Current situation

General layout

Stormhaven began as a modest coastal town, but over the centuries it grew steadily, absorbing surrounding villages and farmlands until it became one of the largest cities in Kildar. Today, the city is a patchwork of diverse districts and neighborhoods, each reflecting the history of the communities it once consumed. In general, the northern districts are wealthier than the southern ones, while those within the protective city walls enjoy greater prosperity and security than the outlying suburbs.

The city is built along a broad natural bay that serves as a thriving harbor, making Stormhaven a vital center for trade and travel. Three rivers converge into the bay, dividing the city into quarters and providing both fresh water and additional trade routes deep inland. This unique geography has shaped Stormhaven’s identity, fueling its growth into a bustling capital of commerce, politics, and culture.

Neighborhoods inside the wall

Sunnyspire Quarter - Sunnyspire Quarter is a bustling district of markets, music, and art, where creativity thrives day and night. Festivals and street performances keep its streets alive, with the famed Festival of Colors drawing crowds each year. Lively, diverse, and ever-changing, it is Stormhaven’s cultural soul.

Gallows End - Once infamous for its executions, Gallows End has transformed into Stormhaven’s most prestigious district, home to parliament, guild halls, and the city’s fashion elite. Cobblestone streets and boutique-lined avenues now replace the old gallows, though the name remains as a reminder of its dark past. Status here is measured not just in wealth and style, but also in the elegance of one’s companions—be they Flying Snakes or Pseudodragons. Gallows End is where Stormhaven’s elite live, trade, and flaunt their influence.

Elainium - Elainium is Stormhaven’s spiritual and intellectual center, home to towering cathedrals, sacred shrines, and the grand Chapel of Lore Library. Pilgrims, clerics, and scholars alike flock here, filling its incense-scented streets with prayers, processions, and devotion. The district trains the city’s clerics and paladins, while Eventide University provides a more scholarly path to wisdom.

Ironclad - Also called Dwarftown, the Ironclad District was founded by the Oathstone Clan and remains Stormhaven’s industrial heart. The clang of hammers and glow of forge-fires fill its stout, stone halls, carved with myths of Moradin, the dwarven All-Father. Here, master smiths craft legendary weapons, impenetrable armor, and exquisite metalworks prized across Kildar. Though more diverse today, dwarven culture still defines the district—shrines to Moradin stand near roaring furnaces, and even outsiders adopt dwarven customs in pursuit of mastery. Ironclad is not just Stormhaven’s forge, but a living monument to dwarven skill and resilience.

Varina - Once known as Highwatch Point, Varina now stands as Stormhaven’s newest upscale district, perched on the headland with sweeping ocean views. Home to the city’s rising middle class—many of them ambitious young Orcs—it blends military roots with fresh ambition. Wide streets, watchtower-styled homes, and lively taverns give the quarter a proud, close-knit spirit, while the daily presence of city guards reinforces its role in Stormhaven’s defense. Though looked down on by the old elite, Varina embodies renewal, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future.

Districts outside the wall

Riverbend - Tucked in the bend of Stormhaven’s river, Riverbend is the city’s lawless underbelly, where smugglers, crooks, and pirates of the Veiled Passage thrive. Its maze of caves and hidden tunnels feeds contraband into the city, while brothels, taverns, and black-market shops line its crooked streets. Bribes keep the Watchtower guards at bay, and an unspoken rule of silence ensures business runs smoothly. For those who can stomach its dangers, Riverbend is a place of secrets, survival, and opportunity.

The Crossroads - A maze of alleys and shanties, The Crossroads is where survival trumps law. Smugglers, mercenaries, and gangs like The Black Hand thrive here, trading in stolen goods and blood-earned coin. Neighbors stick together under a rough code of honor, while outsiders quickly learn the streets answer only to grit and desperation.

Graymoor - Born as a post-war haven for refugees, Graymoor is a plain, practical district that still carries the weight of its past. Its aging population tends quiet gardens and memorials to the war with Hadar, while the town guard spends more time helping citizens than fighting crime. Landmarks like the Weeping Willow, Graymoor Watchtower, and Sage’s Sanctuary add touches of history and healing, though tragedy still haunts the district—most notably the mysterious destruction of Feline’s Wings Orphanage, a scar that lingers in the community’s memory.

Raven’s Roost - Perched on windy cliffs, Raven’s Roost is both a charming farming village and a haven for spies and thieves, its isolation and vantage points making it strategically valuable. Stone cottages, rolling farmlands, and a close-knit spirit preserve its rural charm even as Stormhaven encroaches. Notable spots include the cluttered General Shop, the cozy Troll’s Head Inn, and Hermit’s Hill, home to a reclusive wizard tied to the village’s tradition of herbalism and natural magic. Behind its pastoral serenity, Raven’s Roost carries an undercurrent of secrecy, where quiet fields and shadowed alleys alike can conceal more than they reveal.

