Heilagur
“…The city appears frozen from afar, ancient looking temples surrounded in sheets of ice. Only once you enter the city do you realize that the ice is as much apart of it as the temples in its center. Speaking of those temples, the people here are willing to pay nice amount of coin for their protection…”
Demographics
Government
The city of Heilagur is run in a combination of feudal and democratic governmental styles. Laws and regulations that run the city are made by the able-bodied citizens, or karls, of the city in a governmental body called a Thing. The Thing forms at least once a year around the time of the festival of lights, but it has been known for other gatherings to occur under special circumstances. While meeting laws are created, abolished, and changed as needed. Legal cases are also settled during this time where the Thing finds the winner or the guilty. Punishments for being declared guilty in a case can vary depending on what law was broken, and how it was broken. Typical punishments include jail time, personal defilement, and banishment.
The jarl is the guiding hand of the Thing, and the city as a whole. The Jarl of Heilagur is an ordained cleric that had been chosen by one of the patron deities Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur to lead the city for a certain amount of time. The duration that each jarl holds their title varies, but it is typically between 10 and 50 years. The title of jarl comes with the responsibility to lead the city in the direction the god’s intent. This can be divined in several ways, but it usually involves the jarl performing a number of different rituals The jarl of Heilagur also acts as a religious figurehead for the whole of Vomethnda, guiding all those who primarily worship the patron deities of the country.
The jarl is the guiding hand of the Thing, and the city as a whole. The Jarl of Heilagur is an ordained cleric that had been chosen by one of the patron deities Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur to lead the city for a certain amount of time. The duration that each jarl holds their title varies, but it is typically between 10 and 50 years. The title of jarl comes with the responsibility to lead the city in the direction the god’s intent. This can be divined in several ways, but it usually involves the jarl performing a number of different rituals The jarl of Heilagur also acts as a religious figurehead for the whole of Vomethnda, guiding all those who primarily worship the patron deities of the country.
Defences
The city employs a varied means of defense to protect itself from attacks from Promaticous, Krasavishchee, or the barbarous Clan Visku. The city employs a guard known as the Hrosan Templars, a group of clergymen that trained in combative arts. These templars channel the powers of their chosen deity to enhance their talent. A regiment of the Official Division is based out of the city as well, which mostly commissions defensive structures and traps. These structures incorporate runic enchantments that provide them with their defensive capabilities. Some examples include landmines disguised as rocks, remote controlled golem sentries, and self-digging pit traps. The Official Division also employs powerful mages from around the country which can help defend the city during a crisis or invasion.
Industry & Trade
As the religious capital of the nation, a primary aspect of the Heilagan industry is tending to religious travelers, and those on pilgrimage. Many of the temples in Rikegudarn offer shelter to travelers, whether they travel to the city for religious reasons or not. This generosity comes as a great benefit to the rest of the city, as travelers are more likely to buy from shops in Enchanter’s Row and Traustmark because they don’t need to pay for lodging. The city sees the most travel during religious holidays and the festival of lights, a celebration to welcome the month of darkness, Mrak.
The crafts of Heilagur can be found throughout the country, but nothing is as prolific as the potions brewed here. The Potion Maker’s Society has revolutionized the industry by creating many potions and reformulating many old recipes. Potions are the city’s greatest export and are in high demand across Malnova. Enchanted equipment is the city’s second greatest export since the ability of rune smiths in the city is second to none. Everything from rune marked swords, to jewelry, and even clothing is made here. Most tend to appreciate that the enchanted gear found here is made completely within the city, with many smiths and craftsmen working exclusively for rune smiths to provide them with the gear they need. The Stjernkart craft some of the world’s most advanced navigational tools and charts in the world. The demand for their tools is much greater than the group could ever manage to produce, causing the price for their tools and charts to be quite expensive.
The city does not have much need for imports, as it is relatively self-sustaining. The bulk of its imports are meant smithing, crafting, or brewing such as refined metals or materials from animals of a more tepid climate. If the city’s crop yield underperforms, and the hunters from around the city cannot sustain the population, grains and hearty vegetables will be imported from the southern cities of Utdanning and Jordmässig.
