Locations
Fort Valiance
Sentinel of the Morgath Coast — a gothic coastal metropolis of towering battlements, sea-mist streets, and buried secrets. Where every stone has a story and every shadow holds a knife.
Population
~80,000
Ruler
Queen Amalia Thornburn
Also Known As
Valiant Port · New Valiance · Exile's Haven
Demonym
Valiants
Faith
Solara (Cathedral of Radiance)
Currency
Crown / Mark / Penny
A City of Wonder and Peril
Fort Valiance rises dramatically from rugged cliffs, perched above the storm-tossed sea — a proud sentinel guarding ancient secrets. Towers and battlements of dark, weathered stone loom high, crowned with pointed roofs and spiked finials. Massive archways and fortified gatehouses dominate the entrance, their ironbound doors open yet vigilant.
Founded three centuries ago by exiled nobles from the Federation of Free Cities, the city has transformed from a military outpost into a bustling metropolis of 80,000 souls. Strategically positioned on a rugged peninsula with dense inland forests and strategic waterways, it controls key maritime and regional trade routes into Morgath.
Beneath the vibrant exterior pulses something darker. Side streets and canals hide shadowy figures whispering deals in secluded corners. The Caledrians — the original settlers, also known as the First Men — chafe under noble rule, and underground resistance movements stir in the old quarters. An air of intrigue permeates every interaction, hinting at unseen powers pulling the threads of this sprawling metropolis.
Fort Valiance from the eastern road
Explore Fort Valiance
Fort Valiance is a vast and complex city. Dive deeper into its many facets through these detailed guides.
Society & Daily Life
Amenities, City Watch, infamous alleys, festivals, travel, news & theaters
Guilds & Factions
43+ trade guilds, magic towers, cleric orders, bard colleges, warlocks
Knights & Nobility
400+ noble knights, Caledrian knights, the Blackguard, mercenary companies, minor houses
History & Laws
2,500 years of history, the Caledrians, organizational structure, legal code
Commerce & Infrastructure
Currency, trade routes, banking, Royal Mint, gates, walls, docks
Fort Valiance by night — lanterns glow along canal-side streets as the city's darker dealings begin
Military District
Trade District
Harbour District
Residential District
The Nine Districts
Military District
Pop: ~4,000Wide streets patrolled by disciplined guards, stone barracks in structured rows, and the grand Parade Square where banners flutter before each campaign. The scent of oil, sweat, and iron permeates the air.
Fortress BarracksTraining GroundsThe Armory & ArsenalParade Square
Guilds: Warriors' Guild (Roderic Stormguard), Rangers' Guild (Aela Wildsinger), Artillery Corps (Lyra Stonebolt)
Trade District
Pop: ~12,000The frenetic heart of commerce where market stalls spill into cobbled streets beneath faded awnings. Spices, pungent cheeses, and sweet fruit perfumes swirl together in a heady blend.
Grand MarketMerchant Guild HallWarehouse RowAuction Houses
Guilds: Merchant Guild (Liora Steelwhisper), Craftsmen's Guild (Jareth Ironhand), Shipwrights' Guild (Tobias Seablade)
Harbour District
Pop: ~16,000Salt and fish fill the air as gulls compete with shouts of sailors and dockhands. Wooden piers stretch into the bay, thick with ropes, nets, and swaying cargo. Taverns glow with warm lamplight even in the grey of day.
Grand DocksCustoms HouseSeaguard FortressDockside Taverns
Guilds: Dockworkers' Guild (Rurik Saltwind), Fishermen's Guild (Marina Tidewell), Sailors' Guild (Brynn Wavecrest)
Industrial District
Pop: ~16,000Soot-blackened walls and hammering sounds dominate this sector. Firelight flickers behind iron grates and wagon wheels screech across stone. Dwarven smiths work beside human apprentices, fashioning blades, armor, and gearworks.
Great FoundriesTextile MillsAlchemical LaboratoriesWarehouses
Guilds: Blacksmiths' Guild (Thalia Ironforge), Weavers' Guild (Elinor Silkweaver), Alchemists' Guild (Malakai Vexford)
Royal District
Pop: Nobility & StaffPalatial buildings of white stone and gold-trimmed banners command the central hill. Fountains gurgle in courtyards, and finely dressed nobles walk manicured lanes beneath wrought-iron lamps.
