Stargrave, The Gathering Storm, Sloane

In the Northeast of the upper continental mass of Sloane sits a conundrum of a city: Stargrave. Nestled between the Barrier Mountain Range to the west and the Unending Seas to the east in the transitional forests of the Gathering Storm, a city of opposing but interconnected sides quietly exerts influence on the rest of the world. To the majority of the world, Stargrave is a city built upon hospitality and sanctioned frivolity. Resting upon natural hotspots that some say came from a star falling from the sky eons ago, the city boasts hot springs, pools, and breathtakingly clean air, all without the need for burning coal or timber. Even more curiously, the majority of the population is comprised of both Aasimar and Tiefling in equal amounts, with other niches filled in by Hill Dwarves and Halflings. All of these curious details only scratch the surface of what makes Stargrave a refined and compelling place to visit and reside.

This northern city has two sides that seem opposing, but in actuality, balance each other quite well. On the top are the resorts, casinos, tourist traps, excursions, and retreats. If you have the gold, everything is at your fingertips. Its attractions are inclusive as well; there is no need for those visiting to be wealthy, a donation of time or money to the Coin Maiden can secure anyone within city limits a seat at the proverbial table. This part of the city is primarily run by the Tiefling and Halfling population. Underneath the hospitality and frivolity is the Trade. A vast underground city, carved from the very bedrock the city sits upon by master craftsmen, that houses all manner of neredowells and skullduggery. Seen as neutral ground for those who do business in less-than-legal circumstances, the Trade arbitrates and facilitates all manner of deals and conflicts. There are exceptions to this neutrality: trafficking, abuse, and forced servitude are strictly forbidden and punished in the extreme. The Trade is primarily run by the Aasimar and Dwarven population. 

Several ages ago, Stargrave made a terrible error in judgment with their previous form of government. They sided with the Drosian empire in their fight for supremacy over Sloane. Seeing the unfathomable destruction and strife caused by this decision, the citizens revolted and overturned their government, installing a council of citizens that would only have limited power individually. They created the High and Low Tables, in which these citizens would be elected by the city to serve short but meaningful terms. Secretly, those in what would eventually become the Trade institutionalized the black markets and other forms of illegal activity as a way to help keep the city in a powerful position throughout Sloane while also serving the interests of the city itself. Members of the High and Low Tables are a mixture of the upstanding citizens of Stargrave and the well-regarded denizens of the Trade. Through the centuries this structure has put a stop to quite a few potential cataclysms and disasters.

Above ground, one can expect to see cobblestone streets, stone and timber buildings, lavish chateaus, and sprawling markets. Giant Elk pull massive carriages and sleighs up hill, while mechanized gondolas move throughout the undulating streets. The streets are heated during the winter months due to the geothermal activity underground. This energy is also used to light the sidewalks, heat and light the residences and lodges, and generally keep the city usable year-round for those who work in and visit it. Its hot springs and naturally heated pools are scattered throughout the city with all manner of buildings and structures carefully constructed around them. The underground realm of the Trade has a decidedly different but still decadent feel to it. While structurally sound, the lines of rooms are flowing, with asymmetrical lines and the usage of organic motifs like plants and insects of the surrounding area. The innovative use of modern materials like iron, colored glasses, and ceramics makes the underground streets and chambers both beautiful and intimidating, depending on the lighting.

Stargrave is the home to one of the last remaining temples dedicated to the Daughters of Creation, and specifically to the Daughter of the Light. Public knowledge is scarce, and unless one is in the know of its existence, the Daughters of Creation still remain a fairy tale for parents to tell their children before bed. The major and foremost deity that is worshipped within the city limits of Stargrave is the Coin Maiden. The priority of profit, growth, and trade is key amongst the citizens of the city and both sides of the city. Included within each resort package, excursion, casino trip, or just about anything else that is offered within the city includes a tithe to the Coin Maiden as a symbolic gesture of thanks to the Goddess. A beautiful statue sits at the center of town, where visitors and residents alike can toss in a coin as a donation. All tithes to the Coin Maiden are split amongst the residents as a sort of profit-sharing to keep the city functioning.

In the winter months, lights begin to streak across the sky in a beautiful and awe-inspiring fashion. This marks the beginning of the Festrum Astralus. One of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for both the Resorts and the Trade. While the Resorts perpetuate stories of a star falling and the lights in the sky calling the Aasimar and Tiefling to the site that is now Stargrave, the Trade is able to make good on its main export: information. The winter months and solstices are the time during the year when all the information that has been gathered throughout it is verified and vetted. Members of the multitude of cells sent out into the rest of Sloane come back for a reckoning of everything that has been gathered. It is also a time during the year when contracts and deals are renewed, updated, or dissolved. 

Notable people and places

• Dorza – F Tiefling
  • Proprietor of the Calm Cascade Mountain Resort
  • Oldest of six siblings that run the resort, all of which have names that start with the letter “D”
• Conser Reedbloom – M Stout Halfling
  • Head Chef at Elevated Eats
  • Known for his hearty and spicy cuisine and his suggestive names of dishes
• Osri – F Aasimar
  • High Table Chair of Commerce
  • Leader of the Snowhoods, who specialize in money laundering and gambling
• Nomnit Chainforge – M Hill Dwarf
  • Low Table Chair of the Arts
  • Head of the Stone Mason’s Union, third born of one of the longest lines of Hill Dwarf families in the cities history
• Crystal Caverns
  • A tourist trap built around the myth of the falling star. Constructed by masons and illusionists to have massive crystals “housing” the preserved ancestors and founders of the city itself. Spoken about in whispers but can be found easily by those who wish to find it.
• The Maiden’s Purse
  • The flagship casino within the city limits that has since spread throughout the realm of Sloane in places where gambling is allowed. Most notably in the city of Invenas within it’s Vice Ward.