The crafts of Heilagur can be found throughout the country, but nothing is as prolific as the potions brewed here. The Potion Maker’s Society has revolutionized the industry by creating many potions and reformulating many old recipes. Potions are the city’s greatest export and are in high demand across Malnova. Enchanted equipment is the city’s second greatest export since the ability of rune smiths in the city is second to none. Everything from rune marked swords, to jewelry, and even clothing is made here. Most tend to appreciate that the enchanted gear found here is made completely within the city, with many smiths and craftsmen working exclusively for rune smiths to provide them with the gear they need. The Stjernkart craft some of the world’s most advanced navigational tools and charts in the world. The demand for their tools is much greater than the group could ever manage to produce, causing the price for their tools and charts to be quite expensive.
The city does not have much need for imports, as it is relatively self-sustaining. The bulk of its imports are meant smithing, crafting, or brewing such as refined metals or materials from animals of a more tepid climate. If the city’s crop yield underperforms, and the hunters from around the city cannot sustain the population, grains and hearty vegetables will be imported from the southern cities of Utdanning and Jordmässig.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of Heilagur is of ancient make. The technological progress that has swept the rest of the nation by storm has not been fully embraced by the city, rather the city is supported using runic arts. Basins carved with runes of creation provide water to buildings, metallic rods with runes of fire or ice carved in them provide heating and cooling for a variety of applications, wastes are disposed in communal metal bins that destroy any material placed within them. mystek technology is used strictly for city lighting in Heilagur, which was adopted less than ten years ago. The roads of the city are paved with concrete that allow for vehicular traffic within the city limits. These roads only allow for one way travel for vehicles, making traveling through the city in one very confusing. Walkways, bridges, and tunnels allow for foot traffic to flow through the city much more efficiently than a vehicle.
A small reservoir that is sourced from the Frida River is used to freeze blocks of ice used in the construction of most of the buildings in the Traustmark district. The water is frozen using a special material found only in the far reaches of the north, everice. Everice is thought to be a material made by the gods themselves to form the planet. Anything that comes into direct physical contact with everice is frozen solid almost instantly, making it very useful to freeze massive amounts of water at once.
A small reservoir that is sourced from the Frida River is used to freeze blocks of ice used in the construction of most of the buildings in the Traustmark district. The water is frozen using a special material found only in the far reaches of the north, everice. Everice is thought to be a material made by the gods themselves to form the planet. Anything that comes into direct physical contact with everice is frozen solid almost instantly, making it very useful to freeze massive amounts of water at once.
Districts
Rikegudarn: The central most district of Heilagur, the Rikegudarn district is the religious center for not just the city but Vomethnda as a whole. The district features temples for every god within the pantheon. The patron gods of Vomethnda, Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur, share a temple that stands out among the rest. The Hrosa Temple was built to honor the patron deities that watch over the cities of Vomethnda and is currently the largest building in Heilagur. The clergy of the patron gods all live within the Rikegudarn district, with the jarl living in the Hrosa Temple itself. The jarl is the only person allowed to live in the temple due to the amount of time they spend on performing rituals to divine the god’s intent for the city. The jarl will perform rituals anywhere from 12 to 24 hours a day to ensure that they are guiding the city properly. The Thing of Heilagur convenes in Risi Square, a garden in the very center of the city. Due to the population of Heilagur, Risi Square and all the adjacent streets and alleyways are filled to the brim with karls during the day of convening.
Enchanter’s Row: The oldest district in the city, Enchanter’s Row is also the most famous district in the city. The district gets its name from the many practitioners of runic arts, a tradition of enchantment that dates to prehistory. The art of runic enchantment is almost exclusively taught in Heilagur due to its popularity wanning after the creation of mystek. Despite this the rune smiths of Enchanter’s Row are still adamant that runic arts can stay relevant far into the future. None believe this more than Skep Envis, the owner of the oldest enchantment practice in the country, Heilagan Runes. He inherited the practice from his father and uses it to preserve runic arts and improve it, where possible. A bevy of smiths and craftsmen also call the Enchanter’s Row home and create most of the objects that the enchanters use to make their magical gear. The fame of the district is not brought by its preservation of runic arts, but by the expertly crafted potions that it produces. In fact, the potions made here can be found as far south as Khudaldaa. The Potion Maker’s Society, a group of talented alchemists, mages, and herbalists, has derived or improved upon many potion formulas since their founding fifteen years ago. The potions they make have brought much needed business into the district.
