Vahjevgiiv, also known as The Old Wolf, is a city best known for its iron jewelry and for its conquests, being the only city to have conquered the City of Qarshtuluu. Founded by Metsamic mercenaries in 579 BA, alongside its sister city Länkuuhsta, Vahjevgiiv is a city built around a ring fort in the Brightmarch region of the Northern Cities.
History[]
Vahjevgiiv, as well as its sister city Länkuuhsta, was founded in 579 BA by Metsamic mercenaries under hire of the Khamgunai during the Amber Wars. The city was constructed as a ringfort, and as the population grew, new ringed walls were built. The founding of the cities upset the Khamgunai and drew the new cities into the wars in 594 BA. In response, the Metsamic mercenaries rebelled against their clients and defended the cities along with Metsamic reinforcements from the west.
During an invasion by centaurs led by Naegol in 564 BA, Vahjevgiiv joined a coordinated effort to drive them out. After Naegol was defeated and the centaurs routed, Vahjevgiiv joined the Amberpact and entered into a period of peace.
After the wars came to an end, Vahjevgiiv had a celebration of the city’s defense and it was during this that the residents discovered a rich source of iron to the west. Despite not having the knowledge of how to forge the poor-quality iron ore at the time, they polished the ore into exquisite and long-lasting jewelry, which became the city's main export alongside a berry liqueur sourced from their forested homeland.
In 1427, the city was led by the charismatic Kahziz Shorvrus to conquer Qarshtuluu, fighting alongside Länkuuhsta. However, their wars are partially blamed for the devastation that occurred during the Great Incursion. Even though Vahjevgiiv's forces joined with their old enemies of the Grand League to push back the hordes, their realm was still dismantled by the newly created Lake Federation, and Kahziz was executed for instigating Vahjevgiiv’s conquest. Consequently, the city suffered several sanctions, and some view this as an attempt by the nascent Federation to demonstrate its power over the cities. While the city was known for being expansionist and aggressive, Vahjevgiiv had also been instrumental in toppling tyrants and despots in the lakes, such as the Tyrant Queen in 250 BA.
Military[]
Vahjevgiiv had a powerful military, enough to conquer the grand city of Qarshtuluu. Vahjevgiiv often employed fellow Metsamic mercenaries from the Southern Cities, eager to help their eastern brethren. Vahjevgiiv often coordinated their armies with their sister city of Länkuuhsta, whose forges supplied both their armies with high quality weapons and armor.
Economy[]
Vahjevgiiv had two primary exports, iron, and liqueur. The iron of Vahjevgiiv came in different forms, the usual raw iron used for smelting, but also polished iron ore cabochons used for jewelry. The city's liqueur is made from the same berries that the residents brought from their old forested homeland, and it is known for its unique taste and aroma. As iron smelting techniques improved, the city's rich iron deposits made Vahjevgiiv an industrial powerhouse.