#Aldori style

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Fun with Feats 12: Aldori Style

(art by Akeiron on DeviantArt)

 When you start studying history, you can see how even in the distant past, the littlest thing that becomes popular can change the course of all future development, and this is especially true when it comes to weapons. After all, a single popular weapon can end up being a cultural staple of an entire civilization, such as the Spartan shield and spear combo, or the Japanese katana and other samurai mainstays.

A perfect example of this in the Lost Omens setting of Pathfinder are the Aldori swordlords, which are already represented in the game with both archetypes and prestige classes. Named for the Baron that introduced the style and codified it, creating an exclusive cadre of duelists and warriors that pass on their skills to only those who they consider worthy, and whom have a vested interest in keeping the style exclusive, even going as far as to hunt those who taught the style to non-members or who have learned from such traitors.

In any case, the Aldori Style feats, which we will be focusing on today, revolve around the Aldori dueling sword, a somewhat curved blade that rests as somewhat a hybrid of longsword and scimitar. Without the exotic weapon proficiency for it, a wielder can treat it as a longsword easy enough, but those properly trained can use the one-handed blade as a finesse weapon for the use of the Weapon Finesse feat, though it can still be switched to a two-handed grip to increase power, making it overall a very versatile weapon.

This string of style feats has a lot of prerequisites, making fighters the most common users, though most martial characters can get into it if they invest the feats early.

 With the basic Style, a swordsmaster wielding their signature weapon masters the forms and movements to increase the harm they do with their strokes, carving into foes.

Though it is a graceful and agile weapon, the dueling sword is still heavy enough to block and redirect incoming blows, and those that learn to quickly reverse their grip can use it as their Aegis, letting them parry incoming blades, though not necessarily riposte against them.

Finally, those who master the Conquest form can parry with the best, causing no loss in accuracy when parrying and blocking blows.

As one can see, this style offers both offensive and defensive options that stack neatly with any other Aldori swordlord-themed archetypes or prestige classes, most of which also mix offense, defense, and even abilities of intimidation as they demonstrate incredible grace and lethal precision with their signature weapons, cementing the dueling sword as the superior weapon… at least, according to the Swordlords. If you are planning on playing a swordlord, or perhaps just a similar master swordsperson in another setting, this style may be for you.

[suikamelony]

I absolutly am in LOVE with your Art Style! What program and brushes do you use, they look amazing!? What do you think about posting Speed Painting Videos as well? I‘d love to see your Sketching and Rendering process!

Tysm! I use Photoshop, my brushes come from packs by Ahmed Aldori, Yuming li, Zeen and Greg Rutwoski. I'm not comfortable recording speedpaints sorry :( but I can post some process pics

[kingmaker-thac0hno]

The Kingdom of Thornvale: A Year’s End

The month of Kuthona, 4711 

By Kuthona, the cold winds of winter have settled across the lands, and most folk stay indoors by the warmth of the fire. The Lords of Thornvale announce their plans for the month, expanding the kingdom northwest along the Thorn River, and seeking to construct a horse ranch in the hills northwest of Haven. 

Evrin works with prominent members of the Haven militia to familiarize themselves with the newly constructed ballista, practicing the slaying of various tree stumps and old barrels. He speaks with Thefina about the construction of a swivel base for the weapon, which she promises to begin working on next month, as she is dedicated to building a school for Lord Stonewalker.

The halfling begins a series of drills at the nearby Stag Lord's fort, and though the weather is unfavorable, many of the militia dutifully trudge there for practice. A few comment on the halfling's desire to fish on the Tuskwater during middle of winter - in truth, Evrin was acting to sink the enchanted and fey-touched Thorny Crown to the bottom of the lake. 

Evrin speaks to Jubilost about the recent discovery of the Taldan burial site, and the little gnome is ecstatic. He immediately packs up his things and enlists the help of his gnomish companions to prepare for a journey to the site. Within a few days, the small group is able to reach the crypt and set up camp. Jubilost informs Evrin that he will likely stay here for some time to properly document and categorize his findings. At first glance, however, the gnome is able to explain some of the site.

