Abbaye
The Unaligned City
Ruler: The Grand Duke Ilestrim Myramin, the Council of Solana
Fealty; No one patron, loyalties lean towards the Grey King, and The Mistress of the Sea
Population; 98,000 ( 24, 000 in the city proper) (Halved when the harvest hits Egran)
Racial Composition Mostly humans, tainted blood, and mixed blood
Languages; Abbaili (Common), Islandspecht, Kesselan (Common)
Major Holdings outside the city; Ryddenwar, Anmwar, Tur-Giladroth, Mor-Brae-Nog
Major Resources: Alcohol, books & scrolls, slaves, cattle, horses, food products
City Guardsmen; the City Constabulary (3,000 men)
Military Presence; the Winged Legion( 12,000 men), and 24 galleys of war, and sloops
Major temples; the Vendicarus ( All patrons)
Major Noble Houses. Gandring, Brae, Angdom, Rosynd, Rydden, ap Donagan, L’rendol, Farifan., O’Shea, Llarion, Jaresh, Giladroth
Common Lore
On the crossroads of the Sea and the Kessel the small city of Abbaye rests. Red roofed villas, and paved stone roads, the lofty golden spires of the Vendicarus, and the sparkling waters of the River Solarii, gathering at the juncture with the headwaters of the River Abbaili. The city glitters with a false newness. Beneath its gilt beauty Abbaye is a worn down city with high amounts of crime, and an almost non existent constabulary. It is a city known for its peoples stubbornness, and its unwillingness to conform to the kingdoms around it. Officially the Council of Solana, and the Grand duke pay tribute and allegiance to the Grey King, but in practice the Council finds excuses for delays of taxes, and through sheer stubbornness will not give in to the demands that the city officials root out citizens with the tainted blood. Indeed it is whispered in rumors throughout the Kessel that the Grand Duke is fey, and himself spawned of fiendish blood. For now though the Patrons have been busy elsewhere and have taken little notice of Abbaye and its “ don’t ask don’t tell” policy.
The Land
Situated in the delta of the River Solarii, at its confluence with the River Abbaili (from which the City takes its name.) Abbaye rests on some of the most fertile land in all of the Kessel. Most of the cities visitors are farmers from the outlying ranch lands coming to the city for trade, entertainment, or for supplication at the Vendicarus. Many of the Citizens of the city show a strong resemblance to the northern barbarian tribes, and one can still here phrases reminiscent of the ancient north. Outside the city the Council holds a number of wooden, and stone forts in its dominion. Of these Mor-Brae-Nog just inside the Ravenswood is the oldest dating back far before the sinking of Kylatt into the sea. It is believed to be a keep of the Bygone era, and as with the sites in the Utalian Islands there have been certain discoveries of mysterious snake like statutes. Some of the Library Archivists that have traveled deep into the underground burial chambers of the Keep report finding mummified remains that fit no known race. ( These remains were removed to Irrasibon where the Mistress has begun to study, and document them)
The People
To an outsider looking in the People of Abbaye seem to always be looking for a national identity. The historical language of the region has been brought back, School systems have been put in place and in general the standard of living has risen to a high standard. There are far less destitute in Abbaye than in other cities of the Kessel, and the quality of health has risen due to new gnomish inventions such as the carriage scoops, and while far from finished the cities sewer system looks to be one of the best feats of domestic engineering ever set about.
However the city is not for every one. Their lenient policies on the heritage of their citizens, and the general lack of a well trained constabulary are two of the reasons why Abbaye is seen as the Rogue city. A known port of such heinous individuals as the Red Jackal, and the hideout of the fiendish assassin Daxan Thorinaux, Abbaye has taken hot water from the Patrons for its don’t ask don’t tell policies.
One may find men who bear a strong resemblance to men of the lost Kylatti Imperium, or to men of the ill fated Tall kingdoms, however the majority of the cities twenty four thousand souls hail from the north Kesselan tribal stock. The city, while warn, has one of the best rates of employment. Its citizens work as sailors, or as longshoremen, factory workers, artisans, and book binders.
