Aesruk
A ruined city, the loss of resources vital to life such as steady water and fuel for warmth or cooking has drastically reduced its living capability. What remains untouched is within the core of the city, where the Arch-Jarl holds leadership. Much of the city has gradually been cannibalised to support other areas, leading to a strange mixture of delipidation and restoration neighbouring each other, the creak of slumping buildings weight by snow echoing down the streets.
Demographics
One of the only places with a population of Eladrin in the world, Aesruk has a small ruling family of the elven species while the rest of the population is composed of the Halfling, Human, and Dwarf species.
Government
Led by the Arch-Jarl, the government of Aesruk is still true to the original laws set down before the Cataclysm. The Arch-Jarls family has held the title since the Cataclysm struck, and due to his long lifespan has held the position ever since. Four advisors to the Arch-Jarl provide advice and opinions on matters brought to his attention, working in pairs to support or oppose the matter at hand.
Defences
The city itself is surrounded by a crumbling, abandoned wall left to the snow and ice, unable to be supported by the remainder of the city. Instead, a new drystone wall was erected around the Jarls Keep and the northern residential sector, securing only enough space needed. Gaps in the wall are reinforced to allow for archers and spears to be thrust through in case of beasts or raiders attacking the walls.
Industry & Trade
The city remains viable through its work to salvage, gather and process lumber and stone for structural expansions while the purification of snow or ice, hunting of beasts and minor farming attempts provide enough food to survive. Trade is sparse in the city but not impossible to find. Most often, services are rendered for goods: if a weapon is needed, payment can be made through working the debt off in the mine or lumber parties.
Infrastructure
The Jarls Keep is at the centre of the city and remains in a near-perfect condition through constant cannibalism of the surrounding buildings. The rest of the city lies in a mixture of stripped or delipidated buildings or crudely supported intact buildings, such as storerooms, housing, taverns and other essential buildings.
Assets
Although the river feeding the city has dried up, snow and ice are gathered and boiled to purify it in large, ramshackle distillery towers. The need to feed these fires puts a large demand for fuel on the area, and the fires are used to develop charcoal for future use at the same time. Furthermore, the stone that is excavated from the surrounding area is used to reinforce and support the city against weather and beasts.
Guilds and Factions
The guild locations in the city are ruined and abandoned, left to decay. However, within the city's main walls, the remnants of the following can be found.
Academy of Weavers once had a powerful position in the city, especially with their work related to the Planar Gates. Their Academy in the city was found in the Western Quarter, a small building that spread out over a larger area than would be expected.
The Archive was centralised in Aesruk. Loremasters and potent readers, it was once rumoured that the deepest vault in their headquarters held a tapestry which was eternally being woven, displaying the future before it came to be.
Silkfinger had a collection of safe houses within the city. Guild operation was near-minimal, to begin with, due to the nature of the city's guards and the ability of mages to root out members within days. Instead, the city found its service as a hub for fencing goods between different members and shaking loose trails to leave the region safely.
Winter's Handmaidens, while located outside the city, had at least one member permanently stationed within the city as an honour guard of the Arch-Jarl. Their order went extinct centuries ago, but the Last Handmaidens armour and weapon have been retained untouched in memorial to her sacrifices and duties.
Glintread had a major presence within the capital, stationed in the Jarls Hold. While the building is maintained, its interior was long-stripped, converting it from a mercantile stronghold into a large distillery location. The precious metals and gems within, now useless, were given away in an ancient, long-forgotten bargain.
Ebkam's Excavations remains somewhat reliable to this day; severely understaffed, the quality of tools and equipment has allowed for its continued use in mining and construction for the city's development to continue.
Tundral Treatments was long-destroyed in the need for herbal treatments when the Divines withdrew favour from the world. Lost in the rubble of the salvaged sections, however, remains the cellar, which supposedly contains powerful potions and brewing equipment.
History
Aesruk was founded next to Spine, The mountains for ease of defense and access to materials. While lumber was difficult to reach initially, once the city got established it became easy to collect, with horses used to pull the stripped trunks upstream to the city. While isolated from many other locations, a key factor was the proximity to Faewoods, The , where the initial founders group came from, seeking a stronghold in the Material Plane.
Architecture
The original architecture in Aesruk is crafted from durable, weathered pine with smooth-cut stone in key supporting locations. The further out from the centre, the more that the architecture strays from simple designs to engravings and elaborate carvings, or robust and sprawling creations as other races settled into the city's then-outskirts.
Geography
The terrain the city is built upon is relatively flat, though as it approaches the mountains it begins to elevate with the slope of terrains. A long-dead river remains passing through and away from the city, the channel dusted with snow but never filling in and becoming lost to sight. When the wind blows right, salt can be smelled on the air while the mountain peaks and distant trees glitter and shine with ice.
Natural Resources
Lumber is gathered from The Faewoods, while stone and certain ores are extracted from The Spine. Clay deposits, though rare, have at times been found when digging into the riverbed, kept moist by meltwater from the snow seeping into the soil.
Type
Capital
Population
401
Inhabitant Demonym
Aesmarian
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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