Dragonstar Character Development
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 3:15 pm
Going off of Infragris's overviews of Brina Cross and Thresvy, I've tried to give Dragonstar a similar treatment. This replaces the previous unorganized thread, though there is still information in it that hasn't made its way into the new outline.
Background
Dragonstar is a fortified settlement that strides the Reach’s contested border. The town is built below the mesas of the Druadach Highlands, at a crossroads between the provinces of Hammerfell, High Rock, and Skyrim. Lingering conflicts from the War of Bend’r-Mahk have divided the town into two occupied enclaves. Wary guards patrol the streets in large numbers, making life hard for the townspeople but doing little to stamp out resistance. Despite the unrest, many merchants and other travelers come to the town through Ghast’s Pass, though few stay in the city long before moving on.
Dragonstar’s history dates back to when ancient bands of nomadic Nedes would cross through the area’s canyons to trade with neighboring cultures. Eventually, they drove the Reachmen tribes from the site and built a settlement of their own. It has changed hands many times between conquerors from surrounding provinces, interested in controlling and taxing its trade routes. When the people of Yokuda fled to and conquered Hammerfell, Dragonstar was as far north as their Warrior Wave reached. Though the traditionalist and isolationist Crowns historically hold sway over this frontier, they have been forced to tolerate the large number of foreigners living on their land, though they’ve grown more xenophobic since losing the last war.
Two rulers currently claim the city. Jarl Jona the Ansei-Ender rules Dragonstar East, having won control of it in war thirty odd years ago. For her, the war never truly ended, and she feels cheated that the empire intervened, dividing Dragonstar in two and halting the Nord conquest. The most ruthless of the Reach’s warlords, Jona has sworn to destroy the Soga Dur-Gada, a fanatical band of Redguard insurgents blamed for poisoning three of her most trusted huscarls years ago, including her Tent-Husband.
Dragonstar West is ruled by Prince Darojad, heir to the Tomba (clan territory) of Karthwasten. Only an infant when the war ended, he was smuggled from his father’s palace to safety. Thirty years later many of his people want him to retake the clan’s lost lands, but he's hesitant to take what is really an impossible task. He has a lot of power by right, but is mostly trying to keep the peace and deescalate conflicts. A lot of Dur-Gada related groups see him as a weak puppet ruler and are constantly plotting acts of terror to provoke Jona. An Imperial peacekeeping force is tasked with preventing this conflict from getting out of hand, but its effectiveness is waning.
Exteriors & Interiors
Dragonstar consists of roughly 45 buildings and the narrow streets and alleys connecting them. A wood palisade divides the city into two sections. In the east an outdoor marketplace and the famous Dragon fountain square are the most notable landmarks, along with Prince Darojad’s opulent palace. A traditional Yoku temple and the Convent of Zeht are other locations. To the west, Jarl Jona’s fortified stronghold overlooks her side of the city, which includes an arena pit and the abandoned Fighters Guild guildhall. Both sides of the city have their own inns, along with a few shops. Various peasant hovels are scattered around the outskirts.
In the surrounding wilderness, the ruins of Vars Tharnil stand on a mesa to the west, overlooking the pass to Hammerfell. Smugglers use other nearby passages, such as the Calar Druad canyon, to bypass the city’s guards, though they must mind the garrisons posted at the Taurus Hall legion fort, and the Redguard border post Tro-Tuktura. A band of poor Reachmen peddlers are camped outside the eastern gate.
People
Dragonstar’s population is a mix of many different races, notably Bretons, Reachmen, Redguards, and Nords in that order.
>to be continued<
Background
Dragonstar is a fortified settlement that strides the Reach’s contested border. The town is built below the mesas of the Druadach Highlands, at a crossroads between the provinces of Hammerfell, High Rock, and Skyrim. Lingering conflicts from the War of Bend’r-Mahk have divided the town into two occupied enclaves. Wary guards patrol the streets in large numbers, making life hard for the townspeople but doing little to stamp out resistance. Despite the unrest, many merchants and other travelers come to the town through Ghast’s Pass, though few stay in the city long before moving on.
Dragonstar’s history dates back to when ancient bands of nomadic Nedes would cross through the area’s canyons to trade with neighboring cultures. Eventually, they drove the Reachmen tribes from the site and built a settlement of their own. It has changed hands many times between conquerors from surrounding provinces, interested in controlling and taxing its trade routes. When the people of Yokuda fled to and conquered Hammerfell, Dragonstar was as far north as their Warrior Wave reached. Though the traditionalist and isolationist Crowns historically hold sway over this frontier, they have been forced to tolerate the large number of foreigners living on their land, though they’ve grown more xenophobic since losing the last war.
Two rulers currently claim the city. Jarl Jona the Ansei-Ender rules Dragonstar East, having won control of it in war thirty odd years ago. For her, the war never truly ended, and she feels cheated that the empire intervened, dividing Dragonstar in two and halting the Nord conquest. The most ruthless of the Reach’s warlords, Jona has sworn to destroy the Soga Dur-Gada, a fanatical band of Redguard insurgents blamed for poisoning three of her most trusted huscarls years ago, including her Tent-Husband.
Dragonstar West is ruled by Prince Darojad, heir to the Tomba (clan territory) of Karthwasten. Only an infant when the war ended, he was smuggled from his father’s palace to safety. Thirty years later many of his people want him to retake the clan’s lost lands, but he's hesitant to take what is really an impossible task. He has a lot of power by right, but is mostly trying to keep the peace and deescalate conflicts. A lot of Dur-Gada related groups see him as a weak puppet ruler and are constantly plotting acts of terror to provoke Jona. An Imperial peacekeeping force is tasked with preventing this conflict from getting out of hand, but its effectiveness is waning.
Exteriors & Interiors
Dragonstar consists of roughly 45 buildings and the narrow streets and alleys connecting them. A wood palisade divides the city into two sections. In the east an outdoor marketplace and the famous Dragon fountain square are the most notable landmarks, along with Prince Darojad’s opulent palace. A traditional Yoku temple and the Convent of Zeht are other locations. To the west, Jarl Jona’s fortified stronghold overlooks her side of the city, which includes an arena pit and the abandoned Fighters Guild guildhall. Both sides of the city have their own inns, along with a few shops. Various peasant hovels are scattered around the outskirts.
In the surrounding wilderness, the ruins of Vars Tharnil stand on a mesa to the west, overlooking the pass to Hammerfell. Smugglers use other nearby passages, such as the Calar Druad canyon, to bypass the city’s guards, though they must mind the garrisons posted at the Taurus Hall legion fort, and the Redguard border post Tro-Tuktura. A band of poor Reachmen peddlers are camped outside the eastern gate.
People
Dragonstar’s population is a mix of many different races, notably Bretons, Reachmen, Redguards, and Nords in that order.
>to be continued<