Royal PalaceCouncil HallCathedral of RadianceNoble Gardens
Guilds: Royal Court, Queen's Privy Council
Cathedral District
Pop: Clergy & PilgrimsTowering spires and domed chapels ring with dawn bells at first light. The air carries incense, beeswax, and sanctified stone. Dawnguard knights patrol cloistered walks while Radiant clergy recite the Codex’s prayers at seven chapels — one for each aspect of Solara.
Cathedral of RadianceDawnguard Chapter HouseLibrary of LightSeven Sacred Chapels
Guilds: Dawnguard Knights, Order of the Radiant Sun
Residential District
Pop: ~28,000A patchwork of crowded tenements, cozy homes, and narrow side streets where laundry sways between windows. Children race through alleys as street vendors call out familiar tones.
Commoner's QuarterArtisan's RowNoble's EnclaveCommunity Halls
Guilds: 40+ trade guilds represented
Old City
Pop: SparseThe bones of Fort Valiance's past — crumbling towers and moss-covered walls give way to crooked streets where old gods linger in forgotten shrines. Whispers follow those who wander too deep.
Ruins of Caledros KeepSunken PlazaForgotten TemplesHidden Tunnels
Guilds: Smugglers, cultists, rebel factions
The Underbelly
Pop: UnknownA labyrinthine network of tunnels, underground markets, and crime-ridden enclaves beneath the city. The Blackglove Quarter is the heart of illicit activities where gold buys silence.
Red Blades DenSilver Serpent's HideoutSmugglers' TunnelsThe Midnight Bazaar
Guilds: Blackglove Syndicate, Silver Serpents, 10+ gangs
The Grand Chamber — where the Queen's Council convenes beneath the banners of the Four Houses
The Council of Nobles & Merchants
Fort Valiance is governed by the monarch and a council of influential nobles and merchants who advise on matters of state, trade, defense, and law.
Queen Amalia Thornburn
Monarch — The Iron Rose
House Thornburn
Lord Ansel Greythorn
Royal Consort & Lord Chancellor
House Greythorn
Lady Seraphina Tidebound
Minister of Maritime Trade
House Tidebound
Sir Garreth Saltwind
Minister of Naval Defense
House Saltwind
Baroness Elara Crestwave
Minister of Mercantile Affairs
House Crestwave
Count Damian Stormveil
Minister of Military Expansion
House Stormveil
Chancellor Marlow Vexford
Chancellor of Infrastructure & Industry
Magistrate Cassandra Redmane
Magistrate of Legal Affairs
House Redmane
The Cathedral of Radiance
The spiritual heart of Fort Valiance and the largest Solaran temple on the Morgath coast. Its 210-foot central spire is visible for miles, crowned with a sun-shaped golden finial that catches the first light of dawn. The Cathedral serves a dual role as both sacred temple and Thalassian diplomatic embassy — its grounds are considered Thalassian sovereign territory.
Forty-nine Dawnguard knights garrison the Cathedral District, organized into a chapter of Radiant Paladins and Temple Guardians who answer to High Radiant Evangeline Dawnweaver. Each dawn, the clergy recite the Dawn Prayer from the Radiant Codex of Solara and consecrate arms for the city's defenders. The seven Sacred Chapels — one for each aspect of Solara — host daily rites drawn from the Codex's ten Fundamental Prayers, while the Library of Light preserves illuminated copies of the scripture alongside theological commentaries and saint's accounts.
