View source for Camfor

{| class="wikitable" 
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
! settlement name
! duchy
! district/province
! type
! population
! founding year
|-
| style="vertical-align:bottom;" | Camfor, City of the Sun
| style="vertical-align:bottom;" | [[Duchy of Barban|Barban]]
| Greater Province of D'Aad
| city
| style="text-align:right;" | 300,000
| style="text-align:center;" | 4212
|}
[[File:Camfor-castle-palace.jpg|thumb|'''Camfor''': Castle Kalder and the Queen's Palace.]]

Camfor, the City of the Sun, is the Royal City and capital of Kalderesh. It is located in north-eastern Kalderesh, astride the Camnevy River, about 4 km upstream of the river’s mouth into Camnevy Sound, a 40 km inlet slicing inland. 

The city is situated on opposite banks of the Camnevy. Castle Kalder, the largest single structure in the kingdom, stands on the southern bank. The fortified walls of the castle extend westward to encompass the Old City. Three gates give access to the Old City; the Royal Road enters the Gate of Roses after passing through the extensive Royal Garden.

Valoran's Wing, a massive stone bridge spanning 1,500 feet, connects the Old City to the sprawling New Camfor on the north bank.

The walls of New Camfor were expanded three times as the city grew over the centuries, dividing it into Old Ward, New Ward, and Outer Ward. Five city gates grant entrance to the new city. Titan Gate opens on to the Royal Road.

Outside the walls is an extensive fringe of demarcated land. Beyond these lie the extensive farmlands to feed the city. The fields covers about a third of the Greater Province of D'Aad, cutting into the Forest of Kova and spilling over into the Royal District of Kova. A wide range of crops, for man and beast, are cultivated here. Within the city, at strategic locations, are granaries and warehouses for storage and systematic distribution. The south-eastern farmland, on the grassy plains, is given over to pasture, cultivated and natural, for huge herds of cattle, and a smaller number of sheep. Large sections of the southern reaches of the Forest of Kova are the ranges of boar, black-haired pigs, and nurtle sheep. 

The Grey Forest, 40 km north-east of Camfor, stretches from Harden to Staven for some 70 km. It is the Royal Forest, reserved for hunting and recreation. It is the only area in Kalderesh that is off-limits to anyone but the Royals.

[[File:Camfor-statue.jpg|thumb|'''Camfor''': Equestrian statues and installations.]]
It is the oldest city in Kalderesh, founded almost five centuries ago, during the winter of 4212. Other than its sheer size, it is known for its preponderance of equestrian statues. It also features the most splendid examples of classical architecture anywhere in the land.

About half a million people call Camfor their home. The Royal Family is resident in the ancestral Castle Kalder. King Maynard of Kalder is the monarch, and Queen Adelicia of Kalderesh is the monarch consort. 

King Maynard is styled “Duke of Barban” and “Serif of the Temple of D’Aad”. He is an Aadite high priest and holds services in the chapel of the castle. As head of the Small Council, the king receives advice from councillors and oversees the running of the realm.

Queen Adelicia was born in Savimasko. Her brother is Robertus Vasey, Duke of Harl. The Queen is Royal Patron of several causes and organizations. She follows the tradition of earlier monarchs in funding the Benthantium Project (see p 39), and supports several museums in cities across Kalderesh. The Queen is a serious scholar, has attained the rank of Enchanter, and is an honorary member of the Royal Guilde of Magic and the patron of the Wizard’s Guild in the city. As a devoted follower of Sahir, she privately supports the promotion, development and tuition of magic across Kalderesh. She contributes personally to the scholarship fees of young mages, and takes a keen interest in their development. The Queen’s Garden, which stands outside Castle Kalder, is her personal creation, and contains over 1,000 different types of flowering plants. She works closely with Caeleb Park, the royal gardener, to maintain and develop the garden. Within the garden stands the magnificent Queen’s Palace, regarded as the most splendid building in Kalderesh (see p 107). The Palace is a public space, consisting of many fine rooms used as meeting places for training, worship, and socializing. Elite gatherings, as well as events for commoners, are held here on occasion. The uppermost floor contains the famous Seven Temples, the largest All-Gods in Kalderesh.

From time to time, the King and Queen, usually accompanied by other members of the royal family, travel the Royal Road to meet the people. These excursions start and end in Camfor, visiting seven major cities: Azerel, Coth Rom, Pai, Asafor, Londesh, Barforos, Torbeck. One of two traditional routes are taken, the so-called Royal Loop (117 days to complete) or the Royal Eight (141 days). A Royal Eight Circuit was scheduled for 4693, which would mark the 50th year of the reign of Maynard and Adelicia. The Eight was to depart Camfor on 46,93 May 19 and return on October 09, exactly 50 years to the day. The Courier was slated to have one of it’s most-excellent investigators join the royal entourage and report on the progress, but just as this edition of the Guide went to press, it was announced that the 4693 Royal Circuit has been cancelled. At the time of writing, no new date has been announced.

