Capital City

Coral Bay

Geography

The Vundrold region is defined by a major river system flowing south to north, originating in the Islengrey Peaks before emptying into the Silvered Expanse. The river basin supports fertile lands, dense forests, and rich mineral deposits, making it a center of agriculture, trade, and industrial innovation. The Islengrey Peaks to the south are rugged and storm-lashed, home to mountain forges and pioneering inventors.

Climate

The region has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) in the lower basin, with hot summers and mild winters, while the Islengrey Peaks feature a cooler, temperate mountain climate. Frequent flooding during seasonal rains makes water management a key aspect of settlement life.

Population

Estimated: 1.8 million

Humans (35%), Dwarves (15%), Gnomes (10%), Goblins (10%), Orcs (8%), Leshies (5%), Kobolds (5%), Hobgoblins (4%), Ratfolk (3%), and other ancestries (5%).

Government

Council-Based Confederation

For centuries, the region’s river cities existed as independent city-states, focused on trade, agriculture, and technological progress. However, as external empires expanded, many feared annexation or forced rule. This fear intensified when mercenary bands and foreign nobles attempted to claim the region, prompting the cities to form the Vundrold Free People’s Alliance nearly thirty years ago.

Coral Bay, with its strategic location and wealth, became the de facto capital. Despite this unity, rivalries and political intrigue remain common, with city leaders balancing their individual interests against the greater good.

Recent years have seen a technological revolution, with gunpowder, airships, and mechanized industry flourishing in cities like Gustot and Deenwarg Prin. However, as the alliance grows stronger, so do external threats, with neighboring kingdoms still seeking to exploit the region’s resources and strategic position.

Key Cities

Coral Bay (Capital)

A trade, espionage, and political powerhouse, Coral Bay is the beating heart of the alliance, where fortunes are made and lost overnight.

Gustot – The City of Gunpowder

Perched in the Islengrey Peaks, Gustot is a city of invention, smoke, and explosions, where kobolds, goblins, gnomes, and dwarves work in industrial harmony. This city is the birthplace of firearms, alchemical warfare, and experimental weapons, providing the alliance with a technological edge in warfare.

Deenwarg Prin – The Isolated Mechanized Metropolis

Hidden away from the rest of the world, Deenwarg Prin is a fortress of artifice and automation, specializing in flying ships, advanced clockwork technology, and arcane machinery. Originally founded as a reclusive enclave, it reluctantly joined the alliance to avoid absorption by a greater power. Its isolationist nature makes it an uneasy ally, though its technological marvels are invaluable.

Geography

The Vundrold River Basin is a land of contrasts—lush farmland, dense wetlands, and bustling industrial cities all connected by a vast network of waterways. The river system is both the region’s lifeline and greatest threat, as frequent flooding and seasonal storms pose challenges for settlement and travel.

To the south, the Islengrey Peaks rise like jagged spires, their volcanic roots and mineral-rich veins making them prime locations for mining and metalwork. These mountains are home to the gunpowder forges of Gustot, where engineers and alchemists refine their craft.

The Silvered Expanse, just beyond Coral Bay, is a treacherous shallow ocean region where the river meets the sea. A vital hub for trade and smuggling, it is also the site of hidden dangers, from underwater ruins to shifting sandbars that claim the lives of careless sailors.

Government

The Alliance Council is the governing body of The Vundrold Free People’s Alliance, made up of representatives from each major city. While decisions are made through voting, larger cities like Coral Bay hold disproportionate influence, leading to tensions with smaller settlements.

While the Council ensures cooperation, political rivalries and power struggles are rampant. Coral Bay’s merchant elite seek to dominate trade, while the isolated technocrats of Deenwarg Prin prioritize secrecy over cooperation. Meanwhile, Gustot’s engineers push for expansion and militarization, believing the alliance needs greater firepower to defend itself.

Despite these divisions, the Council remains committed to one goal: keeping the alliance free from outside rule. The biggest threats come from both foreign empires and internal corruption, as different factions jockey for power behind closed doors.