Havena

Other names: Avenia

Population: 30000 humans, several dozen elves and dwarves, and some merfolk

Governance: town magistrate together with the Council of Elders and the Council of Captains, seat of the Albernian Prince, Finnian ui Bennain / Ardach Herlogan

Foundation date: 876 before BF

Derographical affiliation: Albernia: Muhrsape

Political affiliation: Middenrealm, Principality of Albernia

Trade Zone: ALB

Traffic routes: Reichslandstraße nach Abilacht

“We have been in the trading business for decades, and I must say that the young prince is a breath of fresh air, like I haven’t seen in a long time.”
— a merchant from Havena, 1039 FB

“An Undercity formed by a devastating flood? Legendary creatures and hidden secrets? Sounds like something we should see.”
— a Brabakan mage, 1038 FB

Temples: Twelvegods (except Firun); emphasis given to Efferd as patron of the city and its maritime trade (in place of Phex)

Trade and Industry: trading city with a large harbor; transfer point for wares moving between river and seagoing vessels; many trading houses (kontors) and wharves

Characteristic Features: Large natural harbor; cursed Undercity (flooded ruins); palace of the prince; Ruada’s Honor (warrior academy); naval cadet school; two temples of Efferd (one is almost 2,000 years old, the other is a magnificent new building); Boron Isle; Princess Emer Bridge over the Great River; Fairy Spring water palace; cave of the giant turtle Lata, which is sacred to Efferd.

While Havena imposes a citywide prohibition on magic, recent exceptions have been granted for healing magic.

Atmosphere in the City: loyal to Efferd; freedomloving; industrious; distrustful of magic; hostile to the Northmarches; ambiguous feelings towards the Empress and the Middenrealm

Havena, the capital of Albernia, lies in the boggy delta of the Great River and has often suffered from ill strokes of fate. An event known as the Great Flood destroyed entire districts of the city 350 years ago and the ruins of old Havena remain flooded to this day. Some blame the catastrophe on the city’s veneration of Efferd above the king of the gods, Praios. However, the Havenans still would rather pray to Efferd to protect them from further such disasters, and their fear of the god of death, Boron, is greater than that of other Aventurians. Magic has been illegal within city limits ever since the Mage Wars, when several tyrannical mages temporarily usurped power in the city. These laws have only recently been relaxed to permit magic used for healing. Today Havena is one of the largest trading ports on the west coast. The spirit is enterprising and there is great piety toward Efferd. Stern guards and agile pickpockets wander the busy streets of the city, merchants hastily go about their business, and it is said that many ancient evils still lurk in the flooded ruins of the Undercity. The young prince rarely spends time in his capital, which is perhaps why he is known as Finnian the Seafarer.