Traustmark: Forming a ring around Heilagur, the Traustmark district holds the soul of the city. Jarl Durn Traust, who that ruled during the first Vomethndan-Promatican war, lead a great conquest into the northern territories of Promaticus by the will of the gods. While marching towards Dásofum a storm caused the Vomethndan army to lose their way and ended up marching right past the Promatican city. Believing that the gods had their fate predetermined, they trudged on. This led them to find a remarkably large chunk of everice within a glacial cave floating on the Supra Ocean. This chunk of everice, known locally as the Traustone, is responsible for the development of the district. The district is formed completely from ice frozen by using the Traustone. A group of specialized mages known as the Arktis Mages harness the power of the Traustone to create the blocks of ice used to build the district. They also enchant the blocks with special runic incantations so that the ice feels faintly warm to the touch. These mages also act as the protectors of the Traustone. A guild of stargazers and navigators, known as the Stjernkart, also calls the district home. The Stjernkart is the largest producer and developer of navigational tools using astral bodies as guidance. They can chart the stars with unparalleled accuracy with the use of observatories. These observatories are made completely of ice, like the rest of the structures in Traustmark, including specially made lenses that magnify the view up to one thousand times. Using these charts, they can craft navigational tools that are of unrivaled quality, they can even track stars during daylight. Traustmark is also hosts the Festival of Lights the first week of the month of darkness, Mrak. The district is adorned with spectacular lights that replicate the night sky, which symbolizes the many hours of night to come.
Enchanter’s Row: The oldest district in the city, Enchanter’s Row is also the most famous district in the city. The district gets its name from the many practitioners of runic arts, a tradition of enchantment that dates to prehistory. The art of runic enchantment is almost exclusively taught in Heilagur due to its popularity wanning after the creation of mystek. Despite this the rune smiths of Enchanter’s Row are still adamant that runic arts can stay relevant far into the future. None believe this more than Skep Envis, the owner of the oldest enchantment practice in the country, Heilagan Runes. He inherited the practice from his father and uses it to preserve runic arts and improve it, where possible. A bevy of smiths and craftsmen also call the Enchanter’s Row home and create most of the objects that the enchanters use to make their magical gear. The fame of the district is not brought by its preservation of runic arts, but by the expertly crafted potions that it produces. In fact, the potions made here can be found as far south as Khudaldaa. The Potion Maker’s Society, a group of talented alchemists, mages, and herbalists, has derived or improved upon many potion formulas since their founding fifteen years ago. The potions they make have brought much needed business into the district.
Traustmark: Forming a ring around Heilagur, the Traustmark district holds the soul of the city. Jarl Durn Traust, who that ruled during the first Vomethndan-Promatican war, lead a great conquest into the northern territories of Promaticus by the will of the gods. While marching towards Dásofum a storm caused the Vomethndan army to lose their way and ended up marching right past the Promatican city. Believing that the gods had their fate predetermined, they trudged on. This led them to find a remarkably large chunk of everice within a glacial cave floating on the Supra Ocean. This chunk of everice, known locally as the Traustone, is responsible for the development of the district. The district is formed completely from ice frozen by using the Traustone. A group of specialized mages known as the Arktis Mages harness the power of the Traustone to create the blocks of ice used to build the district. They also enchant the blocks with special runic incantations so that the ice feels faintly warm to the touch. These mages also act as the protectors of the Traustone. A guild of stargazers and navigators, known as the Stjernkart, also calls the district home. The Stjernkart is the largest producer and developer of navigational tools using astral bodies as guidance. They can chart the stars with unparalleled accuracy with the use of observatories. These observatories are made completely of ice, like the rest of the structures in Traustmark, including specially made lenses that magnify the view up to one thousand times. Using these charts, they can craft navigational tools that are of unrivaled quality, they can even track stars during daylight. Traustmark is also hosts the Festival of Lights the first week of the month of darkness, Mrak. The district is adorned with spectacular lights that replicate the night sky, which symbolizes the many hours of night to come.
