were all built with little pre-planning to the layout in mind.
There are smaller dwellings, as well as large beachside mansions that have
since gone into certain states of disrepair with time. In Lebenheim, a home was
built by those who intended to live in it, each home often passed down the
family tree over generations. The size and scope of a home is a direct
representation of the work one was willing to put into their house, and what
they wanted to get out of it. The largest houses in Lebenheim are the largest
because their occupants were willing and capable of constructing them in such a
manner, and those occupying said homes today are likely descendant of the
original builders and occupants or they built the place themselves.

Many of the buildings closer to the ocean in Waveside are
workhouses for sailing and fishing vessels of the local fishermen and
seafarers. Where they store their boats and all the tools of their trade. There
are also storehouses for fish and waterborne stock of trade, as well as the
implements used to acquire them. There is a primary dockyard at Waveside’s
eastern edge, where the waters are smoothest. This is where shipments over the
ocean are brought into and taken out of Lebenheim, although seaward dealings
have become lesser in recent years with the establishment of Squall’s End and
the great amount of pirate activity. There just aren’t many shipping companies that
want, or need to, work with Lebenheim anymore.

At the western end of Waveside, where can be found a
greater amount of brackish waters, there is a series of fishponds. A wall of
stone is built starting from one spot in the shore and going outwards into the
water in an arc or semicircle that comes around and back to the shore at
another spot some distance away from the starting point. In the wall of stone
there are gates set up where smaller fish can enter, but are unable to leave
through should they grow larger within the fishpond. Here the people can farm
and maintain a larger and more consistent source of fish to feed them. Some
naturally made ponds slightly inland are also utilized in such a manner.

Waveside is responsible for all of Lebenheim’s water-based
product and business. The fisherman and sailors living here take their catch
and harvest inland towards Sentral to trade for other materials they may want
or need such as farmland produce or foreign items brought by travelers. It is
also the main connection to the small island of Drifton situated a small
distance off the coast.

### **Leafside**

Towards the western end of the valley the trees grow denser
and form a thick forested area near the foot of the mountains. At the outer
edge of this forest is the part of Lebenheim known mostly as Leafside. One of
the three main river branches that come from the head of the valley flows
directly through the center of this thick forest, but a smaller channel runs
just outside of it. It is along here where homes, and mills for grain and
lumber have been established by the locals. The channel is strong enough that
the flow of water can be used as hydropower for simple machines that aid in the
process of cutting and processing lumber for the rest of the valley.

Many of the trees that inhabit the valley’s forestland are
of a strong and sturdy quality, making them ideal for the construction of
buildings, furniture, tools, and boats. The forest houses some species of deer,
elk, and even moose, bears, and wolves. Although these are in much fewer
apparent numbers and reside much deeper within the forest and closer to the
mountains and higher up where the air is somewhat colder. As you go south and
follow the forest down the mountainside and out of Leafside you will also find
wild boar closer to the coast. Some Lebenites like to go into the forest for
hunting, as it more consistently provides better game than the plains do.

The outskirts of Leafside, where is closest to the western
edge of Sentral, is often referred to as Millside or the Millfields by some. As
grain mills are more common here than anywhere else in Lebenheim. It is here,
in between Leafside and Sentral, where the two sections begin to blur into one
another. Wheat, rice, barley, oats, corn, and even some sugar cane and coffee make up the
crops produced here. Grain, being a very versatile source of sustenance, is important
to Lebenheim’s economy, as is all of the valley’s natural resources. However,
the grain mills only have about as half the amount of land dedicated to them as
do the main farms in Sentral, with fewer hands tending to them.

Compared to Sentral, Leafside is only nearly half the size
of the larger district, and with a population only matching about a third of that
of Sentral. Much less densely inhabited than Sentral, or even Waveside,
Leafside is home to more rural homesteads and families who dedicate themselves
to working their mills and fields. It is quieter here, and oftentimes much
calmer.