Crown Prince Philbert of Kalder, the royal couple’s oldest child, is also resident in Camfor. As the prince regent, Prince Philbert has taken on several duties of his father, and is a co-opted member of the Small Council. The Crown Prince is married to Princess Kathrine, who, with their daughter, Princess Adelice and family, reside in Dromfor. The popular romantic play “Nine and a Half Days to Paradise” by the Very Lady Luna Darry takes place onboard a ship travelling from a big city to a smaller one, and tells the tale of a young man racing home, against all odds, to reach his beloved, who is the only one who can save his life by restoring his heart. This play is widely believed to be based on the Crown Prince and Princess.

The city’s most recognizable citizen (besides the King and Queen) is probably the wrestler Bryn Rains. Seven feet tall, covered in purple and bronze tattoos, and louder-than-life, Rains is always accompanied by a troupe of balladeers, henchmen, bodyguards, cheerleaders, and mounted performers when he goes about town. He is the undisputed martial champion in Kalderesh, and has remained undefeated since 4685.

The Camfor Kings, the city’s official football team, is another crowd-pleasing sight; their rivalry with the Barforos Braves is legendary. The Kings’ home field is the recently upgraded Fields of Glory in the New City.

In a city with no shortage of military heroes, shiny knights, dashing cavaliers, and medal-clad generals, one military officer that towers over their heads is Skarje Bayes, a member of the Magicaery. When Archmage Skarje conducts combat manoeuvres with the sky helms, the entire Camfor stops to look up and stare at the spectacle. The war mage is very good at capitalizing on this visibility and is happy to talk to the crowds afterwards.

Many wealthy individuals are prominent public figures, because of their ostentatious show of wealth & spending, or their extremely luxurious palatial homes. Regarded as the most wealthy person in Kalderesh is the merchant Madam Joceline Woolard. She can walk along a busy street and not be recognized, but “Woolards” is a name known throughout the land. In Camfor, one only need think of Woolard Avenue, the Woolard’s Shipyard, Woolard’s Biscuits (“Have You Shared a Woolard’s Today?”), the Woolard Harvest Festival, Woolard’s Elixir of Healing, The Woolard Soccer Championships, Woolard Fruits, and Woolard Hygiene & Sanitation Works.

The “Who’s Who” of Camfor would not be complete without mentioning Avery Coleman, the well-respected though controversial journalist who is particularly well-known for her investigation of the Agopean Civil War and the role Kalderesh played in it. She is held in high esteem by the general public, but ruffles the feathers of the powers that be.

While the Royal Family and many of the Great Officers of Kalderesh live and work in Castle Kalder, the Old and New City are home to a diversity of citizens, from the lowest social classes to the extremely wealthy. Their numbers are swelled by travellers, temporary visitors conductiing business, and foreigners.

Within the Old City are the major guild buildings and religious establishments. Some old buildings have been repurposed and are used by the Great Officers and Nobles engaged at court, particularly Council House, the seat of the Big Council. Also of note are the Blue Tower Complex and the House of Mirrors, the official ambassadorial residences. The ancient kernel of this oldest of settlements in Kalderesh is fascinating to architects and builders, and has inspired new building designs elsewhere.

The New City (today already 150 years old!) consists of the Harbour Quarter and the Temple Quarter. Temples, guild houses and residences of traditional design are found here.

The extensive Outer Ward more than doubles the footprint of the New City. Many cities elsewhere would comfortably fit into the walls of the Outer Ward.

Beyond the city walls is the demarcated quarter, which is larger than the Outer Ward. Beyond that, lies the agricultural zone, described above.

Camfor Hall is the administrative heart of the city. It is the most prominent building in the Harbour Quarter. The Lord Mayor of Camfor is Ashlena Boyles, and her first assistant is Reeve Allysann Brewer. Over 200 other staff work in Camfor Hall.

A unique feature of Camfor is the preponderance of equestrian statues, some of which date back to the 4300’s. The most impressive of these depicts seven knights, mounted on war horses with full barding, leaping through the air. Known as “Dawn Raid”, it was created by the famous sculptor Lyam Lethers.

There are over 300 places of worship in the capital. These include seven Grand High Temples, one Grand Temple, eight temples, and 15 fanes. The Prelates of all the religions – except the Aranites – are resident in Camfor, each supervising a Grand High Temple. The Qidranians have two Grand High Temples. The Aranites traditionally do not have a Prelate, and Grand High Priest Ryderus Plant is the senior representative of Arawn, in the Grand Temple, in Camfor. Eight temples are located at key points throughout the city; there are two each dedicated to D’Aad and Razim.

A shrine to D’Aad stands along the Royal Road south of the city; it marks the spot where Castle Kalder can be seen for the first time, from 15 km away.

All six divisions of the armed forces are represented in the city. Several large military complexes, including administrative headquarters, barracks, cavalry compounds, etc., are located throughout the New City. The over-commander of the military is Commodore (4 Stars) Ianus Ferry, a cavalier by training. Large cavalry processions and exercises are carried out within the bustling city.