Long ago, before the Golden Age of Taldor, the young country sent many explorations parties out to settle these lands. If my suspicions are correct, this site seems to be from that era. The markings on the walls and the arrangement of the burial site seem to indicate a person of some stature - perhaps a noble or warrior-knight. The sheer number of books here is astounding, which is indicative of a scholar. They are remarkably well-preserved, and the handful I dared to touch all appear to be written in old Taldan script. Some of these texts appear to be of a magical nature, and I have refrained from examining those in detail until I can be sure of their safety.

There are some interesting observations I can make, however. First, there appears to be a book missing from this crypt. Did one of your men take it? A surveyor perhaps? Something to look into, certainly: where it went, and why they took it?

Second, the deceased corpse from the sarcophagus, see it there? The crown on its head? It appears as though a gemstone once rested within it. Though I have not once seen a gemstone with such an odd, notch-shaped cut. It too, appears taken. At first I thought it may have simply fallen out in the battle, but no! Look there, and there - upon the gold, what do you see? Those little scrapes could only have been made by a knife or dagger.

Third, you are right. The shield here is indeed missing. You can tell by the depressions on the shield-arm here and here, where the shield straps were fastened. It would have been rounded, likely with a high or low grip as was commonplace at the time - not a center grip shield like we do now. Though I am confounded as to why someone would take the shield, and leave the sword. Or how it would have lasted all these ages, as the wood surely would have disintegrated by now.

Hopefully, these books will hold some answers, though I suspect the missing one is key. 

*** Karis speaks to Kimble the tailor and Quill the Blacksmith, setting them to crafting various outfits and wrist dagger-sheaths. They, along with Thefina and her hidden-compartment crates, set to working and by the end of Kuthona have suitable products for use. He directs Lathon to continue drills with the Aldori - now taking place at the nearby ruined fort. The sailor looks hale and much more resilient than earlier in the year, and his demeanor reflects it. 

Daily visits with his wyvern maintain the bond between the two, but the winter weather has made the creature lethargic and slow. It seems to sleep more and prefers the warmth of the fire.  Throughout the month Karis dedicates many nights to meditation, seeing to connect with his patron - but the Lady remains disturbingly quiet.

Much time is spent on training with the young boy Rhys in learning the elven language and the subterfuge tradecraft. Though a few grumpily shoo the boy, most commoners in Haven often laugh at the lad as he slinks about the town, playing at being a sneakthief. Karis sends the boy on several play-missions such as how many pints is Oleg consuming between breakfast and dinner, performing some infiltration exercises, such as lifting some of Saryn’s fancy boots and returning the footwear before he notices them missing.

Unfortunately, the lad stumbles, and is caught red-handed by the Lord Saryn With a wink, he offers a few unsettling words. Momma always told me taking things without asking was asking for trouble!  With that, sinewy elongated tongues jut forth from deep within each of the boots wrapping around the lad’s forearms as fangs tear through the fine leather cuffs and begin gnashing hungrily at his hands. Rhys, screaming in terror, yells, Lord Karis told me to do it! He told me to do it!

After a few moments, Saryn calmly explains, If you apologize to my mimic I am certain he will probably not devour you, but you should probably be far more careful in the future- especially when breaking into a house full of monsters!

Rhys, realizing he is unharmed, apologizes, and explains the exercise. He then sulks away sheepishly, returning to Lord Karis, who takes the opportunity to relay to the boy that failure and learning from these exercises within the confines of Thornvale is far more forgiving than far reaches of its enemies.

***

Upon returning to Blackstag from Haven, once well upon the waters of the Tuskwater, Odis says over his shoulder  Well, it’s getting better...but they still don’t think of us as equals.

