Leona

The painted city

Summary

Leona is a prospering settlement on Ivras' southwestern coast. Once an independent city-state much like Ivras itself, Leona was peacefully incorporated into the kingdom and has been one of the nation's most important ports ever since.

The city is stunning; built along the riverine shores and islets of an estuary, it is a labyrinth of canals, bridges, and brightly-painted houses that crowd the shores and provide a home for the burgeoning population. Rowing boats and sailing ships alike frequent the busy harbours that trade in all kinds of goods; from fish and fabric to diamonds and gold.

However, the city's advance has not been without pain. In the dark alleys and ramshackle houses that sprawl across the riverside, criminals and cutpurses slither in the shadows, corrupt politicians and merchants scheme, and mages seeking power strike fortunate deals. Above it all rises the imposing Castle Gwaed; a magnificent fortress occupying the largest island on the river mouth. It is the home of the House Fola, a noble family of knights and mages that have ruled the City for over a century. The current ruler is Lady Kaid, an admiral in the Navy and a fair, shrewd leader. She unexpectedly assumed leadership after the apparent death of her brother, Lord Moacir.

Map

Appearance and culture

Most of Leona’s fame stems from her looks, and for good reason. Nicknamed ‘The Painted City’, Leona’s buildings are often painted in bright, rich colours and decorated with dozens of patterns and designs. Every district seems to have their own style; the rickety wooden buildings of the harbour known for their flaking shades of blue, often accompanied by paintings of ships and vast shoals of fish, the upper-class north of the city covered in shining gold and silver, accompanied by intricate metalwork and delicate murals, and the busy market streets full of rainbow of colours and designs, each building reflecting the tastes of the merchants, dockworkers, and other citizens who call Leona home. It is common for those who move into a new home to add to the previous owner’s decor. This tradition of painting and colour was established after Leona was incorporated into Ivras; the city had been ruined by conflict between noble houses vying for rule, and as the citizens rebuilt they painted over the damage with these designs.

Leona is split in two by the estuary. West River is the wealthier area of the city. Rows of fine stone buildings are home to merchants, business people, and other middle class citizens of the city. At the very centre is the market square, full to the brim with tents and stalls selling goods from Ivras and beyond. The air is full of spices, smoke from cooking fires, and the incense that wafts from the great temple to Fortune, Leona’s chosen patron, that rises above everything else in the area. The walls of this imposing place of worship are lined with statues of Leona’s past lords. The latest face is the late Lord Moacir Fola, who’s face is still being carved by the master stonemasons.

To the south is The Promenade, the wealthiest area of the City. The houses here are colossal and carved intricately from white stone. This is the home of the aristocrats and nobles, who help the Lord govern Leona. The Pinnacle Knights, Leona’s protectors, reside in a fortified building in the central square. A lucky few have homes on the tiny islands that dot the rivers edge; a refuge from the bustling city. The most obvious landmark, however, is Castle Gwaed. Built from dark rock, the castle is a stark contrast to the elegant houses of the elite. It casts its brutal shadow over the rest of The Promenade, reminding all of who holds the power in Leona. Some say the castle has dungeons beneath, where house Fola’s mages practise dark rituals. Anyone with any sense knows that the only thing beneath the castle is the wine cellars, where Lord Fola kept his finest alcohol hidden.

Across the water are the cramped, busy streets of East River. Here, the craftspeople and other labourers reside. Every house bares the sign of a different trade; cobbler, blacksmith, collier, greengrocer, and more. The uneven roads are difficult to navigate, and are always full of carts and wagons full of goods from the docks. Surprisingly, in the middle of the chaos is a quiet, green garden. Small trees sway pleasantly at the wind, surrounding a tall, dead tree in the very centre, covered with colourful ribbons. This is grace’s shrine, and it is said that if you climb to the very top and tie a ribbon with your wish upon it to the branches, grace will grant you favour.