Guilds and Factions
Hrosan Ministry: The guiding hand of Heilagur, the Hrosan Ministry is made up of the jarl and their council. Unlike the other cities of Vomethnda, the jarl of Heilagur holds relatively little power themselves. Instead, they act solely as the mouthpiece of the nation’s patron deities, Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur. Due to the strain of this role, the council of clergymen will take care of day-to-day tasks such as managing budgets, settling minor disputes, and urban planning. It is not unheard of that a jarl will take drastic actions, such as Jarl Durn Traust who lead an army to the center of the artic and returned with a chunk of everice known as the Traustone. These kinds of actions are rare, and only happen in very particular circumstances.
Rune Artist’s Guild: A guild focused on preserving the history and tradition of enchantment through the practice of runic arts. This guild is headed by Skep Envis, the owner of the oldest enchantment business in the city. The members of this guild are experts in their craft, unrivaled by any others in the country that practice runic arts. The guild also negotiates with local smiths and craftsmen to provide a consistent supply of items and gear for their craft.
Potion Maker’s Society: A group of master alchemists, herbalists, and mages dedicated to the art of potion crafting. This guild is relatively young in the city, only existing for around 15 years now. Since their founding their goal was to make potions and potion recipes more accessible to commoners. They offer training in potion crafting and sell the largest variety of potions in the country. When they are not focusing on educating students on potion crafting, they spend their time attempting to optimize recipes of well-known potions and introduce the world to new potions. The Society’s most notable contribution to potion making is their work on simplifying the recipe for potions of health, which now even the typical homemaker can whip up within an afternoon.
Arktis Mages: An exclusive group of mages that oversee the city’s ice production for Traustmark and act as the keepers of the chunk of everice known as the Traustone. The Arktis mages are a secretive group which hardly interact with outsiders for anything other than the services they provide to the city. They create each ice block used to build the district of Traustmark. This invlolves using the Traustone to freeze water within the Frida Reservoir, to enchanting the blocks so that they feel warm to the touch. The guild is also able to make specialized parts for buildings using the Traustone, such as the lenses used for Stirra Observatory.
Stjernkart: A collection of astrologists and astronomers that provide many services to the city. They maintain the Stirra Observatory located within the Traustmark district and with it they chart the night sky, documenting every star, planet, and other astral bodies. They also produce hand crafted navigational tools calibrated that work by tracking the location of certain astral bodies, no matter the time of day. The charts and tools made by Stjernkart are world famous for their accuracy and precision, but due to the size of the group they are often expensive. There are several requirements needed to join the Stjernkart including being a successful clergyman, craftsman, or mage, or having a letter of reference from a notable karl or jarl.
Hrosan Templars: An elite force of holy warriors that protect Heilagur from heretical attacks. This group formed nearly at the founding of the city due to friction with Clan Visku, a fanatical gang that worships the god Visku. The city in those early days faced nearly constant raids from the clan with no avail. Eventually a band of priests and warriors came together to fend off the hoard. The priests taught the warrirors how to channel the power of the gods to empower their strength and vitality so they could fight of the fanatics. Their strategy was so effective that upon their return, the warriors pledged their loyalty to the gods, and no other. Thus, the Hrosan Templars were born. Today the templars mostly act to keep Clan Visku at bay, but when called upon they will come to the defense of the city.
Clan Visku: Fanatical brutes that rampage through the lands in the name of their god. Clan Visku is a group of deranged maniacs that have devout faith in the god of fate. They act on whims of their leaders to take, destroy, or maim as they please due to the belief that they are blessed by their patron god to do so. They have been a thorn in the side of Heilagur since the founding of the city. They do not have a set structure to their clan, nor do they have a headquarters or even a base of operations. Clan Visku seems to roam around the countryside, hiding out in caves, or temporarily occupying abandoned villages. One thing for certain is that the members of this clan hate the worship of other deities. Whether it be the patron deities of Vomethnda, Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur, or any other god within the pantheon the clan makes it their duty to attack temples and worshipers alike. Currently the Hrosan Templars and Clan Visku are locked in a blood feud that seems like it won’t end until one is destroyed.
Rune Artist’s Guild: A guild focused on preserving the history and tradition of enchantment through the practice of runic arts. This guild is headed by Skep Envis, the owner of the oldest enchantment business in the city. The members of this guild are experts in their craft, unrivaled by any others in the country that practice runic arts. The guild also negotiates with local smiths and craftsmen to provide a consistent supply of items and gear for their craft.
