Caulois

Caulois is easily the biggest port among the human realms, a massive city built on the western coast of the Bite. The sea along its coast is flat and deep, allowing easy access for ships from abroad to enter the city. Other Routot ports are hedged in by cliffs and abundant coastal rocks, making them far more limited in the scope of traffic that can frequent their ports. Its Kings have been among the wealthiest in the Routot lands, rivalling even the Kings of Houlm and Cars in terms of sheer monetary influence. The city itself is as cosmopolitan as can be, hosting a great variety of races and peoples from across the world. Distant travellers mix freely with poor rural peasants, and all live more or less harmoniously among one another. The city has long been coveted by other Kings, though none have managed to ensnare the port into their own clutches.

Politics

Caulois’ politics are fairly unique among the Routot kingdoms. With its immense wealth, and position as a trading port stretching back to its foundation, it has long been desired by other kings, who covet the power that its ownership provides. As such the Kings of Caulois have been practically under siege for their entire history, beset on all sides by those who would seek to steal their birthright, both from within the city and without. Commanding sea trade, they have found great influence among other port kingdoms, all of whom rely on Caulois for easy access to markets across the confederacy. As heads of their own faction, they have managed to resist the bulk of meddling from the Archduke and other central kingdoms, maintaining their independence in the face of intense pressure. The Kings of Caulois have cultivated long-standing relationships with several mercenary groups to help defend the city, providing them with land, legitimacy and fortifications in exchange for their support.

Within his own realm, King Jehan is very dynamic, reacting to threats to his reign with lightning speed. A vast network of spies and informants helps to ferry him a constant stream of information, allowing him and his agents to cut off attacks before they even materialize. Crime bosses are allowed to go about their business, provided they support the crown, while certain guilds are given special privileges to ensure their support as well. Deals such as this are what make up the backbone of King Jehan’s rule, and allow for a peaceful reign over the tumultuous city. Despite this, at a more local level, things are almost never at ease. Merchants feud, gangs retaliate against one another, and everyone seems to be scheming for some reason or another. All of this contributes to the hectic nature of the kingdom, and provides much of its charm as well.

Groups

Jomsmen

One of the oldest mercenary bands in Caulois, the Jomsmen are a well-respected and immensely important part of the kingdom’s past. The first mercenaries to be hired by the city, they have been omnipresent since, incorporated into the noble hierarchy of the kingdom and granted a place of honour among the court of its Kings. Originally a company of Arrans, the group now encompasses members of all sorts, provided they swear allegiance to the Grand Master of their order and King Jehan. Built very similarly to an Arran knightly order, the Jomsmen control several fortifications at the northern reaches of the Kingdom’s borders, acting as a deterrent for any who would seek to encroach upon them. Its current Grandmaster, Thorkell Sauer, has served as the Marshal for Caulois’ forces for much of his adult life, and takes his role very seriously. Occasionally, the Jomsmen have served as an expeditionary force on behalf of the King, venturing out to assist allies or to represent the city’s interests abroad. Most recently, this involved taking part in the crusades in the Midlands.

Vardari

With the influx of Comati refugees from the south following the collapse of that great empire, Caulois found itself inundated with boats fleeing those distant shores. Accepting as many as they could, the city was bogged down by an abundance of new and homeless peoples. Crime spread, as hygiene and living conditions worsened. The King of Caulois at the time tasked the Comati with policing their own, keeping them in separate neighbourhoods to contain their lawlessness and other problems. Drawing its members largely from Comati legion veterans, the Vardari proved to be an effective police force and militia, quickly enforcing and maintaining the order demanded of them. Over time, the Vardari became the de facto city watch for the entire city, effective and disciplined in their role. They still enjoy this status today, having in their heritage and organization some remnants of the Comati that founded them. Now, any member may join their ranks, however, though they are very strict in their enforcement of law. When pressed, they can be called upon to defend the city, and have been on a handful of occasions.