After a moments pause, Arna responds, ‘Cause we are not equals. We’re yet to provide to the kingdom main  At this Odis actually stops paddling and turns to meet her  We now is it?

Arna ignores the jest, surprised herself at her choice of pronouns. We know their needs, needs they have been trying to fill, but have been unable...you’ve been trading with Mivon, tell me about them.

What, the eel eaters? Walled city built on a bog. Lots of folk, but short on resources, nasty bunch of gangs. Duels weekly right in the square, damned waste of good swordsmen if you ask me, came the reply. 

Let’s make a trip this month, take 3 or so of the fairest looking widows. See if we can convince some apprentice or journeymen to come to Blackstag in the spring. Men will come at the promise of getting their wicks wet or finding a bride along with the coin they’d make. 

And so Odis, Arna, and several other women from Blackstag head south to Mivon. The journey is cold and slow, as they paddle down the Little Sellen Rriver via canoe. There are remarkably few dwarves in Mivon, and the city smells vaguely of peat. Nearly everyone here seems to dress in the style of the Aldori duelists, and virtually everyone with a sword seems to have the colors of one house or another emblazoned upon his person. Finally, a warm tavern is a welcome sight, and within, Arna gets to know the folk around town.

Little do they realize that they have ended up in the lower quarter of Mivon, full of the un-desirables. Two near-fistfights and a bowl of spoilt gruel later, Odis and the dwarf end up in a quiet discussion with the waitress, a lass of maybe 15, curious as to why such foreigners would come to her town. After a brief discussion of their mission, the gal excuses herself, promising to return.

Later that evening, the small group is approached by a rough-looking gentleman, but one clearly respected ( perhaps feared?) by his companions. He's heard of Arna's story, and comes with a proposition:

I have, at times, a need to relocate people out of Mivon. Good people. People who shouldn't have to face bad things. It seems that you are looking for people with skills. These people, my people, often do. It seems we may be able to help each other.  Take your time, think it over. Have a meal on me - the good stuff, not that swill you’ve been eating. When you decide, let the lass know.

The man turns to leave, but as he does so, he speaks one final time, We never met, understood? 

*** 

Continuing their plans for a school in Haven, Thefina and Stonewalker enlist a number of idle folk to help with the work. The going is very slow, as the cold ground makes digging difficult, but by the end of the month, the school stands - doors open for new students in the new year.  

Regarding the position of instructor, Stonewalker speaks to many of the skilled folk in Haven, who all politely decline. Most - like Kimble Purling, Grutzner Brasse, Ardbeg, and Thefina herself ( among others) openly offer to take on younger apprentices to teach their trade, but most express that they have no time for classroom teaching ( and a few suggest that the classroom is no place to practice a trade).  As such, no full-time teacher is found to staff the school. One of the local mothers, Midge, volunteers as nanny. In addition, a missive is sent to Blackstag informing them of the opportunity for education for their youth.

Stonewalkers biweekly meetings of various tradesfolk in Haven have encouraged more and more residents to speak up regarding suggestions. Jubilost Nartropple, recently retuned to Haven, suggests that a library of sorts would be good for academics, and is willing to contribute the first book to it's collection: The Mysteries of Mivon: An Exploration of the Eastern River Kingdoms, by none other than himself. In addition, he would like someplace where he could buy some decent ink.  

Oleg mentions some warehouses to store surplus furs during hunting season, and one of the local farmers mentions that the cellar underneath Havenhall is getting rather full - suggesting that perhaps a granary is in order. A few of the fishermen in town suggest a establishing a curing house where they can salt excess fish for trade ( or a winter stockpile).

***

Saryn continues his tradition of aiding those in town, speaking words of inspiration to the departing surveying expedition and singing songs of rejuvenation to the workers at the ranch. By now, he has come to know the majority of the residents of Haven, and is able to quickly find and speak with the halfling seeking to create a gathering place for burrowing folk near the old sycamore. 

