The Monolith
The Monolith is a vast magalopis. This city state spands around seven square miles in size. This city is the oldest and largest city of Kronos. It is the exact locaton where the Nine Travelers arrived and created the Races of Light. Led the forces of light against the Primevals. The Monolith is also the very location that the nine gifted the Races of Light with Enlightenment, before ascending into the stars. In the thousands of years since the nine left, the city has become a bustling hub of culture, worship and enlightenment. The Monolith is a large ziggurat with three levels, The Ground, The Perch, and The Light. A large fortified wall surrounds the city. The city is made up of five boroughs, the vaults, and the light.
Demographics
The Lithian population of 399,854 is broken down into Humans making the largest group of 139,949 for 35%, Elves at 99,963 for 25%, Dwarves number at 59,978 for 15%, while the Gnomes are 19,992 marking up 5%, Halflings are around 19,993 for 5%, with the Tribes and Clans at 55,979 for 14%, and the last 1% about 3,998 being Half Elves, Tieflings, Assimar and other miscellaneous races.
The city has 3134 noble houses, law and order is kept 2647 guards, 725 scribes for documentation, 10234 acolytes and 561 clerics to support the many temples. With 1539 beggars plague all Boroughs of the city.
The middle class and lower class professions are broken down with merchants at 2%, skilled craftsmen at 15%, laborers at 62%, food and lodging at 20%, blacksmith, leatherworking, and garment making at 2%. The city had on hand 810 stone shapers. With around 92 magic shops, with around 400 various shops.
Government
The Monolith is a Federation of self-governing districts called the boroughs. These boroughs are responsible for provideing the needs of their populace. While providing their share of coin, military support, and needed labor for the citie's use. Each borough is allowed to self-govern how they see fit.
Defences
The city is protected by large incompasing fortified wall with a parapet, and batters. There are three gates that grant access into the city. One each on the north, east and south walls. These gates have a gatehouse, stone pivoting doors, and a portcullis. The city is also protected by various magic wards and traps. These walls are made of solid stone, the stone work was magically contructed.
A permanent guard force of 2647 constantly rotating duties. Migdalia is the current captain of the guard. Each borough provides a set number of trained and able bodied soldiers for the guard.
Industry & Trade
The Monoilth is an isolated city, any and all needs for the city and its citizens most be provided internally. The ground level of the city is where the city's lifestock and crops are grown and harvested. The large populace creates a varied demand for goods of all kinds from mundane everyday use to wonderous magical items. This demand has caused a rise in the number of merchants and skilled crafters.
Infrastructure
Deep under the mountains and the city is a district of the city called the Vaults. The vaults fall under the jurisdiction of The Light. The vaults provide many services for the populace to utilize included but not limited to secure banks. There is easy access to the vaults from each of the boroughs of the city. In the vaults there is a mighty forge maintained and running at all times. The forge provides the needed heat for the many blacksmiths and metalworkers located in close proximity to the forge. The hot water for the public bathes is heated and stored in resivoirs for continuous use. In an isolated long corridor the moseliuem with vast rooms for the storage of the remains, along with a crematorium used to provide cremaition services.
Two aquaducts provide the needed water to the city. These structures run from the the center of the city originating at The Light. They run down the length of the perch level and cascade down to the ground level making a shallow pool form which to collect the water.
Assets
The Monolith benifiets from many assets for its many citizens. First the vaults hold vast amounts of wealth, in the form of coins and other currency. Second the many magically enhances processes that improve the quality of life. There are also many specialized skilled workers, while others have incredible knowledge. The Repository is another very important asset, deep in the vaults is a structure that stores the many wonderous items that the city has amassed since its construction. The Libary is another invaluable resource available to the city, the largest collection of writings from small scrolls, to monsterous tomes. In the deepest darkest depths of the vaults are the catacombs, here lie the remains of many who occupied the city long ago. Some of these are lendgeny figures of lore. But most important to the survival of each and every citizen is the source of water. It is called the Rainbow Torrent a magic source of infinitely flowing water.
Guilds and Factions
Most of the largest guilds and factions originated in this city. Bard Colleges are scattered all over the city at various taverns and Inns. The Stone Shapers Guild are exclusive to the city. The Dawns Guardions are a legendary world renown palladin order. There are many merchant and crafter guilds in the city. The largest temple in Kronos is based in the city, its clerics are know as the Messagers. But the most grand of all is the Wizards Guild, with its eight mighty towers each with nine floors.
History
The Monolith is the oldest and largest city on Kronos. The city is located on the very spot that the Nine Traverers arrived and created the Races of Light. Led the Races of Light against the Primevals. Than later at this site the Traverers gifted the Races of Light with Enlightenment, before ascending to the Stars. Lengends say the Traverers created the original structures of the city. In the thousands of years that followed The Monolith became a bustling hub of culture, worship, and enlightenment. The city became an ambassador and protector on many other kingdoms. Many organizations originated in the city, paladin orders, mercenary groups, bard colleges, artisans guilds and the famed wizards guild. The city also rose to the status of a holy site, and became a popular site to visit. Pilgrims from all over the world would come to visit the city. The constant influx of visitors was a major source of income. Later a monastery was added. Than a large temple was built for an order of clerics. Even now thousands of years later The Monolith is still a bustling city fighting to prevent the darkness by shining its beacon of light.
Architecture
There are three forms of architecture present in the city. The oldest style what the occupants call the old bones of the city. Many believe these original structures were created by the Nine Travelers. The old bones are the walls, the three levels of the ziggurat and the gargantuan Oracle Monolith. These structures are grand and vast. They look as if perfectly carved squares and rectangles were just pulled from the earth and piled on top of each other. There are no round angles. Also no craving marks on the flat surfaces they are just perfectly smooth. The second oldest architecture was added later as the populace decided to make permanent residence on this location. This second style is called the pre-Lithianesque. This style uses smaller crafted stones with almost perfect serfaces. Incorporated into the structures were grand scale symmetrical designs with round arches, thick walls, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers. The last and most current architectural style is very utilitarian, structurally sound, but lacking any real style or design. Not ugly just plain. This style is called Lithianesque and is now the most numerous of the styles. New building just being built on any existing structures. The city is a mishmash of architecture, one constant is the stone work @@@@@@@little wood or metal is used. Very common for each level wider than the previous one. Often arched stone walkways on the third levels will stretch across the streets. Clay shingles are a very common use for roof coverings. External wall carvings and hanging tapestry are common external wall decoration. It is also common for residents to store unused household items in front of there houses giving some of the streets a very crowded feel.
Geography
The Monolith is nestled up against the east side of the Backbone Mountains. To the east plains with some rolling hills. Three days travel to the east is the Burning Sea. Two days travel to south is a collection of forests the closest called Bleakwood.
Natural Resources
Livestock and crops are maintained within the city providing the needed food and beast of burden needs for the citizens. Close by is a large river that provides large numbers of clawfish for an alternative food source. Wood is a harder process to harvest for the closet supply is around half a day away. Stone on the other hand is readily available from a large quarry nearby. Metal is another hard resource to abtain, all atempts to find a large source of metal have been unsuccessful. Forcing the city to import metal.
Type
Megalopolis
Population
The Monolith currently has 399,854 pertinent inhabitants. This vast populace of many races shares its limited space with about 57,122 inhabitants per a square mile.
Inhabitant Demonym
Lithians
Location under
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