The College of the Arcane

While mistrusted across much of the world, sorcerers and magicians have found a home in Caulois. Founding the College of the Arcane, known locally as simply the College, the school is a sprawling campus near the centre of the city. Having been granted the land on a promise to support and defend the King of Caulois, the school has never openly taken action against its monarch. Accusations swirl of the nebulous connections between sorcerers across the kingdoms, however, and the College serves as the nexus for each tendril of rumour and gossip. The school mirrors the diversity of its host city, attracting students from across Oderen and beyond. Offering classes in astronomy, alchemy and other arts, the school boasts a contingent of wealthy students seeking enlightenment and education in the esoteric. The tuition from these students funds the true specialty of the school, allowing for the collection of artifacts and experiments to push the bounds of magical knowledge and understanding. The vast library and archive of the College is worthy of note, buying and appraising artifacts brought in by adventurers.

Landmarks

Personalities

King Jehan

Jehan is a very unique lord within the Routot Confederacy. He is easily the wealthiest, owing to the unbelievably profitable port city of Caulois. And yet, for all of his riches, he is not influential beyond his own borders. In fact, many of the other Routot lords actively work against his plots, seeking to undermine and strip away whatever they can from the King. Despite this, he is a very jovial and helpful man, charitable and generous with his money. All of this belies a vast network of spies and schemes, stretching from his city into his neighbours and beyond. Caulois is wealthy, but also vulnerable. As diverse as it is, it has proven an extraordinarily unwieldy beast to manage, and King Jehan is acutely aware of his unstable support. Using his money to buy the loyalty of mercenaries and others of influence, under the guise of charitable patronage, has allowed him to shore up what was once a great weakness in his realm. As long as he continues with this charity, he is convinced, he can keep the daggers at bay and maintain a grip over his kingdom.

Thorkell the Tall

The Josmen are a professional military force commissioned long ago by the Kings of Caulois to defend the kingdom. From near it’s foundation, the city has come under assault, having to bring in mercenaries to bolster its own forces and prevent any sort of conquest. The Jomsmen were one of these first orders, and have been a major part of the kingdom’s defences ever since. Founded by dispossessed Arran knights, the Jomsmen act as something resembling one of that realm’s knightly orders, having a strict hierarchy and ritual initiation rites. Their leadership has had titles heaped upon it by Kings across the years, now formally titled as Grand Master. Those who have held the post often have long histories and glories of their own, and the current one is no different. Thorkell, known as ‘the Tall’ for his great stature, is an absolute bear of a man. Broad shouldered and nearly seven feet tall, the man is intimidating just to look at. He earned his role through battlefield prowess, having a vast reputation for violence. He hails from a small Arran noble family, and inherited some courtly manners through this heritage. Nonetheless, he is a true mercenary by trade, and is far more comfortable among the soldiery than among nobility. Thorkell is a hulking man, who towers over almost all he meets. He has a bushy beard that explodes from his chin, with deep set eyes that make his brow look furrowed.

Ademar Bossuet, Spymaster

Caulois sits as a coveted jewel in the eyes of many Routot kings. Each seeks to control the city and its surrounding kingdom, profiting off the trade that pours through its docks. This has led to many assaults and campaigns to overrun the port, though none have been completely successful. Mercenaries and fortifications act as visual deterrents to these attacks, but it’s the actions of the King and his spies that truly keep Caulois safe. Chief among these men is Ademar Bossuet, spymaster and counsellor to King Jehan. A smart and cunning man, Ademar began as a young and minor agent for the throne. He discovered the treachery of his own superior, and informed on it to the King directly. His loyalty and investigative work saw him elevated, and eventually he became the right hand for Jehan. The two men are roughly the same age, and work together closely. Ademar is clever and ruthless, and has had immense success in his various schemes. Upon his ascension, he restructured the spy networks in the kingdom, replacing many he knew to be corrupt with men loyal to himself. Born a mere commoner, he has been granted the title of Count by Jehan, though he holds no lands. Ademar is a distinguished man, with pointed features and an aquiline nose. A tightly trimmed goatee and short black hair adorns his head, while fashionable and flamboyant clothing is his preferred costume.