Furret Quickfoot explains that he would like to convert the hill under the sycamore to a home for all burrowing sorts - a haven ( near Haven!) for little folk, filled with amenities that suit their kind. Though not nearly as proficient as the battle-hardened lords, the little halfling seems skilled enough with the blade, and light of foot to boot.

Another brief visit to the giant finds him sitting next to a roaring fire made from uprooted trees and surrounded by empty barrels of ale. Munguk is cold and miserable, and very, very drunk.  Munguk walk see mommy, but she not home. Munguk wait. No come back. Mommy gone! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

After a bit, Saryn is able to calm down the sobbing giant, and Munguk agrees that sitting in the cold hills sucks, and would rather go someplace warmer - provided there's something to drink. 

Additional training with the owlbear and wyvern is difficult, as both creatures seem lethargic and slow. The young owlbear cub seems to just want to sleep all day, and the wyvern stubbornly refuses to leave the warm stone of the fireplace. As such, Saryn makes very little progress with any sort of 'training'.  

***

The end of the month brings the end of the year as well, and various small celebrations during Winter Week.  The Sootscale kobolds dedicate quiet moments to Aspu during their Time of Reminiscence.  Lady Garess is spotted during the Winter Solstice, performing the Ritual of Stardust by singing songs and dancing about a blazing bonfire.

during the last week of the month, with construction of the school complete and Arangin's Acerage finished, the surveyors from upriver return to Haven, happily chatting among themselves and declaring their job complete.  

Most Havenites stay indoors to mark the Final Day, waiting for spirits of the years' dead to pass by their doors on the Night of the Pale, and emerging the next morning to welcome in the new year: 4712 AR.

Turn 17; Abadius, 4712 AR

Petitions:

Cedrin reports that Jubilost has left Haven again, eastablishing a camp near the old Taldan burial site. 

Cedrin reports that the workers sent to construct the Graniteworks upon the quarry site still refuse to return to work, and are scared of the giant bird who attacked the site in the previous month. 

Cedrin reports that he has been able to process the many requests for land from the citizens of Haven. Virtually all of them are requests for small family farm plots in the outlying hills. 

Cedrin has collected the submissions for the name of the newly constructed road. A full listing ( sans duplicates) is as follows. 

The Kamelands Pass

Four Lord’s Road

Haven’s Trail 

Kesten’s Way

The Eastern Stolen Trail

Rue de Garess

The Stag’s Path

Handor’s Highway

Edicts:

You may issue two (2) edicts for the month of Abadius.

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Prestige Class Spotlight 12: Aldori Swordlord

[photograph by MD-Arts on DeviantArt]

It’s funny, we’ve covered a fighting style and a Second Edition Archetype based on it, but only now are we doing the original prestige class for the Aldori Swordlords and their fighting style.

For those who aren’t familiar, The Aldori style of combat was named for it’s founder, who lost a fight against a bandit lord, left, learned some sweet sword skills with a unique weapon and came back for revenge, and eventually caved and began teaching other people his techniques, but only if they swore an oath to never share the secrets of the style with anyone who had not taken the oath.

Some take this very seriously, others do not, but the fact that the former have a tendency to hunt down the latter and those they’ve taught does skew the percentage between the two by a significant margin. Whether or not a prospective swordsperson has taken the oath is inconsequential to the prestige class requirements, of course, so you’re free to play either freely, though of course being oathless means you’ll have a lot of enemies if other masters figure that out.

In any case, these swordlords specialize in the use of a longsword-length blade with a slight curve to it, making it into an effectively single-edged weapon. The style centered around it allows the weaponed to be used with surprising grace, and it is mostly meant to be used in single combat, focusing on parrying foes and creating openings to strike.

In order to pursue this path, one must have learned how to use such a blade to it’s fullest extent, including the ability to strike with dexterity over strength and perform intimidating displays, as well as skills geared towards the elite lifestyle and physical prowess associated with the swordlords, putting this option as available around the 8th level mark (6th if you have a bonus feat at first level as a human, or even faster if your starting class grants bonus feats, such as fighter.)

