Royhaven

Royhaven is a nation shaped by its seafaring heritage, noble traditions, and economic ambitions. Its capital, Rosebury, is a bustling port city where merchants and aristocrats compete for influence. As refugees strain resources and pirates threaten trade, political tensions rise, with old families and new wealth clashing for control. With its blend of intrigue, culture, and looming uncertainty, Royhaven stands as both a beacon of prosperity and a stage for hidden struggles.

Key Historical Figures and Legends

Admiral Alaric Rosebury (Founding Father):
Legacy: A naval hero who defeated pirates and unified the island under the first council.
Myth: Legends claim he made a pact with sea spirits, ensuring calm waters around the harbor.
Lady Isolde Rynn (The Merchant Queen):
Legacy: Established trade routes that made Royhaven a commercial hub.
Controversy: Rumored to have funded pirates to sabotage competitors.
The Ghost of Fogmarsh:
Legend: A spirit said to haunt the eastern wetlands, protecting buried treasure or guarding a cursed secret.
Modern Impact: Treasure hunters and thrill-seekers continue to disappear in the marsh.
Elias the Explorer:
Legacy: Mapped distant islands and returned with exotic goods, inspiring Royhaven’s merchant culture.
Mystery: Disappeared on his final voyage, leaving only cryptic journals behind.

Political Influence

Trade Powerhouse: Controls vital shipping lanes, giving it leverage in negotiations with larger nations.
Cultural Soft Power: Exports art, music, and literature that shape regional tastes.
Diplomatic Ties: Maintains alliances with Demarais and Rivergate while remaining wary of Hanmel’s ambitions.
Internal Conflict: The rise of merchant guilds threatens the old aristocracy, creating a growing divide in governance.

Key Locations

Rosebury (Capital City):
- Setting: A grand port city built on a steep hillside overlooking the sea.
- Economy: Driven by trade, shipping, and fishing.
- Architecture: Ornate red-brick and grey-stone buildings, cobblestone streets, and gas lamps.
- Culture: Cultural hub with museums, theaters, parks, libraries, and a cathedral.
- Politics: Power concentrated among wealthy merchants, trade guilds, and noble families.
- Notable Features: City Hall, the Rosebury Museum, the Cathedral, and the Lighthouse.
Harrows Deep :
- Population: Around 100 residents, mostly fishermen, whalers, and laborers.
- Economy: Focused on whaling, shipbuilding, and blubber processing.
- Notable Features: The Blowhole Pub, a crumbling old wall from ancient times, and a small temple dedicated to sea deities.
- Leadership: Overseen by Lord Marcus 'Little Warrior' Gribbin.
- Setting: A small Victorian whaling village on the northern coast, known for its rugged cliffs and harsh winters.
Elstead:
- Setting: A quiet town surrounded by farmland and rolling hills.
- Economy: Agriculture, grain milling, and livestock.
- Culture: Conservative and traditional, with tight-knit families and guilds.
- Leadership: Mayor Walter Acker, a pragmatic leader devoted to protecting Elstead’s agricultural legacy.
Lunham:
- Setting: A fishing town on the southern coast, known for its bustling docks and smaller harbors.
- Economy: Fishing, ship repair, and small-scale trade.
- Culture: Lively and working-class, with a focus on resilience and community.
- Leadership: Mayor Serena Veltan, a former sailor respected for her sharp mind and no-nonsense attitude

Geography

Location: An island nation off the western coast of the mainland, surrounded by rocky cliffs and rolling hills.
Climate: Temperate with mild winters and cool summers, heavily influenced by ocean currents.
Natural Features:
- The Storm Cliffs: Towering rock faces along the northern coast, infamous for shipwrecks.
- Rosebury Bay: A natural harbor that shelters the capital city, ideal for trade and fishing.
- The Verdant Downs: Fertile plains covering the southern half of the island, dotted with farms and vineyards.
- The Fogmarsh: A sprawling, mist-covered wetland in the east, rumored to be haunted and home to ancient ruins.

Cultural Heritage

Seafaring Traditions: Royhaven’s identity is deeply tied to the sea. Generations of sailors, merchants, and fishermen have shaped its customs, from maritime festivals to superstitions about ocean spirits.
Artisan Craftsmanship: Known for its skilled weavers, glassblowers, and jewelers. Royhaven’s textiles and decorative glass are highly prized exports.
Music and Dance: Folk songs, often accompanied by fiddles and flutes, tell stories of shipwrecks, lost loves, and voyages to distant lands.
Social Hierarchy: Nobility holds significant cultural influence, and old family names carry weight, though wealth is increasingly shifting toward merchants and industrialists.

Government

System: Ruled by a Council of Nobles, consisting of representatives from the island’s oldest and wealthiest families.
Leadership:
The First Chair presides over meetings and serves as the public face of the council.
Council decisions require a majority vote, but bribery and political maneuvering are common.
Justice: Courts are overseen by judges appointed by the council, often favoring the wealthy.
Military: A navy protects trade routes, and the Rosebury Guard maintains order in the city.

Current State

Economic Growth: Rosebury’s thriving port fuels prosperity, but rural areas struggle with poverty and isolation.
Political Tension: Merchant guilds are challenging noble dominance, demanding greater representation.
External Threats: Pirates from the eastern archipelagos and pressure from Hanmel’s fading empire loom over Royhaven.
Refugee Crisis: Ships from Gulfshire regularly bring desperate refugees, straining resources and inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment.

Narpol