United Holds of Vyrtan

Vyrtan was funded not a whole five decades later than Sterling, by an exploration party who happened upon the Observatory on the coldside. The colony proclaimed independence not long after, but it never completely severed its ties to Sterling, the bond mutually improving their legitimacy and power status, and serving to each other as important trading partners.

Today Vyrtan is an exporter of Copperwood, and the leader of technological innovation, finding new uses for Embers. Their inventions are highly utilitarian, and not nearly as sophisticated as Ismar's or true Objects of Power, but they are relatively affordable and abundant, especially sought after by adventurers and mercenaries. They also create their fabled Ember-fueled firearms, similarly desirable. They have a separate monetary system from Sterling, using imbued wooden coins as currency. Vyrtan is also the producer of possibly the best and most varied beers of the Basin, such as Red Foxglove and Witchnose Lager, but some of their wines, such as Tannhäuser Red, have also become iconic to the area.

The city itself is built from Sterling’s stone, its own wood, and ruins of course. Huts in the wilderness are all wooden. Clothing is warm but light as possible, so are uniforms. Their self-defense force is the Rangers.

The theoretical leadership is a scientific committee, but they have lost power ages ago, and have been replaced in practice by a non-elected body of wealthy local merchants, as well as members of the military.