Old Vashton

This is the Capital city of The Divided Regions of Bestaria and is where the Visible Council operates from and rules the country. Even before the separation of the DRB from Duthgar there were six houses which ruled over the city and hold all of the real power within the city which are known as the Houses of Old Vashton. Most of those on the visable council are prominent members of one of the houses and so most people basically think nothing has changed and now they rule the country as well.

Below the city there is a vast array of interconnecting twisting and turning tunnels known as the Catacombs the are a number of precious artefacts from before The Emergence as well as magical items lost by other adventures who have dared to explore them.

Map
Here are two maps of Old Vashton one indicating where the districts are and the other that highlights the points of interest within the city

Demographics
Just over half of the city are human but there is also a large number of other species from the Dwaves who live in Forgelight District, Gnomes who have taken up residence in The Cross or the Half-orcs coming to put their natural fighting skills to use as adventurers in the Catacombs.

Law
There is a tradition where by if you carry out a crime the judge may decided that you can be pardoned from the punishment if they're able to obtain Letters of Pardon from Houses of Old Vashton.

While duelling and fighting is legal within the city it must be attended by a trained healer and the victor must stop the second their opponent goes unconscious and con only legally can begin when the healer declares that both combatants are in their right mind and not under the influence of magic, drugs or alcohol. any property damage or wounds inflicted on people outside of the duel is legally a criminal act of both duellers and both have to pay full recompense as if they alone did the damage.

There is one area within the city of Old Vashton in which the laws of the land kind of break down, at the entrance of the Temple District there are seven temples to The Unseen gods which are allowed to protect acts of worship to their god within the temple walls, for instance within the Pranuneron the practice of necromancy is allowed, or The Field of Destruction where you are allowed to have fights to the death or even worse where straight up murder is allowed within The Midnight Maze. There are warning signs on the outside of these temples and temple guards from the Seen gods across the street tend to try and warn people not to enter, and it would still be illegal to simply drag someone over the threshold of the temple and stab them, but if someone steps over by their own will then they are fair game.

Defences
The areas of this city which still have standing walls from before The Emergence are considered pretty much unbreachable though they are still patrolled but more lightly, the other sections of the wall which have been built to replace the missing parts are more heavily defended mainly by House Deneith but House Orien and House Phiarlan also help. There are a number of tall towers set along the walls which are known as the Roost Towers for Arial defence, while the well trained House Deneith practice regiment and skirmish fighting in case of war or siege.

Industry
There is a massive industry here for many things from enchanted weapons and constructs both arcane and clockwork right down to leather works alcohols and mundane metal and wood work. Much of the Mundane craft is corrected by House Kundarkak while much of the Arcane production is done by House Orien and sold across the city and in other cities by House Ghallanda.

History
The city was built into the ruins of a very badly damaged Akarieans city but one of the largest Akarieans that has ever been found, only the Silent City comes anywhere close. Many of the Pre Emergence artefacts were taken away or sold as the city was founded but those that were hidden beneath the city were left due to the danger involved in gathering them which they were then acquired on behalf of the city and were kept there for its benefit and use.

Architecture
There are walls between each district within the city as well as large thick walls around the outside where the Akarieans walls no longer stand.

This city was built into the ruins of an Akarieans city which was very heavily damaged but there is a reasonable portion which now makes up the southwest region of the city. There are a number of damaged and undamaged structures throughout this region which are utilised in different ways from incredibly expensive houses to an ammo and weapons cash for House Deneith. Many of the other houses especially in the richer areas of town then try to paint their houses as bright white as they can but rarely can they stay white for that long, especially in Forgelight District.

Districts
There are nine different districts of Old Vashton

The Respite District

The Cross District

The Market District

Southwatch District

Old Town District

Temple District

Open Gate District

Silverwall District

Forgelight District

Locations the party has visited / heard of
The Ladies Blessing (a Dress maker in eastern Market district, run by Sulha Oxborn)

The Freshly Caked (A small mid level bakery in The Cross District, run by Jornak Anderton)

Spellbound Ink's and Paper (A stationary store that has closed but used to specialises in Arcane quality paper and ink, run by Rurik Jarevor)

Brimsend Cobblers (A shoe and boot shop run by Brogan and his brother Bobbit)