Dextrous attacks are a key part of the style, and these warriors utilize it with ease, causing extra harm to foes thanks to their precision.

As duelists, these warriors must be prepared to fight at any moment. As such, they learn to draw their weapon quickly if they have not already done so, and how to best use their weapon for defense if they already have done so, (as well as using their dueling sword for various duelist or swashbuckler abilities).

The mastery these swordfighters display is truly impressive, and consequently, intimidating, giving them an edge when they demonstrate it to strike fear into the hearts of others. It even helps in performance combat, wowing the crowd with impressive displays.

They also demonstrate their agility to better dodge incoming strikes.

Another strength of their fighting style is how these warriors learn to read their opponents, letting them fight more defensively while remaining accurate, and then turn around and catch sight of their foe’s weaknesses and exploit openings.

A key maneuver at the right moment, especially one that leaves a foe at a disadvantage can shatter their confidence. As such, these warriors capitalize on that and demoralize foes further when they deal especially grievous blows or succeed at a maneuver that puts them at a serious disadvantage.

A parrying sword may not always be able to block an incoming blow, but it can sure throw it off course from your vitals. As such, these duelists always go for the parry, and have a decent chance of negating crits as a result. Later on, this improves as they get better at such defense.

Not all fights are duels, and not all duels are done on fair, even footing. As such, the swordlords learn to keep mobile even when hanging from a handhold. This training also helps them right themselves without taking a hit when knocked down.

The most powerful among them can shatter not just confidence, but also discombobulate foes, leaving them unable to use their mastery and insight in the fight for a few seconds.

The Aldori Swordlord prestige class is honestly a masterclass in building a prestige class that works for as many classes as possible while still keeping it’s gimmick concise and fun. Now, naturally, this archetype is meant for martial classes, but it actively goes out of it’s way to integrate with the rules for certain classes and archetypes, from potentially granting a bonus feat meant for swashbucklers and duelists, to integrating with the Aldori Defender archetype for fighter. Additionally, the ability to suppress morale bonuses, and at max level insight and competence bonuses as part of free demoralizations you get every time you pull off most combat maneuvers and all critical hits is potentially huge, shutting a buffed-up foe down long enough to secure the victory. You can easily build these characters using fighter, swashbuckler, ranger, paladin, or even sneakier classes like rogue and slayer, and really come up with a powerful character with good defense, offence, and debuffing built right in.

Closed fighting techniques are interesting, and not just for the intrigue that comes from knowledge that outsiders aren’t supposed to know. It’s more defensive than anything else, an attempt to stave off war’s cycle of innovation and reverse-engineering. After all, a foe can’t copy, or worse, pick apart your technique if they don’t know it. On the other hand, however, such concealed knowledge does mean that there is the risk not just stagnating, but of the style being outright lost for good if nobody remains to teach it. It really depends on what you value.

Distrusting them from the moment he laid eyes on them, Argyo has hated the party ever since they came to the lashunta homeworld. What’s worse, he hates how readily the rest of his kind have accepted these strangers from the stars, and now his master is offering to teach the warrior their sacred swordfighting techniques? This is the last straw, and he may do something completely rash as a result.

They say that the caligni, the so-called dark folk, were once humans transformed by centuries of meddling from their owb masters. However, now an owb prophet known only as the Snuffed Flame seeks to develop a way to transform humans into shadow-bound servants within a matter of minutes rather than generations. As such, it has orchestrated several kidnappings, including the current arena champion Zolta.

In the land of Byarna, it is said the first dueling swords were made as copies of the legendary Foeslicer, an enchanted blade of incredibly lethal power. However, it has been so long and the weapon hasn’t surfaced, making many wonder if it was ever real to begin with. That is until a young man, a spy caught stealing secrets of the dueling sword style, is forced to draw the weapon he found during his work.

