crazy_monkey1956
First Post
The City of Azgund, capital of the Nation of Azgund
The capital city of Azgund is perhaps the most metropolitan of all the human cities, for it is the most open to other cultures and races. Situated on a high hill, the House of Lords and the House of Commons overlook a sprawl of urban activity several miles across. Spreading out across plains to the south, the city has had no reason to contain itself and, as the population has increased, so has the diameter of the city, spilling out over walls built every fifty years or so in vain attempts at either defense or simply to preserve some semblance of planning. The House of Lords is a grand edifice, supported by ivory-white pillars rising to a slightly peaked roof carved with stylized depictions of famous lords and ladies in battle. The House of Commons emits a more practical appearance, as befits the building where most of the governing of the land is actually accomplished.
The inner circle surrounding the hill is dominated by the Lords' Manor, a magnificent mansion where visiting Lords and Ladies reside while the House of Lords is in session. Private residences of wealthy Lords and merchants can also be found here, as well as the walled and guarded embassies of foreign lands. The most prominent of these is the Tureni embassy, thanks to the continued alliance between Turen and Azgund after the Shadow War. Also housed within these walls is the Thayvian embassy, its gothic tower jutting up beyond the walls, casting strange shadows on the city below.
Surrounding the central wealthy district is a residential area for the moderately wealthy, including the majority of the city's merchants, as well as adventurers who have settled down to retirement or civil service. A large swath of green cuts through this area, a miniature forest that houses the elven embassy, though no buildings in the traditional human sense can be found here. The wall surrounding this disctrict was partially dismantled a few hundred years ago to provide building materials for the House of Lords, so remnants of it can still be found by wandering the city streets.
The city sprawl meanders in a mostly southerly direction from this point, with the central road providing access to the markets, the common residences, warehouses, shops, and other points of interest scattered about in a seemingly chaotic array. Areas of particular note include the Adventurers' Guild compound, a fenced area housing a barracks, a guild member exclusive tavern, and various shops catering to the needs of guild members. Adjacent to the compound but not within it is the central office of the Explorer's League, a large, somewhat imposing structure where League members convene to plan expeditions and peruse the League's collection of maps and travelogues. The candle district, despite its unassuming name, is the city's seedy side where all manner of illicit activities can be found. It derives its name from the ladies of the night that conduct business here. The main thoroughfare through the area is lined with small apartments with a single window. If a candle is lit in the window, it means the occupant is open for business. If no candle is present, the occupant is with a client or not entertaining that evening. Some of the more randy adventurers will often brag about "putting out the candles" when they arrive in the city after a long adventure. Adorning the main thoroughfares of the city, interspersed at regular intervals, are "duel circles", twenty foot diameter circles set out by white stone pavers in the road. When a conflict or argument cannot be resolved or mediated, the parties involved may legally "fight it out" in a duel circle, officiated by any available city guard. The winner of the fight is considered the winner of the dispute. These duels often gather crowds quickly, especially when trained fighters are involved, or, better still, when the parties involved are wealthy enough to hire "proxies" to fight in their stead, the famed Azgundi Duelists.
The most recent wall of the city, erected hastily just prior to a series of attacks by orcish hordes at the onset of the Shadow War, stands at the outer edge of the city. Constructed of timbers harvested from forests to the south, the wall is sturdy and functional, but thoroughly unattractive. The House of Lords recently approved a project to upgrade the wall, replacing the timbers with stone scavenged from interior city walls, and quarried from Vedlund, a province just to the north of the city, simultaneously helping to bolster Vedlund's flagging economy as it took the brunt of the orcish attacks during the war. Construction on the wall stopped a little more than three months ago when one of Vedlund's primary quarries was ruined under mysterious circumstances.
This day finds the fields to the southwest of the city bustling with activity. Tents are being set up, a large market square assembled, decorations erected, archery targets set up, dueling circles painted, and other preparations for the 1152 Tournaments, which will start in just a few days.
Returning from their latest outing, Valen, Aohdan, Johen and Aleera note the progress that has been made. When they left a couple of weeks ago, the field had been nearly completely vacant. Valen finds Aleera's hand in his as they approach the city, something that has been occuring with increasing frequency the past several weeks. Highflyer lights on Johen's shoulder after circling the field. There is a line already forming at the admission tent for folks signing up for events.
Lucius finds himself in that line, standing behind a rather foul smelling mercenary who is spouting profanities and making obscene gestures at those ahead of him in the line in an attempt to get them to move faster.
Also setting up near the tournament grounds is the Grobnobble Traveling Show, a circus and entertainment troupe led by the gnome bard who lends his name to the show, Grobnobble. Rungner, whom Grobnobble boasts as the largest strongman in any traveling show, is helping setup the tents when Anareesa, the show's highwire walker, approaches, "Hey, Rung! Are you planning on competing?"
The city is a hive of activity as well as nearly all of the land's Lords and Ladies are in attendance, either to defend their lordships are to act as spectators. The population of the city has nearly doubled with adventurers, commoners, and even foreigners flocking to the tournament to win prizes or attain the highest honor in the land, a lordship.
