Ves-Dinas is a city in the Esteta kingdom on the Laviroon continent, home to the castle of Grand Duke Vanas, who rules the Vanald region in the northwestern part of the kingdom. The Vanald region borders the vast Katcrow sea to the north and the Levados great plains to the south. Beyond these plains lies the Weild region, the domain of House Kavil, with its capital, Karobdiff, at its heart. The Weild region is flanked by the Rowin and Norwan mountain ranges to the east and west, and the Pestronak mountain range to the south.
Surrounded on three sides by rugged mountains and on the fourth by the sea, this land is a frontier region in the northwest of the Esteta kingdom. Despite its remote location, it is wealthier than any other noble domain in the kingdom, owing to its vast territory and abundant resources.
However, its position on the kingdom's edge and the difficulty of reaching the central lands make it a solitary place. There are only two ways to access Vanald and Weild: by sea from the northern port of the Tislo region, the domain of Marquis Tristen, located east of the Norwan mountain range; or through a narrow pass in the Raswabi region, the land of Count Baramore, situated between the southern end of the Norwan mountain range and the eastern end of the Pestronak mountain range.
In summary, the Vanas duchy in the north is reachable via a sea route around the mountains, while the Kavil duchy in the south connects to the rest of the kingdom through the narrow path between the two mountain ranges.
As is common with neighboring domains, the rulers of adjacent territories rarely get along, often due to frequent conflicts or a single event that sparks lasting resentment. Following this pattern, the House Vanas and House Kavil, who govern Vanald and Weild respectively, have been enemies for so long that they can scarcely recall when their feud began.
Over time, the two dukes and their vassal houses have faced each other across this land, divided north and south within a region enclosed by three mountain ranges and the sea. Eventually, the people of the kingdom stopped using the formal names Vanald and Weild, instead calling the area the 'Two Lions' Den,' or simply the 'Lion's Den.'
Ves-Dinas, the largest city in the Vanas duchy and known as the Lion of Vanald, stands on the coast facing the expansive Katcrow sea to the north of the continent.
As prosperous as the kingdom's capital, Drasnarr, Ves-Dinas is safeguarded by the Norwan mountain range to the east—a natural fortress—the rocky Ganos Bay to the north, and sturdy walls to the west and south. Though one of the last regions developed in the Esteta kingdom's history, these walls were built with the abundant resources and immense production capacity of Vanald.
At the southwestern corner, where the southern and western walls meet, stands a massive tower, 90 cubits (45 meters) tall. So grand that it could be called a fortress in its own right, this tower is a key reason Ves-Dinas is renowned as an impregnable city.
Leaving the great tower behind and exploring Ves-Dinas from the south, the first sight to greet visitors is the new town area outside the southern wall.
This district emerged naturally with the city's ongoing expansion, consisting mainly of residential quarters for immigrants from across the kingdom and commercial zones with warehouses and shops.
These belong to merchant guilds and smaller traders active in the Katcrow sea's maritime trade routes, linking the northern Esteta kingdom to the elven kingdom and the Cobalt archipelago. Along the well-paved triumphal road, lined with flat stones, hundreds of houses and buildings release white smoke from their chimneys.
Following this path leads to the southern gate of the city wall, known as the Black Lion's Gate. Adorned with tiles made from a dye produced by burning the roots of the Robello tree from the Cobalt archipelago, the gate gleams a deep, jet-black. Above it, a statue of a black lion gazes outward, while golden lion motifs decorate the walls below.
Passing through the Black Lion's Gate and continuing along the triumphal road toward the city center, Mount Hasset rises to the right, its base cloaked in the dense green forest of the House Vanas.
Beyond the forest, toward the center, stand large brick pillars supporting an aqueduct that channels water from Mount Hasset's springs to the old town of Ves-Dinas.
To the left, wide fields and farmlands stretch out, offering an unobstructed view to the distant western wall. Further along, the old town emerges, its aged buildings and bustling streets a lively contrast to the quiet outskirts.
A crossroads appears slightly east of the city center. To the east lies the Vanas family's castle, built on the leveled foothills of Mount Hasset; to the west, dozens of shops line the street; and to the north, the sailors' residential area leads to the northern wall and Ganos Bay beyond. At the central square, where four roads meet, the northeast hosts the military district with its barracks, while to the south stand the mansions of wealthy nobles and merchants, marked by large gardens and exquisite sculptures that set them apart from the city's denser quarters.
Northwest of the square rises the Great Library of Ves-Dinas, a grand edifice built to encompass the continent's knowledge. A hub of learning in the kingdom's frontier, it houses works by over 300 scholars of various races, with gardens, reading rooms, lecture halls, and conference rooms for visitors.