Population

Stormhaven’s current image could not exist without its vast, diverse, and deeply contrasting population—the largest and most varied in all of Kildar. Here you can meet representatives of nearly every race, even the rarest, just as easily as you might encounter both the poorest beggar and the wealthiest noble.

Wealth is unevenly spread: the north tends to house the rich, while the south shelters the poor. Racial distribution is largely uniform across the city, with one exception—dwarves, who maintain strongholds in the Ironclad and Ironfield districts.

Relations between different groups are layered and complex, shaped by history, economic divides, factional influence, and countless other factors. Even within the same social class, differences run deep: the poor of one district may live in conditions and cultures utterly unlike those of another.

Upper class

Upper class lives almost ecusively in Gallows End district with just a few families living in Varina district and Sunnyspire Quarter. Most of these familes have a large political influence and busnisses, which often work not only in Stormhaven, but also across the whole Kildar. Moreover, many of them have high positions in guilds. Their goals though are very diverse. Some of them want just to become even more richer, other try to do something good for the whole city, third play political games.

Middle class

Lower class

General economy

Stormhaven’s economy is defined by two key features. First, it is a city of abundance—almost any material, service, or item can be found within its walls. Only in rare cases must one look to more specialized cities, and even then, Stormhaven usually has experts who can advise where to seek what is missing. Second, the city boasts the most developed economy in Kildar, with an exceptionally high number of entrepreneurs. Banking, trade, logistics, education, and similar sectors thrive here, making Stormhaven not only self-sufficient but also a hub of opportunity and innovation.

Extraction of raw materials

Stormhaven would never have risen as the new capital without its abundance of natural resources. The city is blessed by its proximity to several rivers, which nourish the surrounding farmland and secure a steady food supply. To the south-east, the Thornwoods provide timber and other valuable forest materials. Meanwhile, rich mines in the northern reaches of the Mountains of the Unknown, as well as in the northeastern ranges, yield vast quantities of mineral resources. Together, these assets make Stormhaven largely self-sufficient and far less dependent on other cities.

Industry

Stormhaven has a highly developed industry, with smiths, tailors, alchemists, and countless others producing a vast variety of goods. Most workshops are concentrated in the Ironclad and Ironfield districts, though specialized trades can be found elsewhere. A defining trait of Stormhaven’s industry is its strong price-to-quality ratio: while its products may not match the finest craftsmanship of Arland, they are more affordable and produced in far greater quantities. This scale of production has made Stormhaven a global supplier of goods—unlike Ironhold, whose output of arms and instruments largely serves the Eldritch Inquisition and local markets. Among Stormhaven’s many trades, a few industries stand out above the rest.

Alchemical produce

Alchemy has always been important in Stormhaven, but recent events with the Grandmother made it absolutely vital. Adventurers and the Eldritch Inquisition required vast amounts of potions to heal and empower themselves against her and her servants, spurring rapid growth in local alchemical production. Much of this work is done either by adventurers in their own strongholds or by professional alchemists clustered along the edge of Sunnyspire Quarter, near Riverbend. Unfortunately for Riverbend’s residents, the waste from these workshops often contaminates the southern river, worsening the district’s already harsh conditions.

Stormhaven’s rise as an alchemical hub also stems from its geography. Positioned between Il-Heban and Arland, it receives abundant raw materials from nearby forests and Arland’s markets, while Il-Heban supplies increasingly sophisticated equipment. Although Arland benefits from these imports as well, Stormhaven’s proximity ensures it gains the advantage.

Today, Stormhaven is one of the leading centers of alchemical production, offering potions of nearly every kind and level of complexity at competitive prices. While much of this output is consumed locally, large quantities are also exported. However, cutting-edge alchemical research still remains concentrated in Arland and Brell.

Magical items

The situation with magical items mirrors Stormhaven’s alchemy industry, though it is far less legal. Just like with potions, demand for enchanted weapons and armor surged during the war against the Grandmother. But unlike alchemy, the trade in magical items only accelerated after her defeat. The Eldritch Inquisition claims to regulate this market for the safety of all—requiring items to be inspected and taxed—but in practice, this has driven most production underground. Only a handful of official enchanters operate in Stormhaven, while the vast majority of items are crafted by adventurers or former adventurers in private castles or hidden basements.

