Tales of Avanturia 1

Chapter 0: About Avanturia

Tales of Avanturia:

Capital Cities:

The capital city is Ravigrad – a gigantic city, which is in the east of Avanturia. It is surrounded by mountains, which serve as a kind of defense line, except for the harbour in the southern east of the city.

Ravigrad is also where the king Theon Redmane lives. At the day it is filled with all kinds of people, traders, vendors, adventurers and more. But at night it reveals it's other side.. Because eventhough the king lives here, he is not the one controlling the city, even if he might think that.

Ravigrad is actually under control of the four underground bosses of which one of them is the king of them. Those four men are in charge of a gang. They are murderers, thieves, vandalists and all sorts of criminals...

But even the dirtiest of criminals have at least a bit honour in them, hence they have codex which everyone has to follow. This codex origins back to the first leaders, who created it hundreds of years ago.

The next big city is called Autumn Fall (*Fall as in falling down) and it's the trading capital of Avanturia and the smallest of the four capitals. A peaceful harbour city in the far west. It has the biggest harbour in the entire land and provides the trade with all of the surrounding islands aswell as the other nations. In the world.

Without Autumn Fall, Avanturia would have a severe lack of resources and wares and it wouldn't have the highly praised reputation that it has now. Also, it is the only city in all of Avanturia with a dwarven gunsmith, that builds only the most high quality ranged arms, for a fairly ludicrious prize..

Instead of most of the other cities Autumn Fall is actually peaceful. Other than one might expect from a trader city, the crime rate is lower than three percent and this is because of the marvelous leading from the cities major, Asbjorn Iron-hand and his way of handling things. There are no poor, but no rich. Everyone has what they need, not more not less. In the harbour is a big stone statue of a dragon, which is the emblem of Avanturia.

In the far south, in the heart of the Khi'al Dir desert is the big city of Muinn Dir. A place, where the blackmarket reigns. They promise you the most precious bits and goods of the world – to a fine price, but don't you trust them if you aim to keep your money instead of fake wares. It is rare that there are actual things of great worth, but if they are, don't expect them to be cheap.

Also, you should always make sure that you have your purse close to you, because pickpocketing is more common than anywhere else in this place – and it's always the children..

Poverty is written in capital letters in this part of the Avanturia, because the desert is merciless and a harsh terrain. Many people have never returned after their journey to this place. But what would drag someone to a place like this? Well the local townsfolk is known for their culinary talents. The best cooks in the world come from here. So many people go there just to try the delicious food.

Well, some other... people go their for other reasons.. Because underneath the surface of Muinn Dir is the actual city. A residence for the filthiest of criminals. Underground brothels, an even bigger blackmarket and of course one band of criminals – Assassins, killers for hire. Drugs, weapons, guns, poisons, even forbidden spells – sold for a bold price, but the wares are right, if you have the coin to afford them. Just don't get caught!

And last but not least, Gundirsvall in the far north. On top of the mountain chain of Lorindir. The pressure, the lack of oxygen in the highest parts and the deadly, merciless cold, the folk of Gundirsvall live under the most extreme conditions. The people there are known for their marvelous craftsmanship. The strongest swords, axes, maces, spears, daggers and shields aswell as armor that the land has ever seen. No one has ever bested them at their art of blacksmithing.