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Dragonscale Loyalist (Vigilante Archetype)

(art by Gabriel Vazquez on Artstation)

In nations with prominent noble houses and a lot of ambition, it’s only natural that there would be bickering, infighting, and even full-blown civil war.

Such is the case in the nation of Brevoy in Pathfinder’s core setting, where noble houses plot their desires against each other, and even against the Dragonscale Throne itself.

In response to this, the King-Regent Noleski Surtova has created secret agents to root out dissenters and protect his rule.

By day, these loyalists pose as ordinary noble scions, working their way into one of the noble houses and ingratiating themselves, secretly gathering intel as they gain their trust. By night, however, they don fearsome draconic masks and take direct action against the enemies of the throne.

This archetype is heavily invested in the Golarion setting, but it can be used outside it for any sort of secret agent of the crown, targeting a noble house for scrutiny.

 The civilian identity of these vigilantes is that of a minor noble and student of the Aldori Swordlord style. As such, they are familiar with how to use such a blade, and typically avoid training in social techniques that do would be inappropriate for the idle rich.

Though not as unflappable as other vigilantes, they do have good reactions when it comes to situations escalating to combat, able to act at least somewhat in the first few moments of a surprise attack.

Given their role as infiltrators, they also learn useful tricks and knowledge to pass as normal members of the noble house in question. They might become familiar with stoneworking, merchantile knowledge, sailing, and so on. This usually translates to one feat and another minor ability.

Their vigilance against traitors eventually passes into supernatural territory, able to sense hostile and traitorous intent, but only while in their vigilante identity.

The most powerful of these vigilantes can emulate the battle-fury of the legendary founder of Brevoy, able to move and attack repeatedly at speed in a deadly rampage that is not dissimilar to a dragon.

Interested in a vigilante that can pick up unique skills and abilities tied to their cover identity? This archetype might be for you. Their ability to use a dueling sword does lean them towards being an avenger vigilante, but nothing is stopping you from playing a stalker instead.

 The attention to detail with the noble houses in this archetype is just begging for a GM to homebrew various alternate versions of this archetype tied to the nobility of their setting’s nation of choice. You can even switch out the Aldori sword stuff for another fighting style as well.

  Despite her training, Alexia Tarvash, also known as the Ghost Dragon, is in over her head. The noble house she was sent to infiltrate is dealing with urdefhan, and plan on allowing an invasion force of the deathly creatures to strike the surface in hopes of pinning the blame on the crown.

 Loyalist vigilantes are actually supremely common among the drow noble houses, to the point where there are elaborate countermeasures in place for such individuals. However, espionage, like war, is a constantly evolving race.

 The party blunders into a sting operation headed by masked agents of the king. Even if they manage to make it out intact, they find businesses mysteriously being closed to them. The only protection and business they can find, ironically is in the very house that was being targeted.

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Aldori Duelist (Pathfinder 2nd Edition Archetype)

 Masterfully graceful and rarely beaten, the Aldori swordlords are a group that has mastered the ways of the blade not just for protection, but as a matter of pride and authority. Named for Sirian Aldori, a nobleman who made his name after challenging a bandit lord to a rematch in Rostland, the so-called Sword Baron initially refused to teach the incredible swordplay that had made him an undefeated warrior. However, he eventually caved, teaching a select few his techniques under the condition that all students must swear an oath to never teach the style to anyone who has not also sworn the oath, and to hone the art of swordplay above all else.

Because of this, while today’s archetype can technically be taken by any class, it only really makes sense in the hands of a non-magical class, particularly among individuals that choose to focus on swordplay to the exclusion of other weapons and tricks they might use. Those that defy these might be hunted by other aldori duelists seeking to preserve the “purity” of the style.

Regardless, this archetype promises a lot of fun tricks for improving the swordplay of a character, focusing not just on attacks, but upon defense, the idea being that a swordsmaster cannot be undefeated if they cannot survive their foe.