### **Welleside**

At the top of the valley, cresting the foot of tall
mountains and steep cliffs, a large pool of water sits peacefully. A spring of
clean, fresh water that comes directly from aquifers within the ground and the
mountain pools here and flows seaward, through the entire valley until it meets
the ocean at several points. This water is clear, healthy, cool, and abundant.
It brings life, and it brings prosperity to all those in the valley below as it
nourishes them and feeds their crops. Feeds their way of life, this water is
life to the valley. And without it all those residing within would surely
perish, the rivers and the aquifers are vital to sustainability.

Because of the importance of this water source, and because
of the tranquility of this location, the peaceful living, some settled here to
watch over it. A small number decided to settle at the vertex of this valley,
just beside the wellspring, and they named their small settlement Welleside. And
since then there has always been a small number of residents here dedicated to
keeping the water clean and making sure it is never blocked, dirtied, or dried
up. Aside from the island of Drifton, Welleside is easily the smallest piece of
Lebenheim, but it is no less important than the other districts. In fact, it
may be the most vital of all. Welleside sits at the peak, at the highest point
of the valley’s civilized reaches, and everything goes downhill from there. If
something went wrong in Welleside, all the valley would suffer for it greatly.

Aside from tending the water source, those who stay in
Welleside also cultivate small amounts of crops to sustain themselves so they
are not wholly reliant on trade with the lower districts. They grow potatoes,
apples, and cabbage. As well as hunt some game from the surrounding forest when
they are able.

Welleside was once also the site of a small stone quarry. At
the foot of the mountain many stones and rocks could be found that were good
for construction, the building of houses and the crafting of tools. Much of the
stone could be acquired with not much effort and taken to lower parts of the
valley to be reshaped or used. However, when the acquirement of this stone
expanded into much larger projects of mining, cutting, and breaking to get more
such activities were beginning to taint the water. The wellspring and aquifers
were contaminated, polluted by this growing stone quarry. So those of Lebenheim
quickly ceased their actions and settled for using stone and metals found
elsewhere in the valley or brought from elsewhere in Aneos. The water was too
important to risk polluting it any further, and so restoration and reparations
were made to the wellspring and the surrounding area of Welleside.

The houses of Welleside are of hard polished wood and
smoothed stone. They are smaller, and some are more vertical in shape than
anywhere else in the valley to account for the steeper terrain that restricts
the width of these houses. Stronger foundations are needed here to provide
balance and stability, and to prevent the destruction of the buildings by
natural means such as landslide in times of extremely bad weather. Those who
live in Welleside are sometimes referred to as the “river people” the “mountain
people” “keepers” “wellspringers” and other such nicknames for their role in
Lebenheim’s society.

### **Drifton**

Off the coast of Welleside there is an island. Close enough
for the naked eye to see with ease, a good boat or a rigorous swim is all it
takes to land here. It isn’t very large, covered in green and brown of thick
forest. Not much is known about Drifton these days, most of the locals don’t
even care about it anymore. It’s just a rock in the ocean to them, but in
actuality it’s so much more than that…

Drifton was the center for much of Lebenheim’s old religious
practices and traditional spirituality. A solitary few live here, tending to
the island, and keeping themselves deep within prayer and meditation beside the
valley’s largest source of Juice energy. From the mountain to the ocean, there
are Ley Lines, and at this island they converge. When the first settlers
arrived to the valley they sensed this presence, they felt the power and the
energy, and they tracked it to the island. A totem of worship was set up at the
center of this island and since then there have always been a select few
staying by it. Even to this day when most of Lebenheim aren’t even aware of it.

Pilgrims used to swim or row to the island to find the
totem, hoping that meditation here would bring them guidance or peace of mind.
Answers to their struggles and hardships, answers to help their families, and
communities. Now no one comes. No one wants to, no one knows to, no one cares.
There are only those who’ve lived there, who step foot on the island anymore…

## **Military/Security**

Lebenheim’s military has almost always been a volunteer
militia force who act as patrols, police, security, and defense for the city
and the valley. In the event of civil unrest, social conflict, disruption of
peace, or threat from hostile entities, the Lebeheim militia attend to the
scene to keep the peace or quell the threat. Those who are able to fully
dedicate themselves to this militia and who demonstrate exceptional qualities
are promoted to officers’ positions by governing officials. These officers
train and lead the lower ranking troops, separated into groups based on
district and squads for different areas of a district.

