Weland

Contact: spacegy4

Contact: hawkwrite

Town: Weland

Mayor: Okamura, Taiji

History:

Before the unification of Terrenus brought about by the Saint, Odin Haze, the Okamura clan roamed the wilderness. They were known for their sword skill, hired often by those who sought to oppress the weak. Known for skill, accuracy and ruthlessness, they built wealth upon the blood and bodies of others.

This changed when the land was blessed and unification came. Wise enough to change with the times, the dynasty’s bloody pursuit ended. The clan settled in an uninhabited land, Weland, named perhaps for the wetlands it sprawled through – or perhaps as a symbol of the unity of the clan.

Under the guidance of Hotaka Okamura, the clan turned their blades to hammers, and their ruthlessness into artisanship. Prosperity shaped the city into a polished and pleasant one. With a mind for comfort bringing peace, Hotaka sculpted the city into a green one with sprawling gardens, smooth stone streets, beautiful architecture and prosperous homes.

He welcomed outside trade and cultural diversity, and built a community where knowledge is shared between gnomes, dwarves and the occasional yuang-ti. Displays of swordsmanship and skill are still welcome at public holidays. These tournaments, alongside the city’s impressive Guard and Police forces, are reminders that the Okamura family were not always peaceful crafters.

Today:

Weland is a prosperous city known for its simple beauty and clean air, said to be scented with a thousand lotus blossoms. Sprawling gardens are filled with flowers, sculpted trees and quiet nooks. Along narrow cobblestoned alleyways are numerous shops: tea houses, where painted courtesans entertain. Cloth merchants, selling fine and well-fitting wares. And, in the Teka District, shop after shop is filled with the furnace of blacksmiths, sword-makers and armories. It is said that near this district, underground fighting rings will pay a fine purse to winners who can also put on a show.

Many residents make their homes in traditional siheyuan – four-walled courtyard homes that catacomb across the city. One slum sprawls on the edge of town, near the rice patties that feed so many of Weland’s residents.

Hotaka’s son, Taiji Okamura, was peacefully elected ruler as his elderly father stepped down. He maintained the balance of peace, but many wondered if he was a ruler in his own right, or simply a reflection of his father’s will.

Main Attractions:

The Teka District – These narrow streets are filled with shop after shop of weapon’s crafters, who hammer out some of the finest swords in all of Terrenus.

Okamura’s Grace – This thirteen-story building, which sits upon an octagonal base, lies at the city’s center. It’s a testament to the Okamura famiy and their dedication to greatness. The first floor of the building is a free public library, with sections dedicated to the clan history and the knowledge of arms-making. Other floors are dedicated to the City Guard, and the municipal management of the city.

In the top three floors are the family’s current keep, with floor-to-ceiling windows to view the sprawling green city. The third floor from the top is used as the office of the current mayor, Taiji. The top two floors are rarely seen by non-family members, and contain the family’s living quarters, training dojo, and a place of worship.

The City Gardens and Jade Lake – The city gardens sprawl for a few blocks outside of the Grace. Public and open for enjoyment, they contain a variety of plant and flower species cultivated for enjoyment. Pathways wind through them, with plenty of benches for peaceful contemplation beneath the bows of a willow, or at the edge of a koi pond. The Jade Lake spreads in a ring, separating the Grace from the gardens, resembling a moat. Graceful arched bridges have guards posted, keeping watch over who enters the grounds of the Grace – although the lower floors are often open to the public. Swans and waterfowl can often be seen gliding over the Jade Lake’s waters, or nesting on the banks near the famous water lilies.

Renmin Square – The main gathering place for the people of Weland, this square is home to a bustling outdoor market a few days a week. It’s also the sight of many public events, including tournaments, official appearances, and city-wide elections.

The Hotaka Blossom – A boisterous tea house, tavern and inn, named after Weland’s last ruler. The default meetup spot, if you can’t think of your own. The Blossom has dormitory-style rooms at a budget price, and private rooms for a little more. The top level of the tea house, with a terraced view of the city, also employs some of Weland’s most entrancing courtesans who will sit, chat, entertain, play music – or even a little more – for the right price.

The Saezaeshita Spring - A hot spring that rests as the heart of Weland City, near Renmin Square. The water is said to restore lost vitality and promote a healthier living in those who consume it. Bottled up and sold it also acts as one of the main exports of Weland, for both the curative nature as well the mysterious fact it remains warm even after being away from the spring for long periods of time. The tea houses that sprawl across Weland brew popular remedies from its waters.

Population: Culturally diverse with a predominance of humans, gnomes, halflings, dwarves and the occasional yuang-ti.

Watchmen
-- Director of Defense: Masato Okamura
-- 10,000 Guards, trained by the military and assigned from all across Terrenus.
-- 10,000 local police. The local police are a structured militia, for all intents and purposes. Since they are made up primarily of the citizens, as opposed to having been assigned by the military, the police are more likely to be corrupt.
-- PeaceKeeper: Raphael Zaffre.

Quests
To read about quests, click here go to Terrenus Quest Index and use your browser's Find feature, or just scroll, to find the specific town. These quests can be taken up by anyone.

Canon

1. The Lady of Day River is a ghost that was identified as having been the young woman Bristarra. Thanks to the efforts of a few brave adventurers, it was found that Bristarra's father conspired her death and was in league with the captain of the guard in Weland, a man named Dargo.
2. In End Our Sacrifice, The Syndicate of Mercenaries visits Weland, in peril from a shadow dragon demanding human sacrifice in exchange for their city's safety. They are successful in their endeavors.
3. In Light the Pyre, the funeral procession of the now decased Hotaka Okamura is interrupted by a terrible explosion, which brings Renmin Square down to rubble. Jericho and Ventis solve solve the crime. Jericho and Ventis nonetheless helped put a dangerous and well-connected man behind bars, and were made honorary deputies because of it.

Credit: To Carlos, for some core information.
To Eileen, for everything else and then some.