Relations within the Kessel
Known as a city of smugglers, rogues, and miscreants Abbaye has gained somewhat of a bad reputation for harboring fugitives, and for turning a blind eye upon those with tainted heritage. The city does however have good relations with the Shattered Isles and Irrasibon, having two rose festivals for when the Mistresses floating stronghold comes to port. Abayanese frequently use the term Crimson fingers as a insult for one who is to ambitious or greedy for his own good. This reference is taken from the cities nemesis Red Harbour. The rivalry between the two sea ports stems from [ insert age comparison] when Abayanese Merchants failingly tried to steal the die markets from out of the Red Merchants hands. The two cities have come to naval actions as of late over trade routes along the Kesselan coast, and Citizens of the Dyers city accuse Abbaye of harboring pirates such as the Red Jackal. The lord of the blades has begun to actively pay attention to the rumors spread by Red Harbouran spies that tell tales of the multitudes of the tainted blood within the city walls. Tensions as of yet have not risen on the cities landward, due to the protestations of the Lord Protector that the small city is under good leadership.
Annals of the City
Abbaye’s origins hearken back to the years before the coming of the fiends. Originally built as a keep by refugees from the city of Kylatt. Abbaye was nearly destroyed by the first Fiend war. and was ruled by one of the Fiendish lords of Numer for a time during that age. At the time of the first fiend war it was known as Abbailinar after the river over which it was built. Conquered by fiendish armies in -2134 BR. The conquered city dug deep into the pride of the Kesselan army. As the tide of the first war changed Abbaye became a focus for the Grey King, and the Lord Protector. In the spring of the year -2109 BR the armies of the two patrons met at Tribontia, a small enclosed village forty miles up the river Abbaili. They numbered over twelve thousand men, and were commanded by the General Felinor Myramin, one of the misplaced dukes of the Tall kingdoms. In a surprise river landing Felinor rapidly defeated the fiendblood army.
The Daemon who had usurped control of the city met him at the site that is now known as the Recanting hall a now dusty section of the ducal palace. After the battles end the flag of Myramin flew proudly over the war torn city. It was Felinor who renamed the city Abbaye, as the Daemon Ashrazniel had desecrated the old city with the dark name Numerlorn. The city as it appears today is the city as it was in Felinor’s time. Though he ordered his men to tear down the old stone keep and to throw the stones of it into the river. It is said that Felinor doomed the city to its present state by tossing the cursed stones of Ashrazniel of Ritharzan into the river. Not long after the construction of the new ducal palace had been completed, Felinor brought his family from Egran. It would seem that he was in the outs with his eldest son Draako for he forbade him from his families palace wing, but gave into his power the southern tower which looked over the surrounding land, rivers, and from its highest windows the Endless sea. It is Felinor’s line that took the office of Grand Duke at his death in the year -2048 BR when his second son Travien took his place. It is of the sons of Felinor that when under siege during the second fiend war drove off the armies of Numer.
The City Proper
Abbaye is built in two almost totally different styles from one area to the next. It is made up of the old city built mostly by Kylatti architects after the tradition Imperial style, and the new city built haphazardly by the merchants of Egran. The ducal palace, built by skilled Kylatti architects from the plans of the old Kylatti Imperial palace seems to rise majestically up from the red tile roofs of the old town.
In the last hundred years the invention of the printing press, and higher education have spawned a great demand for reading material. The Grand Duke Thurion founded the Ducal Binderies in 134 AR, which bound a total of fifty books in its first year. It was Thurion who began construction of the gilt library of Serapeum and donated over three hundred books of his private collection to his creation. At his death Thurion announced that the Serapeum should be a public library. During his reign having ones own library became high fashion, with the nobility patterning there own private homes after the golden halls of the Serapeum.
The New City
The new city refers to the haphazard districts that have sprouted since the second fiend war. Built to fit the needs of those who built the buildings the new city can sometimes be confusing to those who do not know the cities
byways. Mostly either all wooden structures or buildings with stone first floors, and stucco covered wooden second and third floors. Starting at the city walls and moving downstream toward the palisade the Dukes park stretches some ninety thousand sq. meters. At its center is the Myramin Monument, a statue depicting Felinor defeating a ghastly demon. Along the river front the industries that supply the raw materials for the book binderies have built up large factories.
