Wildbay

Wildbay is a coastal city haunted by the memory of its own grandeur. Once a thriving port at the southernmost edge of Nunca, home to over 80,000 people, it stood as a beacon of trade, shipbuilding, and industry—supplying much of Hollow Lake's early expansion. But now, Wildbay is a shadow of its former self: a vast, echoing city where the docks creak in eerie silence and entire districts lie eerily underpopulated.   The city’s fall is not widely understood, but it followed a terrible famine in the wake of Greendale’s collapse. Whispers speak of a prince—Sevrin Sandmyer—who vanished after feeding the people with impossible bounty. The food turned. Madness took root. And the king died. When the chaos ended, Wildbay was barely alive. Hollow Lake seized control in 1980 BGW, and though the city remains a vital trade hub, it is often spoken of in hushed tones.  

Demographics

Primarily human, though half-elves, dwarves, and other races still drift through, drawn by dock work or trade. The majority of residents are poor or working class. A small merchant elite occupies the Overlook, but even they are distant, their wealth tied more to Hollow Lake than to Wildbay itself.  

Government

Wildbay is governed by a Hollow Lake-appointed official who enforces strict order. Officially, the people are loyal; unofficially, they remember what was lost. The governor rarely leaves the Overlook.  

Defences

Stone walls guard the landward side, and cliffs protect from seaborne assault. A local militia maintains order, though it functions more as an extension of Hollow Lake's will than a true city guard.  

Industry & Trade

Fishing still supports the city, and the shipyards remain partially active. However, much of the labor is hollowed. Tools rust faster here. Food spoils too soon. Traders arrive but do not linger.  

Infrastructure

Wide roads and sturdy docks hint at the city’s past importance. Warehouses and drydocks stand half-used. The city is structurally intact, but emotionally collapsed.  

Districts

Dockside: Still active, but half as busy as it once was. Nighttime here is unsettlingly quiet.   The Workshop Quarter: Blacksmiths and shipwrights continue their craft, though most are contracted directly by Hollow Lake agents.   Old Wildbay: Entire blocks sit empty. Locals claim to hear weeping in the alleys during fog.   The Overlook: Home to the remaining wealthy. Most estate windows are shuttered.  

Assets

The natural harbor is still Wildbay’s greatest strength. So too are the few remaining drydocks. Labor is cheap and unregulated, though few who come here stay long.  

Guilds and Factions

The Iron Guild: Still influential, though increasingly absorbed into Hollow Lake’s industrial complex.   The Reclaimers: Said to be remnants of the Sandmyer line. Some believe they seek to restore what was lost. Others say they simply want revenge.  

History

Founded in 830 BGW, Wildbay rose as a powerful trade city supporting the growth of the Northern Kingdom. After Greendale’s fall, Wildbay bore the burden of regional famine. In 2000 BGW, Prince Sevrin Sandmyer vanished into the ruins of Greendale and returned with impossible bounty. Within a year, the city was gripped by rot, madness, and death. King Algri died. Wildbay fell silent.   In 1980 BGW, Hollow Lake seized control. Wildbay has served as a subjugated outpost ever since.  

Points of Interest

The Docks: Still functioning, but shadowed by the silence of what was.   The Old Barracks: Converted into a command post to prevent uprising. The lower levels are sealed—and rumored to be cursed.   The Governor's Mansion: A cold monument in the Overlook. Its lights rarely shine.   The Ruined Hall: Once the palace of King Algri. Now sealed. Some say the feast still waits inside.  

Architecture

Sturdy and practical, though weathered by time and salt. Soot stains the workshops. Moss creeps into the stone.  

Geography

Perched on the cliffs at the edge of the Shrieking Sea. Rugged terrain surrounds the city. The harbor remains deep and defensible.  

Climate

Fog-choked summers. Wind-scoured winters. The breeze always carries a trace of something sour.  

Natural Resources

Fish. Timber. Stone. Labor. All plentiful. All strangely... diminished.