Elynthian 1985 (Remix)

Verdanthold is the largest city on the Evergreen Coast, a sprawling harbor metropolis surrounded by towering pine forests, misty mountains, and cold northern waters. Known as “The Emerald Port”, the city thrives on trade, shipbuilding, timber, magical industry, and exploration of the wild frontiers beyond its borders. The city grew from a modest logging and fishing port into a bustling coastal powerhouse after the discovery of mana-rich greenstone in the nearby mountains and the expansion of deep-water trade routes. Its skyline is a strange mix of stone towers, magical neon runes, rain-slick cobbled streets, and dockside cranes enchanted to move cargo with levitation glyphs. Verdanthold is a city of innovation and tension. Merchant guilds, magical corporations, ranger orders, and old forest spirits all vie for influence. Beneath the thriving streets lie ancient ruins, smuggler tunnels, and older things that predate the city entirely. Rain falls often, fog rolls in from the sea, and the forests outside the walls are dense enough that many locals swear something watches the city from the trees.

The Ironpine Mountains- A rugged mountain range east of the city containing mines, monster territory, and ancient ruins. Storms gather here before rolling down into the city. The Emerald Sound- A deep inland sea that allows massive ships to reach the city. Trade routes connect Verdanthold to distant continents. The Emerald Expanse- A vast ancient forest stretching north and south. The woods are home to spirits, monsters, druids, and unexplored ruins. The city itself sits on steep hills, with districts layered upward from the harbor. Harborreach- The beating heart of Verdanthold’s economy. Massive docks stretch across the waterfront where cargo ships, fishing vessels, and privateer frigates unload goods from across the world. The Emerald Market- The commercial core of the city. Colorful banners, rain-soaked streets, and magical streetlights illuminate thousands of merchants selling everything from enchanted tools to rare monster parts. Spire District -The wealthy hilltop district. Tall towers rise above the fog where noble houses, magical corporations, and guild leaders reside. Rainshadow Ward- A gritty, working-class district filled with warehouses, factories, and industrial magic workshops. Old Verdanthold- The original city core. Stone streets wind through old buildings covered in ivy and moss. Beneath this district lies the buried original settlement, abandoned after something terrible happened centuries ago. Greenwarden Ring- The outer district where the city meets the forest. Here the buildings become wooden lodges, ranger outposts, and druidic circles.

All races from Dungeons and Dragons inhabit Verdanthold are free to move from region to region.

Forest vs Industry- The Greenwardens and druids are increasingly angry about logging expansion. Some fear the city may awaken ancient forest guardians. Arcane Industrialization- The Arcanist Collective is developing magical machinery. Critics worry the city could become dangerously dependent on unstable magic. Criminal Expansion- The Black Harbor Syndicate has begun infiltrating legitimate trade guilds. The city guard struggles to keep up. Political Corruption- Merchant houses secretly manipulate city leadership. Some factions want a new governing council.

Magic can be gained through study, bloodlines, or magical contracts. All dieties from Dungeons and Dragons have their presence felt.