Potion Maker’s Society: A group of master alchemists, herbalists, and mages dedicated to the art of potion crafting. This guild is relatively young in the city, only existing for around 15 years now. Since their founding their goal was to make potions and potion recipes more accessible to commoners. They offer training in potion crafting and sell the largest variety of potions in the country. When they are not focusing on educating students on potion crafting, they spend their time attempting to optimize recipes of well-known potions and introduce the world to new potions. The Society’s most notable contribution to potion making is their work on simplifying the recipe for potions of health, which now even the typical homemaker can whip up within an afternoon.
Arktis Mages: An exclusive group of mages that oversee the city’s ice production for Traustmark and act as the keepers of the chunk of everice known as the Traustone. The Arktis mages are a secretive group which hardly interact with outsiders for anything other than the services they provide to the city. They create each ice block used to build the district of Traustmark. This invlolves using the Traustone to freeze water within the Frida Reservoir, to enchanting the blocks so that they feel warm to the touch. The guild is also able to make specialized parts for buildings using the Traustone, such as the lenses used for Stirra Observatory.
Stjernkart: A collection of astrologists and astronomers that provide many services to the city. They maintain the Stirra Observatory located within the Traustmark district and with it they chart the night sky, documenting every star, planet, and other astral bodies. They also produce hand crafted navigational tools calibrated that work by tracking the location of certain astral bodies, no matter the time of day. The charts and tools made by Stjernkart are world famous for their accuracy and precision, but due to the size of the group they are often expensive. There are several requirements needed to join the Stjernkart including being a successful clergyman, craftsman, or mage, or having a letter of reference from a notable karl or jarl.
Hrosan Templars: An elite force of holy warriors that protect Heilagur from heretical attacks. This group formed nearly at the founding of the city due to friction with Clan Visku, a fanatical gang that worships the god Visku. The city in those early days faced nearly constant raids from the clan with no avail. Eventually a band of priests and warriors came together to fend off the hoard. The priests taught the warrirors how to channel the power of the gods to empower their strength and vitality so they could fight of the fanatics. Their strategy was so effective that upon their return, the warriors pledged their loyalty to the gods, and no other. Thus, the Hrosan Templars were born. Today the templars mostly act to keep Clan Visku at bay, but when called upon they will come to the defense of the city.
Clan Visku: Fanatical brutes that rampage through the lands in the name of their god. Clan Visku is a group of deranged maniacs that have devout faith in the god of fate. They act on whims of their leaders to take, destroy, or maim as they please due to the belief that they are blessed by their patron god to do so. They have been a thorn in the side of Heilagur since the founding of the city. They do not have a set structure to their clan, nor do they have a headquarters or even a base of operations. Clan Visku seems to roam around the countryside, hiding out in caves, or temporarily occupying abandoned villages. One thing for certain is that the members of this clan hate the worship of other deities. Whether it be the patron deities of Vomethnda, Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur, or any other god within the pantheon the clan makes it their duty to attack temples and worshipers alike. Currently the Hrosan Templars and Clan Visku are locked in a blood feud that seems like it won’t end until one is destroyed.
Points of interest
Hrosa Temple: A grand temple in the center of the Rikegudanr district built to honor the patron deities of Vomethnda, Küvüagaar, Bardagi, and Eilifur. The temple stands above all other structures in Heilagur, with its tallest tower reaching nearly 10 stories high. Stain glass occupies many windows, each depicting a story or legend about one of the patron deities. The temple itself is mostly constructed of stone blocks, making use of ribbed vaults and flying buttresses to support the massive structure. The interior is adorned with the symbols of the three patron deities and carvings along wall and supports depicting the very same stories seen in the windows. Many come to worship their deities in one of four worship halls, where each of the patron deities occupies their own hall and the rest share the fourth. The ceilings of the worship halls are enchanted to appear like the night sky during all hours of the day, so that worshipers can look to it and see their deity above them much like they would while peering into the night sky.
