Allspring

1.1.        How big is it? Who lives there?
The city has a population of 34491, making it the second largest city in the Herya province.

Some notable people who live here are:

Sinlia Kwindar (Female High-Elf, 273 yo) – A Knight of Aid and the daughter Minis Kwindar, An elven nobleman.

Sinlia spends most of her time within Aldrit’s Keep living her lazy life. She eats the finest meats, drinks the fruitiest wines and strongest ales, and sleeps all day long, unless she has chamber guests who have reasons to keep her awake.

At her father’s request she was sent to become a Knight of Aid, so he could grow his power. Sinlia was without talent, so her father would donate a large amount of money towards the knight if they would make Sinlia a knight and give her a powerful position. Thus she became the Guardian of Allspring and its surrounding region. But because there weren’t any direct threats towards the city or it’s people, and her lazy nature, she spent all of her days in the castle.

She’s lazy and ignorant towards anything that happens in the city and its surrounding land.

Gundren Rockseeker (Male Mountain Dwarf, 195 yo) – A local business owner who has two brothers.

Gundren is an ambitious middle-aged dwarf who owns Rockseeker’s. A shop for miners and adventurers alike. The shop has been verry successful, due to the numerous mines in the area.

Gundren is a hard working dwarf and can always be found in the shop when he’s in town. At the end of a week, he’ll often be found in The Brig, a local Inn where he meets up with some friends to drink some ale.

Taldorei Tylbat (Male Halfling, 52yo) – A nobleman who’s grown infamous throughout the city for certain illegal activities.

Taldorei’s criminal record, if it existed, would consists out of smuggling, bribery, theft, blackmailing, murder, and quite a lot more. He’s mostly famous for the fights he hosts in the sewers underneath his mansion. Often they will be fought by people who are indebted with him. Few ever leave those pits alive.

He works hard on keeping the Tylbat Syndicate running. His wealth has grown over the years, through multiple business deals.

Bardrick Willhucks  (Male Human, 43yo) – The Mayor of Allspring who governs a lot of the city’s business.

Bardrick spends a lot of his time governing the city. A busy task. He’s a married man, but occasionally, he shares a bed with a woman who isn’t his wife. After being blackmailed by Taldorei Tylbat, his job had become harder, as he has to look in the other direction on some occasions to allow some of Taldorei’s business to go through.

He’s a tired, clumsy and kind man who’d love to see the Tylbat Syndicate gone, so he can bring some order to the city.

Crass Tinns (Male Dwarf, 134yo) – Harbourmaster of the city’s docks. Has control over everything that happens in the harbour.

Crass is a young dwarf who’s been managing the docks for the last 40 years. He’s a just an honest man that’s easily angered by the amount of illegal stuff that goes on in the city. He knows the Tylbat Syndicate has Bardrick in their pockets, as well as a lot of others. But he’s sworn to never to submit to the corruption of the city. He works hard every day to make sure there are no illegal activities going on in the harbour.

Crass is a happy but troubled man, for he often asks himself if what he is doing is worth it, considering the amount of corruption in the city.

When not working, Crass can be found at his house near the docks, or in The Brig, playing cards with some friends.

1.2.  What does it look, smell and sound like?
Allspring is bustling with life. It’s the second largest city of the province. The streets are filled with different peoples. The majority being humans, but also quite a large amount of Dwarves and halflings. Fewer in numbers, but still common are Elves and Gnomes. And occasionally, you’ll even be seeing a Dragonborn. The city itself appears to be in a good condition. The buildings all look like they’ve been maintained well throughout the years.

Depending on where you are situated throughout the city, the smells differ. In the streets, you’ll often find foul smells like the people’s waste that’s been thrown onto the street. But in the market you’ll find smells like fresh vegetables, and the aroma of numerous spices. At the docks you’ll smell fish, but also the salt of the sea.

Throughout the city, you can hear the different voices of people. Occasionally, you’ll hear some different languages such as Dwarvish. You’ll also hear the sounds of carts or carriages rolling over the cobblestones, a merchant shouting about some sales, or the blacksmith’s hammer hitting the anvil. And every hour, you’ll hear the bells from the temple.

1.3.  Who governs it? Who else holds power? Is it part of a larger state?
The city is governed by it’s mayor, Bardrick Willhucks. Bardrick takes care of numerous departments of the city, the military and health departments being some of them. He is also in charge of the gathering of the taxes, and how much of it’s taxes are used to maintain the city’s departments. But when it comes to the docks and shipments, the power lies in the hands of Crass Tinns, the harbourmaster. He is in command of when a ship of the empire is to leave, if a ship is allowed to stay docked, and much more.

Someone else who holds power is Sinlia Kwindar, a knight of aid. She is the lady of Aldrit’s keep, and has more power than the mayor of the city. It is her task to protect the city, and its surrounding lands from local threats. But being lazy in nature, and talentless, she doesn’t take her task seriously, and wastes her days away in the keep, where all she does is eating, drinking, and whoring.

Another person who holds a lot of power in the city is Taldorei Tylbat, The head of the Tylbat  Syndicate, a criminal organisation that runs numerous illegal businesses in the city. He has multiple people on his payroll within the city, and even has the mayor in his pocket, due to certain knowledge in his possession.

Allspring is part of the Herya Province in the Mercerian Colonies, which are part of the Mercerian Empire.

1.4.  What are it’s defences?
The city is surrounded by large stone walls. Adorned by numerous tall towers, and three large gates. It has hundreds of guard to defend the city in any form of attack. In the centre of the city stands Aldrit’s keep, an age old castle which should be able to withstand any attack. Housed in the castle is a Knight of Aid, who is supposed to be able to protect the city in attack, but would most likely hide within the castle.

1.5.  Where do characters go to find the goods and services they need?
There are numerous places of interest. There’s “The Brig” for a hot meal and a good night’s rest. For adventurer’s gear, there is “Rockseeker’s” A shop for miners and adventurers alike. Here they can find items such as rope, hooks, lanterns, adjusted clothing and numerous other things. There are also herbalists, where one could find medicine and certain potions. There are blacksmiths for those who need weapons and fletchers for bowmen. There are woodworkers for the ones who need anything made from wood. This can be a small bucket, a chest, to an entire carriage. There are also stables for those who would like to buy horses, although there are numerous farmer outside of the city, where one could get horses, along with mules for carrying goods, or some oxen to pull carriages.

1.6.  What temples and other organisations feature prominently?
There is a temple to the Faith of Eight where the people can go to make offerings to the gods. There is also a small temple to the Ahosha, where its followers go to pray and attend mass.

1.7.  What fantastic elements distinguish it from an ordinary city?
It is larger than nearly every city in the area. It has a large harbour, which will often house numerous ships who are able to cross the island

Aldrit’s keep

1.8.  Why should the characters care about the settlement?
Allspring is part of the Herya Province in the Mercerian Colonies, which are part of the Mercerian Empire.