Dimensions:400 × 200 ft, 210 ft central spire
Leader:High Radiant Evangeline Dawnweaver
Paladins:49 Dawnguard knights
Priests:77 ordained clergy
Sacred Chapels:7 (one per aspect of Solara)
Library:Library of Light — thousands of sacred texts
Status:Thalassian sovereign territory & embassy
The Four Noble Houses
House Thornburn
“Through Strength We Rule”
Queen Amalia Thornburn, 'The Iron Rose'
Ruling house — direct authority over governance, military, and law enforcement
Colors: Deep purple & silver
House Greythorn
“Cunning Conquers All”
Lord Ansel Greythorn, 'The Shadow King'
Royal Consort & Lord Chancellor — controls court appointments, espionage, intelligence networks
Colors: Grey & dark green
House Crestwave
“Wealth Flows Like Water”
Baroness Elara Crestwave, 'The Golden Lady'
Minister of Mercantile Affairs — controls shipping lanes, banking operations, trade
Colors: Blue & gold
House Stormveil
“Victory Through Vigilance”
Count Damian Stormveil
Military affairs — commands garrison forces, fortress defenses, martial operations
Colors: Steel & crimson
Population & Demographics
Fort Valiance is home to approximately 80,000 residents, making it one of the largest urban centers on the continent of Morgath. The majority are human descendants of the exiled nobles, but the city's ports and guilds attract folk of every heritage.
| Race | % | Pop. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humans | 70% | 56,000 | Descendants of the exiled nobles and commoners |
| Half-Elves | 10% | 8,000 | Diplomats, merchants, and artisans |
| Elves | 5% | 4,000 | Wood (2%), High (2%), Sea (1%) |
| Dwarves | 4% | 3,200 | Hill (2%) and Mountain (2%) |
| Goblins | 3% | 2,400 | Dockworkers and laborers |
| Half-Orcs | 3% | 2,400 | Guards, mercenaries, dock workers |
| Tritons | 2% | 1,600 | Naval defense and underwater exploration |
| Water Genasi | 2% | 1,600 | Sailors and water-magic practitioners |
| Other | 1% | 800 | Tieflings, Gnomes, Halflings, Dragonborn, Aasimar |
Regional Map
Fort Valiance and its hinterlands — from the Frostfall Peaks to the Morgath Sea
The Criminal Underworld
The Underbelly — smugglers' tunnels beneath the city
Dockside taverns — where deals are struck and loyalties bought
Fort Valiance is currently embroiled in an underworld war, with the Blackglove Crime Syndicate and the Silver Serpents at the forefront. Each gang vies for control, with secret backers and covert agendas adding to the complexity of the power struggle. The Undercity — a hidden world beneath the bustling metropolis, comprised of sewer networks, abandoned structures, and neglected outskirts — serves as a haven for the city's criminal elements.
| Organization | Leader | Specialty | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackglove Syndicate | Darius Blackglove | Smuggling, assassination, extortion | The Gilded Glove (Trade District) |
| Silver Serpents | Selene Silverclaw | Espionage, artifact smuggling, covert ops | The Serpent's Den (Industrial District) |
| Red Blades | Gorak Bloodaxe | Enforcement, protection rackets, armed robbery | The Blood Pit (Residential District) |
| Silent Knives | Liliana Swiftfoot | Burglary, heists, pickpocketing | The Hidden Dagger (Noble's Enclave) |
| Night Market | Vesper Nightshade | Black market trade, secret auctions | The Midnight Bazaar (beneath Trade District) |
| Shadow Guild | Marek Shadowcloak | Espionage, blackmail, surveillance | The Whispering Hall (beneath Royal District) |
| The Poisoners | Althea Nightshade | Assassination by poison, counterfeiting | The Alchemist's Vault (Industrial District) |
| Black Market Rats | Ratcatcher Remy | Stolen goods, smuggling, fencing | The Warrens (beneath Harbour District) |
| Dockside Shadows | Captain Finn Seabreeze | Dock smuggling, cargo theft | The Seabreeze Tavern (Harbour District) |
| The Iron Fist | Brutus Ironfist | Enforcement, illegal fighting rings | The Iron Pit (Industrial District) |
A feast in the Great Hall
The Royal Court
Knight Commander Loric D'Orinelis
The Sporesworn Threat
Active Threat — The Blight Spreads
A shadow darker than any criminal syndicate has taken root in Fort Valiance. The Sporesworn — fanatical servants of the dead god Nekrosyl — have infiltrated the city's highest echelons. Led by the Immortal Seven, a cabal of corrupted druids granted twisted immortality through the parasitic fungal network known as the Dragoblom, the cult works to resurrect their fallen deity through the spread of living decay.
The village of Thornhaven has already fallen — its population converted into fungal thralls by the ancient corrupted ent Rootreaver. Now the cult turns its gaze toward Fort Valiance itself: corrupting the water supply with Dragoblom spores, planting sleeper agents among the nobility, and preparing Blightbound Dragons to assault the city's defenses.
