Velhaven

Type: Minor City | Population: Moderate | Region: Chrysanthia

The city of bridges. Sitting astride the river Geminon, Velhaven is a picturesque city of stone bridges and wooden towers. Famed for its music and romance, it serves as the setting of countless comedies and tragedies that frequent theaters all over the Empire.

"They say every love story in the Empire either begins in Velhaven, ends in Velhaven, or is set there by a playwright who's never visited but assumes it's terribly romantic."
— Aldous Merriweather (House Brios), theater critic

Overview

Velhaven spans the river Geminon across seventeen stone bridges, each with its own name, history, and associated romantic tradition, and countless wooden bridges and connecting spans between towers. The city’s wooden towers rise from the waters like aquatic trees, their distinctive silhouettes recognizable from any play or painting set in “a romantic location.” Musicians fill the public squares, lovers walk the bridges at sunset, and playwrights take notes on human nature from café terraces.

Key Features: - Seventeen historic stone bridges - Distinctive wooden tower architecture - Thriving musical and theatrical tradition - Renowned as a destination for romance - Setting for innumerable plays, songs, and stories

Population: Moderate, with significant artist and performer population.

Notable Locations

The Bridge of Vows

Function: Landmark | Access: Public The most famous of Velhaven’s bridges, where tradition holds that vows spoken at sunset are binding. Marriage proposals here are so common that a small industry exists to manage the queue during peak seasons.
The Harmony Halls

Function: Music | Access: Performances public, studios by appointment Complex of concert halls, practice studios, and music academies run by House Brios. Velhaven’s musical tradition is trained and nurtured here, producing performers who grace stages across the Empire.
The Riverside Theater

Function: Entertainment | Access: Tickets available Where many famous plays about Velhaven actually premiere, creating the peculiar situation of Velhaven audiences watching romantic stories about themselves. Reviews are mixed but attendance is reliable.

Districts

Night Quarter

Tower Isle

The Harmony Halls » The largest of the man-made islands that house Velhaven amidst the river Geminon » Residential towers and artist studios

Performer’s Row

The Riverside Theater » Taverns, cafés, and entertainment venues

The Sun Market & The Night Market

» Markets along both banks » Local crafts and romantic souvenirs

Governance

Power Structure

Burgess of Velhaven: Celeste Riverwind (House Brios) Traditional elected position. The Burgess manages city affairs and represents Velhaven’s interests, including protecting its romantic reputation.

Other Notable Figures: - Conductor Prima Varenna (House Brios) — Harmony Halls - Theater Director Aldric Keyter (House Brios) — Riverside Theater - Bridge Keeper Milo Kettlekip (House Ilmath) — Bridge Maintenance Authority

Velhaven governs through a council system balancing merchant interests, artistic guilds, and traditional neighborhoods. House Brios influence is strong, and five of the past seven Burgesses have been members. The city’s primary concern is maintaining its reputation as the Empire’s romantic heart.

The Romantic Tradition

The Bridges

Each of Velhaven’s seventeen bridges has associated traditions: - Bridge of Vows: Proposals and pledges - Moonlight Span: First meetings - Tearful Crossing: Dramatic partings

The Music

Street musicians are licensed and regulated to ensure quality. Serenades can be arranged. Musical accompaniment for romantic moments is available for hire.

The Reality

Velhaven is genuinely picturesque, but its romantic reputation is also actively cultivated and commercially leveraged. The locals are pragmatic about this, romance is good for business.

Visitor Information

Getting There

By River: Scenic approach along the Geminon
By Road: Well-maintained routes from major cities
By Airship: Regular service, dramatic aerial views of the bridges

Accommodation

Ranges from practical to theatrical, priced by view and proximity to famous bridges. Rooms overlooking the Bridge of Vows command premium rates during proposal season.

Things to Know

The bridges are genuinely beautiful at sunset
Street musicians expect tips for serenades
Proposals at the Bridge of Vows require queue tickets during peak season
Playwrights observing you may include you in their next work
The romance is real enough if you’re not cynical about it