Soultava

History
The popular assertion that the monestary is the oldest building in Soultava is incorrect. That role is filled by the old mill, founded on the mouth of the blood river by Joseph the Müller (often just refered to as Joseph Müller). He realised the potential of a riverport at Soultava would have as it was hard to build major infrastructure in the Zuvinaran interior and as the Great North Road now ended only a few miles from the river mouth. But lacking any experience in sailing or ship building he instead constructed a mill in 524 PA, giving rise to the expression 'in a shipping boom, sell bread.' He initially milled largely for a nearby village.

His business would receive an unexpected boost the next year when The Order of The Crying Stone established an abbey there. Joseph started mainly supplying the monks and the family would branch out into smithing and a general store. A group of fishermen would settle around the mill, one of who would found Soultava's first shipping business around 531 PA. The abbey established a church in the town and a palisade was built to protect it. The abbey was not too keen on the village though, and built a wall to prevent any expansion by merchants onto the headland.

Shortly after the construction of the wall, The Crying Stone allowed their sibling, The Order of The Blind River, to seek refuge behind it after being driven out of their own village. While it has never been revealed why the villagers rejected The Blind River, they built a shrine that stands to this day. The port instead expanded southwards creating the new town behind a new stone wall. The Crying Stone wished to build a new church there but the Dyatlov's (then the richest family) refused until they were allowed to expand into the ground behind the wall. In the end the two struck an agreement mediated by The Müller family (who were already enforcing the law in the town having chosen themselves for the role). The Crying Stone would get there church, the Dyatlov's would get there wherehouses, the stretch of land between the two (until this point a buffer zone) would be jointly developed, and both would agree to hire mercinaries if the town were to need defending.