Tanners, lumber yards, lead merchants, and a press publishers have started up all with in a short distance of the Ducal Binderies factory.
Because of the cities prime industry small communities of authors, or scholars have popped up within the new, and old city as well as in the Macellum.
In the high market, and on the waterfront it is common to see sellers hawking manuscripts, or professing to own a copy of book of lost lore. Even in the Bazaar of Dark Delights one might find a seller claiming to own a chapter of the Book of Nightmares.
The Ducal Binderies
The only producer of finely bound, and led printed books the Ducal binderies are a service of the Ducal office, and its proceeds are given into the City treasury. It produces nearly seven hundred and fifty books a month, and has been doing so for the last twelve generations of the Grand Dukes. It employees many of its workers from the slums of the Tosscobble district, or off the streets using the destitute has a infinite source of cheap and eager labor.
The Old City
On Abbailinar Is. the city of Felinor still stands in its archaic grandeur as it did in the first Grand Dukes time. It is a city built after the design of Kylatt with resplendent architecture complete with marble lintels, vibrantly colored tile floors, and terracotta roofs. The old city, built by refugees who were greatly saddened by the loss of their beautiful capital, reflects a sense of deep sorrow inherent in its cobbled streets. Still common in the old city are the Brativarii or crying homes where the first inhabitants who culturally believed it was wrong to weep in public would go to shed there grief.
No where is it more common to find the culture of the Old Kylatt than in the district known as the “ little Imperium” situated on the small Isle of Withrantium. It is home to traditional Kylatti restaurants, culturally reminiscent stores, and back alley taverns. In one small alley sized street known as Riagolini Avenue the most authentic reconstruction of the famed Kylatti alehouse, the Sword and Prayer can be found tucked away quietly serving its patronage as the patrons of the old Kylatti tavern were served. It is here that at the right time of year a traveling Kesselan might find the Findanius, or Day of the Spirits. a visitor might even here tidbits of the ancient Kylattan language between one elderly washerwoman to another. At the eastern end of Withrantium the small park and fountain known as Cantivery nestle quietly between the Kylattan villas. .
The little Imperium is under the control of Javier Cantillon, a middle aged Kylattan with an easy manner.
On the main island still known as Abbailinar the city has an old world grace. Sometime ago a group of Shipiyano immigrated into the city building a large tract of canals along the Solarii side of the river way. The district now titled Water town is home to a strong Shipiyano culture. Many of the Shipiyani who came into the city were scholars or mystics that came with the founding of the Ducal Binderies. Within to blocks however the Watertown district changes into a series of large multistoried buildings. The area, known as the Tosscobble district has a high level of nearly pure blooded halflings. It is an area of bad crime, drugs, and other less mentionable acts. Tosscobble Stretches to the edge of the Waterfront along the eastern end of Abbailinar Is.
the Ducal Palace
Built by Kylattan architects in an attempt to recapture the soul of the old Imperium. The Ducal Palace was built upon the sanctified grounds of the old Kylattan keep whose stones Felinor tossed into the river. Decorated with fine arts, and furnished with the works of master craftsmen. The palace of today shows a luxuriousness that is hard pressed to be found in any other of the major cities of the Kessel and beyond. With its over twenty spires, and artistic crenellations the palace carries on the Kylattan tradition of raising praise to the heavens on a monumental scale. With its tallest spire reaching a height of nearly two hundred and eighty feet. Across the palace courtyard, and out through its gates the majestic Victory Gardens house plants, and caged beasts from across the Kessel. The gardens run along the Macellumii up to the western end of Abbailinar Is. where the Macellumii bridge spans over into the Macellum market district. Across from the gardens the stores of the most rich and influential merchants line the street. It is not uncommon for one to see the Grand Duke entering one store or another looking for a small trinket or two for his many Mistresses. Also just before the bridge the infamous Four Fiends Inn stands adjacent to S. P. Tosscobbles Books & Tomes. The Inn known for its notorious patronage, and Sacrilegious owner has at one time or another been the talk of one Patron or another. It is here that the third Grand Duke Floriel was assassinated as he entered the Commons, giving the Inn’s common room the popular nickname of the Final Entrance to this day.
