Tailaphon- city (Tie-la-fawn)
Tailaphon is the capital city of the Country of Tailaphon, located in the Khorsalafi region. Famous for its enormous four-fold walls and elaborate defenses, designed to protect it from the innumerable dangers of Forsook. Having never been occupied by the Yuan-Ti, or any invading force for that matter, it has remained a bastion of human culture and civilization, though it is never free of existential threat from the horrors on its doorstep.
Defences
The Four-Fold Walls:
The Keep of Scarrs: Innermost layer. Constructed of pure adamantine underneath, but covered in beautiful mosaics depicting the greatest moments of humanity's history from around the human world, not just Tailaphon.The Depheken Walls
The Malonides Walls
The Morning Cliffs: Outermost layer. Constructed out of basalt, much of which was already naturally in place, while extremely durable, the basalt does provide ledges and crooks that make climbing more possible. Divided into 6 Tikos or blocks, arranged at tilted angles to allow forces on one Tikos to fire at enemies attacking another. The southernmost Tikos is called Ytonas Tikos, or "The Neighbor's Block." Moving north, the 2nd Tikos is called Vrazó Tikos, or "The Boiler." The next Tikos is called "The Cobra's Block," for its reputation for the highest kill counts. The next section is called "The Bastard's Block," as it is near the center of the wall and is manned with the largest percentage of criminals pressed into wall service. Next north is "The Bomb," as it is set up to lure as many enemies in where they can be battered with intense barrages and magic spells. The northernmost section is called "The Crackling Block" as it has been struck by lightning on multiple occasions, including attacks by blue dragons.
Threat Levels
There are 7 levels of alert based on ongoing assaults.
1. Silver: A normal level of incursion. Monsters attacking, but uncoordinated and manageable.
2. Gold: A concentrated, sustained attack, usually on one or two Tikos. A Golden Bar refers to a seemingly unplanned increase in random attacks, enough to raise the threat level. At this level, citizens may be called into service.
3. Iron: An intense assault on the Morning Cliffs that, without increased defenses, could threaten to overrun the walls and breakthrough. While not uncommon, this is considered serious and triggers the pressing of visiting foreigners and the hiring of mercenaries.
4. Steel: A breach of the Morning Cliffs, even by one or two enemies. Considered to be an emergency.
5. Demonglass: The Morning Cliffs have been compromised and The Malonides Walls are under attack. Considered to be catastrophic, it has only happened 3 times in Tailaphon's history.
6. Obsidian: The Malonides Walls have been compromised and enemy forces are assaulting the Depheken Walls. Considered existential and has never occurred, yet.
7. Adamantine: The innermost walls of the Keep of Scars are the only thing standing between the human defenders and the enemies outside. Tailaphon's enemies have never seen the adamantine Keep of Scars with their own eyes since the city's founding.
Pressed Service
Because of the constant threat of attacks from Forsook, Tailaphon uses several different forms of conscription. Citizens of fighting ability can be called into service. Visitors of fighting ability can be called into service when the threat level is high enough. This is called Haree. Once fighting is done, these visitors are awarded a Haree braid, which they can use in exchange for various forms of goodwill in the city. Usually fighters called into service through Haree are not paid, but in special instances, money is offered as extra incentive. Mercenaries are also regularly hired by the city.
Industry & Trade
The Potoprova is the canal that connects the Sea of Letters and the Striding Sea. Its name means "Sheep's Drink" because it was once a long freshwater lake where shepherds would bring their sheep to drink long before it was turned into a canal. On the north side sit the Oracle Docks, on the south side are the Arcanist Docks.
History
Tailaphon was founded when the Great General Pessavex led the small group of human forces that remained on the continent in a last stand against the monsters of Forsook at the Bridge of Answered Prayers. Despite overwhelming odds, the group was able to turn back the onslaught and they immediately set to building fortifications- moats, defensive traps, and most importantly, towering walls. The walls would be an unending construction project for the coming thousands of years, as long as Tailaphon stands, its walls are under ongoing construction.
Points of interest
Knadna Shrine is a massive temple in the center of the city. Every two years, pilgrims from all over Tailaphon bring smaller shrines in a procession to visit Knadna Shrine and partake in a festival.
Founding Date
1 Bulwark's Grace (7499)
Alternative Name(s)
Unyeilding Polis of Tailaphon
Type
Large city
Owning Organization
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