General

Stendolin is the second largest city in the Kingdom of Dragomir. The seat of a former kingdom, before the Unification, it has recently gained a degree of independence - being allowed to elect its own leader.

Description

Stendolin is a large city situated in a large valley, and build around the end of a mountain ridge creeping into the flat land around. The arm of the mountain extends into the vast valley and is surrounded by buildings. Atop the extended arm is a large fort overlooking the settlement below. Tall walls separate the urban are from the buildings outside. Those buildings appear mostly based around agriculture. Inside the city, but structures are made primarily of stone, as if each is meant to be a defensive building. The buildings taller and slimmer with many domed roofs. In the centre of town was a large domed buildings with spires rising next to them, quite different than those in Dragomir. In the middle of the city, at a large crossing, is the large Solar Dome, an imposing temple to Pelor. Taking the road south at the crossing, brings people past the Golden Road inn, where many of the guests to the city stay. Continuing onwards people find themselves in a wide street flanked by tall buildings, between witch sheets are hung, creating a semi-closed market called Waukeen's Walk. Taking a look at the ridge around which the city is spread, would direct one towards the large fort, the seat of power of the former King of Stendolin, now a headquarters for the Boyar and Sila. On the north and south walls of the ridge, gateways can be seen, leading into a large cavern called the Undergrow, where many of the misfits of the city gather. Deeper still, run the cavernous tunnels beneath the city, which connect to exits all around town and serve as a hiding spot for the headquarters of the Independent Cities Movement.

Points of Interest

• Gatehouse Tavern: A tavern near the eastern gate of the city, primarily frequented by Sila.
• Golden Road: Largest tavern in town, located at the central crossing. It provides good accommodation and storage space for the wares of traders.
• Dragon Slayer's Tavern: Tavern in the north end of town, frequented by working class locals. Ran by Tomo, it also serves as a hiding place for I.C.M members.
• Fort: Imposing structure formerly serving as the seat of power for the King of Stendolin. It is now a military establishment where the guard forces of the town gather. It is lead by the First Boyar.
• Solar Dome: Huge temple of Pelor, named for the signature dome over it's central chamber which could retract to let the light of the sun in during the day. Was used as a headquarters for the Emisar Danil, before his demise. One of it's towers was collapsed by him in the fight.
• Waukeen's Walk: Semi-covered market street, where the merchants of the town show their wares.
• Atanasoff Store: Jewelers ran by the eponymous family, offering a wide variety of gemstones. Usually staffed by Diane.
• Atanasoff Town Mansion: Opulent house in the south of the city and home of Diane Atanasoff and Tomo. Vincent has since moved into the house, following the Emisar's death.

Society

Demographics

Stendolin is city containing a variety of races. The large mining industry has attracted an unusual number of dwarfs this far south and it's relative proximity to Otusta, means that traders from abroad are a common sight. The most notable inhabitants are the dragonborn. They are numerous enough to have formed their own enclave in the Underhill. The story goes, that they had come from Velinde and sailed west to Ikoval. They first made their landing up in the north, but were never truly accepted. Around 800 years ago, when Stendolin was founded, one of the founders, the dwarf man who build the Underhill, gave it to the dragonborn as a gesture of good will.

Notable People

History

Pre-Conquest

The settlement that would become Stendolin was founded centuries ago by three people. One of those was Vasil, a dwarven man, who would later go to found the Independent Cities Movement in order to free his city from the control of Dragomir.

Before the Unification, Stendolin was the centre of it's own small kingdom. Tall walls cut off the valley to the north, east and south, marking the edges of the kingdom. These were called the Walls of the Valley gave the town it's name. The town itself was well fortified with the large fort on top serving as the castle for the then king.

During Dragomir's conquest, Stendolin was one of the most troublesome places to conquer, the other being the Horse Plains. Eventually, the King's armies persevered and the walls cleaving the valley were destroyed, with their ruins still standing and serving as outposts for the patrolling Sila. It is likely that the power gained from his contract with Asmodeus was instrumental in Dragomir's success, but specifics of that time are closely guarded secrets.

Part of Dragomir

With that, the city's independence was lost and it join the growing kingdom. It still maintained a place of importance, being located at the crossroads between the capital, the major port of Otusta in the west and the main road leading to the southern lands. This continued the city's growth, which was also helped by the booming mining industry in the surrounding mountains.

At some point in the past, driven by his desire for revenge, one of the founders, now going under the name Vasil, would found the Independent Cities Movement in the city, hiding many of its members in the vast caverns underneath the city.

Around three years, before the party's arrival at the town, an Emisar called Danil would arrive, accompanied by his two knights and a large iron wagon. The Emisar began taking power in the city, secretly killing the high priest of Pelor and taking residence in the Solar Dome, while also assuming command over the First Boyar and the forces of the Sila. He would then begin diverting resources and stop patrols on the roads, his task being to focus on finding and eliminating the I.C.M. His own personal goal, would see him continuing his dark research in the basement of the temple, where he repeatedly tortured and experimented on one - Rune Olson. His neglect of the patrols will lead to a increased giant activity in the valley, something that would reach it's peak with the disappearance of Hidla Firebrand, which would distract the Fire Giant clan from policing the lesser giants.

Current

The largest change in the city's direction, since the Unification, would happen shortly after the party's arrival. Their anger at the neglectful patrols, which had lead to the death of a friend, had them looking for the cause. Learning about the Emisar from the First Boyar and later encountering him in Waukeen's Walk made them certain that he was the man who their ire should be directed towards. His attempt at capturing and interrogating Valeyo and the private he would later arrange with Milivoj confirmed their suspicions. They decided to infiltrate the Solar Dome and would discover the man's experiments, his captive and his reasoning for wishing to get a hold of their vampiric companion immune to the sun. Their confrontation would happen atop the tower in the Emisar's quarters. He would surprise the group and nearly bury them in stone, as he used a powerful spell, to collapse the tower on them.

After his defeat at their hands, control of the town would temporarily fall to Borrik, who would lead the preliminary investigation, until a investigator from the capital was sent. A day later, the King's own investigator, Knyazshtit Parvan Stanov arrived. Following his conversation with the party and examining the evidence, he would find them innocent of wrongdoing. During the investigative efforts, the I.C.M would begin organizing a movement for allowing the city to elect a leader, pointing at the damages caused by an appointed overseer. This would clearly reach the ears of the King, as Dr Stanov would soon proclaim that Stendolin will be allowed to elect its leader for the first time since the Unification.