The largest paladin order outside of Daernbeck, the Scarlet Servants, is based in the Red Tower in the Outer Ward. Combat General Sir Brandyn Roasterman is the leader of the paladins in the capital.

Major General Aodreia Mosstree is the commander of the Sky Helms; her squadrons of flying creatures are a common sight in the sky above the capital.

Every year, a cavalry unit (commanded by Cmdr. Ferry), a paladin corps (led by Gen. Roasterman), and a full squadron of sky helms (led by Maj. Mosstree) presents the Festival of Kithrel, a city-wide festival featuring demonstrations of exquisite dressage. These performances are carried out at each of the famous equestrian statues that dot the city. The festival culminates with a procession to Castle Kalder, where the riders perform for the Royal Family and other members of the upper class gathered in the Castle. In the finale, the mounts of the cavalry and paladins ascend skyward, joining the sky helms in a magnificent display of aerial manoeuvres.

There are two naval harbours, one within the confined of Castle Kalder, the other adjacent the Old City. Many more vessels are at anchor in Camnevy Sound. 

Various naval festivals are held throughout the year, as befits a nation born from naval prowess.

Eight guilds have their Great Halls in Camfor, and two their Small Halls. In order of influence, these are the Royal Guilde of Magic (overseen by Aemo Huntsman), the Guild of Shipwrights (Havius Lodge), and the  Guild of Merchants (Adamus Mayr). The powerful Wizard’s Guild has the most extensive collection of arcane texts in Kalderesh, and it enjoys the patronage of Queen Adelicia. 

As the major city in Kalderesh, Camfor is the mercantile hub of the nation. The most lucrative trade items here are precious wood, books, rare furs, jewellery, preserved meat, grain & wine. A dazzling array of goods can be found in the more than 1,000 markets in the city. Specialist markets exist for medicines, stone items, marble goods, dried fruits, leatherwork, wax, hides, furs, and works of art.

The Royal Camfor Guard (RCG) wears distinguishing gold-coloured armour. They patrol the city and its outer limits, in units of seven, to keep the peace. At least two of the members are spell casters.

The Royal Camfor Guard is not to be confused with the Camfor Royal Guard, which consists of elite combatants who exclusively guard royalty. During ceremonial events, the RCG wears bright white plate mail. Outside of this, their only distinguishing feature is a red K-shaped amulet, sometimes worn as a cloak clasp, a pendent, or a pectoral badge.

The original Judicial Hall in the Old City was relocated to much larger premises in the Outer Ward. Today, the judiciary occupies Stitchworth House, the largest building in the Old Ward of the New City. Within its impressive walls are administrative facilities, accommodation, archives (including the Hall of Records where the Vetus Voluma is kept), and court rooms. The highest court in the land, the Court Honourable, has its Full Judge’s Bench here. It is rarely used, however, as it is reserved for only the most serious cases. The presiding judge, the Honourable Justice, is High Justice Penelope Glass, a Great Officer and a member of the Small Council. Justice Glass is assisted by two High Justices. Justice Lucae Hennerman is her Second on the Small Council.

The other High Justice, Aeobreia Bird, leads the High Court. This is the most senior court in practice, and its roll is usually full for many months or even years. Beneath the High Court are several Martial Courts, Guild Courts, Lower Courts, and Civic Courts, each with specific domains of operation. The special Midnight Court, and its accompanying Courtage, is also based at Stitchworth House.

The University of Camfor is located in the Temple Quarter, in several buildings housing administration, accommodation, and the Seven Schools. These are the School of Arts, School of Magic, School of Cartography, School of War, School of Science (Astronomy, Mathematics), School of Technology (Engineering, Architecture & Building), and the Woolard School of Land Sciences (Geography, Meteorology, Metals, Minerals & Gems, and Stone). Each School has a varying complement of students, trainees, scholars, researchers, and Sages.

The royal city is well-endowed with opportunities for enjoying the arts. Numerous theatres and performance spaces, large and small, present a wide range of entertainments. Collections of art, some in private hands, may be viewed, and guided tours are available from well-informed bards and sages.

Notable individuals resident in Camfor include the bodyguard Christo Hydes, the killblade Nolanus Wax, master prinworker Kaelia Yardly, and the trader in exotic goods Louis Roof. Several independent specialist scholars live and work in the city. These include Ysaac Millet (Cartography, Plants), Valerya Deerman (Philosophy), and Maxymer Feller (Sociology & Culture).

Several organizations are represented in Camfor, including the Circle of White Adepts (the illusionist Havelock the Harmless and the paladin Salazar), the Jade Conclave of the Yellow Sky (the bard Tilyr Ferrimen and the scholar Daemian Hardison), the Order of the Blue Harp (aporter Aenor Honeydew), and the Circle of Ethereal Apostles (Enchanter Baella Seeman).