Sestra

Origin/History

Sestra is a small village near Sundren's central coast. Unlike its sister settlements, Sestra was founded much later (1352, the Year after the Exigo's great expansion) for the sole purpose of allowing new commoners locations outside of the capital's walls to settle in. Boasting unrivaled fishing and farming, Sestra is a bountiful town blessed by the goddess Chauntea. A shrine erected to her blessing is placed in the southern part of town, not far from the Mey Savak Monestary.

The first cousin of Jarius Malifar, Exarch of Port Avanthyr, was named as exarch of the small town during its establishment and has lived there since in the vast mansion that was built to such size to draw residents, and in anticipation of the small towns planned growth. Rumor has it that even the underworld has contacts in Sestra, if you know where to look.

The Sestra Caverns weren't discovered to be inhabited until many years after the settling of the town. Until the town began to encroach on the growing lizardman population, the two people had lived in peace unknowingly to each others existence. This lead to the dreaded Lizard War in 1376 that caused such pain and turmoil for the town, and brought the Corps de Grace into light as a worthy defender of the people.

In 1381, the Second Bloodmaim Wars bring with it the destruction of Sundarian Legion forces in Sestra; the town then fell under the rulership of the Black Hand. The tyrannical grip of Bane saw the rise of many prominent politicians, war-leaders, conquerors, and dreadmasters.

With the declaration of the Silent Peace in 1389, Sestra underwent a revolution of sorts. Under the iron leadership of Grand Marshal Hashart Datton and his troops, the town flourished in light of the Emperor's olive branch of peace. Datton cracked down on the fanatical tendencies of the Black Hand, forcing out those who would continuously seek open warfare with the Sundarian Empire and Port Avanthyr. After the Colibrite vampires vanished during the Duskfall, Hashart's efforts came to fruition; the Black Hand as it was known in the past was completely eradicated.

Datton's philosophy of iron order combined with a tempered approach to other religions has proven to improve the lives of Sestran peasantry. Festivals to Chauntea are encouraged, and while Bane is the patron god of the town, those who worship goodly gods are not killed on sight. However, that isn't to say that those who swear fealty to other cities and the Triumvirate are welcomed and proselytizing to any gods besides Bane or Myrkul within the city is not allowed. The only exceptions to the ban on preaching of other faiths publicly must be approved by the Exarch and his council. A non-aggression pact, supported by the Regional Council, is hardly a full peace treaty. Rather, Sestra instead seeks to gather resources and strength by instituting mandatory military service.

With Datton's passing, it remains to be seen in what direction the new Exarch will lead the city.

Government

Sestra's government is led by an Exarch. A cabinet, the "Exalted Ministry," supports and advises the Exarch in all relevant city affairs.

Exarch Wyman Zuul

While a hard man, the current Exarch is supremely ambitious and intelligent. Wyman Zuul sees a myriad of opportunities in the expansion of diplomatic ties and economic expansion inside (and out of) the valley. He believes this is the most prudent way to build his own legacy and expand the base of his power. The Exarch outwardly follows the traditions of Banite faith laid out by previous Exarchs, but he is far from being devout.

The Exalted Ministry

- Grand Chancellor, Guillaume San Bastillio
- Minister of War, Grand Marshal Regus Drach
- Minister of Coin, Lord Percival Wetherrun
- Minister of the Faith, Imperceptor Pyrane

Places of Interest

Exarch’s Keep, Shrine of Chauntee, Black Cloaks HQ, Sable Order's Manse, Monastary, Sestra Plateau

Prominent Residents/Organizations

The Order of the Rod and Star, the "Black Cloaks"
The Sable Order
House de Baudelaire
House Wetherrun
House Mossglow

Economy

Population Approximate: 13,000

Physical and Magical Environment

Terrain: Plains, Ocean
Appearance: Attractive
Hygiene: 0 (Port town, not naturally healthy environs -1; Strict public health control +1)
Normal Magic (Common Enchantment, due to the town's imported goods)

Culture and Economy

Language: Common
Literacy: Accented
Wealth: Comfortable
Status: -2 to 6 (Slave to Exarch)

