Pra'Shad

[History]

Pra'Shad is one of the few multicultural towns in Espen. While most of the major cities have smaller neighborhoods and enclaves that add a bit of diversity, Pra'Shad is made up of a variety of citizens that make up the population. It is also the largest concentration of hobgoblins in the world. Originally conceived as a neutral site for diplomats by the humans, control of Pra'Shad has shifted from the humans to dwarves during the Tangolin Blitz, with the Elves during the Drow Elf Crisis, and to the Gnomes during Post-Twilight Accords. Currently, leadership is split between the Goblin Governor Arcnik Overspinner, who was left in charge per the town's charter.   Per the charter of the town, the Angary Agreement allows any of the four major cultures to impose two weeks of control over the town for negotiation purposes of contracts, declarations of war, and/or peace agreements. The town's relative position at the center of an isthmus means that Pra'Shad literally connects the southern portion of the continent to the northern. Its role as a connector was not lost on its founders who saw the diplomatic potential of a truly neutral region.   The town has 85 ft tall, 7-foot thick limestone walls encapsulating the entire city and adjoining fields and farms. Its fields provide the town with a majority of its produce as Pra'Shad's location has left it cut off from many trade routes, with caravans option for the significantly quicker seafaring routes.

[Culture]

A sleepy little town that is quite content keeping their quaint quiet lives. While most individuals in Espen can't pick out Pra'Shad on the map, it's a regular hotspot for diplomats as their Town Hall plays host to a number of negotiations. This has earned the town and its establishments somewhat of a cult following in diplomatic circles.   Due to the fluctuating nature of traffic in and out of the town, the stock at most of the shops is sparse at best.  

[Locations]

The Opus Library was built as a monument to the first Guilded Summit, as one of the first times, interspecies negotiations didn't end (entirely) in bloodshed. A series of works were shared at the library and as a tradition, any delegates seeking to hold a summit here for any type of negotiations are expected to bring "the gift of knowledge" to the negotiations. This makes the Opus one of the most literarily diverse forums of thought in Espen. Operated by one of the humans top diplomats and scholars, Nebir Karsk Once an imperial palace, and now acting as designated lodging for diplomats, the Governor's Mansion is the most heavily guarded area in Pra'Shad. The governor of the bares responsible for upkeep, service of all diplomats, and town security.   The Town Hall or Loire Hall (named after the first governor of the town) serves as the neutral site for negotiations between species. There are three chambers inside.

• The Muir which is used for commercial negotiations, includes perfectly balanced scales, jewelers' tools, and various acids used to test gold and silver for authenticity.
  • Inside the Muir is the Diplomat's Forum
• The Nerina is used for political negotiations and includes a number of language books that allow for quick interpretation as well tomes that provide historical context.
• The Tahoe Archive is for all other negotiations and also acts as an archive of any negotiations that have taken place in the town. This allows for quick reference of other agreed-upon and active deals.

BOSC Jail is operated by the Blackguard Orc Security Company (BOSC), an independent entity that uses Pra'Shad's relative obscurity to hide and transfer prisoners between locations. The warden, Lortog the Spiteful, isn't much of a conversationalist but has done an exceptional job transforming an otherwise useless location into a profitable business for his company.   The Gemini Flats are the primary housing for residents of the town. They are owned and operated by two brothers, who frankly spend more time fighting and undercutting each other than managing their flats. The business was originally their father's but upon his passing left 50% to each son. Their prices are fair and the accommodations are surprisingly reasonable for the size of the town. The flats, much like the brothers, are nearly indistinguishable from each other, yet if either is asked, they will swear both they and their properties couldn't be more different. Inglen's Pointy Things is the local blacksmith, though most of her job now consists of smelting commemorables to commemorate negotiations she is more than capable of making basic weapons and with the appropriate materials can make weapons on par with her Dwarven kin in Nin and Viggrom. Inglen Draughtburn, a stout but downright jolly Dwarf always fancied herself a creative and couldn't have been happier be able to express herself outside of their family's other business (the local pub).   Taziris Draughtburn is the proud owner of the Draughtburn Ale Hall, as staples of this town, the Draughtburns have owned or operated this pub since the town's inception. Due to the town's location, few trade routes run through the city, as such Taziris spends a fair amount of time tending a plot of land in the North fields with her wife tending to their crops. All of the beer and food is locally sourced through a series of rotating crops giving her food a unique multicultural flair.   The Pra'Shad branch of the Bank of Espen is operated by Moldtooth. She is a somewhat surly goblin with a prickly disposition. This is of course due to her appointment at the Bank of Espen's smallest, most remote, and lowest yield banks. The bank itself doesn't see much business but during diplomat's season, the increase in traffic provides a nice respite from the lulls of smalltown life.   Merros Fangshadow, owner of Rarer Materials previously an employee of the Bank of Espen, Merros now owns his own shop. Having been released by the Bank of Espen following an incident that occurred some time ago, Merros found himself stuck in Pra'Shad without sufficient means to return to Nattan Mal. Luckily he always has a mind for keen negotiations and with only 2 gold, a hammer and a waterskin managed to make a series of successful trades that earned him enough money to buy his own storefront. A store that, despite the name really only deals in fairly commonplace things.   The Isthmus Inn, advertised as the perfect place to get away from it all makes good on its promise with quiet rooms and daily tours of the quaint town. Niklas Eadile a fast-talking energetic Gnome knows every square inch of this town and could literally tell you a story about every brick in the town square but somehow regularly manages to lock himself out of his own inn quite frequently. Attributing his forgetful nature to a brain to caught up in the beauty of this wonderful town to remember the little things.   Though changelings face a great deal of stigma in Espen, Roz Dubbar leans into their culture's mysterious nature. Pra'Shad being the sleepy town that it is makes it an ideal place for people to explore their more interesting proclivities and curiosities. Making this the perfect place for Roz's business The Veil. When asked by diplomats what they do that merits a would-be commoner and a changeling no less to diplomatic galas, she often replies that they are simply...in sales.   Students of both the Burning Spirit Hospital in Nin and Vil'Kries House in Alttanes, the Myricks (Dot and Tessa) have carved out a niche role in Pra'Shad as concierge medics to the diplomats who frequent the area. As frequently their supposedly civil negotiations end in violence the Myricks are paid well to keep what would be embarrassing breakdowns in diplomatic protocol secret... Sourcing their own salves, ointments, and balms from local plants they dutifully serve the people of Pra'Shad and its visitors.   As a diplomatic center, each major religion is recognized within the city with none taking president. This allows for diplomats to worship however they see fit in accordance with their customs. These houses of worship include:

• The Vulcanite Basilica and the Altar of the Enkindlers
• The Zealots Shrine and the Altar of the Endless Sky
• The Ashen Temple and the Altar of Bountiful Harvest
• The Irradeascent Cathedral and the Oasis Altar

The Caspian Armory and Barracks are maintained by the town's guards, the Hobgoblin Protection Agence (HPA) a small group of affiliated clans that have been under the employ of Pra'Shad's governor for decades. They are divided into two watches and wear armor signifying their roles. The day watch wears white cloaks and are signified by the radiant crest a celestial rune with light imitating from it on their armor. The night watch wears black cloaks and is signified by the Crest of Tydes, a black hole between two stars. Usually only activated during diplomatic proceedings, constructs can be activated to stand sentry or accompany the guards on patrol.