Yharnam

Yharnam is an ancient and desolate city located somewhere within the outskirts of Eastern Europe that has fallen to Sarkicism.

Description[]

Once a bustling Victorian metropolis of staggering decor and construction, the city of Yharnam has become almost entirely unknown to the world at large and regarded it as merely a myth. In the decades since the Sarkic takeover, the city has taken on a more gothic atmosphere, as it is constantly shrouded in dark clouds or nighttime. Its Victorian architecture is reminiscent of late 19th Century European cities including Paris, Edinburgh, Cologne and London.

Yharnam is renowned as the home of a mysterious medical remedy to the plague of Sarkicism. Over the years, many desperate travelers have ventured into this city in search for this cure. None of them have returned.

Residents of Yharnam are called Yharnamites. The town appears rather grim and decadent and has been ravaged by a mysterious plague, becoming infested with dangerous beasts and demented citizens.

Overview[]

It is said the the city was once a quiet and moderately peaceful place until a Sarkic cult of vampires known as the Tzimisce seized control by unleashing a plague known as the Crimson Curse upon the city, resulting in a societal collapse and a sudden outpour of chaos and mayhem. The pandemic resulting from this incident was so great that they were completely cut off from the outside world and received no aid.

History[]

Background[]

It is said that Yharnam has been around for hundreds of years, and perhaps even earlier than that and it was not always in its decrepit and downtrodden state. It was in actuality once a bustling and lively metropolis but was quiet and simple living when need be. Yharnam was ruled by a noble family in their regal homestead for many years. While this family has a respectable background there were rumors that the family's grounds were resting atop a shadowy power but there was no proof to substantiate these stories at the time.

As the power and authority of the family grew, the respectable image of the family and even the other nobles they were affiliates with began to slowly degrade. The parties they held within their courtyards and gardens grew wild and unrestrained. And the normally composed disposition of the nobles gave way to impulsive desires like excessive lust and gluttony. This degradation took its toll on the court and a madness took a hold of it. It grew so debaucherous that guests would consume rotten food and even torture other guests for their own amusement.

Crimson Curse[]

The head of the noble estate would host these extravagantly debaucherous parties until he met with a woman - a Baroness - that had an air of mystery around her. Ignoring the dangers she posed the head of the estate planned to kill the Baroness in a grand display but before he could do so he was met with a stultifying sight; the woman assumed a monstrously vampiric appearance and made a counter attempt on the man's life but he was quick with the knife.

After overcoming the woman he continued with his plan nonetheless, taking her to his cellar and began to drain her of blood which he then used to create a new flavor of wine that was to be consumed at his next banquet. However, after he fed the drink to his guests something occurred that he did not expect. The Baroness he killed was in fact a member of the Tzimisce, a clan of vampires who practice Sarkicism. And when he fed her blood to his guests he infected them with the disease she carried. The head of the estate was met with sheer horror when the curse manifested in the court and caused a violent frenzy to break out amongst the nobles who were each desperately trying to consume the blood of their peers to slake the thirst that now burned in their bodies.

During the outbreak, the inhabitants of Yharnam formed large street mobs and pursued those who were infected by the plague, the beasts that terrorize the city, and trespassers who dared to set foot in the dark streets. Those unfortunate enough to be captured by the mobs of crazed citizens meet a gruesome end, often at the stake. This happened all while the Sarkics gained control over the city itself.