Freehaven

Freehaven stands as one of the largest cities in the Stellark Accord and is its central trading hub. Wealth flows in and out of Freehaven as quickly as the Meredycean Sea swells its ports. It's known as the City of Paper due to its system of contracts. Guilds have ensnared the downtrodden in hereditary agreements that enshackle generations of families to guilds.  

Description

  Located on the coast of the Eastern Marks, Freehaven became a vital trading hub for the entirety of Velentia and beyond. To its west, the Gilden Vale feeds Freehaven's growing pains as more and more people flock to its promises of opportunities and riches. Caravans enter the city through one of its three main roads. Two roads snake in from the West, and one brings in visitors and merchants from the South. The latter is also colloquially known as the Gilded Road.   Travelling the road greets the visitor with the defensive outer walls of Freehaven, arrayed with gatehouses that also serve as tollhouse, for entry to the city isn't free. Beyond these gatehouses lie multiple districts with well-constructed houses and guildmanors.   The Cleft   On the northeastern part of the promontory lies the district known as the Cleft. Lavish houses crowd the streets and cast their shadows on the alleys. They belong to Freehaven's Elite. Families that obtained their wealth via crafts their ancestors practised and mastered. Few still pursue mastery. Instead, they employ countless workers; the steady flow of workforce guaranteed by hereditary contracts signed generations ago. Intermediaries often lead family businesses. Marble emblems depict to which family a mansion belongs. The Cleft is the smallest district in Freehaven.   More resplendent than the vast wealth displayed by the district is the Dawnpark. An emerald oasis through which one gains entry to the Cleft. The Dawnpark is the division between the Overlook and the Cleft.   The Overlook   The second district on the promontory is the Overlook. The area derived its name from the Fort crested at the edge of the promontory. From their viewpoint, they can see the traffic passing through the Meredycean sea as well as spot incoming Kaessar vessels. The vantage point also provides a clear view of the expanding grain fields of the Gilded Vale. The Overlook holds the barracks of the city guards as well as the fortified Archives. The Archives contains the worker contracts, business agreements and Writs of Rule. The Overlook serves the legal headquarters of Freehaven.   The Hammer District   The clamour of falling hammers, tolling bells, and people conversing on the streets well before you set foot in the Hammer District. It's a downhill journey, as you make your way through the cacophonous district. Concentrated workers barely give you heed as they shape metals, work wood or bellow niceties about their products to attract your attention to decked out stalls before they attempt to usher you into their guilds.   Many workers stream around you, as a river bends around stone, on their way to unfinished or ordered tasks to repeat day after day since their adolescence.   The Hammer District spills from the promontory to the ground level of Freehaven. Spread through the district are the various Guildhouses, such as Orain's Anvil, a prominent smithing guild, recently snatched up by the Tirnean Trading Company for exclusive work. Varaya's Timbers, the largest wood-working company. Due to their size, they've remained independent, but their quality has suffered because of the number of projects they take on. Smaller woodworking guilds are often indebted to Varaya's because they own patches of forest of cutting. Numerous guilds make their residence in the Hammer District, including competing Cartographer's guilds, communities of scribes and more.   The area holds the largest concentration of citizens within Freehaven and their residencies. Many visit the Freehaven Colleges, a prominent educational institute, whose three red-roofed spires prove a focal point of the city's landmarks.   The Lower Warfs   Dockworkers bark warnings at each other as heavy beams swing overhead or large hauls are emptied from Fluyts - Freehaven's imposing signature merchant vessels. The smell of fish is pervasive, and you can easily tell the source: Dhow captains are handing out boxes to a gathered crowd. Masts constantly obscure parts of the horizon, as the docks are replete with vessels; multiple Carracks rest in their berths.   Located in The Upper Warfs are the three different admiralties that oversee the city's naval defences:  

• The VanderMeers Admiralty.
• The Aldmoore Admiralty.
• The Dijkstra Admiralty.

  The three admiralties have combined their vessels into the largest naval fleet in Eortas. Despite their cooperation, the admiralties are often at odds with each other. Each seeks to further their own agenda's and tip the precipitous balance in their favour.   The VanderMeers are stockholders of the Tirnean Trading Company. It's in their best interests to see the increasing expansion of the TTC to its fruition. Military vessels often sail out to safeguard coastline trading posts. Their flag is a fish on the forefront of a ship's helm. Pirates often withdraw once they catch a glimpse of a VanderMeer vessel with their spyglass.   The Aldmoore Admiralty is the longest one in service. When the Explorer's League requires assistance with exploring strange islands, or undiscovered coasts, they usually recruit the aid of the Aldmoores. Due to their standing with the Explorer's League, the VanderMeers haven't managed to oust them, yet. Where the VanderMeers have more vessels and men, the Aldmoores have a dynasty of potent mages to support their competent crews. It's believed that Archmage Kovakh has close ties with the Aldmoore family.   The Dijkstra Admiralty maintains a defensive perimeter around The Drenched, an island containing a prison tower of dangerous and potent foes.   The Upper Warfs   The boardwalks creak due to the fall of your feet while seagulls circle overhead. Stray cats confiscate tiny fish from the rowboats of fishermen. The scent here is that of almost rotten fish. Folc here avoid glancing at one another.   The Upper Warfs or The Slops houses Freehaven's destitute. Poor workers incapable of escaping the vice-like contracts enforcing them to work for a fraction of what the merchants make. The area experiences frequent flooding so tiny shacks are regularly built on stilts for as long as they hold. The poorest rest in makeshift tents and fish with wires on simple sticks.   The Underbridge   Hooded figures close deals under the shadow cast by the Irespan. Graffiti on destitute walls mark territories of the countless gangs operating within the safety of looming Irespan. The Guard has little presence here, and they only make infrequent forays into the area when they are pressed to do so. Usually in the case of kidnapping, extorted officials or the trafficking of labourers who seek an out.   It's most infamous locale is the Delve/The Burrow. A network of tunnels and holes carved into the hill that holds the Cleft and the Overlook. It's said that gang bosses control their ventures from these tunnels. A supposed connection with the Darkerlands promises even stranger denizens stalk the tunnels of The Delve.