Findle City is the capital of the Kingdom of Findle . The city was founded as a fortress to protect caravans traveling from Wingar. When the Ibyth Empire was destroyed by Lyttas, fort Findle became integral in defending the sparse human settlements from the Ibyth goblinoids. As the fort grew, a city formed around the walls and as the years went by, more and more was built to encompass the growing cityscape. The Kings and Steward Arundel Shay were known to offer land in exchange for services rendered to the country, so Findle became a place to which adventurers, wanting to make a name for themselves, tended to flock. This lead to the country having a very diverse population.
History[]
Originally the land around the gulf was a gift from the Ibyth Daern to a consortium of human privateers who served him. Over the centuries as the Ibyth Empire waned, the holdings around Fort Findle grew until it became a powerful city state. The humans of Findle served as intermediaries between the Ibyth Empire and the elves of the Silver Reach, preventing open warfare on many occasions. To thank the men of Findle, the elves built a fine emerald domed palace for the lords of Findle. As it grew, it drew other human settlers from Morat Ras, Thessan and Olgun Quisir, along with Perian halfligns and Hill Dwarves. Before long, the lord of Findle was crowned the first king of the Rant dynasty.
Laws and Regulations[]
Prohibition on Weapons and Armor[]
Findle City had a well regulated city guard as well as the Shining Blades order to protect the streets. Citizens openly carrying weapons or wearing armor within the city was prohibited and would result in a fine without an official license band, which can be purchased and afixed to the weapon at any gate house. Weapons and armor worn or carried within the city without a liscense would result in a fine and confiscation of the item, which could be recovered at the main gatehouse. Refusal to pay the fine, or any armed conflicts within the city result in prison time and the item being confiscated, even if it is liscensed or not a prohibited weapon.
Prohibition on Spellcasting[]
Spellcasting can be disruptive, destructive and disturbing to the average citizen. Spellcasting in public spaces is prohibited, though spells could be cast in private homes or businesses. Guards would attempt to disrupt any spellcasting they could see. A spellcaster could purchase a Hegemony Spellband from any gatehouse, which was worn as a sash across the chest and served as a day liscense for spellcasting. These bands were lightly enchanted and would change color after 24 hours to indicate the liscense had expired.
Fines[]
| Item | Prohibited | Liscense cost per day | Fine if confiscated or violated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tools, knife/dagger, sickle, light hammer, light pick, handaxe, staff, sling, shortbow, etc. | No | 0 | 2 Silver |
| Blades, shorter than a man's arm; shortsword, katar, kukri, etc. | Yes | 5 Copper | 2 Silver |
| Blades, longer than a man's arm: longsword, rapier, scimitar, battleaxe. etc. | Yes | 2 Silver | 2 Gold |
| Maces and clubs; club, light mace, heavy mace, flail, etc. | Yes | 5 Silver | 1 Gold |
| War weapons; spears, greatswords, greataxes, halbards, longbow, crossbow, etc. | Yes | 1 Gold | 5 gold |
| Heavy clothing; padded armor/gambeson, leather or studded leather, buckler | No | 0 | 2 Silver |
| Mail; chain mail, chain shirt, splintmail, etc. | Yes | 2 Silver | 2 Gold |
| Plate; banded mail, breastplate, half plate, full plate, etc. | Yes | 1 Gold | 5 Gold |
| Shields; light shield, heavy shield, tower shield, etc. | Yes | 2 Silver | 2 Gold |
| Spellcasting - enhancement; cure spells, aid, barkskin | Yes | 2 Gold | 5 Gold |
| Spellcasting - witchcraft; charm spells, suggestion, fascinate | Yes | 2 Gold | 5 Gold |
| Spellcasting - warmagic; fire spells, magic missile, forcecage | Yes | 2 Gold | 15 Gold |
| Spellcasting - calling; summoning spells, teleport, phantom steed | Yes | 2 Gold | 15 Gold |
Capital City, also known as Findle City, Royal capital of Findle
Locations[]
Findle City is comprised of 4 roughly equal quarters with smaller sections being added every few years.
