DM Audra Sat Mar 21, 2015 3:07 amWelcome to the seaside city of Kevash. Previously a meager town of little renown, the now sprawling port city is the capital of The Palavine Dominion.
The city and Dominion both owe much of its growth to those fleeing the Elven Conclave during the war with the dwarven Ironwrought Empire. Due to its close proximity to Gold'are a large percentage of the Dominion is elven, however the active ports found throughout the country, especially in Kevash (the biggest port of them all), ensure a steady stream of all races (and gold) flow through its lands.
Governed by the King and The Council of the Triad, a group of three advisers that are experts in their respective fields of diplomacy, intelligence, and war. The Palavine Dominion's government has managed to find a delicate balance of laws lax enough to encourage the constant growth of it's Trade District, yet just strict enough to maintain order. This balance is upheld by the Sentinel Order, the county's stalwart defenders. A step above your average guard, a Sentinel is trained to deal with higher risk issues that may prove troublesome for a city's common guardsman.
Though as in any city, especially those that receive high traffic from the seas, Kevash has its own seedy underbelly. Thieves prowl in the Trade District, pirates throw down anchor in the docks, and bandits roam the sprawling countryside. It's not uncommon for guards to outsource minor issues to adventurers passing through the town via job boards posted in the Citadel District.
This is where your group finds themselves, standing before the job board finding meager offerings not really worth your time. You're about to return to your inn to hopefully hunt down some rumors when a well dressed man approaches your group. He's a short and round fellow in a suit, though the coattails extend farther down than the norm. His suit may be well made, but it was clearly not made for him. His face is flushed and he does his best to look down at you, despite his short stature.
"Excuse me. Would you happen to be... 'adventurers' seeking employment." The man spits out the word 'adventurers' like its something filthy.
The city and Dominion both owe much of its growth to those fleeing the Elven Conclave during the war with the dwarven Ironwrought Empire. Due to its close proximity to Gold'are a large percentage of the Dominion is elven, however the active ports found throughout the country, especially in Kevash (the biggest port of them all), ensure a steady stream of all races (and gold) flow through its lands.
Governed by the King and The Council of the Triad, a group of three advisers that are experts in their respective fields of diplomacy, intelligence, and war. The Palavine Dominion's government has managed to find a delicate balance of laws lax enough to encourage the constant growth of it's Trade District, yet just strict enough to maintain order. This balance is upheld by the Sentinel Order, the county's stalwart defenders. A step above your average guard, a Sentinel is trained to deal with higher risk issues that may prove troublesome for a city's common guardsman.
Though as in any city, especially those that receive high traffic from the seas, Kevash has its own seedy underbelly. Thieves prowl in the Trade District, pirates throw down anchor in the docks, and bandits roam the sprawling countryside. It's not uncommon for guards to outsource minor issues to adventurers passing through the town via job boards posted in the Citadel District.
- Daily Life and the Atmosphere of Kevash (Optional information):
- During the day Kevash is awash with activity under the high and bright sun. It's warm but not oppressively so, unless you are one of the dockworkers unloading heavy crates of goods and fish from the numerous ships making dock or a blacksmith slaving over a forge. At night the activity of the city only slightly calms down and the streets are illuminated by lanterns powered by the soft, everlasting glow of sagestone, a magically enhanced rock. Taverns are just barely getting into full swing and some night owls still roam the streets.
The city of Kevash is divided into 5 districts:
The Citadel District is home to the Sentinel Order's headquarters, the barracks, assorted government buildings, and the Citadel itself, a towering castle where court is held. The Citadel District is the quietest part of the city given is it's "official" nature. You won't find many citizens roaming the spacious square unless on business. Those that prefer the atmosphere found in the docks often comment that the Citadel is so quiet because any that visitors die of boredom.
The Trade District sits in the heart of the city and is constantly bustling with activity. The sprawling square is lined with shops and stalls of all kinds. Shops are run by locals while the stalls are rented out on a short term basis for visitors to sell their wares, creating a forever changing stock of goods and trinkets. Given the melting pot of races that call Kevash home, the scent of an assortment of foods can be found wafting through the district. From staples like freshly baked bread and roasted herb chicken to jambalaya and fried shrimp made from fresh seafood caught just outside the city. A soft murmur of music can be heard from the couple of inns that pepper the district or from the occasional street performer seeking tips.
The Dock District boasts the largest docks for hundreds of miles. The district is peppered with pubs, warehouses, and slightly seedier establishments that cater to the needs of the sailors passing through. By day it's often loud and bustling with activity of ships being loaded and unloaded and boisterous sailors shouting at one another about their plans for shore leave as they head into the city proper. By night only the dock work dies down, but the taverns remain busy well into the wee hours of the morning, though it's largely only sailors or dockworkers that hang around as the persistent scent of raw fish often puts off those not accustomed.
The Rose District is home to the more notable families of the city and the King himself, though his estate is walled off from the remainder of the district and under constant guard. Their spacious estates all border around the city's impressive garden that grows all manner of flora and home to many small type of fauna. At night the garden is illuminated by so many fireflies that many believe some kind of magic must be involved.
The Residential District is where the remainder of the townsfolk live. The size of the district nearly rivals that of the trade district and there are all manner of houses in various shapes and sizes. During the day the Residential District is often bustling with average citizens on their way to or from work and children laughing and playing in the streets. At night the district settles in to a comfortable quiet as people retire to their homes seeking sleep and comfort before their routines begin anew the next day.
Outside the city there is a main highway that leads from the gates of the city to the other towns nearby and passes by the numerous farms and farmhouses interspaced with lush, green fields peppered with wildflowers. Farther beyond the reach of the city lays forests rife with wild game.
This is where your group finds themselves, standing before the job board finding meager offerings not really worth your time. You're about to return to your inn to hopefully hunt down some rumors when a well dressed man approaches your group. He's a short and round fellow in a suit, though the coattails extend farther down than the norm. His suit may be well made, but it was clearly not made for him. His face is flushed and he does his best to look down at you, despite his short stature.
"Excuse me. Would you happen to be... 'adventurers' seeking employment." The man spits out the word 'adventurers' like its something filthy.
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