Organisations
The Stone Bank
The Vault of Nestor, Bastion of Wealth and Secrets
The Stone Bank is not only the financial heart of Nestor, but also a symbol of rare alliance and trust between two of the world’s most storied peoples: the Bronze Dragons and the Dwimmer Tribe of Dwarves. Founded millennia ago as a joint venture, the bank’s origins are steeped in legend. It is said that the first vaults were carved deep into the bedrock by Dwimmer master-smiths, their stonework so precise that not even magic could find a flaw. Over these vaults, the Bronze Dragons laid their ancient wards and oaths, binding the bank’s treasures to their honor and power.
This partnership has shaped every aspect of the Stone Bank’s operations. The dwarves oversee the engineering, maintenance, and expansion of the vaults, ensuring that every lock, door, and passage is as secure as the day it was built. Their craftsmanship is visible in the intricate runes and mechanisms that guard each chamber. The Bronze Dragons, meanwhile, provide magical protection and serve as the ultimate guarantors of the bank’s neutrality. Their presence is rarely seen but always felt; it is whispered that any attempt to breach the bank’s security would awaken draconic guardians from their slumber beneath the city.
The main hall of the Stone Bank is a marvel of dwarven architecture, with soaring arches and polished stone columns, but it is the sense of calm and order that most impresses visitors. Staffed by both dwarves and trusted human clerks, the bank is renowned for its discretion and efficiency. Clients from across the empire -nobles, merchants, adventurers, and even rival factions- entrust their fortunes to the Stone Bank, confident that neither theft nor political upheaval can touch what lies within.
The Vaults
Beneath the public spaces, the vaults descend into the earth in a labyrinth of stone and steel, each layer more secure than the last. Some vaults are said to be guarded by constructs of dwarven make, others by enchantments woven by dragonkind. The deepest chambers are rumored to hold treasures from the Wars of Existence, ancient artifacts, and the secret ledgers of the empire’s most powerful families. Only the highest-ranking dwarves and the eldest of the Bronze Dragons know the full extent of what is hidden below.
Political Standing
The Stone Bank is more than a place to store gold. It is a neutral ground where deals are struck, secrets are kept, and the fate of fortunes is decided. Its neutrality is fiercely protected by both its founders; even during times of war or political strife, the bank’s doors remain open, and its vaults inviolate. For adventurers, the Stone Bank is both a sanctuary and a resource to safeguard loot, arrange discreet transactions, or seek the wisdom of those who have watched over Nestor’s wealth for centuries.
Legends persist that the true master of the Stone Bank is neither dwarf nor dragon, but a pact between the two that is honored above all else. Some say that should the bank ever be threatened, the combined wrath of the Dwimmer Tribe and the Bronze Dragons would shake the very foundations of Nestor. Until then, the Stone Bank stands as a testament to what can be achieved when trust, honor, and craft are bound together in stone and oath.
Structure & Services
- Deposits: Adventurers and citizens can deposit gold, gems, and magical items for safekeeping.
- Withdrawals: Funds and valuables can be withdrawn with proper identification or magical cantrips in a registered office of the bank.
- Secure Storage: The bank offers private vaults and lockboxes, some rumored to be protected by powerful wards and guardians.
- Records: The Stone Bank keeps meticulous records of transactions, but client confidentiality is strictly enforced.
Reputation
- The Stone Bank is considered unbreakable—no successful heist has ever been recorded.
- Its staff are known for their professionalism, discretion, and loyalty to the institution above all else.
- The bank’s neutrality is respected even by rival factions and criminal organizations.
Points of Interest
- Main Hall: A grand chamber with marble floors, guarded entrances, and a constant flow of clients.
- Vaults: Deep underground, protected by layers of stone, steel, and magic.
- Private Meeting Rooms: Used for confidential negotiations and the signing of contracts.
Known Dangers
- The vaults are rumored to be guarded by constructs, magical traps, and possibly even bound elementals.
- Attempted theft or fraud is met with swift and severe punishment, both legal and magical.
- There is, of course, the extended family of Bronze Dragons to account for.
Rumors & Legends
- Some say the Stone Bank holds treasures from the Wars of Existence and artifacts too dangerous to be left in the open.
- It is whispered that the bank’s founders made a pact with ancient dwarves or earth spirits to ensure its security.
- A few believe that the true master of the Stone Bank is not a mortal at all, but a hidden power beneath the city.
Relationship with Adventurers
- Adventurers often use the Stone Bank to store loot between expeditions or to safeguard rare items.
- The bank sometimes acts as a neutral ground for deals between rival parties.
- Gaining the trust of the Stone Bank’s staff can open doors to information, contacts, and opportunities in Nestor.
The NIS
The NIS stands for the Nestorian Intelligence Service (sometimes called the Nestorian Intelligence Agency) in your campaign world. It is the primary espionage, counterintelligence, and information-gathering organization of the Nestorian Empire.
Summary of the NIS:
The NIS is headquartered in Nestor, located north of Temple Square and shaded by Morrowdorn’s tower. The building is heavily fortified, surrounded by a wall with regular patrols and magical defenses designed to prevent infiltration by mundane or magical means.
The agency operates both within and outside of Nestorian territory, with agents spread throughout northern Sentretta and beyond. Despite its small size (rumored to be only about 20+ agents), the NIS is considered one of the most effective and deeply embedded intelligence organizations in the world.
The NIS is involved in both external intelligence (spying on rival nations, monitoring threats) and internal security (countering plots, rooting out traitors, and protecting the empire from subversion).
The NIS is known for its use of deep-cover agents, sometimes spending decades undercover to protect the state and its interests. They are also known to buy information from independent sources, such as the infamous information broker Kev.
The agency’s methods include magical and mundane surveillance, counter-espionage, and the use of “invisibility gates” and other magical security measures within their headquarters.
Known agents
- Captain Horn (3rd Legion Marine)
- Tolarian (1st Legion Battlemage)
- Striker (High Mage)
- Finn
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Rolander Garret
Reputation:
The NIS is respected and feared for its effectiveness, secrecy, and willingness to do whatever is necessary to protect the empire. Even high-ranking nobles and military officers tread carefully around its agents.