Royal Quarter[]
The Royal Quarter covers the Northmost section of the city. This area houses some of the richest and most powerful people in all of Findle.
Royal Palace[]
A grand palace and home of the rulers of Findle. The palace was created by the Gold Elves of the Silver Reach and was called "Ya'cidal Nal'sídh" (Ya-sidal nal-see) which in Elvish means "The House of the peaceful" The palace was the seat of the Kings of Findle through the Rant Dynasty, the time of Steward Arundel Shay, and the Holt Dynasty.
Kings Market[]
The king's market is the primere place to buy and sell the most expensive and magical wares in the kingdom. The most prominent fixture is a massive fountain and golden statue of Findle's four heroes, Saint Reluse, Quixote, Jodando Legault and Steward Arundel Shay. The market is open every day of the month from daybreak to dusk, except the first day of the month.
Shay Manor[]
A large walled complex filled with greenery. House Shay owns a small parcel of land within the city and conducts its own business with near full autonomy. Originally, Shay Manor was a ten room house purchased in the city by Arundel after his adventure with The Four. Over the centuries, the respectable house expanded into a spawling mansion and more and more of the property around it was demolished to provide greenspace. During the time of the steward and afterward, it served as the seat for the Capital Shay family.
The Minister Building[]
East of the Royal Palace is the Minister Building where the senate is seated and most government business is held. Various representatives, church officials and nobles confer here to decide the fate of the country. This is also the primary location for judicial inquiries. Beneath the Minister Building is a large prison complex, and there are tunnels here that lead deeper into the reams below the city streets.
The Green Grounds[]
A large area just East of the Minister Building is a park and sacred green usually reserved for use by the Heirophants. Within the park are several ancient standing stones which are considered sacred by various peoples. Despite association with heretical cults of the Old Faiths, the Empyrean Church protects the stones and some conduct rituals here.
Halyron Keep[]
A modest walled home within the city, this keep was originally one of several keeps owned by the Hemet Royal family of Thessan. During the Thessan Rebellion, this keep was sold to fund their war effort. The keep has been purchased and sold dozens of times. In the 5th age, the keep was the seat of the Hemet family.
Merchants Quarter[]
The center for craftsmen and shipping in the city. Most of the common people in the city live or work in the Merchant's Quarter.
Riverwatch Castle[]
This castle is one of the most lavish and fotified buildings in the city. It houses some of Findle's most prominent noble visitors and is often occupied by emissaries from distant countries. Previously, the castle was the home of the Drakeson Family, but has changed hands multiple times.
Gáldgoroth[]
Built by hill dwarves, Gáldgoroth is a neighborhood within the Merchant's quarter that is predominantly owned by and caters to dwarves.
North-Dock[]
The largest port in the capital, the North-dock caters mostly to merchant ships. The name is also used for the large market and service district located there.
Bridge-Street Inn[]
The cities largest inn sits on a bridge that spans the Vin River which divides the city in half. Bridge-Street is owned and operated by the Inn, which, in addition to providing a place for visitors to rest, also charges a toll for crossing the bridge.
South-Dock & South-Dock Fortress[]
South-Dock is Findle's second shipyard and serves as a dry-dock for damaged ships and military vessels. The port is protected by a massive stone fortress ringed with cannons. The fortress itself is owned by the Wingar family and serves as a base for the family.
Pebble Street Chapel[]
A small Empyrean chapel located on the South side of the Merchant Quarter
Old Fort Ruins[]
Located on an island in the Findle Harbor is the Old Fort. These ruins are all that remain of the original fort built by pirates and the ancestors of the Findleite people.
