Aerilon

Aerilon is the capital city of Joriah, a kingdom of Norlaria.

Summary

Aerilon is a city built at the base of the Attleholm Peaks, it is the hub for trade and business across the continent with a view of the ocean in the distance. The Sprawling Bazaar is the entrance into this city, a market unlike anywhere else on the continent and what is most likely the most diverse gathering of people that most will ever see; all businesses, stalls and traders make their living here in these winding, worn streets, including craftsmen and taverns. Moving closer to and up the mountain, various ramps, lifts and staircases will take people to The Hearth Tier, where the people of Aerilon reside, built into the slope of the mountain itself. These roads are filled with all kinds of residences, some appear to be built on top of each other, others have enough room to build a fence around their home and it's difficult to tell if the space correlates to wealth. Moving upwards again, a single large staircase leads to the highest point of Aerilon where the royal family of Joriah and the nobles reside in The Mercantile Estate. The large mansion built into the mountainside houses the Merchant-King and his family but also his advisors and their families, the estate was designed to be approachable by the denizens of the kingdom, not to put up walls and divide the governing body from their people.

Localities

The Sprawling Bazaar

The Sprawling Bazaar is the entrance to Aerilon, welcoming you into the bustling clutches of this city with it's many traders, stalls, shops and sourceless music. All of the businesses within the city trade here, including traders and importers of goods from other kingdoms. The various shapes and sizes of businesses fill what feels like miles of winding roads, some areas consist of many, many tents and umbrellas set up in close quarters with each other, others are brick and mortar buildings with grand frontages and window displays, some towering up to the sky with 3, 4, 5 levels filled with shops.

The Mountain's Mug (T)

- Found in the center of the Bazaar indicated by a large sign of a tankard, this is the hub for locals, traders and travelers alike and has plenty of room for lodging.

- Easily found due to the number of people, it looks like what was once a single brick and mortar building with a few floors has been expanded using tents and brightly coloured shade cloths to provide more seating to the tavern goers in rain, hail or shine.

- Entering into the shade cloth portion of the tavern feels like contained chaos, travelers boasting about their last adventure alongside locals laughing about the rookie merchants that have come to the city to try their luck, large cheers and tankards raised in delight and music in the air.

- Further into the establishment and into the building itself, the wild colours are continued in bright tablecloths, curtains and paintings, the source of the jolly music can be found in the corner of the room with a small band playing various instruments. A large female goliath is behind the counter, daunting in her size, but the even larger axe mounted on the wall catches most people's attention first.

- Lavoi Howlreaper, the owner and barkeep, a tall, middle aged goliath with long dark hair in very tight braids down her back. Her grey skin is covered in intricate, almost runic style tattoos over her body, but has thin black streaks running down her cheeks, she was given the tavern by the previous owner when he passed as she stepped up to help him run the place when her adventuring days were over and he didn't have any family. The axe on the wall is not her own, however she has wielded it on occasion to deal with rowdy patrons.

- Merriwine, one of the regular bar staff, he's a young, somewhat short satyr with a mop of blonde curls that falls around the 1 and a half horns on the top of his head, the singular intact horn curling back and up and wearing a bright waistcoat to match the brightness of the tavern. Always happy to chat and make conversation but is likely to share more than he should, people should be wary about what they say to or near him.

- Cressida, a young female human, mid 20s, her dark brown hair is tied up in a short ponytail that shows off an undercut with the symbol of Oarah, the god of freedom branded into her hairline. She is friendly enough but doesn't talk about her personal life or past until they're good friends, but she was part of The Shadow Veil as an orphan and grew up stealing and worse; she eventually fled and started an honest life here and Lavoi took her in, Cressida is good at spotting thieves, especially members of the criminal syndicate.

The Steel and Stein (T)

- Located towards the edge of town amongst shadowy alleys, this tavern is not the most inviting, it's dimly lit, all too quiet and the service is lackluster.

- The drinks and rooms are cheap and nothing is broken, per say, but everything is bare minimum, there's a few tables and a few more chairs and a few less candles, the bar is stocked but with the cheapest liquors that can be found and there is rarely a noise above a whisper.

- In one of the back rooms where large kegs are stored, there is a cellar door that leads into a network of tunnels under the city, owned and run by The Shadow Veil who pay the tavern to keep their mouth shut.

- Rurik, a gruff male dwarf bartender with a very thick grey beard that is not well looked after, not chatty unless you're paying high, owns the tavern but his profits come from the The Shadow Veil syndicate living underneath and using his tavern as their hideout.

The Whispering Teapot (T)

- Located closer to the edge of the Bazaar and the Hearth Tier, it's a quaint tavern known to locals for a crackling fireplace, gentle music and great food, however does keep some rooms available for those who need it.