Below East River are the Grand Canals and the Docklands. Here, the goods and passengers from the port pour into Leona and out into the rest of Ivras. The houses are made of rickety wood, and tend to jut out over the water on wooden stilts. Shady inns, thieves, and corruption are commonplace here, but the tough dockworkers push through the crime and mud to bring home an honest living. On small islands beyond the docks, the port and trade managers oversee all goings on, legal or not. Unfortunately, murders are the most common here. Some say vampiric creatures rise from the water at night to feed on sleeping people, but this is just another of Leona’s fanciful tales.

Finally, Market Bridge brings these two halves of the city together. Lined with food stalls, this is the place to go to taste some of the brilliantly spicy dishes Leona has to offer. Fish curries are common here, alongside mussels, crab, and lobster. From the bridge, you can see the estuary open to the Mirror Bay, or see the origins of the river in the woodlands just behind the city. The bridge is connected to a large island. Here is Destiny’s shrine: a wide stone platform that is a site of worship but also where the city holds outdoor plays in the summer.

Leona’s most important feature, however, is the water. Canals weave through the city, both man made and formed by the estuaries islands, providing a convenient way to travel. Cargo from the docks travels on massive wooden barges, and the citizens of the city jump on canoes, narrowboats, and sailing vessels to navigate the maze of colour and water. This includes the river itself; its currents are sluggish but reliable, allowing large vessels to easily slip in and out of the port. The citizens see the river as a bringer of riches and good luck. Every year, a festival to celebrate Fortune breaks out along the Market Bridge, and the citizens throw coins into the water to thank the river for all the good it brings.

History

Before Ivras ruled the peninsula and was still a growing city state, Leona emerged as a similar entity, having once been a humble fishing settlement. Leona grew rich and powerful under its first rulers, and the city only grew bigger as opportunistic workers, merchants, and nobles flocked to grab their share of riches, settling along the western riverbank. Those less fortunate ended up on the east side of the river, working in the sprawling docks.

Despite this disparity in the population, the city remained stable… for a time. One day, a noble willing to take a risk slit the ruler’s throat as he slept, sparking a war for sucession amongst the noble families. While hey hired mercenaries and warred in the streets, the common people fell to the wayside, and as trade disappeared amongst the chaos, people began to starve. Riots broke out, and soon the city was in ruin.

The suffering only ended when the Pinnacle Knights, an order of warriors that had been established to protect the city, rose up under their leader Sir Fola and managed to defeat the remaining families still fighting over a destroyed city. Fola established himself as ruler, and swore to the despondent population that he would rebuild.

At this time, Ivras was conquering the rest of the peninsula. To avoid dragging the city into another conflict, Fola surrendered peacefully to the new country, promising allegiance in exchange for remaining in charge of the city. Ivras agreed to the deal.

At first, the population were angered by their loss of independence, but as Ivratian merchants arrived and trade began to rise again, their qualms were forgotten as they were finally able to rebuild and return to their once beautiful city.

Now, Leona is one of Ivras’ biggest ports, and it remains a rich city, full of opportunities for those bold enough to seize them. The city has not faced a disater on the scale of their war for generations. However, the city is still grieving the loss of their last Lord, Moacir Fola.

Moacir was an average ruler in terms of governance, but as a knight and warrior he was unmatched. During his reign, he promised to keep the city safe from the sudden rise of monsters, and he himself fought in many battles for the city’s safety. His greatest exploit was his slaying of the once wise leader of the magical research institution in the city, Mage Ulv. Out of nowhere, Ulv corrupted into a massive, canine monster. The beast had rampaged through The Promenade, the city’s wealthiest district, before Moacir is said to have cracked his skull in two with a single blow from his warhammer. He took his skin as a prize, and wore it as a grisly cape for the rest of his reign. His sudden death from illness took the city by suprise, and many have been left fearing another monster attack since his passing.

Feel free to use Leona in whatever way you want; your character lives there, backstory stuff, roleplays, etc, no need to ask me!