Vel
A tiny but powerful city-state clinging to the craggy beaches of Gathandia’s southeast peninsula, Vel is ruled by a kleptocratic oligarchy known as the Mages of the Beach. The Mages control every aspect of life in Vel and their powerful diviners keep a watchful eye on the city-state, ready to quash dissent at a moment’s notice. Common laborers and merchants live in crowded, narrow, and steep switchback streets built precariously along the beach’s steep cliffs, and the Mages’ enormous towers soar high above the cliffs like jagged teeth.
On the beach itself, trained cannon crabs ward off any plunderers and a single fortified pier allows merchant vessels to trade with Vel.
Vel’s influence is felt far and wide internationally, and the Mages of the Beach have a thinly concealed desire to dominate the world, first through the soft power of influence and then through the hard power of conquest.
Academic.
The Mages of the Beach have a large university in one of their central towers. They commonly invite well-known scholars to spend time teaching in their university’s halls, and while scholars visit Vel, the Mages aggressively try to brainwash these scholars to mirror Vel’s philosophical talking points when the scholars set forth for other universities.
Aristocratic and Political.
The Mages of the Beach hold unquestionable control over every aspect of life in Vel. Any administrative position or legal office is held by a Mage of the Beach.
Mercantile and Trade.
Vel is currently pursuing an international strategy of soft influence. They export entertainment goods, games, novels, and leisure activities, trying to inculcate Velan culture into every other nation on Gathandia.
Highly interested in the city-state of Husk for its location on a point of power, Velan scholars are working on developing a way to open a permanent teleportation portal between two areas so that they can trade with Husk much more readily.
Militant.
Under the command of General Vilhelm Cynthar, a skilled combat mage, Vel’s military is highly trained and effective. Every Velan soldier is capable of basic magic casting of some kind and is trained in fighting with unique magical weapons.
Religious.
The Mages of the Beach have introduced a unique religion to Vel. Many gods are inscribed on illuminated cards, which citizens are encouraged to buy and trade. The Mages of the Beach started with pantheons that are commonly accepted throughout Gathandia, and released fewer copies of certain gods to increase their scarcity. The more god-points you have, the more religious you are and the more blessed you will be, the Mages declare.
They have released several “seasons” of cards and have made up a vast number of fictitious pantheons so that they can keep printing more and more cards. The more cards that they print, the higher number of god-points a commoner will need in order to maintain their good fortune.
Social.
It is governmentally required that every merchant and every commoner is happy and merry at least 80% of any given week. In order to promote this idea, mandatory festivals and gaming tournaments are commonplace.
Underworld.
The vigilant diviners among the Mages of the Beach are constantly on the lookout for signs of criminal conspiracies and are quick to make examples of anyone who gets conspiratorial inclinations. They do not tolerate black markets in Vel, but encourage Velan merchants to engage in black market negotiations in other nations.
Quest Ideas
• The heroes might have a run-in with Velan merchants or mages anywhere in Gathandia. This may lead the heroes to look for a way to reduce Vel’s influence or even overthrow the malignant city-state entirely.