Lady Nineveh d'Anovia and her small entourage have just arrived in the city and settled in to their quarters in the Lords' Manor. Rennaldo and the other members of Nineveh's elite guard stand before their Lady.
"As you know, I intend to make a significant announcement at the tournaments that will create a stir and ruffle a few feathers." She smiles at this prospect, the quirky grin that has enchanted many men firmly in place. "Because of this, I suspect that there will be at least one attempt on my life so be alert. I know at least one of you also intends to compete during your off time so I wish you luck, but remember that your first loyalty is to me. I will need you, now more than ever. Those of you planning on competing, please remain a moment. The rest of you may go."
Dominic, a young man that Rennaldo trained with, stays behind as most of the guards file out.
Elsewhere in the city, Muzdum has finally tracked down his brother, Ironhands, at the Adventurer's Guild compound tavern, sharing a drink with Iphithis, the half-elf who sent Muzdum and his friends on the quest to Silvergard to begin with.
There is also a smaller bustle of activity just northeast of the city. Construction is almost complete on the Arcane Academy, a sprawling campus of buildings situated on a hill nearly as high as the hill that holds the House of Lords in the city proper.
Entan, headmaster of the Academy, has gathered a group of prospective instructors, including his former apprentice, Alaric, and Shayuri, a young Emiran woman, as well as about a half-dozen other wizards and sorcerers. The school's unofficial mascot, a wyrmling copper dragon named Shraezek, is contently snoozing next to the gigantic fireplace in the common room, where the small group is gathered. Shraezek scratches at a flaking scale that falls onto the rug, settling amongst several others like it, a symptom of the Dragon Plague afflicting the tiny dragon and, according to Master Entan, all of dragon kind. Entan addresses the group.
"Thank you all for coming. I will keep this brief. I intend to open the school's doors this coming autumn, well after the tournaments, so if you are planning to compete, you needn't worry about schedule conflicts. Those of you who are my former apprentices know that I have little patience for such foolishness. Nonetheless, the House of Lords provided the funding for this school, so we need to cater to their whims for the moment. I will need a firm commitment as to whether you intend to instruct at the school within a week so I can start working on the curriculum in greater detail. Are there any questions?"
OOC: In your first posts, please repost your full, up to date character sheet. These versions will be the ones used to populate the Rogue's Gallery thread. Everyone has one week to post their initial "check-in" post. I will be posting either once a week, or after every player has gotten a post in, whichever comes first and I will be checking the thread every day.
Rogue's Gallery
The capital city of Azgund is perhaps the most metropolitan of all the human cities, for it is the most open to other cultures and races. Situated on a high hill, the House of Lords and the House of Commons overlook a sprawl of urban activity several miles across. Spreading out across plains to the south, the city has had no reason to contain itself and, as the population has increased, so has the diameter of the city, spilling out over walls built every fifty years or so in vain attempts at either defense or simply to preserve some semblance of planning. The House of Lords is a grand edifice, supported by ivory-white pillars rising to a slightly peaked roof carved with stylized depictions of famous lords and ladies in battle. The House of Commons emits a more practical appearance, as befits the building where most of the governing of the land is actually accomplished.
The inner circle surrounding the hill is dominated by the Lords' Manor, a magnificent mansion where visiting Lords and Ladies reside while the House of Lords is in session. Private residences of wealthy Lords and merchants can also be found here, as well as the walled and guarded embassies of foreign lands. The most prominent of these is the Tureni embassy, thanks to the continued alliance between Turen and Azgund after the Shadow War. Also housed within these walls is the Thayvian embassy, its gothic tower jutting up beyond the walls, casting strange shadows on the city below.
Surrounding the central wealthy district is a residential area for the moderately wealthy, including the majority of the city's merchants, as well as adventurers who have settled down to retirement or civil service. A large swath of green cuts through this area, a miniature forest that houses the elven embassy, though no buildings in the traditional human sense can be found here. The wall surrounding this disctrict was partially dismantled a few hundred years ago to provide building materials for the House of Lords, so remnants of it can still be found by wandering the city streets.
The city sprawl meanders in a mostly southerly direction from this point, with the central road providing access to the markets, the common residences, warehouses, shops, and other points of interest scattered about in a seemingly chaotic array. Areas of particular note include the Adventurers' Guild compound, a fenced area housing a barracks, a guild member exclusive tavern, and various shops catering to the needs of guild members. Adjacent to the compound but not within it is the central office of the Explorer's League, a large, somewhat imposing structure where League members convene to plan expeditions and peruse the League's collection of maps and travelogues. The candle district, despite its unassuming name, is the city's seedy side where all manner of illicit activities can be found. It derives its name from the ladies of the night that conduct business here. The main thoroughfare through the area is lined with small apartments with a single window. If a candle is lit in the window, it means the occupant is open for business. If no candle is present, the occupant is with a client or not entertaining that evening. Some of the more randy adventurers will often brag about "putting out the candles" when they arrive in the city after a long adventure. Adorning the main thoroughfares of the city, interspersed at regular intervals, are "duel circles", twenty foot diameter circles set out by white stone pavers in the road. When a conflict or argument cannot be resolved or mediated, the parties involved may legally "fight it out" in a duel circle, officiated by any available city guard. The winner of the fight is considered the winner of the dispute. These duels often gather crowds quickly, especially when trained fighters are involved, or, better still, when the parties involved are wealthy enough to hire "proxies" to fight in their stead, the famed Azgundi Duelists.
