Vedenza, officially the Second Republic of Vedenza, is a small, vibrant city-state of Tilea located on the border with Estalia. Vedenza was recently reconquered from Estalian rule and is now under the influence of the much larger city-state of Tobaro,[3a] which, according to Imperial scholar Theodosius Schreiber, is itself confusingly called "Vedenza the True" by those who truly love her.[1a][4b][Note 1]
Unlike the rest of Tilea, people from Vedenza don't just see the increasing number of monsters that occurred during the Storm of Magic that unleashed the War of Beasts as a sign of ill-fortune but also as a good opportunity to put into action a long-conceived plot against its enemies.[1a]
The seal and banner of Vedenza depict a Manticore.[1a]
History[]
War of Beasts[]
The nearest of the greater Tilean city-states are Tobaro and the pirate haven of Sartosa. Vedenza is mostly isolated from the more prominent city-states, who tend to look down on Vedenza. The Tilean city has often been attacked by the neighboring Estalian petty kingdoms of Larhgoz and Geulata, who seek to incorporate the wealth of Vedenza into their own territories.[1a]
Younger than most of the more venerable city-states of Tilea, Vedenza won fame during the War of Beasts. The War of Beasts was a conflict waged at the borders of Tilea and Estalia over control of the city-state of Vedenza. The conflict began in the 103rd year of the Second Republic of Vedenza. After a great Storm of Magic had caused monsters of all stripes to rise and terrorise the lands between the Tilean Sea and the Abasko Mountains and brought famine and ruin to southern Estalia, the petty Estalian kingdoms of Larhgoz and Geulata once more prepared to conquer the domains of Vedenza that bordered them.[1a]
The Estalians marshalled a large force, consisting of free-lances, retainers of the kingdom, bandits and mixed tercio regiments of glaive and crossbow-armed warriors. King Vidar VII of Lahrgoz, himself a wizard, used the agitated Winds of Magic to bind Skin Wolves to his army, as well as entering alliances with the Mortiara, a sect of Morrites shunned by the official Cult of Morr, and strega, witches from the Bone Hills.[1a]
The Estalian armies were met by the Republican Guard of Vedenza and their artillery train, supported by Tobaran Pevisers and Sartosan cutthroats. From the mountains came Tazadis of Araby, court alchemist of the Council of Tears that ruled Vedenza, who had bound Manticores to his will. From the sea came Orsini Sardus, an Amber Wizard and agent of the council, on his flagship The Pride of Zora, a bound Merwyrm named Silak in his company. The Estalians were defeated and forced to flee.[1a]
At that same moment, a horde of Skaven marched forward to Vedenza, ravaging the north of the cities' lands. The ratmen had whispered insidious lies into the ears of the Estalians to stir them up against Vedenza. The merciless Skaven killed and enslaved everyone in their path, even their fleeing Estalian catspaws.[1a][1b]
During the siege of the city Tazadis of Araby was slain by the Skaven assassins but the main army could not breach the city's walls, even if it was just a matter of time. This forced Vedenza's defenders to adopt a new plan and they sought to slay the Skaven general by leading him into a trap. So part of the Tilean army led by Lupo Hecate and Orsini Sardus travelled to the Isle of Grief to use an ancient monolith as a bait for the Skaven.[1a]
Battle of the Howling Abyss[]
The Warpfire Dragon called She and the army of Lupo Hecate face the Skaven.
Eight days after the defeat of the Estalian forces of Larhgoz, a force departed Vedenza on a dozen shallow-drafted galleys, guarded by the vast bulk of the Merwyrm Silak One-eye, and all but one ship arrived at the Isle of Grief. Immediately the Vedenzans were attacked by the half-alive Skaven warships, but these were swept aside and the Vedenzian force headed for a vast sea cavern, the Howling Abyss. A temple had been built there, even before the time of the Elves, with a strange monolith of pure warpstone at its heart.[1b]
Now the Warpfire Dragon known only as She arrived to assist the ratmen's assault, hungry for the warpstone that the Skaven intended to claim. As the battle raged it became clear that it was no mere Grey Seer that led the Skaven but a Verminlord, a Daemon of the Horned Rat, and the Dragon and the Daemon clashed as all around them Men and Skaven died in droves. Although gravely wounded, the Dragon managed to use the last binding scroll to summon a dozen Shugon -- the Trolls of the deep sea who tore the Verminlord apart.[1b]
The few surviving Humans retreated to their ship, but the Warpfire Dragon coiled around the great warpstone monolith, wounded but triumphant, bathing in its toxic magical radiance. The Skaven retreated from the mainland, the frightened Estalians sought peace and returned the territories they had seized. If was after these events that Vedenza began to be noted as a rising power even by the other, older city-states of Tilea while the Amber Wizard Orsini Sardus continued to render faithful service to the Council of Tears and their Second Republic.[1b]
Government[]
Currently, Vedenza is ruled by the oligarchic council of merchants and other notables called the Council of Tears and is officially called the "Second Republic of Vedenza," implying the existence of an earlier republican government for the city.[1a][4a]
The Council of Tears has made use of terrible creatures to defend the city, like the Warpfire Dragon known as "She", or the Merwyrm, Silak One-eye, who now slumbers beneath the lagoon at the command of the wizard Orsini Sardus.[1a][3a]
Geography[]
Red Vault[]
The many islands of the Carvorna Archipelago, also called the Isles of the Sirens, the location of Vedenza in north-western Tilea, during the War of Beasts.