Political Environment

Government: Exarch
Ruling party: Black Cloaks/Sable Order

Trade

Major Imports: Lumber, Commodities, Minerals, Cotton, Glass

Major Exports: Fish, Metals, Gemstones, Armaments (Rodcraft), Wheat

Economic Analysis

Sestra's port, while not as large or as extensive as Avanthyr's, does have a significant amount of trade and commerce from outside Sundren's borders. Importantly, Sestra's mines provide it with significant veins of ore that are both traded and used in the town in order to forge weapons and armor. Sestra's wheat fields feed the town as well, and the surplus is traded both inland and at sea. Sestra has a particular chip on its shoulder when it comes to competition with Avanthyr. While they cannot hope to match Avanthyr's established trade routes, Sestra's rulers seek to find a foothold into the sea trade. Currently, it has a provisional contract with Avanthyr's Navy in order to protect the routes that exist going to and from the former Black Hand stronghold. This causes a bit of tension between the two, as they both rely upon one another for either safe sea trade or income to fund Avanthyr's forces. While their access to the international waters are not as widespread as Avanthyr's, they've been creeping up to the Port's productivity levels. A good deal of corporate espionage exists between the two port cities, each trying their best to undermine and to steal trade from the other.

Notes

Military Strength: Sestra's land forces are a significant power house in the valley, second only to Sundren City. Mandatory military service has created a population familiar with at the very least basic combat and military discipline. The city, when it forges blades, has a tendency to enchant in the darker side of magics, giving its military a distinct edge in battle. While the military has a resting set of forces that are on par with most of the valley, it can call in reserves consisting of its general populace to garner greater numbers than even Sundren City.

Range of Territory: Sestra's territory has expanded around its land based borders more than it has the waters around it. Sestra's fields stretch around it, worked by generations of Sestrans, descended from both the Sundarian Empire as well as the Black Hand. Such distinctions have melted away over the last half century, and now only someone's great grandfather really remembers the horrors of Black Hand rule before Marshal Datton.

Current Problems: Avanthyr's competition with Sestra has been slowly boiling for the last ten years or so. War hasn't broken out, but tensions are strained. Sestra's military continues to drill, raising Avanthyr's hackles, while Avanthyr continues its war games at sea in order to keep its navy in top shape. Both sides are wary of one another, but neither wishes to make the first move.

To understand how the Economic System works, click HERE.

Legends

Many of the rocks, reefs and outcrops along the coast have names and legends attached, others are simply named for their appearance. Notable names include:

Thralls Leap, Lovers Drop, The Bishops, Dead Horse Pool, Big Cock, Long Drop, Short Drop, False Drop (Three connected cliffs), Devils Teeth, The Stage, Bad End and The Drunken Dancers.

Of concern here are two connected items – The Nine Bitches and Queens Pulpit.

The Nine Bitches and the Queen's Pulpit

Shortly after Sestra was founded a visit was paid by a priestess of Umberlee and her Eight acolytes.

The nine stayed in the town for two nights, demanding much of the town people and town workers.

They claimed that on the third night of their stay they would leave the town and summon a terrible storm from the sea. If the town folk did not see to their every whim then the storm would destroy the fledgling town, but if they left satisfied then the town would be spared.

On the third night, after much wine, food and the choice selection of men and women from the town, the group left. A full moon exposed a long causeway leading out to a large rock known as the Queens Pulpit, as the nine Umberleans reached the halfway point a great storm sprang up, and a giant wave swallowed all on the causeway.

The following morning there was no sign of the nine, but a new series of dark tooth-like rocks, covered in seaweed and rope that swelled around them like dresses stood where the nine had been – Turned to stone to serve Umberlee for eternity, and as punishment for taking what should have been Umberlee’s treasures for themselves.

The rocks were known from then on as The Nine Bitches, for the demands and torment they’d laid on the townspeople.

On the darkest and stormiest nights it is said the nine stones return to their human form and can be seen lighting fires and dancing for their mistress on top of the Queens Pulpit.