The Serapeum
Beneath the spires of the Palace the Serapeum stands quietly basking in the prestigious glow of its old world architecture. Built along the plans of the Bibliothecarii Kylattarium, the famed College of Kylatt, Thurion spared no expense in the buildings furnishings. From Utalia he sent for five stout beams of cypress which he shaped into pillars, and Thurion gilt them in gold from the mountains. Within Thurion made furnishings from the Golden oaks found in the Ravenswood, and he summoned to him Achan of the Forge, whose mother was a woman of the Imperium, and whose father was a man of the Forge. Thurion commissioned of Achan busts of bronze shaped in the image of the line of Myramin beginning with the first Grand Duke, Felinor. In all, Achan made for the Duke thirty busts which can be seen to this day standing on marble pillars in the grand cella of the Serapeum. Though Thurion refused to let the sculptor cast his own until much later in his life. He tiled the floors with lapis, onyx, and chrysoprase decorating them in the shape of the cities crest. From Irrasibon he summoned his friend the great sorcerer Syg'aern to design for him lighting for his reading tables, which still illumine the pages of the libraries books to this day. From Egran Thurion brought books of lore, and bade his scribes to copy for his collection. It is Thurion who sent out relic hunters in search of the lost tomes of Kylatt. By his death some thirty two thousand books, scrolls, and tablets filled the Serapeum’s shelves.
The Vendicarus
A typical pseudodipteral temple built in the early Kylattan form. The Vendicarus was built by the second Grand Duke Travien. It originally was an open temple containing eight Kylattan columns wide by fifteen long. Soon after its completion however its plans were altered by walling up the tradition front and back foyers and opening a doorway on the north wall of the cella . Travien ornamented the exterior in gilt bronze, and furnished its cella with golden statues of the dying gods, and decorated a grand chamber complete with life size sitting statuettes of the Patrons sitting in resplendent thrones.
Travien named his youngest sister Austianna, High Priestess of the Vendicarii and for a time declared that the city was a servent to all of the patrons, and mourners for the lost gods of before. Now though the Vendicarus, and its clergy are mostly a private group practicing traditional rites of supplication behind the temples confines, and leaving the city to its own. Still ruled by the eldest daughter of the line of Myramin, it has nonetheless forgotten its glorious days when all the city could be found in praise of all of the Patrons. Now only the devout are seen within the temples walls.
The Catacombs
Located beneath the lower cellars of the Vendicarus in the stony cliffs that rise up over the river as it flows towards the sea. The catacombs once served as a burial chamber for the early inhabitants of the city in the age before the first fiends war. After the war the catacombs fell into disuse as the burial practices changed from entombment to cremation. all but forgotten by the general public the Catacombs now serve as a holy sanctuary for the Clergy of the Pale Lord
The Macellum
Nearly as ancient as the Old city, the Macellum is a district known for its many shops, butcheries, auctions, and debaucheries. With over sixteen thousand shops it is one of the biggest markets in the entire southern Kessel. Its most infamous area the Bazaar of Dark Delights, has a reputation for its over eighty brothels, tattoo parlors, and drug markets, It is common to seeing men, women, and children being auctioned in its muddy streets. Also the bazaar has become the hiring grounds for Assassins, thugs, and extortionists. Knowledge is bought as readily as goods in the Bazaar of Dark Delights, and death is never more than a few foot falls away for the unwary. Standing across the river from the Old city the Macellum serves as a Auction market for horse traders, and Cattle ranchers. It serves as a farmers market for the small time seasonal farmers to settle in for a few days to try and sell there produce. It is here that the famed Dark Delights Brewery has stood for the last five hundred years, famous for their Stout Blackstone meads, and their sweet Thistleberry ciders.
Folk of Importance
This time I am going to attempt to do a good solid write up of the NPC’s of Import and a few plot hooks It is also here that I will mention the Order of the Foul (See Yogsathoth), and the organizations mysterious leader ( Draako Myramin, Foster Son of Felinor, Proxy of the Dark Lord of Numer.)
This is still under construction, and will be for a while as I do not feel like stating up a number of folks at this time.
