City of Viantha: Difference between revisions
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|languages=[[Elven]], [[Balok]] | |languages=[[Elven]], [[Balok]] | ||
|religions=[[Church of Ezra]], [[Cult of the Spirits]] | |religions=[[Church of Ezra]], [[Cult of the Spirits]] | ||
|government=Confederate | |government=Confederate Tribalism | ||
|ascendant_title=None | |ascendant_title=None | ||
|descendant_title=First Sword (captain of the guard) | |descendant_title=First Sword (captain of the guard) | ||
Revision as of 14:57, 28 November 2025
| Municipality of Vian'tha | |
|---|---|
| File:Viantha-arms.png | |
| Culture Level | Medieval |
| Climate & Terrain | Temperate plains |
| Year Formed | 90 BC |
| Population | |
| Races (%) | Dark Elves 46%, High Elves 10%, Humans 9%, Dwarves 7%, Wood Elves 5%, Halflings 4%, Gnomes 4%, Half-Orcs 3%, Others 4% |
| Languages Spoken | Elven, Balok |
| Religions | Church of Ezra, Cult of the Spirits |
| Government | Confederate Tribalism |
| Ruler | High Elder Rudha Vian'tha |
| Ruler Title | High Elder of Vian'tha |
| Title Inheritance | Female-Preference House Senority, lead by house Vian'tha |
| Title Ascendant (Above) | None |
| Title Descendant (Below) | First Sword (captain of the guard) |
 |
This section contains canon Ravenloft information from officially published sources; see the References below. |
The City-State of the Vian'tha, often simply called "Vian'tha City" was among the smaller of the elven settlements, prior to the cataclysm that shattered Vernian, but with the cataclysm, it is now the largest. Before the cataclysm, it was held by the el-thyrna elves (wood elves), but the city's people itself were driven out by a magical sludge that was left in the cataclysm. Formerly named Yr'thannon, it was purged of that harmful magical fallout by its now matron ruler, Rudha, and settled by the small group that was her family and friends. Over the years, many other disparate elven families that heard of the now-safe haven would come to clamour around it, and given her continued protection of the place, when it was formalized into a city state, it became known simply as the City-State of the Vian'tha - which was her original clan. It has prospered as a hub of trade, and is the breadbasket of the country-at-large.[1][1.1]
Background
The city has itself been mostly restored, and carries with it a grandeur consider though it is frequently scarred once again by the magical storms that plague all of Vernian. Like Ellsemere, it too possesses wards, but it is in a particularly-violent part of the country, and sometimes even those wards are not enough. Because being in shelter is enough to protect the people if not the appearance of the buildings, the city's streets have become sheltered corridors, and natural light is considered a (sometimes dangerous) luxury.[1.2]
The people of Vian'tha City are a generally affable sort - something rare for the domains of Dread and made all the more remarkable for the conditions under which they live. A common sentiment is that life is hard enough as it is, and it is well for people to treat them each other kindly. However, they are suspicious of best of outsiders they do not see regularly, and hold almost violent responses to unsanctioned uses of magic. Indeed, trade of magic items and artifacts is highly-regulated in Vian'tha City - only those with a permit from the ruling clan may do so, and such permits are granted on a per item basis (or batch of items such as a salvage run's loot, in cases where the clan trusts the salvager). The illegal sale of magical items, if it can be said was done knowingly, is a capital offence in the city-state.[1.3]
Reflecting the matriarchal nature of the clan that first settled the city-state, law is enforced by an almost entirely (but, it should be said, not exclusively) female force calling themselves the 'Swords of the Sisters'. They combine both police and military functions, but rarely leave the city-state and its surrounds. Each member from the highest to the lowest has the ability to arbitrate law, though elves born in the city-state have the deeply-protected right to insist on what is called locally the Cabal - essentially holding court, but rather than the court being directed by a single ruler or judge, it is directed by the heads of the Vian'tha clan, and a head from each of the other recognized clans, collectively. Only local-born elves have this privilege. While local born humans or dwarves do not experience the racism that often pervades the rest of Vernian, they do not enjoy the protections of citizenship either.[1.4]
In truth, the appeal of Vian'tha City is simple - it is a place of relative peace and order in a dangerous country. Violence is not very common and those whom bring disputes from outside the walls within are sent on their way promptly, if they don't lose their life over it. Life for the Sisters is less one of dealing with crime (though it does still happen from time to time) but rather one of dealing with trade disputes and the like. Indeed, in a land of scarcity, disputes over whom owns what or over trade are strikingly common, and when violent crime does occur, it is often blood over such disagreements. Culture at large in the city considers them unseemly adding to the hardship of the people - but that doesn't stop the covetous or desperate.[1.5]