The most recent wall of the city, erected hastily just prior to a series of attacks by orcish hordes at the onset of the Shadow War, stands at the outer edge of the city. Constructed of timbers harvested from forests to the south, the wall is sturdy and functional, but thoroughly unattractive. The House of Lords recently approved a project to upgrade the wall, replacing the timbers with stone scavenged from interior city walls, and quarried from Vedlund, a province just to the north of the city, simultaneously helping to bolster Vedlund's flagging economy as it took the brunt of the orcish attacks during the war. Construction on the wall stopped a little more than three months ago when one of Vedlund's primary quarries was ruined under mysterious circumstances.
This day finds the fields to the southwest of the city bustling with activity. Tents are being set up, a large market square assembled, decorations erected, archery targets set up, dueling circles painted, and other preparations for the 1152 Tournaments, which will start in just a few days.
Returning from their latest outing, Valen, Aohdan, Johen and Aleera note the progress that has been made. When they left a couple of weeks ago, the field had been nearly completely vacant. Valen finds Aleera's hand in his as they approach the city, something that has been occuring with increasing frequency the past several weeks. Highflyer lights on Johen's shoulder after circling the field. There is a line already forming at the admission tent for folks signing up for events.
Lucius finds himself in that line, standing behind a rather foul smelling mercenary who is spouting profanities and making obscene gestures at those ahead of him in the line in an attempt to get them to move faster.
Also setting up near the tournament grounds is the Grobnobble Traveling Show, a circus and entertainment troupe led by the gnome bard who lends his name to the show, Grobnobble. Rungner, whom Grobnobble boasts as the largest strongman in any traveling show, is helping setup the tents when Anareesa, the show's highwire walker, approaches, "Hey, Rung! Are you planning on competing?"
The city is a hive of activity as well as nearly all of the land's Lords and Ladies are in attendance, either to defend their lordships are to act as spectators. The population of the city has nearly doubled with adventurers, commoners, and even foreigners flocking to the tournament to win prizes or attain the highest honor in the land, a lordship.
Lady Nineveh d'Anovia and her small entourage have just arrived in the city and settled in to their quarters in the Lords' Manor. Rennaldo and the other members of Nineveh's elite guard stand before their Lady.
"As you know, I intend to make a significant announcement at the tournaments that will create a stir and ruffle a few feathers." She smiles at this prospect, the quirky grin that has enchanted many men firmly in place. "Because of this, I suspect that there will be at least one attempt on my life so be alert. I know at least one of you also intends to compete during your off time so I wish you luck, but remember that your first loyalty is to me. I will need you, now more than ever. Those of you planning on competing, please remain a moment. The rest of you may go."
Dominic, a young man that Rennaldo trained with, stays behind as most of the guards file out.
Elsewhere in the city, Muzdum has finally tracked down his brother, Ironhands, at the Adventurer's Guild compound tavern, sharing a drink with Iphithis, the half-elf who sent Muzdum and his friends on the quest to Silvergard to begin with.
There is also a smaller bustle of activity just northeast of the city. Construction is almost complete on the Arcane Academy, a sprawling campus of buildings situated on a hill nearly as high as the hill that holds the House of Lords in the city proper.
Entan, headmaster of the Academy, has gathered a group of prospective instructors, including his former apprentice, Alaric, and Shayuri, a young Emiran woman, as well as about a half-dozen other wizards and sorcerers. The school's unofficial mascot, a wyrmling copper dragon named Shraezek, is contently snoozing next to the gigantic fireplace in the common room, where the small group is gathered. Shraezek scratches at a flaking scale that falls onto the rug, settling amongst several others like it, a symptom of the Dragon Plague afflicting the tiny dragon and, according to Master Entan, all of dragon kind. Entan addresses the group.
"Thank you all for coming. I will keep this brief. I intend to open the school's doors this coming autumn, well after the tournaments, so if you are planning to compete, you needn't worry about schedule conflicts. Those of you who are my former apprentices know that I have little patience for such foolishness. Nonetheless, the House of Lords provided the funding for this school, so we need to cater to their whims for the moment. I will need a firm commitment as to whether you intend to instruct at the school within a week so I can start working on the curriculum in greater detail. Are there any questions?"
OOC: In your first posts, please repost your full, up to date character sheet. These versions will be the ones used to populate the Rogue's Gallery thread. Everyone has one week to post their initial "check-in" post. I will be posting either once a week, or after every player has gotten a post in, whichever comes first and I will be checking the thread every day.
Rogue's Gallery
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