Vyardor's Seat - Part 1: Terrain, Purpose, and History

    This is part of a series of posts that details parts of my homebrew campaign setting. Initially inspired by Forgotten Realm's Baldur's Gate, Vyardor's Seat is a city full of rival gangs and merchants that struggle for control of the city's economic power, all while evading the wrath of it's ruler; an old and powerful Great Wyrm.

Vyardor's Seat

Part 1: Terrain, Purpose and History

Artist: Tyler Edlin

Terrain

    Vyardor's Seat is a sprawling city located across a river. The river itself contains several islets, through which the city has grown to occupy, all the way to the other side of the river. The main part of the city, where the original town was located, lies close to a large forest surrounded by mountains. On the other side of the river are several hills.

Purpose

    The main purpose of the city of Vyardor's Seat, originally, has been that of defense; Primarily by protection of the Ancient Green Wyrm, Vyardorrogroeniix (Vyardor for short), also known as The Viridescent King, after whom the city is named. The people of Vyardor's Seat pay a yearly tribute, and in return, Vyardor ensures the city's protection.

    Vyardor has been so successful, in fact, that many have flocked to this city for safety. This, combined with aggressive yearly tributes and a strategic location, has been the catalyst of a booming economy, making Vyardor's Seat one of the most reliable cities for trading.

    Because the city has had to expand over time, several walls have been made for protection in the past. However, due to the current spread out state of the city, the strategy for defense has been to invest in local mercenary companies as well as militia. These function both as local enforcement and as armed forces used to protect the city from hostile attacks. 

    Because of the city's constant and strong leadership (Very few settlements have survived while also having the same ruler over centuries of time), it has been a staple of stability. And even though crime and corruption is rampant in it's streets, the city's overall direction has always been constant, giving Vyardor's Seat the title of The City of Vision.

History

    Several centuries ago, before Vyardor's Seat was a commercial juggernaut defended by a green dragon, it was just a small port town for travelers going across the river. Then one day, this small town was raided by sahuagin, leaving the already fledgling town defenseless.

    Desperate, the surviving villagers decided on finding a fast way to protect themselves. There were rumors of a Bronze Dragon that lived in the woods nearby, and so the villagers set out to plead the dragon for help.

    The Bronze Dragon that these villagers were seeking was actually Vyardorrogroeniix, a young Green Dragon with a birth defect that caused his scales to look bronze yellow instead of green; it wasn't until several years later that his green scales would appear, giving him the title of Viridescent.

Vyardor agreed to protect the town, with the following conditions:

1. Every year, the villagers must pay him tribute in gold and treasure; he will establish the amount at the beginning of the year, and the tribute must arrive by the end of the year.
2. He must be made leader, and given full charge for the defense of the town. The villagers cannot turn to anyone else for protection.
3. A building must be made just for him to perch on and survey the area, and it must be the tallest building in the settlement at all times. 

    The villagers agreed to his terms, and the small port town eventually grew into a sprawling river city. It would eventually be known by the biggest structure that towers all others, the place where a large green dragon would sit on for everyone to witness it's might. Over time, this tower, and eventually the city, would be known as Vyardor's Seat.

    Though the settlement has seen it's fair share of attacks, Vyardor has always managed to defend it with few resulting civilian casualties, either by mercenaries in his employ or his own efforts. Vyardor has even appropriated or conquered neighboring towns or rival cities, turning his own city into the heart of a kingdom, and as such has fully established his grip of power in the region.

    Over the centuries, Vyardor has raised three sons, each from a different mate. He's delegated responsibilities of the two other biggest cities under his command to his oldest two sons, and he's given Vyardor's Seat to his youngest to watch after while Vyardor, now a powerful dragon in his late stages of life, spends his remaining days in his lair, which is located somewhere in the forest near Vyardor's Seat.

What's next?

    Next time, I'll be expanding more on Vyardor's Seat, including it's technology and it's people.