Risi Square: A garden in the center of the city which acts as its heart. Risi Square is the meeting place of the Thing of Heilagur. Once a year every able-bodies citizen of Heilagur will gather to discuss law and disputes. The square was designed to promote these gatherings. Permanent stands are scattered throughout the gardens that are only expected to see any use during the Thing. Six amphitheaters are scattered throughout the gardens which allow many speakers to reach out to audiences at once. Pine trees and frosttorn are the most populus plants in the gardens, due to their ability to survive the extreme cold. The only issue with Risi Square is that it cannot be expanded to support the current population.
Heilagan Runes: The oldest running enchanting business in Heilagur. Heilagan Runes is run by Skep Envis, an eleventh-generation rune smith, who dedicates his livelihood to ensure that runic arts are not forgotten. The shop itself rarely works on client enchantment, rather it acts as a place of research. The main focuses of their research include historical studies to find the roots of runic arts, and experiments to try to breathe new life into the craft. The building itself is built entirely from lumber, a unique feature in Heilagur. It resembles a shack or a cabin more than a home or proper building, but the owners strive to keep to their roots as much like their ideal of runic arts.
Teinefni Mines: A remnant of the fantasma crystal rush, the Teinefni mines, once a hotspot for prospectors, are now a barren set of tunnels with nothing but trouble left within them. The mines themselves were not rich with fantasma crystals, in fact there was so little of it extracted that only a few prospectors ever found more than a spec. One of the lucky prospectors, a dwarf named Othur Sturla, left the region with just enough coin to make his way back home.
Stirra Observatory: Glacial ice formed into the most advanced observatory in the country. The ice that makes up the observatory is the reason why the Stjernkart can craft such accurate star charts, and by extension navigators’ tools. The lenses, enchanted by the Arktis Mages to amplify the light shone through it, project the sky onto the ceiling of the observatory. This light etches the star’s layout into the ceiling, which the Stjernkart then uses to create their charts. The observatory itself sticks out amongst the others in Traustmark. First off, it is the only circular construction in the entire district, and secondly it has a large telescope jutting from the roof. Despite it being made completely of ice, the building is made completely opaque. This prevents any excess light from entering the observatory and possibly deteriorating the Stjernkarts abilities to chart the stars.
Risi Square: A garden in the center of the city which acts as its heart. Risi Square is the meeting place of the Thing of Heilagur. Once a year every able-bodies citizen of Heilagur will gather to discuss law and disputes. The square was designed to promote these gatherings. Permanent stands are scattered throughout the gardens that are only expected to see any use during the Thing. Six amphitheaters are scattered throughout the gardens which allow many speakers to reach out to audiences at once. Pine trees and frosttorn are the most populus plants in the gardens, due to their ability to survive the extreme cold. The only issue with Risi Square is that it cannot be expanded to support the current population.
Heilagan Runes: The oldest running enchanting business in Heilagur. Heilagan Runes is run by Skep Envis, an eleventh-generation rune smith, who dedicates his livelihood to ensure that runic arts are not forgotten. The shop itself rarely works on client enchantment, rather it acts as a place of research. The main focuses of their research include historical studies to find the roots of runic arts, and experiments to try to breathe new life into the craft. The building itself is built entirely from lumber, a unique feature in Heilagur. It resembles a shack or a cabin more than a home or proper building, but the owners strive to keep to their roots as much like their ideal of runic arts.
Teinefni Mines: A remnant of the fantasma crystal rush, the Teinefni mines, once a hotspot for prospectors, are now a barren set of tunnels with nothing but trouble left within them. The mines themselves were not rich with fantasma crystals, in fact there was so little of it extracted that only a few prospectors ever found more than a spec. One of the lucky prospectors, a dwarf named Othur Sturla, left the region with just enough coin to make his way back home.
Stirra Observatory: Glacial ice formed into the most advanced observatory in the country. The ice that makes up the observatory is the reason why the Stjernkart can craft such accurate star charts, and by extension navigators’ tools. The lenses, enchanted by the Arktis Mages to amplify the light shone through it, project the sky onto the ceiling of the observatory. This light etches the star’s layout into the ceiling, which the Stjernkart then uses to create their charts. The observatory itself sticks out amongst the others in Traustmark. First off, it is the only circular construction in the entire district, and secondly it has a large telescope jutting from the roof. Despite it being made completely of ice, the building is made completely opaque. This prevents any excess light from entering the observatory and possibly deteriorating the Stjernkarts abilities to chart the stars.