Beyond the Great Library, the port at the eastern end of Ganos Bay boasts hundreds of warehouses.
At its easternmost tip, on a cape called Bright Hawk Point, a lighthouse illuminates the Bass Strait and the island of Falia, home to several shipyards. With dozens of ships docked, the port's branching streets teem with people, as crowded as the old town and the new town beyond the walls. Ves-Dinas, the most prosperous city in the northwest of the Esteta kingdom, thrives unabated, a testament to the human race's pioneering spirit.
*****
In the distance, the sound of waves blends faintly with the clamor of the port. At the docks, where dozens of ships lie anchored, the creaking of ropes on pulleys and shouts urging faster unloading fill the air.
The clatter of foot-operated wheel mechanisms winding the pulleys and the songs of sailors staggering arm-in-arm along the waterfront echo through. Deeper into the city, in a small alleyway, unique string instruments and lively drumbeats mingle with laughter from the Shackle Dawn tavern.
Opened with the owner's bold ambition to keep patrons 'shackled' until dawn, unable to leave, the tavern glows under bright oil lamps. Beneath them, a group of customers laugh boisterously. Among them is a man with a rough beard, hair slicked back with oil, and old armor clinking as he moves, raising a round, stout glass with a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha ha! How is it? The taste of Shackle Dawn's steamed bass?"
"It's just as you said, sir. The milky broth and the tender flesh of the bass are exquisite!"
"It's delicious."
"Hey, Nia! Eat a bit slower."
"It's Reave who's eating slowly."
Nia, finishing the exchange with Reave, scoops a large piece of the bass dish with her fork and stuffs it into Nia's mouth.
"Eat plenty, Nia! Hmm, though it might be awkward for me to say, since you two are paying for the meal." Leben said.
"Oh, no, sir. Please, you should eat heartily as well. Since you introduced us to this excellent tavern with such delicious bass, it's only fair we pay for the meal."
Reave replied, fondling the bulging pouch at his waist with a contented smile.
"Hey, did you hear that? I'm covering the meal today, so eat with immense gratitude, Nia. Are you listening? Huh?"
Reave said, poking Nia with his elbow as Nia sat beside him.
"I'm eating very well, thank you, Reave!" Nia exclaimed.
"Aack! Swallow your food before you speak!"
Reave shouted, raising his hands to shield himself from the food particles flying toward his face as Nia spoke with a mouth full.
"So, sir, are you leaving Ves-Dinas tomorrow?"
Kein asked Leben, ignoring the chaotic eating contest between Reave and Nia.
"Yes, I plan to depart early tomorrow for Bucure. After that, I must participate in the Grand Tournament in two weeks, so I'll return to Ves-Dinas before then."
"Oh! Now that you mention it, it's almost time for the tournament. I've been away from the city for a while and had forgotten." Kein said.
"Ha ha! That does happen! But when you've been traveling as long as I have, you get better at remembering the seasons and dates." Leben laughed.
"If time allows, I'll come to support you in your match." Kein offered.
"Oh, it would be wonderful to have someone cheering for me!"
"Tournament? I'll come to cheer too." Nia said, cheeks stuffed with food.
"With the red dragon's support, the chances of Leska and me winning will increase! I'll have to prepare even more diligently this year to not disappoint." Leben declared.
"Nia, you should participate too. Besides the jousting, there's also the dueling competition." Reave suggested.
"I'll consider it. I'll need Master Iris's permission to join the tournament."
Nia replied, still busily picking at the table's food with a fork.
"Kha! Drinking indoors without the night breeze warms me up quickly! Let's drink more and eat more! Since I'll be back at the barracks tomorrow, I need to drink my fill tonight for my gloomy self."
"Tomorrow you'll be suffering from a hangover. Drink in moderation, Reave." Kein warned, pushing the glass away from Reave with a short sigh.
"Then, with this last drink, let's raise our glasses to the knight who will embark on his journey again tomorrow and to our joy of returning to Ves-Dinas after a long trip, with all our congratulations and blessings in this toast!"
Reave declared, grabbing the glass back and raising it high above his head.
"Well, if you put it that way, I can't refuse…" Kein relented.
"Wooong!" Nia cheered.
"Thank you! I'll be back from Bucure in no time! And let's gather here again for another drink!" Leben said.
The glasses of the three men and the Droko clinked together above the table. Laughter followed, along with Reave's calls to the tavern owner for more drinks and food, and Kein's sigh as he gave up trying to restrain Reave.
In a small tavern in the port of Ves-Dinas, bound by the shackles of destiny, the four continued to tilt their glasses without pause until dawn broke.