Blacksilver
| settlement name | duchy | district/province | type | population | founding year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksilver ¶ | Daern | — | free city | 7,000 | 4431 |
Blacksilver was founded in the 4400s by Lucus Boyle, a retired explorer and field guide. Boyle made an agreement with King Galfridus shortly after his crowning in 4420, to establish a new free city. In exchange, Boyle gave the king a singularly powerful magic item.
Boyle selected a site in the Shield Mountains (near Michaelwood) and started construction in 4425, but this was halted by the King, who wanted Boyle’s site much further north. There was much back and forth, arguing and debate, but before is could be resolved, Galfridus died.
The new king, Gerbaut, was not aware of the deal between Boyle and his predecessor, and for a time refused to even investigate the matter. It seems that Galfridus didn’t want too many people to know about the special favour he received from Boyle, so his deal with the ex-explorer wasn’t recorded as a formal contract.
Boyle paid the new king a dramatic visit in the spring of 4428 and showed him the error of his ways. Gerbaut agreed to issue a free city decree but on the condition that the new settlement would be outside the Royal District of Kova. Boyle selected a final site, along the Trollbourn River where it cuts through the Kadessa Hills. It lies 60 km from the coast and 20 km from the Eastern Harl forest.
Boyle and his compatriots, the Alliance of the Green Pyramid, oversaw the building of the early city. With their stronghold well established, the Alliance recruited and funded explorers to investigate places of interest to them. Within a decade, Blacksilver became a popular destination for adventurers seeking an exciting boost to a new career, or for seasoned adventurers to find interesting leads. It is still a mecca for adventurers, explorers, and mercenaries today. Boyle lived to be 182. By that time, the running of Blacksilver was handed over to his successor, Chrystian Hides.
Over time, Blacksilver went from a free-wheeling lightly regulated city of toughs, to a dangerous nest of vipers. The central stronghold of the Alliance still stands as an impenetrable fortress, while the city outside is a merciless warren of dangerous streets and people.
Today, it is a dangerous place, frequented by outlaws, mercenaries and ruthless smugglers. The centre of the city is dominated by a huge fortress, held up by two titanic hands thrusting out of the earth. Nobody has entered or exited the fortress in centuries. A warren of jumbled streets sprawls out from here to the distant city walls. Immediately beyond the city walls, and surrounding the city, is a chasm, several hundred feet deep. The main entrance to the city is via a vaulted bridge, 100 feet wide. Unusually, the bridge terminates in the city inside what appears to be a splendid theatre!
Besides being an infamous criminal freemarket, where blood and gold flow in equal amounts, Blacksilver is known as a source of magical marvels. Unique magical tattoos can be had in the city, as well as magical armour of almost-unbelievable quality.
Ironically, Blacksilver is the birthplace of the legendary hero Rastaban, sometimes known as the Brown Lord.
The draconic city council is led by Master Anfroy Rathby. The council’s will is enforced by the Order of the Rose, known for their distinctive red armour. The mere sight of a member of the Order is guaranteed to either restore order or ensure death.
Master Rathby has a deep knowledge of pharmacology and has established the Rathby Academic Society to promote this discipline. Other prominent members of the Society include Archmage Graysen Bayers and Sword Champion Elyana Beacon.
Blade Master Zoeia Munny, the Dark Knight, is an expert swashbuckler who runs a notorious fencing school in the city, the Knightly Order of the Chaos Harp. No student has ever failed their training or been evicted from the school, since such candidates die beforehand.
Many mercenary groups are headquartered in Blacksilver. The most prominent of these are The Gloom Scales (led by Zoeia Seeman), The Grey Hand (Connorus Lodge), Wardens of the Doom (Andreya Cottonseed), The Red Mantle, Order of the Griffin, and the Oak Dark Garrison.
Every month, on the Full Moon, a city-wide festival is held. From sunset to sunrise, all hostilities cease and faction rivalries are put on pause. The festival is arranged and administered by the Order of Rose.
There are no farmlands around the city, which is a remarkably strange situation. Presumably this it not by free choice but rather a condition set out in the city’s founding agreement. Whatever the reason, Blacksilver has to import all food. Some materials are imported from Esterkeep and beyond and delivered via road. The bulk of the supply, however, is transported via barge and riverboat, along the Trollbourn.
Readers have asked about the meaning of the name “blacksilver”. Our research indicates two possible origins. The first is that it refers to the colour of certain coins used in the city as special currency; this black silver is worth far more than platinum. A second explanation is that it refers to "dark money" – vast quantities of money that circulates secretly to fund illegal undercover operations across Kalderesh.