Daggereach

"Ah, Daggereach. Where one is never out of reach of a dagger. Perhaps in all of Vault is there no greater story of potential and its waste. And yet, the acquisition of potential is a matter of perspective." - from the memoirs of Lewin Von Treet, Vault: the Land of Stuff and Things

City Description

Population: ~1000

Founded: 1990 (400 years ago)

The city of Daggreach once went by the name Welkinreach before the Crystal Crown Massacre. In those days it was a city being built to rival that of Caim and Caern. It aspired to boast of towers that touched the heavens. Architects, masons, and builders from fabled cities across Vault contributed to the plans to make Welkinreach a marvel. However, it was not meant to be. With the city's foundation built and the bones and structure ready for what was to come, Verita unleashed her terrible display of power, killing tens of thousands, including nearly all who sought to reach the heavens with Welkinreach.

Fifty years later, the foundation still stood but had relented to time and the slow meandering of decay. Some called it the half-builty city, though half-built would have been generous. It was at this time, the first schism with Caim occurred. Those who wished to be free from their papers of populace, the iron grip of the Caim military complex, and the rigid structure to Highcroft society turned to the ruins of lofty Highcroft aspirations. They renamed the ruins to Daggereach, since the ambitions of those who built it never reached the skies, much less even the length of a dagger blade.

Protected from the west by Verita's Barricade, the north by the River Crest and Nimblewick Woods, the south by Lyr'Lowain (who want nothing to do with Daggereach) and the east by the Horn Strait, Daggereach has been able to maintain an autonomy from Caim and the rest of Highcroft for four hundred years. In truth, there has been scarce effort to try and gain control. The ruins of Welkinreach sat for fifty years without use for a reason. The city was more or less given over to those who took part in the schism and the people began building the city once more.

But instead of the best architects and planners the world had to offer, now it was thieves and cutthroats attempting to build something together. And due to the efforts of "Prayer," a mean and violent dragonborn with the innate leadership skills of a Queen, those thieves and cutthroats partially succeeded. What exists now is a shanty town built atop the foundations of an empire, and its inhabitants are those that Highcroft spat out for want of contribution.

The city also acts as the last hope for those brought to Lyon's Den for detainment before being shipped off to Hemlock Bastille. If one can escape their captors, make it across Verita's Barricade, and into Daggereach, there is little chance of finding them again.

City Landmarks

Prayer's Gallows - named in honor of the city founder, these lines of gallows are never reused. Rather, every time a bounty hunter, Ionlann, or Wing Guard is caught within the city walls, they build a new set of gallows to hang them from. Hundreds of ropes sway in the breeze across the many winding streets of the city.

Court of Coins - what passes for law in Daggereach passes through the Court of Coins. The trials of this court are as far from fair as a trial can get. However, the verdicts reached, seemingly at the whims of "Judge Cashmere" are upheld and respected by the denizens of the city.

Quiddle's Locks and Riddles - part shop, part maze, this store contains wares to buy for those aspiring to wetwork, but also contains chests with locks said to be unpickable. Quiddle, the shop owner, will give those brave enough to try their hand a chance at picking the locks. Though failure is rumored to be a fate worse than death.

The Royal Court of His Highness, the King - the remnants of Welkinreach are used for all manner of modern amenities but perhaps the most creative use is what was meant to be the city's royal castle. Here, Daggereach's heads of clans, famous personages, and wealthy or powerful come to discuss operations, forge alliances, and drink. This is sometimes accompanied by dressing up in parodies of royal outfits and dancing in facsimiles of noble parties, which is ironic considering the strict control Highcroft has on classism.

Death's A Mercy Gambling Hall - often called "the DAM place," the people of Daggereach take great pride in their ability to play games of skill and chance like no one else. Cheating is part of the skill and punished here more harshly than would be in a more civilized place. They claim the risk of getting caught makes the games all the more fun.

Troubles Aside - while clans run the streets of Daggereach, there is a shared understanding that should the forces of Highcroft, or anywhere else, ever try to take their home, the clans would set aside their troubles and fight together to protect what's theirs. The Troubles Aside is where the weapons, armor, and magic is kept that would be used to defend Daggereach if anyone ever decided they wanted it.

People of Note

Judge Cashmere: Non-binary Dwarf, beloved by all, feared by most, and the very epitome of careless, Cashmere decides who lives and dies depending on their mood

Rivers: Male Goliath, the hangman and executioner of Daggereach

Sixal Brinders: Female Tiefling, leader of the Tremor Clan, actually wants to make Daggereach a livable place for her people, at the expense of everyone else

Sunflower: Warforged, murderous tyrant, Sunflower leads the Bolt Clan through utter violence

Glenda the Opulent: Male Human, leader of the Hidden Clan, obsessed with being unseen and unknowable

Muddy Moroux: Male Human, leader of the Dirt Clan, a people who indulge in every aspect of life, known for being a lazy bastard

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