- Easy to locate on a quiet day, the building of gray stones and ironwork doesn't stand out but you can safely follow the smell of good food and it will probably lead you here.

- Inside is a large hearth, crackling away at one end of the room, a few patrons speak in hushed tones and a harp stands in a corner with strings being plucked by seemingly no one. The bar is well stocked and clean, comfortable seats around small tables and a lounge near the hearth.

- Elara, the owner, a tall, mature half-elf with long brown hair with a slight curl that she keeps free flowing, and dark, dark green eyes; she has been in the business for years, she's soft-spoken and strives to keep this place a quiet and safe haven for those who need it a moment from the hustle and bustle of the trading city of the continent. She knows the city and it's people well, however keeps her knowledge and secrets well guarded.

-Thorne, a green-skinned male tiefling with even darker green horns that jut out of mid-length coal black hair like bulls horns, he's soft-spoken in the manner that he doesn't speak much, but his talent in cocktails is only matched by his ability to listen and aid Elara in keeping up with the city's comings and goings

The Hearth Tier

The Hearth Tier is home to the citizens that live within the city's walls; some business owners may live in the Sprawling Bazaar but the majority of the city folk live in this tier. Various homes and residences follow the mountain path, some buildings almost perched on top of each other, some are taller buildings that house several families, some homes have enough space to build a fence around their property, however with only a brief glance, it's difficult to determine if this is a matter of wealth.

Hope's Hearth Sanctuary

- The city orphanage, located in what looks like a cluster of buildings on top of each other, it's difficult to miss as the pale stone walls are almost always covered in chalk drawings from the children.

- The inside is kept clean and looked after, nothing looks broken or dirty beyond what you might expect in a building of children, the ground floor is the play area, kitchen, dining room and a few offices, the upper 3 floors are bedrooms for the children and guardians.

Matron Aria, the main guardian and caretaker of the sanctuary, it's difficult to determine her age. Her silver hair is always in a neat bun, deep green eyes that hold a calm and quiet authority and a soothing voice, her unwavering dedication to the children is well-known by the city, she keeps everything running smoothly and provides a warm and loving environment to nurture those in her care. She is a half elf but it's impossible to tell as her ears look human, and is a low level wizard.

The Mercantile Estate

The Mercantile Estate is the highest level in Aerilon, consisting of a large mansion, half of which has been built into carved out sections of the mountain itself. The Merchant-King and his family live here, along with the current advisors and their families; while the estate is guarded, access is not restricted and the populace are welcome to visit and speak to the royal family or their advisors, if they have the time.

Other Points of Interest

Copper Coin Collective

- The headquarters for this merchant guild can be found amongst the hustle and bustle of the center of the Bazaar, surrounded by shops and traders, it is a very large building with various offices, meeting rooms and research facilities,

- The outside looks large but not particularly ornate, however the impeccable brick exterior makes it incredibly unique to the area, the building looks roughly 5 or 6 stories tall but it's difficult to tell. The guild's emblem, a stack of coins with one coin leaning against the stack, carved into wood hangs above the door.

- Inside the first level is the front desk who can guide you to where you need to go, numerous small offices for various conversations and the kitchen and cleaning facilities.

- Mariselle, a human female in her early 30s, she has auburn hair that's neatly pinned into a half up style and sweet but discerning blue eyes, she wears a tailored uniform with the guild's emblem on the blazer. She adores her job and maintains a very courteous and efficient demeanor, managing enquiries, scheduling appointments and keeping the guild's operations running smoothly, she has a keen memory for names and faces and has a deep love for calligraphy, she keeps a small collection of exotic quills and inks at her desk.

- Underground in very well protected dug out rooms is the Artificer's Consortium, the magic research and development sector of the collective, which can be reached from a door that looks no different to the other office doors on the ground floor, opening to a descending stair case lit by crystals embedded into the wall, casting out a gentle white light.

- Master Artificer Thalmaris Gearwright, a gnome with an insatiable curiosity and a mind brimming with ideas. Thalmaris leads the Consortium with a focus on collaboration and creativity.

- Archivist Elenor Brightspark, a human with a sharp intellect and a meticulous nature. Elenor is responsible for cataloging inventions and ensuring the knowledge is preserved for future generations.

- Field Researcher Kael Windrider, an adventurous half-elf who tests new creations in real-world scenarios. Kael's reports provide invaluable insights into the practical applications of the Consortium's inventions.

Projects: The Consortium is currently working on enchanted trade carts that can levitate over rough terrain and automatons to assist with loading and unloading goods.