Istavar

Zuraists

This city was built mainly by the Zuraist cabal, so they are in control of the whole place. Nothing happens in the area without them knowing and generally the Zuraists use Istavar as a bargaining chip when other cities are behaving in distasteful ways, a bargaining chip which is mostly used to scare others into doing what they want.

Casa y Dragón Embassy

This is an embassy of sorts that the kingdom from Daruvonia keeps in Istavar; they oversee any businesses that the city does with the kingdom itself. This is however kept in strict secrecy as other kingdoms catching wind of Istavar’s favoritism and even Casa y Dragón getting aid from outside might bring trouble to both of them.

Istavar history is quite short, as this is mostly a city born out of the necessity around the fortress that was built first. The fortress was built in the reconstruction period, in the 25th century AD by the Zuraists cabal, which already controlled Berusia at the time. The Istavar fortress was the first line of defense against any attacks coming from the sea towards Karstein, Berusia’s capital.   The fortress itself is made of several layers of walls, with the Turijek castle in the middle, towers were built all across the coast and in some small islands that are scattered near the city itself. A full flotilla is on the ready at all times and trade ships cross the shores to the other side without a single worry, ready to trade with kingdoms of Daruvionia with which Berusia tries to stay on good terms with.   After the fortress was built, a city was made around it so it could fulfill anything they would need, making it quite mundane for explorers and adventurers that were to visit it. There is only one inn and the inhabitants are mostly farmers, bakers, butchers and smiths.   Recently the city has been on very good terms with a particular kingdom in Daruvonia named Casa y Dragón, one which, like all other kingdoms in that region, has been in constant wars for its control. They are supplied with weapons and armors made in Istavar, some horses and even soldiers from the fortress that are dressed as soldiers from that kingdom to avoid suspicion of Istavar’s direct involvement in conflicts in that zone.   The lord of the city is major general Cornel Bucur, one of the most cunning strategists in Berusia, as he has participated in several battles across centuries, his age only improving his martial skills. Helping him actually manage the city is Crina Dalca, a graceful woman, that clearly has not been trained for battle to any extent.

Taverns, inns and bars

• The obedient mouse: The only inn in the city, they serve food and not much else, if people want alcohol or other particular things they will have to look for them in specialized establishments. Ran by a dhampir named Dragus Dragave.

The Docks

The port in the city is mostly used for the upkeep and stationing of the army’s fleet, however a small section is reserved for trade ships. The trade ships kept are not made for long travel on the seas, as that could lend itself for guerrilla attacks to the city, instead the trade ships are big enough to carry goods from one side of the gulf to the other or to bring them to Karstein. If for some reason trade ships would require to defend themselves, they will be escorted by a military ship from Istavar.

The Castle Tvrijek

This castle is actually a bastion fort, one of the biggest castles in the region and only surpassed by Sanguinius, but thanks to the latter's secrecy the former is known as the jewel of Berusia. Tvrijek has three levels in the form of a star mounted on top of each other, in the last one resides the actual castle. The place itself is impenetrable and designed with the most advanced techniques available in current time.

The Main Hall

This is a huge building that resides in the city part of Istavar, where the mayor Crina Dalca fulfills her job of running the city. When someone needs something generally they are seen waiting outside of the hall to ask for a meeting with her.

The Sentinel Towers

This is the chain of towers that are built all around the city, in land and sea. They are used as the first line of surveillance for the city, but they are able to hold their own against a smaller attack. The towers themselves are mostly unremarkable, their designs are quite varied as new techniques were developed while the older ones were still under construction.