Asafor
| settlement name | duchy | district/province | type | population | founding year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asafor | Kirvan | — | city | 141,637 | 4259 |
Asafor is a major centre in southern Kalderesh, located deep within the Greater Kascht forest. It lies at the confluence of the Baurin River and the River of Memory, and the Royal Road passes through it.
Asafor is both a manufacturing centre (famous for its woodcraft) and a centre of learning (hosting one of the four universities in Kalderesh). It is known for its beautiful wooded central square and for the annual Festival of Death. The famous musician Leo Leathers is from Asafor.
The buildings of the city are examples of master craftsmanship when working with wood. The prinwork technique – durable intricate carvings on wood and other surfaces – was developed here, and Asafor is still a leading innovator in design.
The settlement is overseen by Lord Mayor Jaedyn Brycks, assisted by a large town council. The Council Hall is a fine example of an advanced full-timber building.
The traditional ruler of Asafor is known as the Marquis of Asa. The current Marquis is an enigmatic figure and is rarely seen in public. He has expertise in boat construction, and is also a highly skilled prinwork artist. The Marquis has a substantial manor in the city, but spends most of his time elsewhere.
Major export trade items are weapons and tools, prepared timber, rare wood and items made from rare wood. Furs and hides, mainly from various species of deer, are also processed and traded in.
The Illuminants of the Orange Key, one of four universities in the realm, has a large footprint in Asafor. Grand Archmage Aedria Winnows is the Proctor Elect. Students, teachers, and staff wear an orange square cap to signal their affiliation with the university. A long list of well-known scholars and researchers work here, as well as several sages and numerous bards. The university has three Divisions, each with specialty study fields: Division of Humanity (disease, physiology, medicinal plants), Division of Theology (The Seven, religion, divine magic), and Division of Science (astronomy, chemistry, physics). The university receives financial support from the Marquis, several Guilds, and certain wealthy patrons.
A substantial military force is garrisoned in Asafor; the senior officer is Colonel Ariella Hides. With the Royal Road cutting through the forest, Asafor lies at the focal point of aerial travel routes in Kalderesh. Supreme Wizard Melania Waterman is in charge of this route. A division of Sky Cavalry, overseen by Chief Commandant Julyan Pott, is stationed in the city. A small contingent of paladins is led by Knight Paladin Aethan Richett.
An impressive High Temple of Oohm, headed by Arch Priest Bella Berg, overlooks the central town square. The Temple of Sahir thrives, because the city has many arcanists and spell casters in residence. While there is no Aranite Temple in the city, a fane to Arawn, standing on the town centre, is prominent. The fane is the centre of a famous law school, run by the controversial Arch Priest Victor Ballast.
A very old commemorative burial site, maintained by the Aranite fane, lies on the northern border of the city. It was the first peace-garden in Kalderesh. Every year, the city holds the Festival of the Dead, during which the commemorative graveyard turns into a celebratory fairground.
A short distance south of the city is a large tract of land where the water table is particularly low. This creates a landscape of serene lakes and ponds, which is a natural temple of the Salee.
Two influential Guilds have their Great Halls in the city: the Guild of Wood Workers (Order Master Kaevin Glazier) and the Guild of Wheel Wrights (Order Master Zachaery Dyson).
Several scholars and master craftsmen are resident in the city and work with the Guild of Wood Workers on the development and training of prinwork.
Other guilds that enjoy considerable support include the Royal Guilde of Mariners (Grand sorcerer Vyncent Winnows), Guild of Skinners & Tanners (Guild Master Ryderus Alley), Royal Guilde of Artists (Guild Master Penelope Groveland), and Guild of Stable Keepers (Guild Steward Hanna Applin).
Senior Fellow Lucae Pynes, of the Guild of Forgers & Smiths, is a Master Weaponsmith.
The wildly popular musician and performing artist Leo Leathers hails from Asafor, and often returns home for special performances. #LL is very popular amongst the youth. Several disreputable bards are known to pretend to be Leo Leathers, much to Mr Leathers ire.
The Cutblade Dalyla Spicer has a martial school in Asafor. Master Artagel Greenfeather of the Circle of White Adepts lives in the city. The Disciples of the Enlightenment and the Servants of the Scarlet Word have representatives in the city. Master Conqueror Abyl Fry and his companion Magus Logaen Darryman have a fort somewhere in the Kascht, and it is said to have a temple dedicated to Razim. It is said that a dark temple, made of mist and controlled by a mysterious sorcerer, is seen in Asafor from time to time.