1. Locations

Aquileia

City Valoria
Valoria in Eressea
Aquileia header image

Summary

  • Aquileia is the second largest city in the Valorian Empire and serves as the capital of the Aquileian Prefecture. Famous for its timber exports and glass blowing. Has a small but highly concentrated elven population.
  • Nickname(s): The City of Glass
  • Population: ~200,000
  • Demographics: 75% human, 10% elven, 8% half-elven, 3% halfling, 4% various

City Districts

  • The Furnace - Where much of the industry, and especially the glassblowing, is located.
  • Littleheart (or Ilverin as it is known by the elves) - Around 90% elven, this district offers a rare view into elven culture. 
  • Riverwatch - More commerce and lower class residential
  • Hightown - middle class residential
  • Vittorio - high class, gated district full of the upper class. Those who don’t look like they belong are stopped by the Guard and questioned. The residents will usually provide official invitations bearing the family seal showing the validity of the bearer’s presence to the guards.

Notable Places

  • Temple of Bahamut - Hightown
  • Cathedral of St. Flora - Riverwatch
  • Glassblowers Guildhall - The Worshipful Company of Glassblowers. Motto: Lucem Tuam Da Nobis Deo (O God, Give Us Your Light). Located in the Furnance
  • Prefect’s Palace - In Vittorio. 
  • Magistrate’s Villa - Located in Vittorio
  • Hall of Justice - Hightown
  • “The Ship” - Ancient wooden ship that the city elders claim belonged to the founder of the city a thousand years ago. It has been maintained quite well over the centuries, but almost every rich person in town has a piece of it in some form. Some people call it a tourist trap because so much of the wood has been replaced it can hardly be called the original ship anymore. Located in Riverwatch.
  • The Seven Stars - Fancy wine bar, in Vittorio
  • Glassblower’s Arms - Middle class tavern, in Hightown
  • Quiet Lady - commoner’s tavern. Named after a woman of the city whose tongue was cut out by smugglers so she couldn't talk to the authorities. a lot of the underworld business takes place. There is a hidden portion of the tavern, open only to the members of the Fists. Trapdoors, etc. Located in The Furnace.
  • Felix’s Famous Silks - Located in Hightown
  • The Brass Sphinx - Magic Store located in Vittorio
  • St. Flora’s Well - Said to have been blessed by St. Flora herself. 
  • Ridwan Bazaar - Located between Riverwatch and The Furnace
  • The Green Griffin - A modest inn located in Riverwatch
  • The Lion & Lantern - Comfortable inn, located in Hightown
  • Valabar’s Boarding House & Spa - wealthy inn, located in Hightown
  • Mélemar - Elvish hostel, in Littleheart

Notable People

  • Gaius Casca - Prefect of the Aquileian Prefecture. Reports directly to the Emperor. Governs the Prefecture and not involved in city politics except under dire circumstances. 
  • Drusus - the Magistrate of Aquileia. In charge of running the city. 
  • Arian - Captain of the Watch
  • Corasses - Grandmaster of the Glassblower’s Guild, and one of the wealthiest people in the Empire. Known for violently maintaining the secrecy of his methods, and for his opulent parties. The most famous party he hosts is the The Glass Ball
  • Emru Fistslash - leader of The Fists, a criminal syndicate based in Aquileia.
  • Niccolo - Fence. He works with the Fists, but doesn’t report to Emru. 
  • Felix - Owner of Felix’s Famous Silks
  • Alif - Priest of the Platinum Dragon
  • Fozergan - head of the street urchins in The Fists
  • Tolly (Tollian) - Ky’s friend
  • Nadrah - Human female street urchin. She often spoke to Ky about getting away from the Fists.
  • Carlo - Friendly food cart owner who gave Ky food on occasion.
  • Lord Vireo Figulus Athenacius - The nobleman who “adopted” Ky. Baron of Varna. Ky would have referred to him as Lord Varna 
  • Olinda Athenacius - Wife of Lord Varna, Ky would have referred to her as Lady Varna
  • Calidris Athenacius - Son of Lord Varna
  • Drusilla Athenacius - Daughter of Lord Varna

Notable Organizations

  • Glassblower’s Guild - In order to practice the craft of glassblowing in the city of 
  • Woodsman’s Guild
  • Shipbuilder’s Guild
  • The Oakheart Circle - Guardians of the forest and of nature. People in the city don’t know much about them, and the Guardians are often very off putting. 
  • The Fists - Crime syndicate
  • The City Watch - Consists of around 1,300 guards.  

History

  • According to legend, Aquileia was originally an eleven village, thousands of years ago. After the Dark Times, a man named Caradoc discovered the village had been abandoned and took up residence there with his family. It is said that there was a foul beast, some sort of Riftspawn, in the village and Caradoc killed it with nothing but a wood axe. 
  • Battle of Aquileia - During the Amarakian invasion of Valoria, the garrison was soundly defeated outside of the walls, and then the Sword of Bahamut convinced the city to open its gates and surrender. 
  • Siege of Aquileia - While Valoria was attempting to retake the peninsula, there was a siege of the city. The Amarakians refused to surrender the city unless the safe passage for the inhabitants and garrison could be guaranteed. An unconditional surrender was demanded, and thus the siege began. Lasted for nearly two years.
  • Every winter there is a feast of St. Ambrien. It is a joyous festival reminiscent of a Yuletide celebration. The story goes that the city was full of pagans who dark ways had led them into human sacrifice and practices that left many orphaned and alone. But Ambrian came in and explained the beauty of family and introduced the heart of the holy family to the people. One of the ways he did this was by performing a miracle of abundance and providing a feast for all the hungry and alone. So each winter the feast of st. Ambrien is celebrated in joy. The orphans and urchins are fed by the local houses of worship and then they have a citywide contest were the fastest boy in each parish is chosen and then there is a race from a blessed well at an inn just inside the gate nearest the city palace through the city streets and to The Ship. The first of the children to reach the ship and climb the mast is crowned with a glass crown and a purse of treasures donated by the members of the Merchants guild. It is said that no winner has ever gone hungry again and in fact, many of the noble families have adopted winners into their families and the winners have found rare social mobility in victory. Sadly, last year the whole feast was canceled when one of the roughest children was chosen in a district claimed by the Fist. This child was close to victory, but another was head and shoulders above him on the mast and clearly about to win. And there in the heat of the moment the rough child knifed the soon to-be winner. All were horrified and the race and all remaining joys were ended and all that finished the day were solemn gatherings in the houses of worship throughout the city.