Aon

The oldest known seed of civilization and religion, and the only city to withstand every catastrophe that has rocked Ardyn since the gods brought life to the world. Aon is the main seat of civilization and power on The Exalted Expanse, boasting a thriving multi-racial populace and the throne of the Celestan Empire. Aon is a bustling metropolis of trade, faith and high society, though a mostly Human and half-elven population, all races are welcome and can be found within the walls of the capital. Each year, thousands of people from the far reaches of the continent make a pilgrimage to the city and climb Heaven’s Stairs, a long and winding natural mountain path the city is built out of that leads to The Sanctuary, a temple to the Dawn Deities and throne of the Empress Celesta. Arcane magic is forbidden and strictly policed in the capital with only a few exceptions of those very close to The Empress.

Demographics

46% Human, 22% Half-Elf, 8% Dwarf, 6% Elf, 18% Other

Government

Aon is the seat of the Celestan Empire but the day to day activities of the city itself are led by the current elected official, Governor Aesthol Iruihi and a collection of the high religious leaders called the Dawn Delegation.

Defences

Aon maintains two separate armed forces, the Moon Guard and the Bastions. The Moon Guard serves as Aon's soldiery and its members staff garrisons, road patrols, and watchposts, and served as bodyguards and gate guards. The Bastion is the local police force, acting as a constabulary within the city.
Aon has strong walls on its landward sides and is protected in part by the Heaven's Stairs mountain on the seaward side. Heaven's Stairs is studded with watch towers and defensive positions, and patrolled by special guard units on flights of wyverns known as the Wyvern Cavalry.
Aside from this, Aon also benefits from a large native population of adventurers that are often more than willing to deal with any and all miscreants that threatened their home city.

Industry & Trade

• Imports: Precious and industrial metals, lumber, cloth textiles
• Exports: Fish, livestock, grain, marble, ships, stone, produce, gold

Districts

• Arch Heart District
• Gardens of the Wildmother
• Port of the Thunder Lord
• All-Hammer's Watch
• The Platinum Promenade
• The Morrigan's Meadow
• Raven's Crest
• Lawbearer's Court
• Dawnfather District
• The Sanctuary

Guilds and Factions

• Fellowship of Carters and Coachmen - An association of individuals who owned and operated various means of conveyance to earn income within the city of Aon. These included but were not limited to those who drove carriages, carts, and sleighs and who carried litters or pulled rickshaws to transport others throughout the city streets. Guild members are granted the freedom of inspection by Bastion, unless under direct order of a city official. However, they are not exempt from being searched by the Moon Guard
• The Filligree House - The most prestigious jeweler's guild in the city. Has an almost iron grip on the trade of gems and jewelery in the city. Nearly all jewelers pay a tithe to the Filligree House and those who don't find themselves under their ire.
• Master Mariners' Guild - A guild that represented the interests of ship captains and merchant-fleet owners who were based in or often traveled to Aon.
• Carpenters', Roofers', & Plaisterers' Guild - an organized group of surveyors, engineers, skilled craftspeople, and workers who conducted the business of building construction, repair, and maintenance in the city of Aon and throughout the Dawnfall Farmlands.
• Fellowship of Innkeepers - One of the oldest guilds of Aon. The collective of innkeepers and owners banded together to share information for their mutual protection, typically warning one another of problematic clientele such as thieves, rowdy patrons, or troublesome mages.
• Dungsweepers' Guild - A group of street and stable cleaners who kept the city free from excess waste and refuse. While they were fairly poor, and seldom attract new workers, they are a surprisingly influential organization. It was rather noticeable when dung was not collected or piled in "inconvenient" locations, a fact that guildmasters occasionally used to remind the city of their importance.

Founding Date

1 Founding

Alternative Name(s)

The Dawn Capital, The Divine City

Type

Capital

Population

387,604

Inhabitant Demonym

Aonites

Location under

Dawnfall Farmlands

Owner/Ruler

Empress Celesta

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Governor Aesthol Iruihi

Owning Organization

Celestan Empire

Characters in Location

• Empress Celesta
• General Galatea
• Prince Celestian
• Shakthi Devdhar