Forna Vasar

The population of Forna Vasar is diverse but not for its appeal as an immigration destination. About 40% of the population is currently enslaved by the predominantly Elven population. Of the free population 70% are Snow or Shadow elves, with the remaining 30% being Aelfar and Drakania of elven heritage. Free peoples of other ancestries make up less then 2% of the population. Of the enslaved population 40% are Dwarves, 20% are Human, 15% are Goblins, with the remaining an even mix of other elves, kobolds, halflings, and gnomes.

Forna Vasar sits on the verge of constant anarchy as competing factions for the last century have attempted to install various forms of governance with little success. Cavatina continues to rule as the provisional matriarch of the City while they continue to rebuild and expand. Other families vie for a variety of possible governments, but for now this precarious balance is kept with Cavatina pushing the city forward to her dream of re establishing the Speaker of Winter and a legitimate Snow Elven Kingdom.

The city boasts a strong guard presence, which can double as a standing military force. This large and armed military body exists to keep the city safe from exterior threats as well as ensure a slave uprising has little chance of success. Beyond the normal watch units of hunters exist at the cities call to dispatch hoards of the dead that roam the hinterlands, tho within the province of Vasar they have become far less frequent thanks to the hunters.

Hrivenor is a desolate place damaged by the cataclysm of the sundering so many centuries ago. At first there was little to offer from the wasteland but persistence has provided a healthy industry of ore and stone from the nearby mountains. The city turns out many elven and dwarven goods, but has had little commerce and trade until recently. Timber is still rare given the desolation to the forest but the city has begun to establish several shipwrights and hopes to produce swift Snow Elf Corsair ships.

The City is perched upon the mouth of a river and the sea side coast to its east. The city has grown in the last century from a hamlet with dirt roads to a bustling metropolis with paved streets. Its docks have slowly grown and now are the cities primary focus with the end to the maelstrom and calmer seas ahead.

• Frostweave Market serves as the commercial heart of Forna Vasar, where merchants, artisans, and craftspeople sell their wares. Frostweave Market is known for its rare magical items, enchanted gear, and art crafted by the finest Snow Elf and Dwarven artisans. The district is a labyrinth of market streets, open squares, and vendor stalls. Amid the merchants, street performers and entertainers provide a vibrant atmosphere. Guildhouses for traders and artisans dominate the district, serving as both meeting places and hubs for controlling trade agreements and production.

• Shadowveil Citadel houses the sprawling palace and castle complex of house Nytraven, a testament to her Cavatina's long rule. High walls of shadow-hued stone and enchanted frost protect the Citadel from outside threats. Inside, the structures are a blend of elegant elven architecture and military fortification. In addition to the royal residence, it includes the barracks for the city guard and elite retainers, training grounds, and private temples. Only the most trusted individuals are granted access to this district, where political and military power converge.

• Northwind Quay is positioned on the northern bank of the Menelrune River. A vital hub for production, focused on receiving lumber from the north and building new ships. The icy waters are lined with shipyards and warehouses of materials waiting to be made into ships. Snow Elf workers and foreign sailors alike crowd its docks, while carpenters and shipwrights work year-round repairing vessels. In the winters, ice-breakers clear the waters to allow continued trade. This district pulses with ringing of hammers and saws, making it one of the busiest places in Forna Vasar.

• Southreach Harbor is situated on the southern bank of the river and oriented toward export and international trade. Ships carrying fine elven goods, rare artifacts, and precious materials embark from here to far-off lands. The southern bank’s proximity to major trade routes ensures a constant flow of commerce. The harbor is well-protected by both naval defenses and powerful wards, safeguarding the city’s wealth. While merchants thrive here, the district also houses sailors, navigators, and dockworkers, giving it a more cosmopolitan and transient atmosphere than its northern counterpart.

• Frostfield Borough is the agricultural heart of Forna Vasar, a lightly populated district where hardy crops and enchanted winter flora are cultivated to sustain the city's population. Though the cold climate of the Snow Elf lands limits what can grow, this district’s fields are tended by druids, farmers, and elementalists who coax life from the once blighted soil. Domed greenhouses and enchanted orchards dot the landscape, preserving crops year-round. It is a peaceful district, home to a smaller, rural community that supplies the city with food and medicinal herbs. The surrounding land is also used for the grazing of cold-resistant livestock, making it essential for both sustenance and trade.