Baroness Elara Crestwave is suspected of cult sympathies, and Chancellor Marlow Vexford may already be compromised. The defector Eowen Nightshade, a wood elf druid freed from the Dragoblom's control, now shelters in the Cathedral of Radiance — her fragmented intelligence the city's best hope of understanding the threat.
Cult Leader
Malachai Thornweaver, High Blightcaller
Base of Operations
Thornhaven (fallen village)
Key Weapon
Rootreaver — corrupted ancient ent
The Immortal Seven
The seven corrupted druids who lead the Sporesworn cult, each granted twisted immortality through the Dragoblom. They were once members of the Verdant Circle before Nekrosyl's whispers turned them to darkness.
Malachai Thornweaver
High Blightcaller
Supreme leader of the Sporesworn. Commands the Dragoblom and plots the siege of Fort Valiance.
Maelis Thornweaver
The Shadow of Blight
Malachai's twin brother. Master of shadow magic and covert assassinations.
Vaelorn Darkbough
The Blightwarden
Enforcer and warrior. Willingly fused with the Dragoblom for immense strength.
Caelindril Blightwhisper
Spymaster of the Whisperers
Master of espionage. Uses corrupted flora to eavesdrop across cities.
Sylvan Grimwood
The Blightbringer
Master of necromantic rituals. Raises fungal thralls from the fallen.
Thorne Shadowleaf
Alchemist of Corruption
Creator of Blightbound Dragons and experimental blight creatures.
Thalara Emberveil
Master of Infiltration
Currently embedded in Fort Valiance, corrupting nobles and merchants.
Local Sayings
The speech of Fort Valiance is salty, sailor-influenced, and rich with slang — reflecting a city built on maritime trade, rough harbors, and centuries of dockside wisdom.
“Fair winds and full coffers!”
Good luck and prosperity
“Don't go chasin' mermaid tales.”
Don't pursue unrealistic fantasies
“Salt in the veins, gold in the purse.”
Hard work at sea brings wealth
“A ship's only as good as its crew.”
Teamwork is essential for success
“Fortune favors the bold, but watch for the waves.”
Take risks, but be cautious
“Mind yer compass or lose yer way.”
Stay focused and don't get distracted
“From the docks to the throne, we're all in the same boat.”
Despite differences, everyone is part of the same community
“Better a bad captain than no captain at all.”
Leadership, even poor, is better than none
“Coin's sweeter than a siren's song.”
Money is more enticing than temptation
“Copper for yer thoughts, gold for yer secrets.”
Casual talk is cheap, but secrets are valuable
“Steady as she goes, mate.”
Stay calm and keep moving forward
“The sea gives and the sea takes.”
Life has both good and bad times
“In the port or on the waves, trouble finds the brave.”
Brave people often encounter danger
“Raise a sail, earn yer keep.”
Work hard to earn your living
“Tossed on the tide, we rise and fall.”
Life has its ups and downs
“A storm's a'comin', best batten down.”
Prepare for difficult times
“A friendly port makes a sailor's heart.”
Good friends and safe places are comforting
“Watch yer back in the dark alleys.”
Be cautious in dangerous situations
“A fair deal's worth more than a fast coin.”
Honest trade is better than quick, dishonest gains
“Landlubbers talk, sailors do.”
Actions speak louder than words
Surrounding Region
Full region guideGreystone
Mining & trade town (pop ~8,000)
Ironholt
Mountain mining fortress
Brightwater
Lumber town in the Shadowed Pines
Hearthmere
Agricultural breadbasket
Shadowreach
Military frontier outpost
Stormwatch Garrison
Mistral River checkpoint
Highcliff Castle
Coastal fortress on Serpent's Reach
Windsreach
Clifftop coastal village
Fort Crestwave
River fortress & Caledrian village
Fort Greythorn
Frontier surveillance outpost
Thornhaven
Ruined village (Blight-consumed)
Yanthara
Caledrian river hamlet
The Frostfall Clans
Tribal kingdoms of the northern wilds
Fort Valiance is not just a city — it is a labyrinth of wonder and peril, where every stone has a story and adventure waits around every corner.