The Shadow Age (-500 BC- 0 DA): Before written history, the Lords of the Shadowfell began to invade this world. Starting in the East the Lords began trying to collapse the Shadowfell onto Elynthian. The Dwarves and Elves mustered their armies to defend their territories but were losing, quickly. The Dawning Age (0 DA - 127 DA): the High Elves spent a century casting a spell that would help them end the Shadow War. When the spell was cast, they thought it had failed. Somewhere out on the ocean an Island appeared from another world, home to the first humans in Elynthian. It took an entire human generation, but the humans finally made landfall on the Continent of Elynthian. With their technology of naval ships and black powder weapons, along with their penchant for multiplying in population, the Shadow War was ended a century later. The Age of Conflict (127 DA - 1509 DA): Humans spread far and wide. As they reclaimed land stolen by the Shadow Lords, they also settled. When the war was over, the humans began creating kingdoms. And with those kingdoms came conflict. The Seraphel Kingdom was the first. Started by the celestial blessed heroes that ended the Shadow War. At first it was a kingdom like any other, eventually they wanted to be human only and pushed everyone else out, taking the last pieces of land the Dwarves in the Elderfold Range managed to reclaim or hold onto. Then greed took over and they wanted Elynthian for themselves and began pushing west where they could. The High Elves, feeling ashamed for bringing the humans to these lands, raised mountains surrounding the forests south of the Sunscar Tablands, and began their Self Imposed Exile inside The Ring. When the High Elves left, Humans in the west rallied the other races, establishing the Evergreen Kingdom and began pushing east to stop the Seraphel Empire. Though not trusted at first, the Evergreen Kingdom managed to foster goodwill with their allies and stopped the Seraphel Empire, keeping them on the eastern side of the Blackroot River, forcing a peace treaty known as the Mosswater Accords. The Evergreen Kingdom became a beacon for anyone looking for peace from the Seraphel Empire. The Age of Industry (1509 DA - 1737 DA): During the Age of Conflict, the Seraphel Empire started their first Magical Academies with the intention of amassing power by having the best mages on the continent. After the Mosswater Accords, the Empire began investing heavily in the Artificers of the Tower of Artifice. This brought an Age of rising Techno Arcana to the Empire, raising the floor of the amount of power the standard civilian can provide the Empire, instead of the ceiling its best and brightest from the magical academies could provide. All the cities within the Empire rose and fell in the pursuit of power, magical or technological. Artificers dont like monopolies however and began making contact with the Evergreen Kingdom. The Evergreen Kingdom saw the value of the Tower's work but wanted the technology to work with nature, not wanting to disrupt the nature they prided themselves in, and such began the towers Solar, Hydro, and Biological technologies. During this time a human Artificer from the Tower, placed the soul of his deceased son into the body of a constructed man, creating the first Warforged. The Scarlet Age (1737 DA - 1741 DA): During this time an Entity known as the King in Scarlet took over the entire region inside of the Dragon's Maw. It created an Empire where its Zealous inhabitants screamed for the glory of their Empire, though if you were an outsider looking in, all you saw were zealous, unarmored, peasants rushing to their deaths in the name of an Eldritch mind controller. The King in Scarlet was defeated. No one knows why, but his defeat resulted in the collapse of the Seraphel Empire, and the birth of the Sraphel Republic. The Age of Rebirth (1741 DA - 1985 Present Day): Slowly but surely, Elynthan began to heal. People started returning to their ancestral homes. The High Elves began leaving The Ring and began interacting with the world once again. Lizardfolk were being integrated into society instead of persecuted. Technology is made for everything to include entertainment instead of only for war.

Crowns are the standard currency. Trade routes are done by roads and rivers connecting cities. Verdanthold is one of the richest cities on the coast due to several key industries: Timber and Shipbuilding- Massive evergreen forests provide lumber for ships and construction across the continent. Fishing and Sea Trade- The Emerald Sound produces enormous fisheries and connects trade routes from distant nations. Monster Materials- Adventurers bring in monster hides, bones, venom, and magical organs used by alchemists and artificers. Greenstone Mining- A magical mineral found in the nearby mountains that enhances enchantments and arcane devices. Magical Manufacturing- Factories in Rainshadow Ward produce: enchanted lanterns, spell cartridges, rune-powered tools, arcane communication devices Verdanthold is one of the few cities experimenting with industrial solar techno-archana

Justice is administered by the lowest possible system. Kings and Queens typically are seen as an executive branch if need be, diplomats, and the highest military authority. Adventurers are seen as helpful, especially if they come from the Evergreen Adventuring Academy. But it mostly depends on the Adventurer as freelance adventurers operate on their own authority and set their own prices, but are still held accountable for their crimes. Guild and Academy Adventurers operate within, and are paid by, their governing authority so are typically held in higher regard by those who can afford to hire Guild Adventurers. Academy Adventurers are prone to mistakes due to their lack of experience, though are still viewed highly due to their low cost and willingness to take any job.

The Deepwater Leviathan- A massive ancient sea creature occasionally seen beneath the harbor. Ships have vanished without explanation. Some say cultists are trying to wake it fully. The Thornmother- A powerful forest entity angered by logging operations. Entire logging camps have vanished overnight. The Emerald Choir- A secret cult worshipping an ancient entity beneath the city. They believe Verdanthold was built on a sealed primordial prison. The Old City Below- The original city buried beneath Verdanthold. Creatures now inhabit the ruins: shadow beasts, forgotten constructs, cursed spirits, gangs, and smugglers The Ironpine Ruins- Ancient structures in the nearby mountains have begun emitting strange magical signals. Explorers report glowing runes awakening after centuries of silence.