Alipia, Vardari Watch Captain

The Vardari are the city watch in Caulois, policing and enforcing justice across the city. Created by Comati refugees centuries ago, they originated as a militia to both defend and keep their own in line. Proven effective at their job, they were eventually given an expanded role in the city, slowly given dominion over various neighbourhoods. Each is controlled by a precinct house, each with its own hierarchy of sorts. The chief Vardari sits as a counsellor to the King, governing the city’s order and legal practices. Beneath them and commanding each of the precincts is a Watch Captain, who rules as their own petty lord of the district, empowered to mete out judgement and act to ensure public order. One of these such captains is Alipia, a Comati descendant whose entire family has served in the Vardari. Taking her role extraordinarily seriously, she has devoted herself to the tenets of the order, considered by many in the city to be the pinnacle of what the Vardari stands for. Her hard-line attitude has earned her many enemies, both among the criminal underworld in the city and its elites who use the criminals for their own ends. Surrounding herself with equally fervent justicars has enabled her to survive for as long as she has, and there are many in the city who endure her tenure with pleasure. Alipia is tall and slender, yet muscular. Her plain face is marred by a broken nose and scars, from her many fights in taverns and inns across the city. Her skin is tanned as the Comati of old, with black hair and hazel eyes.

Rosinka 'Blackhorn', Crime Boss

Gangs in Caulois are pervasive, infecting nearly every aspect of society among the kingdom. From the lowest gutter to the highest court, they have representatives or contacts. King Jehan often uses them to enforce his own agenda, ensuring their activities are given some tolerance in return for their support or action in certain situations. This sort of tit for tat has ensured the survival of many crime bosses in the face of Vardari crackdowns, and ensures that the biggest fish in the city always live to fight another day. Among these, perhaps none are more notorious than Rosinka. Known more commonly as the Blackhorn, the Noreya gang leader is renowned for her brutality and ruthless efficiency. Her youth was marked by several slaughters of rival gangs, engaging in a spree of wars to expand her turf and claim ever greater territory. Any of those she couldn’t destroy outright, she bribed or extorted into submission, turning her empire into one of the most powerful syndicates in the kingdom. This power has garnered her vast influence among the King’s court, especially among his spymaster. The pair work together to support the King, and in return Ademar sees to it that Rosinka is tipped off to Vardari activity regarding her own dealings. Despite these constant roadblocks, she remains at the top of the Vardari’s most wanted, and is a personal nemesis of Watch Captain Alipia. Rosinka is a pink Noreya, with black horns that give her her name. A tail swishes behind her when she walks, and digitigrade legs make her more demonic than human. Her temper is ferocious, yet she is more often cold and calculating.

Kagetaka Anai, Smuggler

Sea Elves have a delicate history in Caulois. With such an emphasis on trade, it was obvious that the Elves would try and establish connections within the city, and soon they had practically overwhelmed its docks, saturating the markets and city with their own ships and traders. Pushed out, the Kings of Caulois were petitioned to put restrictions on the Sea Elves to protect internal trade and native merchants. And so limits were placed on the Sea Elves, intended to restrict their trade in the city and ensure others could compete and participate as well. These limits have done much to secure and develop Caulois’ own industries, but has hedged out the Sea Elves too much. Embittered by the policies, the Elves consistently try to skirt the rules. Many among them have become specialists at smuggling goods into the city, using their incredible knowledge of seacraft to navigate the docks and pass off more than legally allowed. Among these is Kagetaka, an absolute master in the business of smuggling. The Elf has been coming to Caulois for nearly a century, and has the knowledge to prove it. He is often hired by those intending to smuggle particularly sensitive cargo into the city, and will detach from their main vessel to quietly steer into the city in a smaller boat. He also assists in smuggling out Gnomes and other slaves from the city, committed entirely to helping his people to control Caulois as much as possible. Short and bald, Kagetaka is an unassuming looking Elf. He dresses in loose robes and dark colours, obscuring his silhouette as much as possible. While he takes his business seriously, he is also known as a notorious gambler, and manages to lose most of his wages to his vice.