Jaatäva Haven, City of Refuge

[wandering_giraffe]

JAATÄVA HAVEN

Table of Contents

1. City History

2. Geographic Information

3. The People, Society, and Culture

4. Public Figures, Govenrment

5. Local Laws, Superstitions, and Events

6. Character List

[wandering_giraffe]

HISTORY OF JAATÄVA HAVEN

Aleksi Järvinen: protector of the innocents.
Aleksi was an ethical man.
Aleksi was a just man.
Aleksi was a family man.
None of this the Connlaothians had a problem with.
Aleksi was a mage.
That, they had a problem with.
Aleksi used his power to protect others. His magic was that of illusions. That of cunning and wit. His magic was of life.

Aleksi married Aila, and they had two sons. One died in the Connlaothian army. The other son married, and him and his wife had one daughter.
Her name is Eeva.
None of Aleksi's offspring were born with magic abilities. None except for Aleksi's granddaughter Eeva.
Much to the chagrin of Eeva's parents, Aleksi began teaching her the ways of a true mage. To protect, and to be good. True good. Not to take life. But to nurture it. To help people become the best versions of themselves.
Eeva, delighted, happily learned from her grandfather. Her parents eventually grew to accept it, but not without much turmoil first.

Both Aleksi and Eeva somehow managed to go without being detected by Mordecai for an astonishing amount of time. Their family never said a word to anyone, and Aleksi and Eeva were safe.

Until one day Aleksi was caught. Caught healing a merc that had been ambushed by two mages.
The Connlaothian authorities sentenced Aleksi to death for attempted murder. They tried to find the rest of Aleksi's family.
When Aleksi didn't come home that night, they all fled to the Kilanthro mountains, Eeva circling back to help Aleksi. She almost didn't make it in time, for he was in the midst of being executed.
She managed to rescue him, and via horses, met up with the rest of the family in the Kilanthro mountains.
Mortally wounded, Aleksi used the last of his magic to build a city of refuge for mages like him. And anyone else that needed a place, whether it was the innocents, mages, or the falsely accused.
With his dying breath, he uttered the name of the city, and Jaatäva Haven was born.

"Jaatava, protect the innocent. Protect the ones I couldn't.
Be a Haven. Be a Refuge."

[wandering_giraffe]

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Located in the Kilanthro Mountains, Jaatava Haven is a floating island city nestled in a valley between two mountain peaks.
To get to Jaatäva there are two magical bridges, one on each side of the island. The entire island is enchanted with an illusion, and the island only reveals itself to those that need it.
Sometimes, the people that the bridges allow to enter are rather surprising, but it matters not! If the bridges allow you in, you are welcome!

The island is comprised of a snowy plateau on top, with scattered live oak trees, birch trees, and evergreen trees.  There is walking paths lined with winterberry trees, enchanted flowers, and even cherry bushes.
There's paths that lead to hot springs, and even a sauna.
In the right corner of the island is the greeenhouse areas, where the crops and food is cultivated to sustain the city.
Much of the top of the island was designed with werewolves in mind, giving them a place to turn and run without worrying about harming anyone else.
There's a very small jail on the side of the island opposite the greenhouse areas. (Less a "jail" and more just a place where people can cool off if they need to.)
The middle/inside of the island contains much of the housing, a couple of taverns, and even a few inns for short-term stays.
On the underside of the island are the city buildings, giving the leaders an unobstructed view of the terrain around and below the island. While people outside of the island can't see the island, the people on the island can see out.
There's a small section of the city designed specifically for vampires, enchanted to be dark constantly to give them relief from the harsh sun.
The climate is still cold, but it can reach the high 60s occasionally in the  summer.

[wandering_giraffe]

THE PEOPLE, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE

POPULATION
The city population is comprised of mostly mages, a few werewolves, some half elves, a few vampires, even a solitary minotaur and and orc. A few non-magical humans have made their residence on the island as well.

SOCIETY
The society on Jaatäva is generally quiet, caring about each other without being overtly nosy.
It's a true melting pot of cultures, and while each individual culture doesn't quite mix, there's no true separation. The society feels quite unified, without each specific culture feeling like it's lost its color.

CULTURE
Jaatäva is ever-changing, and players are welcome to add to this as time goes on!

[wandering_giraffe]

LOCAL LAWS, SUPERSTITIONS, AND EVENTS

LOCAL LAWS AND POLITICS
The city is run by Eeva, the granddaughter of the founder of the city, Aleksi. Jaatäva is designed for those needing a refuge. Either because they were wrongfully accused, have a bounty on their head, or just need a reset in life.
Jaatäva is not perfect, and the occasional crime does happen. As such, Jaatäva does have a peacekeeping force, comprised of a few mages and well-meaning mercs.
There's a city magistrate that the peacekeepers report to. The magistrate reports to the council, who in turn reports to Eeva. If the magistrate has a problem with the council, he can talk to Eeva directly, and vice versa.
The council is comprised of six mages, who are more of advisers to Eeva.


SUPERSTITIONS

The full moon is a big one, but less of a fearful superstition and seen as an omen of good luck. While guns are allowed on the island, with their association with the Mordecai, they are generally frowned upon, and you must have approval from the magistrate, the council, and Eeva herself to have a gun on Jaatäva.


EVENTS

The celestial eclipse is celebrated with a week long event, as is Aleksi's death day. As Aleksi wouldn't have wanted mourning, the city celebrates what he stood for and what his legacy has done.

[quaggan]

 This is lovely and I am so happy it exists.