3409 WORD DOC 8/ 8 pgs. WRITTEN BY NATHANIEL "SIDRAN" JENSEN Vr. 1.01A
The Unaligned City
Ruler: The Grand Duke Ilestrim Myramin, the Council of Solana
Fealty; No one patron, loyalties lean towards the Grey King, and The Mistress of the Sea
Population; 98,000 ( 24, 000 in the city proper) (Halved when the harvest hits Egran)
Racial Composition Mostly humans, tainted blood, and mixed blood
Languages; Abbaili (Common), Islandspecht, Kesselan (Common)
Major Holdings outside the city; Ryddenwar, Anmwar, Tur-Giladroth, Mor-Brae-Nog
Major Resources: Alcohol, books & scrolls, slaves, cattle, horses, food products
City Guardsmen; the City Constabulary (3,000 men)
Military Presence; the Winged Legion( 12,000 men), and 24 galleys of war, and sloops
Major temples; the Vendicarus ( All patrons)
Major Noble Houses. Gandring, Brae, Angdom, Rosynd, Rydden, ap Donagan, L’rendol, Farifan., O’Shea, Llarion, Jaresh, Giladroth
Common Lore
On the crossroads of the Sea and the Kessel the small city of Abbaye rests. Red roofed villas, and paved stone roads, the lofty golden spires of the Vendicarus, and the sparkling waters of the River Solarii, gathering at the juncture with the headwaters of the River Abbaili. The city glitters with a false newness. Beneath its gilt beauty Abbaye is a worn down city with high amounts of crime, and an almost non existent constabulary. It is a city known for its peoples stubbornness, and its unwillingness to conform to the kingdoms around it. Officially the Council of Solana, and the Grand duke pay tribute and allegiance to the Grey King, but in practice the Council finds excuses for delays of taxes, and through sheer stubbornness will not give in to the demands that the city officials root out citizens with the tainted blood. Indeed it is whispered in rumors throughout the Kessel that the Grand Duke is fey, and himself spawned of fiendish blood. For now though the Patrons have been busy elsewhere and have taken little notice of Abbaye and its “ don’t ask don’t tell” policy.
The Land
Situated in the delta of the River Solarii, at its confluence with the River Abbaili (from which the City takes its name.) Abbaye rests on some of the most fertile land in all of the Kessel. Most of the cities visitors are farmers from the outlying ranch lands coming to the city for trade, entertainment, or for supplication at the Vendicarus. Many of the Citizens of the city show a strong resemblance to the northern barbarian tribes, and one can still here phrases reminiscent of the ancient north. Outside the city the Council holds a number of wooden, and stone forts in its dominion. Of these Mor-Brae-Nog just inside the Ravenswood is the oldest dating back far before the sinking of Kylatt into the sea. It is believed to be a keep of the Bygone era, and as with the sites in the Utalian Islands there have been certain discoveries of mysterious snake like statutes. Some of the Library Archivists that have traveled deep into the underground burial chambers of the Keep report finding mummified remains that fit no known race. ( These remains were removed to Irrasibon where the Mistress has begun to study, and document them)
The People
To an outsider looking in the People of Abbaye seem to always be looking for a national identity. The historical language of the region has been brought back, School systems have been put in place and in general the standard of living has risen to a high standard. There are far less destitute in Abbaye than in other cities of the Kessel, and the quality of health has risen due to new gnomish inventions such as the carriage scoops, and while far from finished the cities sewer system looks to be one of the best feats of domestic engineering ever set about.
However the city is not for every one. Their lenient policies on the heritage of their citizens, and the general lack of a well trained constabulary are two of the reasons why Abbaye is seen as the Rogue city. A known port of such heinous individuals as the Red Jackal, and the hideout of the fiendish assassin Daxan Thorinaux, Abbaye has taken hot water from the Patrons for its don’t ask don’t tell policies.
One may find men who bear a strong resemblance to men of the lost Kylatti Imperium, or to men of the ill fated Tall kingdoms, however the majority of the cities twenty four thousand souls hail from the north Kesselan tribal stock. The city, while warn, has one of the best rates of employment. Its citizens work as sailors, or as longshoremen, factory workers, artisans, and book binders.