These illicit items usually follow one of three paths: kept by their creators, sold on the local black market, or passed to merchant guilds for export through S’raku, the continent’s hub of magical trade.

In this field, Stormhaven has no real rivals. Arland continues to produce the finest custom-made artifacts for elite clients, while Brell, despite its many spellcasters, lacks the resources and smiths to mass-produce enchanted goods. Stormhaven, however, excels at quantity—affordable and reliable magical items that circulate widely across Kildar.

The consequences are already reshaping society: S’raku thrives almost entirely on this trade, and Stormhaven sees more and more criminal cases tied to magical contraband. Where this will lead, no one can yet say.

Siege weapons

One of Stormhaven’s most unexpected industries is the production of siege machines. Years ago, the city decided to strengthen its defenses by equipping towers with catapults and ballistas, which sparked a thriving industry. Initially led by dwarves, gnomes, and humans, the craft has since drawn in artisans of many races. Today, most workers maintain the city’s existing defenses or build new machines for export to other cities.

In this field, Stormhaven has virtually no competitors. Anfyn’s goblins produce crude, unreliable engines—unsellable outside their own use. Arland builds ballistas, but only for its ships. Ironhold employs its own specialized designs suited to cave or mountain warfare. Even Rhyl, with its dwarven ingenuity, has chosen to purchase some of Stormhaven’s machines rather than manufacture their own. While other cities may dabble in siegecraft, Stormhaven remains the only true commercial hub for it. On occasion, even powerful factions—such as the Eldritch Inquisition—order ballistas or catapults, mostly for the defense of their own fortresses and castles.

Textile and jewelry

The people of Stormhaven take special care with their appearance—a trait seen across nearly all districts, even the poorest. Unsurprisingly, the textile and jewelry industries have flourished here. The city offers fabrics, clothing, and jewelry across the entire spectrum of cost and luxury, from modest everyday wear to extravagant pieces fit for nobility. Many nobles commission custom outfits to stand out at gatherings, and some even go so far as to order luxury garments for their pets.

The textile trade thrives on raw materials drawn from across Kildar, with Teristraz wool and Arland silk being especially prized. Large workshops and factories dominate much of the industry, but countless individual tailors and seamstresses also compete for prestige with bespoke designs.

Jewelry in Stormhaven is produced mainly in the Ironclad district. While dwarves focus more on practical crafts—such as weapons, armor, instruments, or even simple essentials like nails—other races, particularly elves and humans, have taken the lead in jewelry-making. Their designs are often more delicate, ornate, and fashionable, which has won them a strong foothold in the market. Still, the growing success and prestige of this trade have encouraged many dwarves to return to the craft, eager to reclaim a place in this lucrative niche.

Thanks to the variety and creativity of its artisans, Stormhaven often sets fashion trends that ripple outward into other cities, shaping styles across Kildar.

Services

The service sector in Stormhaven thrives more than in any other city. Not only does it generate substantial wealth on its own, but it also underpins and sustains every other part of the economy. From banking, trade, and logistics to education, entertainment, and magical consultancies, Stormhaven’s service industry is vast and diverse. This variety not only fuels the city’s prosperity but also makes it the natural hub of commerce and culture across Kildar.

Banking

Banking is one of the strongest sectors of Stormhaven’s economy. The city was the first in Kildar to develop a true banking system, and to this day visitors from across the realm come here to secure loans for businesses or mortgages for property. While banks have since spread to other cities, Stormhaven remains the preferred choice for two reasons. First, many outside branches have gained a reputation as predatory “loan sharks,” trapping people in debt, whereas Stormhaven’s branches still strive to maintain their older, more reliable and approachable image. Second, the fierce competition within the city means that local banks often offer slightly better terms than elsewhere. Yet even here, the general direction of development leans toward the same exploitative practices—the difference is only that Stormhaven banks hide it better.

Overall, Stormhaven’s banks act as an invisible engine of Kildar’s economy—though many citizens quietly resent how far the institutions have drifted from their original, more trustworthy beginnings.

Transport and logistics

With the largest trade ports in Kildar, Stormhaven stands as one of the realm’s primary trade hubs. Its transport and logistics sector is highly developed, connecting goods and people across the continent. This importance has only grown since the recent establishment of the portal network—originating in Stormhaven itself—though the system remains strictly overseen and controlled by the Eldritch Inquisition.

The city also hosts the Merchant Guild’s headquarters, which coordinates trade on a continental scale and supports new ventures. Numerous logistics companies operate from Stormhaven, specializing in organizing supply chains for both large enterprises and smaller, newly formed businesses. For individuals rather than companies, specialized travel agencies provide planning services for journeys, pilgrimages, or even leisure vacations, ensuring safe and efficient travel.

