Going back to Stormhaven,
Where my heart has engraven,
My roots I planted in its pyres
The warmth of the smiles I desire
To see once again
I cannot abstain
Crossing the chasm
Steps matching my enthusiasm
Ah, only once more that city to see
Would be my last plea.
- Yuka Mendwort
Stormhaven is a town of considerable size compared to other settlements in this region, that sustains itself mostly by fishing, mining, and trade. Built across a great chasm with the Crystal River emptying the local glacier waters into the ocean, Stormhaven is protected from the vicious blizzards of the area by large covers that can be unfolded when the weather worsens.
Several stone bridges cross the chasm, with the frozen corpses of criminals rotting away in iron cages secured on their undersides. To Dangle from the Bridge is a local saying used to install fear in the local citizens.
In the years following the Calamity, Stormhaven remained a defensible position from the powerful blizzards in the region, offering much needed shelter for life to go on in the unhospitable lands. As the more vulnerable villages and towns eventually succumbed to the weather, Stormhaven opened its doors to outsiders and refugees, forming a warm and open-minded culture where one's worth is judged by one's contribution to society.
Political Landscape
The city is divided into three major factions, each overseeing important aspects of day to day life in Stormhaven. Formally headed by a Ghaan who is chosen from a circle of politicians, the government mostly resembles a republic, though the ruler is rarely replaced by political maneuvers.
The Ascended
Unchanging, spiritual and protective in nature, the Ascended unifies the various beliefs in the region and uphold the ancient traditions of the land. Vary of outside influences and dangers, the Ascended often call for withdrawal from the world, so that the people of Stormhaven may live enlightened lives around the bonfires and temples of the city. The faction is headed by Holga the Crone, who is said to be the oldest living being in the region.
The Blades
Brave, law-abiding and honorable, the Blades serve as guards, scouts, and rarely, as militia to keep the people of Stormhaven safe from danger. Favoring a proactive approach to the world around them, the Blades are trusted with the task of forming expeditions and patrols, and make sure that no threat may rise to jeopardize the safety of the civilized lands. The faction is headed by Kira Kegbreaker, an enigmatic dwarven veteran warrior who is known for her no-nonsense approach to political intrigue.
The Crowns
Shrewd, organized and opportunistic, the Crowns consists mostly of skilled and unskilled craftsmen, merchants and specialists who have organized themselves to have a voice in political affairs in the city. Upon closer inspection, the Crowns unifies a complex constellation of guilds, with the more successful entrepreneurs having a stronger voice in political manners than regular shopkeepers and traders. The Crowns wish to fund settlers to venture into the wilds and claim vital resources important to the economy of Stormhaven and the survival of its people. They support expeditions and diplomatic connections to nearby settlements, in preparation for the colonization they believe is to come. The faction is headed by Ezrael Limberhausen, a gnome known for his excellent skills with alchemy and trade.
Other Influential Organizations
Besides the three major factions, Stormhaven was also influenced by the halfling nomads who resided at the outskirts of the city, offering their services in return for safety.
The druid circles of the nearby lands also held some influence in the city, though they rarely interfered in city affairs. The Firebringers, with their kind outlook on life and civilization, were welcomed within the city borders, while the Icewalkers were seen with suspicion and mistrust.
Finally, the Farwalkers, a wandering people in the region, occasionally visited Stormhaven in order to trade.
Economy of Stormhaven
As one of the few larger towns of the region, Stormhaven offers a variety of services too specialized for smaller settlements to organize. Most of all, Stormhaven was known for its lucrative fishing industry and its prosperous mining operations. The docks of Stormhaven was the busiest place in the entire region, even without the traffic of days yonder. Stormhaven remained the only settlement that occasionally saw visitors from far-away lands, and of those visitors, the most frequent were the Tabaxi traders of Baxxikhan, several of whom had settled permanently in the city.
Stormhaven relied on surrounding towns and villages for goods such as wheat and produce, which came from the enchanted city of Briskwater, and lumber, which came mostly from Whitestag, a town in the Whispering Woods.
Religion in Stormhaven
Spiritual services in Stormhaven could be found in the city quarter surrounding the Hall of Records, an impressive temple dedicated to the Lord of Frost, Faughrynn. Despite its open-minded nature, Stormhaven expected its citizens and visitors to respect the tenets of the Lord of Frost and the Lady of Fire, and to participate in the celebrations held in their name.
Stormhaven had maintained good relations with the wandering halfling tribes of the region, offering them the possibility of settling permanently within the city, and accepting their deviant religious beliefs in return for the impressive healing services that the wee folk were known for.
Military in Stormhaven
Stormhaven had little use for a standing army, facing mostly the dangers of nature. There had been incidents in the past where petty armies of goblinoids had emerged from the Barren Hills to the East, or wandering war bands of Frost Giants, but few folk remembered any such incidents today. Yet the military served as guardsmen, law-enforcers and bodyguards as well as armed forces, and thus the tradition lived on, mostly in the Blades faction.
Points of Interest
The Stone Market
Built into the cliffside, trade in Stormhaven takes place in this quarter. Fish, mushrooms, moss, meats of various sorts and goat cheese are commonplace food items traded here.
- Serani's Shop. Filled with curiosities and trinkets, the shop of Serani could be found on the outskirts of the market area, usually with Serani sitting in front of her shop warming her paws by the bonfires. Ever so often, peculiar magical items found their way to the small shop.
- The Waterside. Frequented mostly by tradesmen, crafters and scouts, this large general store was run by Jacelyn, a chatty half-elven female that were known to be quite the gossip.
- Whiterock Emporium. A small shop, this jewel crafter business was run by a tiny aggressive and abrasive female gnome called Hinky. She had taken over the business from her deceased mother who were much nicer to her customers, and Hinky had no interest in continuing the unfavorable business deals that her mother entered during her last "soft days".
- Other shops. Tanners, leatherworkers, food stalls, blacksmithing services and many other minor operations could also be found in the market, though some of them were dependent on the season.
The Trihall
Named after the architecture of the structure, the Trihall is an impressive building that houses most of the government functions of the city.
Hall of Records
A place of study and knowledge, the Hall of Records provides services to teach citizens the basics of reading and writing, and of the culture of their ancestors. It is also a temple dedicated to the Lord of Frost.
The Blade Trade
A gathering place for wanderers, mercenaries and rangers, the Blade Trade is a popular destination for those looking for a bit of adventure in the nearby lands. The establishment were headed by Kira Kegbreaker, and it was known as the place to go if one wanted to see exotic visitors and interesting folks from far away. Sherro Dekhaan, a drow refugee from Shivass, could be found here, after convincing a travelling band of Blade operatives that his knowledge could help Stormhaven prevail.
Woadwyn's Bridge
This beautiful quarter of the city hosts the most popular taverns and inns, including the Frostmaiden’s Barrel. Constructed by dwarven smiths, the bridge had a simple majestic atmosphere about it, and a view unlike any other place in the city.
Frosthold
These simple structures were constructed with detainment in mind, functioning both as a prison and as a house of justice.