Relations within the Kessel
Known as a city of smugglers, rogues, and miscreants Abbaye has gained somewhat of a bad reputation for harboring fugitives, and for turning a blind eye upon those with tainted heritage. The city does however have good relations with the Shattered Isles and Irrasibon, having two rose festivals for when the Mistresses floating stronghold comes to port. Abayanese frequently use the term Crimson fingers as a insult for one who is to ambitious or greedy for his own good. This reference is taken from the cities nemesis Red Harbour. The rivalry between the two sea ports stems from [ insert age comparison] when Abayanese Merchants failingly tried to steal the die markets from out of the Red Merchants hands. The two cities have come to naval actions as of late over trade routes along the Kesselan coast, and Citizens of the Dyers city accuse Abbaye of harboring pirates such as the Red Jackal. The lord of the blades has begun to actively pay attention to the rumors spread by Red Harbouran spies that tell tales of the multitudes of the tainted blood within the city walls. Tensions as of yet have not risen on the cities landward, due to the protestations of the Lord Protector that the small city is under good leadership.
Annals of the City
Abbaye’s origins hearken back to the years before the coming of the fiends. Originally built as a keep by refugees from the city of Kylatt. Abbaye was nearly destroyed by the first Fiend war. and was ruled by one of the Fiendish lords of Numer for a time during that age. At the time of the first fiend war it was known as Abbailinar after the river over which it was built. Conquered by fiendish armies in -2134 BR. The conquered city dug deep into the pride of the Kesselan army. As the tide of the first war changed Abbaye became a focus for the Grey King, and the Lord Protector. In the spring of the year -2109 BR the armies of the two patrons met at Tribontia, a small enclosed village forty miles up the river Abbaili. They numbered over twelve thousand men, and were commanded by the General Felinor Myramin, one of the misplaced dukes of the Tall kingdoms. In a surprise river landing Felinor rapidly defeated the fiendblood army.
The Daemon who had usurped control of the city met him at the site that is now known as the Recanting hall a now dusty section of the ducal palace. After the battles end the flag of Myramin flew proudly over the war torn city. It was Felinor who renamed the city Abbaye, as the Daemon Ashrazniel had desecrated the old city with the dark name Numerlorn. The city as it appears today is the city as it was in Felinor’s time. Though he ordered his men to tear down the old stone keep and to throw the stones of it into the river. It is said that Felinor doomed the city to its present state by tossing the cursed stones of Ashrazniel of Ritharzan into the river. Not long after the construction of the new ducal palace had been completed, Felinor brought his family from Egran. It would seem that he was in the outs with his eldest son Draako for he forbade him from his families palace wing, but gave into his power the southern tower which looked over the surrounding land, rivers, and from its highest windows the Endless sea. It is Felinor’s line that took the office of Grand Duke at his death in the year -2048 BR when his second son Travien took his place. It is of the sons of Felinor that when under siege during the second fiend war drove off the armies of Numer.
The City Proper
Abbaye is built in two almost totally different styles from one area to the next. It is made up of the old city built mostly by Kylatti architects after the tradition Imperial style, and the new city built haphazardly by the merchants of Egran. The ducal palace, built by skilled Kylatti architects from the plans of the old Kylatti Imperial palace seems to rise majestically up from the red tile roofs of the old town.
In the last hundred years the invention of the printing press, and higher education have spawned a great demand for reading material. The Grand Duke Thurion founded the Ducal Binderies in 134 AR, which bound a total of fifty books in its first year. It was Thurion who began construction of the gilt library of Serapeum and donated over three hundred books of his private collection to his creation. At his death Thurion announced that the Serapeum should be a public library. During his reign having ones own library became high fashion, with the nobility patterning there own private homes after the golden halls of the Serapeum.
The New City
The new city refers to the haphazard districts that have sprouted since the second fiend war. Built to fit the needs of those who built the buildings the new city can sometimes be confusing to those who do not know the cities
byways. Mostly either all wooden structures or buildings with stone first floors, and stucco covered wooden second and third floors. Starting at the city walls and moving downstream toward the palisade the Dukes park stretches some ninety thousand sq. meters. At its center is the Myramin Monument, a statue depicting Felinor defeating a ghastly demon. Along the river front the industries that supply the raw materials for the book binderies have built up large factories.
