Vallonde (city)

"'Vallonde is truly a city which wears its history. One can learn Aldorea's history by walking down a single street in this bustling city. Despite the flourishing rennaisance amongst the various merchants and artisans of the city, the ancient Brimstone Palace looms over the city as a permanent reminder of its long, scarred history. But I digress. I dined at the Golden Finch during my stay here. They served a delightful roast duck. 4/5 platinum coins.' - Lady Astrid's Travel Guide for Respectable Women of Means." The ancient epicentre of civilisation in Aldorea, Vallonde is the bustling metropolis at the heart of the realm and its most vital settlement. Since The Fall, it has evolved into a merchant city in which many seek to make their fortune, but few succeed. Nonetheless, the city is currently enjoying a cultural and economic renaissance.

Vallonde is a city of canals and water-lifts segregated into 6 levels. Perhaps due to the rigid physical structure of the city, the society is deeply segregated into a heirarchy which directly correlates to one's level.

As one would imagine in such a dense and frenetic city, lawfulness is strict, unless you know which palms to grease and which level you call home.

The Dock Level
The lowest level of Vallonde and the first thing which greets travellers.

The Warehouse Level
The second level of Vallonde and a base of operations for many legitimate and illegitimate businesses.

The Market Level
The third level of Vallonde is home to the mercantile businesses and stores.

The Guilds Level
The fourth level of Vallonde contains the various Guildhalls as well as the Barracks for the city guard.

The Courts Level
The fifth level is the location of the bureaucratic buildings and the Courthouses, which is also home to the High Council.

The Palatial Level
The highest level of Vallonde contains the Brimstone Palace and the Tower of Conjuration.

The Catacombs
The notoriously maze-like network of ancient tunnels which interconnect throughout all six levels of the city.

Major Organisations

 * The City Guard. The law enforcement of the entire province of Vallonde.
 * The High Council. The oldest council in Aldorea oversees the governance and success of Vallonde.
 * The Merchants' Guild. Main guild of the city, although it has representatives throughout Alodrea.
 * The Rust Ravens. A gang of thieves and smugglers.
 * The Bloodletters. A vigilante group of assassins.

Key Individuals

 * Guard Captain Lucien Chiaro. Guard Captain of the City Guard and thus the de facto leader of Vallonde. A tall and handsome human man known to be dutiful above all else.
 * Master Zuanno. A tall and haughty aristocratic elven man and the master of the High Council.
 * Megilia Fillio. Guildmaster of the Merchants' Guild. A relatively tall and colourful halfling woman. She is convivial but shrewd.