Vedenza is constructed atop cliffs of black stone on the Carvorna Archipelago. It lies on a series of drowned catacombs that predate Human habitation. Within these catacombs lies the Red Vault, where the Council of Tears stores magical artefacts and treasures that are used in times of need.[1a][1b]
The labyrinth is so complex and rumoured to be inhabited by hungry monstrosities that even the Skaven, ever-present in the lands of Tilea, have failed to establish an undercity there.[1b]
The Citadel[]
The city of Vedenza; the citadel represents the tallest of its buildings.
The citadel is the last line of defence of Vedenza should the enemy breach the other components of its fortification system. The citadel of Vedenza is defended by strong walls and bronze-shod gates. Inside the citadel lies the tower house of the potent Amber Wizard and vedenza's greatest defender, Orsini Sardus.[1b]
The Port[]
Vedenza stands on the edge of the Tilean Sea, with the many islands of the Carvorna Archipelago, also known as the Isles of the Sirens, in north-western Tilea at its back and wide lagoons between its islands. This allows the city to carry out naval maneuvers even in the event of a siege from the mainland.[1b]
Forces of Vedenza[]
The defence of the city of Vedenza rests in the hands of the guardsmen of the Republican Guard, often supported by bombards, an artillery train, and the ever-present Tilean mercenaries.[1a]
Lords[]
- Lupo Hecate - Lupo Hecate is a captain-general of Vedenza. He distinguished himself at the Battle of the Howling Abyss.[1c]
- Orsini Sardus - Orsini Sardus is an Amber Wizard, scholar, merchant, assassin and explorer who willingly serves the Second Republic of Vedenza.[1c]
- Tazadis of Araby - Tazadis of Araby was the Court Alchemist of Vedenza, originally a native of Araby as his name implies.[1c]
Troops[]
- Republican Guard - The Republican Guard is tasked with the defence of Vedenza and its confines. Among its heavily armed guardsmen are some of the finest soldiers of the Second Republic.[1a][1b]
Mercenaries[]
- Tobaran Pavisers - Tobaran Pavisers were hired by Vedenza for the war against Larhgoz.[1a]
- Sartosan Cutthroats - Sartosan pirates were hired by Vedenza for the war against Larhgoz.[1a]
Monsters[]
- She - Never referred to by any other name, this huge Warpfire Dragon aided Vendenza in exchange for the warpstone stockpile found at the heart of the Isle of Grief.[1c]
- Silak One-eye - Silak was a Merwyrm that now sleeps in the lagoon beyond the city's coastline.[1c]
Engines of War[]
- Artillery train - Vedenza's artillery train is a brazen train armed with cannons and bolt throwers.[1a]
- Pride of Zora - The Pride of Zora is a Tilean galleon and the private vessel of the wizard Orsini Sardus.[1c]
Game History[]
With the publication of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms, the state of the city of Vedenza has undergone several changes. Now the city is subject to the authority of Tobaro and is portrayed as a district of that larger city. One of the authors of the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition supplement Imperial Zoo revealed it was a decision taken to pay homage to the wishes of Alan Bligh, the now-deceased original writer of 8th Edition's Monstrous Arcanum background book.
Canon Conflict[]
- Note 1: In Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Imperial Zoo, Imperial scholar Theodosius Schreiber presents "Vedenza the True" as simply another name for Tobaro. However, this interpretation is contradicted by Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms, which portrays Vedenza as an entirely separate city-state under Tobaro's influence. Schreiber's account in The Imperial Zoo consistently refers to Tobaro, but under the name Vedenza the True, rather than the Republic of Vedenza described in Monstrous Arcanum and Up in Arms. The reason behind the publisher Cubicle 7's decision to use the name "Vedenza" for two distinct locations is unknown. What is certain is that the Vedenza described in the 8th Edition background book Monstrous Arcanum, a younger, independent Tilean republic, is distinct from Tobaro. Alan Bligh, the original creator of Vedenza and author of Monstrous Arcanum, explicitly describes it as a city-state "younger than most of the more venerable city-states of Tilea," making it incompatible with Tobaro's long and storied history.
Sources[]
- 1: Monstrous Arcanum (8th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Companion (RPG)
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Imperial Zoo (RPG)
- 3a: pp. 86-88
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 5a: pp. 286-288