Within Stormhaven, ferries crossing the rivers and bay provide the fastest way to move between the northern and southern districts. The city’s transport sector is so influential that its reach extends far beyond its walls—many caravan companies in distant cities are financed from Stormhaven, stables in other towns are owned by Stormhaven merchants, and even regional shipping routes are often controlled from Stormhaven. In this way, Stormhaven not only moves its own people and goods, but shapes how transport and logistics function across much of Kildar.

Magical services

One of the most sectors of Stormhaven economy is banking. Stormhaven was the first city where it started to develop and many vistitors from other cities are actually coming here to take a loan for their projects and companis or a mortage for buying real estate. Since then banks have opened a lot of branches in other cities, but for several reasons people still coming here. The first reason is that many banks turned into dark side and became "loan sharks" who put people in a bad situation on purpose. This is especially true for outside branches - Stormhaven branches mostly try to keep their old, reliable and friendly face. Secondly, because of the great competition, banks usually provide slightly better conditions in Stormhaven. Overal, Stormhaven banks are an invisible engine of economy for the whole Kildar, but many people get tired of how they changed their work recently.

Education and culture

Even though access to education varies greatly between Stormhaven’s districts, the city still boasts one of the most advanced educational infrastructures in Kildar.

Basic Education

Most districts have their own schools, and nearly everyone has the opportunity to study at least the basics. In struggling neighborhoods like Riverbend, children can attend schools run by clerics in the Elanium district. These institutions offer solid instruction but often steer students toward religion and the influence of the Eldritch Inquisition, creating tensions with their home communities. Still, their presence has helped reduce violence in poorer areas. In wealthy districts such as Varina or Gallows End, families usually rely on private tutors instead.

Crafts and Apprenticeships

Stormhaven also provides strong opportunities for learning trades, especially in the Ironclad district. Aspiring smiths, woodworkers, and artisans usually study under a master and progress to apprenticeships once they reach basic literacy. While the training is long and demanding, it often involves travel to other hubs such as Ironhold or Rhyl. Textile crafts are the exception, with dressmakers and tailors concentrated in the more prestigious or trade rich districts.

Arts

The city is home to numerous art schools and colleges. Though less prestigious than those of Arland, they are more affordable and often more innovative, influenced by Stormhaven’s diverse population. This blending of cultures has given the city’s art a unique identity—arguably the one area where it surpasses Arland.

Magic

Magical education is centered on the renowned Eventide University, which teaches nearly all branches of magic (excluding necromancy). Graduates often go on to play major roles in Kildar. Compared to Brell, the university provides a safer and more reliable learning environment, and unlike Arland, its less traditional faculty embrace modern methods. Eventide also emphasizes practical applications of magic in daily life and commerce, setting it apart from the more adventure - or battle-oriented approaches found elsewhere.

Bardic Studies

The most famous institution, however, is Jahred University in Sunnyspire Quarter—ironically named after Jared-with-an-H, Kildar’s most infamously untalented bard. Despite the name, the university has become the premier center for bardic education, blending art and magic. Its results are famously inconsistent: many of Kildar’s greatest artists and musicians studied here, but so did some of its worst. No one, however, has managed to rival Jared-with-an-H’s legendary failure. The university also houses one of the largest collections of bardic tales and legends, used not only by students but also by scholars from Eventide University and beyond.

Religious Education

Finally, religious learning plays a vital role in Stormhaven. The temples of Elanium not only provide basic schooling to those who cannot afford it elsewhere but also train future priests and clerics. Their students study sacred texts, history, and psychology, and those with strong enough faith may go on to wield divine magic in service to their gods and communities.

Government

Stormhaven is ruled by a semi-democratic city council. The council has 21 seats filled with different representatives.

• 10 seats for inside the wall, with 2 seats per neighborhood.

• 6 seats for the outside the wall, with 1 seat per neighborhood.

• 5 seats reserved for the Guilds who divide them amongst themselves at the Guild Assembly.

The different Guilds not only wield power directly via their seats at the city council, but also through the backdoor deals with the neighborhood council members by leveraging their economic influence on the neighborhoods and their representatives.

Since long ago, several of the most prestigious districts—Gallows End, Elanium, and Varina - have fallen under the direct or indirect influence of the drow noble family of Ravencourt. According to ancient drow tradition, power is almost exclusively entrusted to women, while men hold little respect in political life. Because of the Ravencourts’ dominance, many other factions and districts deliberately appoint women as their council representatives, knowing it makes negotiations smoother and increases the chances of securing the Ravencourts’ support.