Nova wasn’t always the shining jewel it is now. It was originally a fishing village founded by an unknown group of seafaring wanderers who settled along the southern shores of Banana for its abundant fruit, fresh fish, and easy access to the open ocean. The early settlers didn’t have the resources to build grand structures—what they did have were small, seawall-bound huts made of local palm and bamboo. They gathered silver ore from the hills around the coastline and began trading the metal for food and textiles with passing merchant ships.
In the early years, the village of Nova was just one of many small, coastal settlements. However, as time passed, one particular family began to rise above the rest: the Morvains.
Originally from Banana’s inland, the Morvains were shrewd traders and resourceful merchants. Their original business involved dealing in spices and exotic fruit from inland plantations. Their success came not from their noble lineage, but from their ability to read markets, supply ships, and control local trade routes.
Seeing the potential of the southern shores, the Morvains purchased land and began mining the abundant silver veins that crisscrossed the cliffs around the settlement. The combination of trade, silver, and agricultural goods allowed the family to rapidly amass wealth, and soon they began buying influence with the local chiefdoms, eventually gaining royalty status.
As the wealth of the Morvain family grew, they began constructing monumental buildings—structures that reflected their increasing importance. The original Silver Keep was built high on a cliffside, overlooking the sea. The palace was made of the finest bronze, marble, and local stone, and was designed not just to house the ruling family but also to demonstrate their dominance over the region. Its location atop the cliffs symbolized their control of both land and sea.
It wasn’t long before the city began to grow. The original settlement that had begun as a humble port village began to be carved into tiers, with the upper city becoming the domain of nobles and royalty, while the lower levels saw a flood of merchants, traders, workers, and laborers. Nova was born out of the need for expansion, commerce, and protection.
During this period, the Morvains constructed the Silver Road, a massive trade route that connected Nova with other parts of the southern coast, making the city not only the heart of the kingdom but a critical point of access for merchants, pirates, and travelers alike. The road’s completion ensured that the flow of goods into the city was uninterrupted, and the Morvains began to establish themselves as rulers of commerce, not just the land they controlled.
As the city expanded, so did the need for organized labor and business regulation. The early days of Nova saw tensions between merchant families and the Morvains, but it wasn’t long before the Morvains realized that merchants and guilds could provide the economic foundation for their growing city.
This gave rise to the First Guilds in Nova:
The Vintners’ Guild controlled the production and export of banana wine—a symbol of the kingdom's wealth.
The Silverwrights Guild governed the mining, processing, and trading of silver.
The Spicer’s Guild controlled the trade of exotic fruits and spices from the inland plantations.
At the same time, the noble class became more stratified, and the social gap between the morally rigid nobility and the free-wheeling merchant class grew. Over time, guilds gained more political power, leading to a new era of diplomatic maneuvering and backdoor politics.
The city’s construction was dictated by its growing economy. It naturally tiered itself based on social class, with the Upper City becoming the seat of royalty, the Middle City flourishing with guilds and shops, and the Lower City forming the labor hub.
Upper Nova (The Heights) was for the nobles, the wealthy merchants, and the ruling class, including the Morvains.
Mid Nova (The Stone) became the heart of artisan trade and commerce. This was where most of the guilds operated, where the silver market and warehouses thrived, and where middle-class citizens and foreigners did business.
Lower Nova (Portside) housed the dockworkers, smugglers, and the poor. This area saw the most chaos and crime, but it was also the lifeblood of the city, with its bustling port, shipyards, and fish markets.
At the height of its power, the Morvains controlled not only the city’s wealth but also the flow of magic. While magic was once commonplace among the elite and rulers, it eventually began to fade from public life.
The Silvercloaks, the elite guard force of the Morvain family, were tasked with keeping order, but they also became the primary force in suppressing magic. As magic became rarer, the Morvains realized it was more pragmatic to focus on trade and political control than arcane power, which they could no longer monopolize. Court mages were relegated to advisory roles, and their importance waned as the city’s prosperity grew without magic.
The religious institutions in Nova also faced a decline. The worship of the Rooted Flame, once the dominant faith, slowly began to fade into symbolism. Priests and clerics still performed rituals, but there were fewer and fewer true believers. Some say the flame burned out as the city’s focus on material wealth grew. Others say it was the result of divine indifference after the city’s struggles with magic.
Nevertheless, the Temple of the Root remained a monumental structure, a reminder of a bygone era, but its power was reduced to ceremony.
Now ruled by King Malrix Morvain, the city stands at the height of its wealth and political influence, but tensions are beginning to mount. The old guilds hold considerable sway, and while the Morvains still dominate, they face increasing opposition from both rival noble houses and the merchant class.
The Silver Keep is no longer just the seat of royalty. It has become a symbol of power—more than just the royal palace, it is the control center of trade, politics, and even magical artifacts.
The Upper City houses not only the king but also powerful families and the privileged elite who influence politics through trade and wealth.
In the Lower City, crime is rising. Smuggling rings, pirates, and black-market guilds begin to test the city’s boundaries, challenging the Morvains' grip on power.
Nova’s legacy is built on silver, trade, and shrewd politics. It is a city where merchants can become nobles, and where ambition can elevate anyone to the highest heights.
Yet, even with all its riches, Nova is not without its dark side. It is a place where power is carefully managed, but where danger and violence are always lurking in the shadows.
Beneath the city, the ancient catacombs are rumored to still house relics of magic and secrets long forgotten.
On the streets, whispers of rebellions and discontent simmer, as the lower classes become increasingly restless under the weight of the kingdom’s grandeur.
Nova is a city built on ambition—a city where the pursuit of wealth has shaped its destiny. Its tiers symbolize its social structure, and its ancient walls reflect the passing of eras. For now, Nova remains the heart of Novain, but its future may depend on whether the Morvains can hold on to the power they have so carefully crafted over the centuries.