Architecture
The architecture of Heilagur tells the story of the city. Rikegudarn is the oldest section of the city, built with stone blocks and ancient techniques. The majority of buildings were built before arcane lighting became the norm, so the architecture of the buildings was designed around letting light into the structure. Twelve to twenty feet tall, vaulted ceilings supported by pointed arches on the interior and flying buttresses on the exterior, these structures were designed to be very open on the inside. Windows are often made from stained glass and usually depict geometric patterns, though some structures, like the Hrosan Temple, have more intricate designs in their glass. Roofs of these structures often have steep inclines and are made of a wide variety of materials, from ceramic, to steel, and to stone.
The buildings of Enchanter’s Row are not as extravagant as those seen in Rikegudarn. Most structures have foundations of cobble stone, or stone bricks which support a wooden structure above. The foundation of these buildings also acts as the ground floor and are often used for livestock, shops, and professional workspaces. The upper floor is made primarily of lumber and usually hangs over the foundation. These spaces usually act as the owners living quarters featuring sleeping chambers, kitchens, and sometimes living rooms. The roofs of these buildings are often also made from lumber, but some of the older structures in the district still have thatched roofing. Many of the roofs also have decorative ornaments on the corner’s edges. These ornaments typically depict creatures like dragons, and lions, or a god.
The icy structures of Traustmark make the district unique when compared to the rest of Heilagur. Multi-story apartment buildings are formed from giant ice sheets that have been hollowed. When looking at the district from above it appears to be a collection of glacial ice that surrounds the rest of the city. These glacial buildings are created with the help of the Arktis Mages, a mysterious group of mages in charge of protecting a piece of everice known as the Traustone. The Exterior of these apartment structures are typically carved with decorative features such as faux window shutters, engaged columns, signs, and murals. Even though the buildings here are made completely from ice they feel warm to the touch. This is a result of the enchantments placed upon them by the Arktis Mages, which also prevents them from melting in the summer months.
The buildings of Enchanter’s Row are not as extravagant as those seen in Rikegudarn. Most structures have foundations of cobble stone, or stone bricks which support a wooden structure above. The foundation of these buildings also acts as the ground floor and are often used for livestock, shops, and professional workspaces. The upper floor is made primarily of lumber and usually hangs over the foundation. These spaces usually act as the owners living quarters featuring sleeping chambers, kitchens, and sometimes living rooms. The roofs of these buildings are often also made from lumber, but some of the older structures in the district still have thatched roofing. Many of the roofs also have decorative ornaments on the corner’s edges. These ornaments typically depict creatures like dragons, and lions, or a god.
The icy structures of Traustmark make the district unique when compared to the rest of Heilagur. Multi-story apartment buildings are formed from giant ice sheets that have been hollowed. When looking at the district from above it appears to be a collection of glacial ice that surrounds the rest of the city. These glacial buildings are created with the help of the Arktis Mages, a mysterious group of mages in charge of protecting a piece of everice known as the Traustone. The Exterior of these apartment structures are typically carved with decorative features such as faux window shutters, engaged columns, signs, and murals. Even though the buildings here are made completely from ice they feel warm to the touch. This is a result of the enchantments placed upon them by the Arktis Mages, which also prevents them from melting in the summer months.
Geography
Heilagur is located norther Malnova sitting near the banks of the Frida River. Sparse woodlands and ice fields surround the city during the winters, which give way to sparse grasslands during the summer.
Climate
The climate of Heilagur is typically cold. The highest temperatures reached in the summers are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit while the lowest temperatures in the winters can reach as low as -25 degrees. The city also receives a decent amount of precipitation which keeps the city covered in fresh snow most of the year.
Natural Resources
The barren nature of the region surrounding Heilagur does not offer much to those hunting or gathering. Small game and root vegetables can be found with a trained eye, and large predators pose a threat to ill prepared parties. The land does have an abundance of raw materials such as nickel and iron for any would be prospectors.
Alternative Name(s)
The Frozen City
Type
Large town
Inhabitant Demonym
Heilagans
Owning Organization
Related Reports (Secondary)
Comments