Tanners, lumber yards, lead merchants, and a press publishers have started up all with in a short distance of the Ducal Binderies factory.
Because of the cities prime industry small communities of authors, or scholars have popped up within the new, and old city as well as in the Macellum.
In the high market, and on the waterfront it is common to see sellers hawking manuscripts, or professing to own a copy of book of lost lore. Even in the Bazaar of Dark Delights one might find a seller claiming to own a chapter of the Book of Nightmares.
The Ducal Binderies
The only producer of finely bound, and led printed books the Ducal binderies are a service of the Ducal office, and its proceeds are given into the City treasury. It produces nearly seven hundred and fifty books a month, and has been doing so for the last twelve generations of the Grand Dukes. It employees many of its workers from the slums of the Tosscobble district, or off the streets using the destitute has a infinite source of cheap and eager labor.
The Old City
On Abbailinar Is. the city of Felinor still stands in its archaic grandeur as it did in the first Grand Dukes time. It is a city built after the design of Kylatt with resplendent architecture complete with marble lintels, vibrantly colored tile floors, and terracotta roofs. The old city, built by refugees who were greatly saddened by the loss of their beautiful capital, reflects a sense of deep sorrow inherent in its cobbled streets. Still common in the old city are the Brativarii or crying homes where the first inhabitants who culturally believed it was wrong to weep in public would go to shed there grief.
No where is it more common to find the culture of the Old Kylatt than in the district known as the “ little Imperium” situated on the small Isle of Withrantium. It is home to traditional Kylatti restaurants, culturally reminiscent stores, and back alley taverns. In one small alley sized street known as Riagolini Avenue the most authentic reconstruction of the famed Kylatti alehouse, the Sword and Prayer can be found tucked away quietly serving its patronage as the patrons of the old Kylatti tavern were served. It is here that at the right time of year a traveling Kesselan might find the Findanius, or Day of the Spirits. a visitor might even here tidbits of the ancient Kylattan language between one elderly washerwoman to another. At the eastern end of Withrantium the small park and fountain known as Cantivery nestle quietly between the Kylattan villas. .
The little Imperium is under the control of Javier Cantillon, a middle aged Kylattan with an easy manner.
On the main island still known as Abbailinar the city has an old world grace. Sometime ago a group of Shipiyano immigrated into the city building a large tract of canals along the Solarii side of the river way. The district now titled Water town is home to a strong Shipiyano culture. Many of the Shipiyani who came into the city were scholars or mystics that came with the founding of the Ducal Binderies. Within to blocks however the Watertown district changes into a series of large multistoried buildings. The area, known as the Tosscobble district has a high level of nearly pure blooded halflings. It is an area of bad crime, drugs, and other less mentionable acts. Tosscobble Stretches to the edge of the Waterfront along the eastern end of Abbailinar Is.
the Ducal Palace
Built by Kylattan architects in an attempt to recapture the soul of the old Imperium. The Ducal Palace was built upon the sanctified grounds of the old Kylattan keep whose stones Felinor tossed into the river. Decorated with fine arts, and furnished with the works of master craftsmen. The palace of today shows a luxuriousness that is hard pressed to be found in any other of the major cities of the Kessel and beyond. With its over twenty spires, and artistic crenellations the palace carries on the Kylattan tradition of raising praise to the heavens on a monumental scale. With its tallest spire reaching a height of nearly two hundred and eighty feet. Across the palace courtyard, and out through its gates the majestic Victory Gardens house plants, and caged beasts from across the Kessel. The gardens run along the Macellumii up to the western end of Abbailinar Is. where the Macellumii bridge spans over into the Macellum market district. Across from the gardens the stores of the most rich and influential merchants line the street. It is not uncommon for one to see the Grand Duke entering one store or another looking for a small trinket or two for his many Mistresses. Also just before the bridge the infamous Four Fiends Inn stands adjacent to S. P. Tosscobbles Books & Tomes. The Inn known for its notorious patronage, and Sacrilegious owner has at one time or another been the talk of one Patron or another. It is here that the third Grand Duke Floriel was assassinated as he entered the Commons, giving the Inn’s common room the popular nickname of the Final Entrance to this day.