Each district of Lebenheim has its own branch of militia,
with varying uniforms or distinguishing marks to tell them apart. Since the
militia is almost completely filled with volunteers, there is no traditional
uniform outfit or armor. A guard’s equipment and outfit are often
self-provided, the guard using their own weapons or armor when on patrol. But
over time the militia has developed badges and articles of clothing or symbols
of office that a guard can wear when on duty. Such as a brooch, badge, or
marking. Only dedicated officers are ever provided any equipment from the
governing body of the city, which is usually a special armor, helmet, or weapon
to signify their status as an officer.

Officers report to captains of their district, who then
report to the chief of security. The chief of security holds a position on
Lebenheim’s governing council body. Those who wish to volunteer as guardsman
and guardswomen can seek out their local district precinct and report to the
local captain of said precinct. They are then given a symbol of their position
and assigned a patrol or duty to attend to.

While a volunteer force, however, militia members are paid for their time and service by the captains of their respective precincts who are provided funding by Lebenheim's governing body.

## **Government**

Those who first settled Lebenheim were a large band of
nomadic tribals. Primarily Humans and Dwarves from the North, with other races such as Elves,
Halflings, and Orcs entering among the band over time. Thus, the first form of
government was an egalitarian one that quickly evolved into a form of chiefdom.
A chief of the band was chosen for his exceptional ability as a provider and
leader. The position of leadership then expanded to accommodate the growing
number of the band, and began a path of heredity rather than election as full
trust was placed in the select families that first took charge. When the band
came upon the Everwood and encountered the tribal peoples there, this first
band of wanderers adopted many elements of the cultures here, and even some of
the people as well. The band tried to settle in the Everwood for some time but
soon found themselves wandering again, not wanting to provoke conflict with the
natives of the great green forest. After another week of travel they came
across the valley and site of what would become Lebenheim.

When the band settled in the massive open valley, it split
into a small number of tribes that each settled a different part of the valley.
One settled the open plains located at the heart, another took to the coast,
one took to the forested northwestern corner, and the last settled at the head
of the valley, at the foot of the grand looming mountains that dominated the
landscape. There they found the source of the valley’s gleaming river. Each of
these different tribes had their own chief among them, to govern and lead the
activities of the tribe and maintain order and harmony. These chiefs met
together frequently in the central-most settlement to manage the wellbeing of
all of Lebenheim.

Eventually a small group of druids, spiritualists, priests,
and monks fragmented from the other tribes and settled the small island off the
coast. This island would later be known as Drifton and a member of this now
more isolated community would eventually come to join the other chiefs in there
council as they governed the valley. The representative of Drifton would ensure
that the natural resources of the valley were managed and utilized properly and
that the other chiefs always had harmony and balance in mind.

Coming into the latest era, the world had evolved
significantly, and this included Lebenheim in a few ways. When Victorix and
other modern states and cities were established, and the industrial revolution
was under way, culture, religion, and government changed with the times.
Lebenheim had been receiving generations upon generations of travelers,
temporary and indefinitely, that brought with them modernizing ideals and
customs, so Lebenheim changed as well in many ways. One of such ways was its
government.

Lebenheim, as it grew into a more unified and centralized
infrastructure, adopted a more modern, mayoral government. Now a mayor holds
central authority over governing the city, however, the council of chiefs still
remains in essence as a council of selected members who all advise the mayor
and each hold responsibility over different areas of import within Lebenheim
and its economy. Areas such as security, resources, and trade.

The current governing body are: **David Cathmor**, Lebenheim’s mayor and primary leader. ***Frederick Novack***,
overseer of Lebenheim's mercantile and business operations. ***Jacob***
***Graham,*** chief of the Lebenheim militia and head of security in the
valley. ***Alfor Mills***, representative of the farming, fishing, and
milling communities in the valley. ***Elora Carver,*** representative of all
artisans and craftsman in Lebenheim including smiths, leatherworkers, and
carpenters, etc. And finally ***Giselle Branton***, representative of
Drifton’s druid caretakers and primary advisor of natural resource management
including the care and distribution regarding the valley’s river and aquifers.