Basic
What pretty much everyone knows about the place...
- Pen Dara is a city state in the northern part of the Highlands
- Pendaran people are known for having some of Enochia's most skillful mages
Advanced
What someone may know through hearsay...
Governance
Pen Dara is lead by a person referred to as the "Highness". A mage chosen by the most powerful spellcasters of the different schools of magic.
Demographics & Religion
Its demographic is primarily human, but it attracts many races that are magically inclined, especially Tieflings.
While any religion is allowed, outside the city lies a Godstone of Deius, which holds great significance to the culture.
Cultural highlights
Their society promotes magically inclined people and attempt to provide them the best chance of success.
Like other Highland societies, they practice the use of blue tattoos.
Highlanders consider their lowland brethren "soft".
Trade & Expertise
Their primary trade is Iron, which they excavate in the nearby mountains.
Expert
What you'd likely know if you lived there or studied it somehow...
Political Intricacies
The title of "Highness" in Pen Dara is not hereditary but earned through a combination of magical prowess, political acumen, and a deep understanding of the arcane arts. Every decade, the Council of Archmages, representing the major schools of magic, convenes to assess the city’s leadership.
The council wields significant influence and can initiate a vote of no confidence if the Highness is deemed unfit. The current Highness, Elya the Radiant, has maintained her position through a combination of shrewd diplomacy and divination.
Magical Infrastructure and Food Security
Pen Dara's expansion has eventually outpaced the fertility of its surrounding lands. The rocky soil and harsh climate of the Highlands make traditional agriculture challenging, so the city has turned to magic to sustain its population. This magical infrastructure includes Arcane Conservatories, where transmutation magic accelerates plant growth and enhances yield, as well as Hydrospheres, enchanted wells that summon pure water and ensure crops are irrigated even during dry spells.
The city's reliance on magic to feed its people makes it vulnerable to disruptions in its magical infrastructure, but it also provides an innovative example of how a society can adapt to its environment using arcane solutions. Despite these efforts, Pen Dara still remains partially dependent on food imports from the Lowlands, creating a delicate trade relationship where Lowlands hold an important key to feeding the Pen Daran bellies.
Tattoos of Legacy
The blue tattoos that represent the achievements of one's parents are also found amongst some people of Pen Dara. While it is not common, the most prideful highlanders, who trace their heritage back as far as their family can remember, keep this tradition alive.
These tattoos are applied by a mystical guild known as the Tatterwights and are even rumored to contain magical enhancements to those who can pay steep prices.
Outsiders often misinterpret these tattoos as mere decoration, not realizing the depth of cultural pride and magic they might represent.
Arcane Refuge and Immigration
Pen Dara’s policies favor magically inclined individuals, attracting refugees from across Enochia who seek fortune elsewhere, or might be running away.
The Arcane Refuge program offers asylum and opportunities for these mages, creating a diverse melting pot of magical traditions. However, the influx of foreign mages has led to occasional internal conflicts and rivalries. The Enchanter’s Guard, a specialized unit trained to handle rogue magic users, maintains order and serves as both peacekeepers and covert operatives.
Defending Against Sturgia
Pen Dara stands as a crucial bulwark against the raiding forces of Sturgia, the fierce empire from the isles of Skara Brae. Sturgians, infamous for their brutal pillaging and enslavement of magic users, have made many attempts to raid the Highlands, with Pen Dara being a frequent target. The city’s Wardcasters, a battalion of battle-mages trained specifically for fighting the Sturgians, play a vital role in repelling these attacks. They guard the coastline and hurl magic from a distance, making it treacherous for the Sturgian longships to approach undetected.
While the Highlands cannot match the naval power of Sturgia, their superior magic and rugged terrain give them a home-field advantage.
Economic Power and Challenges
Iron remains Pen Dara’s primary export, but it is their enchanted goods that command the highest prices in Enochia. The city’s forges produce high-quality, magically enhanced weapons and armor, sought after by warriors and adventurers alike. The Runebound Armory works in tandem with blacksmiths to imbue steel with properties like increased durability or elemental resistance.
Despite their economic strength in metallurgy, Pen Dara’s reliance on magic for food production means they must still import grain and other staples from the Lowlands. This creates a complex economic relationship; while the Lowlanders benefit from the iron and enchanted items, they use their abundant food supplies as leverage in trade negotiations. Pen Dara’s leaders must navigate this delicate balance carefully, ensuring they maintain their growing power without provoking the ire of the more resource-rich Lowland states.
Order of the Radiant Shield
The Order of the Radiant Shield, devoted to Deius, holds significant sway in Pen Dara, especially among the non-magical population. While not officially in governance, their push for laws based on justice, liberty, and equality influences both politics and defense, particularly in coordination with the Wardcasters against Sturgian raids. However, their rising power has drawn concern from secular factions wary of a theocratic shift. Despite this, their proximity to the Godstone of Deius and role in the city's protection solidify their position in Pen Dara's future.