The Serapeum
Beneath the spires of the Palace the Serapeum stands quietly basking in the prestigious glow of its old world architecture. Built along the plans of the Bibliothecarii Kylattarium, the famed College of Kylatt, Thurion spared no expense in the buildings furnishings. From Utalia he sent for five stout beams of cypress which he shaped into pillars, and Thurion gilt them in gold from the mountains. Within Thurion made furnishings from the Golden oaks found in the Ravenswood, and he summoned to him Achan of the Forge, whose mother was a woman of the Imperium, and whose father was a man of the Forge. Thurion commissioned of Achan busts of bronze shaped in the image of the line of Myramin beginning with the first Grand Duke, Felinor. In all, Achan made for the Duke thirty busts which can be seen to this day standing on marble pillars in the grand cella of the Serapeum. Though Thurion refused to let the sculptor cast his own until much later in his life. He tiled the floors with lapis, onyx, and chrysoprase decorating them in the shape of the cities crest. From Irrasibon he summoned his friend the great sorcerer Syg'aern to design for him lighting for his reading tables, which still illumine the pages of the libraries books to this day. From Egran Thurion brought books of lore, and bade his scribes to copy for his collection. It is Thurion who sent out relic hunters in search of the lost tomes of Kylatt. By his death some thirty two thousand books, scrolls, and tablets filled the Serapeum’s shelves.
The Vendicarus
A typical pseudodipteral temple built in the early Kylattan form. The Vendicarus was built by the second Grand Duke Travien. It originally was an open temple containing eight Kylattan columns wide by fifteen long. Soon after its completion however its plans were altered by walling up the tradition front and back foyers and opening a doorway on the north wall of the cella . Travien ornamented the exterior in gilt bronze, and furnished its cella with golden statues of the dying gods, and decorated a grand chamber complete with life size sitting statuettes of the Patrons sitting in resplendent thrones.
Travien named his youngest sister Austianna, High Priestess of the Vendicarii and for a time declared that the city was a servent to all of the patrons, and mourners for the lost gods of before. Now though the Vendicarus, and its clergy are mostly a private group practicing traditional rites of supplication behind the temples confines, and leaving the city to its own. Still ruled by the eldest daughter of the line of Myramin, it has nonetheless forgotten its glorious days when all the city could be found in praise of all of the Patrons. Now only the devout are seen within the temples walls.
The Catacombs
Located beneath the lower cellars of the Vendicarus in the stony cliffs that rise up over the river as it flows towards the sea. The catacombs once served as a burial chamber for the early inhabitants of the city in the age before the first fiends war. After the war the catacombs fell into disuse as the burial practices changed from entombment to cremation. all but forgotten by the general public the Catacombs now serve as a holy sanctuary for the Clergy of the Pale Lord
The Macellum
Nearly as ancient as the Old city, the Macellum is a district known for its many shops, butcheries, auctions, and debaucheries. With over sixteen thousand shops it is one of the biggest markets in the entire southern Kessel. Its most infamous area the Bazaar of Dark Delights, has a reputation for its over eighty brothels, tattoo parlors, and drug markets, It is common to seeing men, women, and children being auctioned in its muddy streets. Also the bazaar has become the hiring grounds for Assassins, thugs, and extortionists. Knowledge is bought as readily as goods in the Bazaar of Dark Delights, and death is never more than a few foot falls away for the unwary. Standing across the river from the Old city the Macellum serves as a Auction market for horse traders, and Cattle ranchers. It serves as a farmers market for the small time seasonal farmers to settle in for a few days to try and sell there produce. It is here that the famed Dark Delights Brewery has stood for the last five hundred years, famous for their Stout Blackstone meads, and their sweet Thistleberry ciders.
Folk of Importance
This time I am going to attempt to do a good solid write up of the NPC’s of Import and a few plot hooks It is also here that I will mention the Order of the Foul (See Yogsathoth), and the organizations mysterious leader ( Draako Myramin, Foster Son of Felinor, Proxy of the Dark Lord of Numer.)
This is still under construction, and will be for a while as I do not feel like stating up a number of folks at this time.
3409 WORD DOC 8/ 8 pgs. WRITTEN BY NATHANIEL "SIDRAN" JENSEN Vr. 1.01A
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