 Requiring training in the special dueling swords of the style, those that embark on dedication to this path not only master that blade, but also the agile physical feats associated with the style.

One of the most basic teachings of the style focuses on deflecting and parrying enemy weapons, allowing these duelists to fight defensively.

Always ready for a fight, members of this archetype are quick to react to combat, and swiftly ready their blade in seconds.

Even when on the defensive, they remain ready to strike, these blademasters taking advantage of gaps in their foe’s defenses to strike or disarm them.

With an intimidating and dramatic flourish, a particularly effective strike or disarm can leave a foe on edge and unnerved by the duelist’s mastery.

Even when facing impending injury, the most masterful practitioners of this style can attempt to turn aside a weapon, reducing it’s impact and accuracy to reduce the harm caused.

True to their nature as duelists, this archetype is all about defensive plays and potentially ending a fight by disarming a foe, as well as punishing foes for overextending. I recommend taking a class that fights smarter, rather than harder with this one, such as fighter or swashbuckler, though I’m sure you can think of some fun combinations as well.

 This archetype certainly lends itself well to the obsessive “I must become the greatest warrior ever” trope of character archetypes, and that’s perfectly fine to do if you also make them a unique character beyond that.

  Boasting to be able to beat any man, the duelist Varshannan has attracted the attention of a lesser bogeyman, a bugaboo, who seeks to shatter the young man’s confidence with well-placed spells during important duels, as well as appearing before him in an intimidating fashion, all lead up to, if nobody intervenes, a terrifying final encounter.

 Few take her seriously due to her small size, but Roxanne the grig defies anyone to claim it is impossible for her to be a duelist. Using her bardic magic, she bolsters her abilities to make up for the superior reach and strength of her foes and has brought more than one proud warrior to their knees.

 For the past fifty years, the True Blade Style has dominated the Halfor Dragonblood Tournament, but this year, an upstart armed with a heavy flail seeks to cause an upset with their unpopular weapons choice.

[kingmaker-thac0hno]

Wayfaring: Restov

The Free City of Restov

Population 18,760

Demographics: roughly 80% human. Dwarves, gnomes, and halflings are common, and make up the bulk of the rest. 

Government: Autocracy

Alignment: Chaotic neutral

Ruler: Lord Mayor Ioseph Sellemius

Restov is one of the two largest cities in the fertile region of Rostland in southern  Brevoy. It is known as the Free City of Restov, but it is allied with Brevoy.

Lord Mayor Ioseph Sellemius leads the city, which is a trade and cultural center that borders the River Kingdoms, the Shrike River, and the Stolen Lands. Sellemius is not from any of the noble families, which allows the inhabitants to keep the memories of the Aldori Swordlords and times before Choral the Conqueror alive.

As the birthplace of the Aldori dueling style, the city boasts several Aldori and Taldan dueling schools, which has led to the city being a favored place for young nobles to practice dueling championships. ]Most prominent among them is the Aldori Academy, widely regarded as the region's finest war college. A large number of Aldori duelists came to the city from Rostland after Choral the Conqueror united Brevoy.

Inhabitants

Restov is filled with people who are often refined, including a gentry that believes they are quite sophisticated, or rough around the edges. Taldans smile at those that believe themselves cultured, as they see the natives as being quaint barbarians. As Restov is relatively wealthy, there are many lords and merchants whose sons take up dueling. Fights are common; rhetoric of rebellion against the king can be heard throughout the city.

The main church in the city is dedicated to Erastil watched over by High Priest Ezvanki Keegh.

Many firebrands who oppose King Noleski Surtova also hide among the tap houses of Restov, raising dissent. More recently, the citizens of Restov have become troubled about the politics and tensions between Rostland and Issia to the north.

Government

A council of Swordlords aid the mayor in ruling Restov. Mayor Sellemius is a member of this council and acts as its representative.