Aerost

Aerost is a city of 25,000 people located in Southeastern Wildlands of Melas, at the mouth of the Paradon Delta. The city is situated directly across the river from Misthaven, their long-abandoned and somewhat haunted sister city.

Its topography is built on many geographic terraces around the city, from sea level up to hundreds of feet in the air.

The city is fairly prosperous and its diverse people live together in relative harmony.

It is ruled by an ethnically diverse, religiously-based High Council of Aerost, led by an elected Lord Mayor.

Main Religion

Most of the inhabitants of the city worship individual deities in single, mythological pantheon called Wheel of Life. There are no clerics and the "gods" grant no powers or audiences, it is purely fictional.

This "religion" was devised by a group of mages many years ago seeking to defy the real gods and end the power of the clerics. During the Elemental Sundering, these opportunists took advantage of confusion and enthralled the public with their stories. The Wheel became the accepted religion for the people of the cities.

The animal entities that comprise the Wheel of Life have been incorporated into the structure of the High Council of Aerost, and the prominence of each one rotates among its members.

Former Religions

Aerost was once the center of worship for Mantidism, and trained many faithful in service to their benevolent god. When the Elemental Sundering began, agents of magic created new, false worship opportunities that preyed on the inhabitants' inner weaknesses. In the process, the any mention of Mantidae or Mantidism was banished from public worship and their priests were forced to go into hiding. Training and worship continued, but in secret.

Demographics

Current ethnic makeup of city:

Human	8,100
Hill Dwarf	5,600
Bail (Town) Elf	3,100
Halfling	2,500
Tiefling	1.700
Builder Gnome (Tashi - Deluded)	1,300
Genasi	900
Firbolg	725
Kenku	485
Tabaxi	340
Centaur	150
Misc.	100

Government

High Council, consisting of Lord Mayor and four other representatives from 11 major races. Seats are rotated semi-annually.

Infrastructure

Large volume of warehouses on docks store trade goods from western farmlands and other manufacturing areas to north.
Heavy trade is handled through the city, up the Paradon and west through the rich farmlands.

Assets

Notable Taverns:

• Mysterious Pony (Halflings)
• Roaring Goat (Gnomes)
• Staggering Satyr (Teiflings)

Notable Shops:

• Able's Jewelers (Human)
• Scribe, rare scrolls
• Fine Ropemakers
• Fruits/Vegetables
• Zek's Tailory
• Gem's Rare Books

Central Marketplace ("The Hub")

• Filled with stalls, booths, selling all manner of exotic goods

Cultural Center

• Holds nightly concerts, plays, even occasional operas.

Architecture

Many differing architectural types from the differing populace make up Aerost. From standard human dwellings, to treehouses for elves, cave-like structures for dwarves and everything in-between, diversity is celebrated and revered in art and architecture. But it is also strictly kept in its own ethnic areas of town.

Geography

Terraced hills rise away from the riverbanks, containing all residences, shops and other buildings. Council Temple is on top of highest hill. Marketplace and Performing Arts center are in wide central plaza. All races segregated to different sectors of the city.

Natural Resources

Food-growing land is abundant and bountiful in lands to west all the way to the west coast of the island. Aeroth serves as central trading port.

Type

City

Population

25,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Aerostans

Included Locations

• The Great Pantheon Library

Owner/Ruler

Eroll Ata

Ruling/Owning Rank

Burgemester

Owning Organization

High Council of Aerost

Characters in Location

• Jos van Aalten