Here’s a detailed **entry for Restov**, incorporating its role in the campaign and its established lore. --- # **Restov - The Free City of Swords and Politics** ## **Basic Information** - **Name:** Restov - **Type:** Free City (Independent but politically entangled with Brevoy) - **Region:** Southern Brevoy, bordering the Stolen Lands - **Scale & Population:** Large city (around **18,000 people**), bustling with activity due to trade, mercenary work, and political intrigue. - **Primary Inhabitants:** - **Humans (Majority, mostly of Taldan and Issian descent)** - **Aldori Swordlords (Elite dueling caste)** - **Merchants, diplomats, and spies from Brevoy and beyond** - **Various outcasts, exiled nobles, and adventurers** - **Climate & Terrain:** Rolling **plains and riverlands**, with a **mild climate**, making it a hub for agriculture and trade. --- ## **Geography & Layout** - **Key Features & Landmarks:** - **[[Aldori Academy]]:** The **prestigious swordfighting school**, training warriors in the legendary Aldori dueling style. - **The Free Lords’ Plaza:** The heart of the city, where **mercenaries, politicians, and duelists gather to settle disputes**. - **Restov's Great Market:** A sprawling **bazaar of exotic goods, weapons, and stolen secrets**. - **The Council Hall:** The seat of **Restov’s ruling council**, where the **Lord Mayor and Aldori Swordlords debate governance**. - **The Whispering River Docks:** A thriving **trade port**, crucial for commerce between Brevoy and the River Kingdoms. - **Notable Districts/Areas:** - **The Dueling Grounds:** Where **honor duels and challenges** take place, often to settle disputes. - **The Merchant Quarter:** Home to **Restov’s wealthiest traders and banking houses**. - **The Outer Wards:** A dense, crime-ridden district filled with **smugglers, mercenaries, and political exiles**. - **Connections & Accessibility:** - **Trade Hub:** Connects Brevoy, the Stolen Lands, and Mivon through **caravan roads and river trade routes**. - **Teleportation Circles:** Limited, but available to the city's elite and for official diplomatic use. - **Secret Paths:** Smugglers and Aldori agents use **hidden roads** to move information and goods discreetly. --- ## **Culture & Society** - **Local Governance:** - **Lord Mayor Ioseph Sellemius** is the official ruler, but real power is held by the **Aldori Swordlords**, a faction of skilled warriors and nobles. - The city is technically part of **Brevoy**, but fiercely independent. - **Economy & Trade:** - Major industries include **weapon crafting, mercenary contracts, and agricultural trade**. - **Restov’s Bankers & Merchants** control much of the region’s economy. - **Rival Merchant Houses** from Mivon and Brevoy constantly vie for influence. - **Religion & Beliefs:** - Worship of **Gorum (war), Abadar (trade & law), and Erastil (community)** is common. - **Cayden Cailean’s faith thrives** among adventurers and duelists. - The **Aldori Swordlords** follow a **philosophy of martial discipline and personal honor**. - **Laws & Customs:** - **Dueling is a respected tradition**—formal disputes can be settled in the arena. - **Noble Houses and the Aldori maintain a delicate balance**, often engaging in political maneuvering. - **Freedom of trade and speech is valued**, but treason against Restov is met with exile or death. - **Languages Spoken:** - **Common, Taldane (Brevic Dialect), Aldori Battle Cant, Draconic (used in old treaties).** --- ## **History & Lore** - **Origins & Founding:** - Established as **a frontier trade city**, it became **a bastion of Aldori warriors** after the fall of **Rogavarian rule** in Brevoy. - Has long served as a **buffer state** between the feuding noble houses of Brevoy. - **Major Historical Events:** - **The Aldori Betrayal:** The Swordlords once ruled Brevoy but were betrayed by **House Surtova**, forcing them to **retreat to Restov**. - **The Stolen Lands Charter:** Restov **granted charters to adventurers**, including the founders of **Rivermarch**, to **expand its influence southward**. - **Political Intrigue with Pitax:** Restov and Pitax are **rivals**, with **King Irovetti trying to undermine Restov’s power**. - **Current Conflicts or Issues:** - **House Surtova’s Control:** The ruling **Surtova dynasty** in Brevoy seeks to **subjugate Restov**, making the city’s independence fragile. - **Rivermarch’s Status:** Restov backs Rivermarch, but only **as long as it remains useful**. - **Pitaxian Influence:** **Irovetti’s spies operate within Restov**, trying to destabilize its government. - **Rumors & Mysteries:** - **The Missing Swordlord:** One of the **greatest Aldori duelists disappeared**, allegedly after uncovering a **plot against Restov**. - **The Black Coin:** A secretive **underground cabal** of criminals and exiled nobles seeks to overthrow the Swordlords. --- ## **Notable NPCs & Factions** - **Key Figures:** - **Lord Mayor [[Ioseph Sellemius]]:** The **official ruler**, but mostly a political puppet of the Swordlords. - **Lady [[Jamandi Aldori]]:** One of the most powerful **Swordlords**, overseeing diplomatic and military matters. - **[[Idris Kaleth]]:** Restov’s trade envoy, known for **his cold negotiating style and keen political mind**. - **Factions or Power Groups:** - **The [[Aldori Swordlords]]:** The **true power** behind Restov, an elite warrior class with **rivalries and alliances**. - **The [[Merchants' Consortium]]:** A powerful **guild controlling trade**, often at odds with the Swordlords. - **The [[Whispering Blades]]:** A secretive group of **spies and assassins** working in the city's shadows. - **Major Monsters or Threats:** - **Pitaxian Saboteurs:** **Agents of Irovetti** working to disrupt Restov’s economy and leadership. - **Brevic Spies:** **House Surtova’s infiltrators** aim to **destabilize Restov from within**. --- ## **Additional Notes** - **Vibe & Inspirations:** - **A city caught between honor and treachery**—think **Renaissance Italy (Florence/Venice) mixed with the dueling culture of feudal Japan**. - A mix of **The Three Musketeers, Game of Thrones, and John Wick** (duels, mercenary wars, and underground deals). - **Adventure Hooks:** - **The Duelists’ Conspiracy:** A **series of assassinations disguised as honor duels** threatens the Swordlords. - **The Pitaxian Spy War:** Players must **root out Irovetti’s agents** before they **destabilize Restov**. - **A Noble Betrayal:** **House Surtova plots against Restov**—who will strike first? - **The Rivermarch Dilemma:** Restov may **withdraw its support from Rivermarch** if it becomes a liability. --- This version integrates Restov’s **political intrigue, military tension, and economic power struggles** while keeping its role **tied to Rivermarch**. 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