• Stonechain Quarter is the largest industrial district of Forna Vasar and home to the largest population of dwarves in the city. These dwarves are all enslaved in some capacity to the lords of the city and predominatly hail from the Iron Mountains. The district is dominated by forges, stonecutting workshops, and metallurgy plants, where both elven and dwarven artisans create tools, weapons, and intricate stonework. The streets echo with the clanging of hammers, and the air is thick with the scent of molten metal and coal. Despite its rough atmosphere, the dwarves of Stonechain take great pride in their craft, and their work is crucial to the city’s economy.

• Snowmire Ward is the largest residential area of Forna Vasar, where many Snow Elves make their homes. The district is divided into sections, with wealthier families residing in luxurious villas nearer to the city center, while more modest homes stretch toward the outer edges. Streets are lined with enchanted frost lanterns that emit a soft, serene glow during the long winter nights. Public squares serve as communal spaces for festivals and gatherings, making Snowmire Ward a place of quiet elegance and everyday life.

The City has 6 powerful houses, Nytraven, Vaerilith, Elanir, Mylnaris, Thaloren, and Ithandor that vie for power and control. While these families also vie for control over various guilds within the city, the Slavers Guild, Fish Mongers, Shipwrights, and the Foundry and Forges Guild are all prominent economic forces within the city.

Forna Vasar is barely a century old and was built within the ruins of its name sake. Unlike its ancestor, the city now finds itself as a seaside port city, with much of its surrounding lands now beneath the waves. The early days of the settlement and rebuilding were wrought with suffering from famine, disease, and attacks from the dead. The city however endured, under Cavatinas leadership they attracted others who fled the destruction of the Shadow Elf dominion over the Iron Mountains. Keeping mostly to themselves the city continued to grow and prosper, including high rates of reproduction among its elven populace.

• The Frostspire Beacon is perched on the southern tip of Forna Vasar in the Southreach Harbor. A towering lighthouse made from enchanted ice and crystal, glowing softly with an ethereal blue light. It serves as both a navigational guide for ships approaching the city’s southern docks and a symbol of the Snow Elves' ancient mastery of ice magic. The lighthouse’s magic-infused light pierces through even the thickest winter fogs and blizzards, ensuring safe passage for traders and travelers. At its summit, powerful elven mages maintain the eternal flame that fuels the beacon, using it also as a vantage point to watch over the surrounding seas for any signs of danger. The Frostspire is a blend of both utility and mystical beauty, a reminder of the city’s connection to the fae realms.

• The Argent Cascades flow through the heart of the Frostweave Market. A series of tiered waterfalls where the river plunges down from the elevated western region into the city’s lower basin before reaching the sea. These silvery waterfalls are a marvel of natural beauty, their water shimmering in hues of blue and white due to ancient enchantments. Stone bridges span the cascades, allowing citizens and travelers to traverse the falls while taking in the breathtaking view. The water flowing through the cascades is said to be imbued with healing properties, attracting visitors from distant lands. During the winter freeze they form dramatic icy steps that shimmer in the moonlight.

• A vast temple and memorial, the Silent Hall is a somber and sacred space where the dead are honored and interred within Sahdowveil Citadel. Its design is inspired by ancient Snow Elf architecture, with towering columns carved from glacial stone and walls inscribed with the names of fallen ancestors. A memorial to the destruction of Hrivenor and a place of quiet reflection, it is lit only by cold, blue flames and filled with the constant sound of distant, haunting chimes. Snow Elf clerics and mourners come here to pay respects to their ancestors and seek guidance from the spirits of those who once ruled and protected their lands.

Forna Vasar is in the northern section of Hrivenor and suffers bitter cold winters, much to the elves of winters delight. The enitre region is also barely above sea level so is frequently at the mercy of oceanic storms, however Forna Vasar is protected on the insular crescent of Hrivenor from the worst of storms.