Rokham Tower[]
Located across the street from the Pebble Street Chapel, Rokham is one of the most notorious prisons and burial catacombs in all of Findle. The Tower serves as a prison but it is simply the tip of the iceberg as the main body of the complex is deep underground and has served as a repository for the deceased for centuries.
Boneflint Burrough[]
A large community of goblin-kin call this neighborhood their home. Boneflint Borrough has its own elected mayor and its own representation in the city.
Divine Quarter[]
Bethel Street[]
Bethel Street is a long running street in parallel to the Voni River. This street is home to most of the priests in the city. It begins in the North of the city at the Fallview Mortuary, passes Blackwell Manor and the Cityheart Park and ends at Temple Airunis.
Fallview[]
Fallview Mortuay is a chapel and graveyard built at the base of the Voni River waterfall.
Cityheart[]
This park is a place of peace and serenity within the metropolitan walls of Findle. Often a favourite place for priests to interact with common people.
Blackwell Manor[]
Home of House Blackwell. This luxurious manor is usually empty, the family living most of the year in Wingar.
High Ledge[]
High ledge is a modest community on the outskirts of the city, and home of those who work as merchants and artisans for the Church. Most priests in the city live on High Ledge.
Temple Airunis[]
The largest temple in the city. Temple Airunis is the seat of the Empyrean Church in Findle. The temple is large, even by the metropolitan standards, with massive doors and vaulted ceilings. The builders of the temple wanted to make a place that would be comfortble for the titan gods or their giant allies. Temple services are provided 24 hours a day, every day, although priests of individual gods may not always be available.
Airunis Market[]
A large market and small river port servicing the priests and residents of the Divine Quarter. Here you can purchase goods from the merchants and artisans of the Empyrean Church. Saints relics and blessed objects are always availible to those who seek them.
Lore Quarter[]
The Lore Quarter houses most of the arcanists within the city. Built with arcane magic in mind, the streets are paved with red stone imported from Thessan, which is especially tough and resistant to damage from magic.
Darklow Street[]
This street runs underground, opening at two cavern entrances in the Lore Quarter and the North Slums. Darklow street houses and expansive underground complex and is the home to most of the Drow citizens in Findle. Darklow Street is known to be a very dangerous area and reports of missing people occur at nearly 10x the normal rate.
Sigil Street[]
Sigil Street is a cramped street stuck between the district wall and the wall of the Primcharta Arcane College. Many unscrupulous mages and the like call Sigil Street home. The street is known as one of the best places to purchase materials from other planes.
Primcharta Arcane College[]
The Primcharta Arcane College is a large compound on the eastern side of the city. This is the home of the Arcane Hegamony, the wizards guild of Findle. The college houses nearly 300 wizards and other students of the arcane.
The Alchemeria[]
One of the most powerful institutions in all of Findle, the Alchemeria is a massive factory-like college of alchemists. The complex is one of the only sources of dragonpowder in all of Findle as the alchemists and gunsmiths of the region closely guard the secret to its creation. Alchemical runoff dumps directly into the river and out into the harbor, and the Alchemeria is constantly blamed for any unusual discoveries within the city.
The Ruby Manor[]
A large black stone manor owned by the cult of Morrigan in Herat. The Ruby Manor is a source of much rumour and speculation by the inhabitants of the Lore Quarter. Despite the connection to various priests and saints, foreign clerics of the Witch Queen have seemingly cultivated an air of mystery about their activities within the manor grounds.
The streets of the Capital City
Population[]
Findle City supports a population of approximately 250,000 people and consists of 80% Humans, 10% Dwarves and 5% Elves and 5% other races.
Street Elves, Drow and Goblinoids.[]
Steward Arundel Shay forged alliances with Hobguldun an Ironwell resulting in Findle City supporting a sizable population of uncommon races. Drow living on the surface since the fourth age have been effected by long term exposure to the surface light and are now known as Street Elves, while Goblinoids living in Findle are still viewed with suspicion resulting from their common rejection of Empyrean law and veneration of the Daern.