City of Elliaster

Elliaster is among the largest of cities in the known-world, with its only rivals found in the southern kingdoms a continent away. Initially the city was built around the King’s palace atop a hill overlooking the river Naurus that flows northwards from the southern peaks. However, the style and source of growth began shifting once the city’s Mast Tower was completed. No one truly knows when this was done, but it is clear from the age of buildings and their overlap that the Mast Tower came after the old kingly estates and is generally believed to have been sometime during the Valodrix dynasty. The Mast Tower itself is located across the water from the Old Town, directly west of the river Naurus, and buildings radiate in a circular fashion from it.
Due to the multitude of hills in the city itself, engineers and builders have built enormous stone bridges connecting most of them to make traveling among the city’s areas easier. In times of war, soldiers have used these to get around the city quicker and the entrances to the bridges make for good choke points. Not everyone is allowed to use these however, and a commoner would have to be quite wealthy to bribe his way past the guards. In general, the use of the bridges are reserved for the nobility and upper classes of the city. Guards will soon point you to the tunnels if you wish to traverse the hills otherwise - with a devilish grin.

Districts

The Tunnels

While the bridges are well maintained and used by the higher class, the tunnels - in disrepair and in danger of collapsing at any given moment - are littered with the homeless and shanty towns. This was never the intention when they were first created, but rather than try to fix this problem, the clergy employs many Knights as guards to keep the peace around the entrances and keep them quarantined. The only ones truly aware of what goes on beneath these tunnels are the poorest of the poor, or the curious enough to pay a bribe to a guard to let them through - but you know what they say about curiosity. No sane soul would willingly subject themselves to entering these and even the guards block their noses from the sewage smell that comes from within. It’s not uncommon to throw the diseased into the tunnels as a way to quarantine from past plagues, and during these times the guards barricade the exits and entrances all together.
But with time comes natural resistance - body and mind. In reality, the slums here are quite a hubbub of activity for the unsavory kind and those trying to make their way day to day. Life is hard, and the foods they eat are hardly gourmet. Phosphorescent mushrooms and rats grow abundant here and they cook them with sewer grease to get the much needed fat. More tunnels have been dug deeper into the bedrock with the help of illegal earth users, and this goes as well as one could imagine. Collapses are a day-to-day mishap and new tunnels are also constantly discovered. These new pathways are sometimes used if convenient, but the people of the tunnels are some of the most superstitious of all. There have been claims that some new discoveries turn up with scribblings on the walls, odd carved bones, and larger circular tunnels that cover the earth intermittently. The locals avoid these like the plague.

Banlew Slums

The open air slums of Banlew are found across the northern hills, on both sides of the river and are only a step up from tunnel slums. No bridges lead to the tops of these border-hills, but a multitude of tunnels from all angles cut through them and open up to the Banelew. Though quite unsavory, most of the activity and profane life goes on here to attract many, being quite a lawless land. There is not much you can’t acquire for the right price, though this is usually accompanied by unwanted side effects. If you are not a local, it is not recommended anyone enter here without a few bodyguards from either the Banlew itself, or Knights.
Due to the proximity of the homes and hills, the Banlew is marked by hundreds of boardwalks, wooden catwalks and the like above ground to connect each building. Some of them are a few stories high as well as the rackety buildings themselves that owe their stone foundations for having not collapsed yet. The locals are left mostly to their own devices so usually new buildings are built with repurposed materials from other structures unless they are lucky enough to trade with Overlook.
Despite all the hardships, Banlew is still full of life and quality people. There certainly are areas you’d want to avoid but overall people get by and many dream to leave. A large number of individuals end up finding work in Overlook and other areas with menial jobs, and it’s not entirely out of the question to move on up. If one is of a clean past or can somehow erase past infractions, they could easily find apprenticeship or a servant job in the shells or even Old Town itself.

Town-Meadery Square

Large building encompassing several blocks and floors up above made of wood and stone. Gathering spot for majority of the townsfolk and serves as both a meeting place and festival zone. Several fires have threatened to take it down in the past, but the building is more resilient than its rickety looks would have one believe.

Old Town/Palatial District

On the west coast of the Naurus, one finds themselves in the Palatial District, or more commonly the Old Town. Many of the nobility reside here, and their homes line the cobblestone roads. The hilltops are dominated by only the largest of estates, as the view of the city is highly desired, and the most distinguished nobles find their homes close to the palace. Alongside the river of Old Town, the wealthiest of business have set up their permanent shops. The accent here is pompous, and many nobles refuse to cross the river for cheaper prices. A smaller Mast Tower, very recently built, serves as the Palatial District’s Bishop’s home, and the nobility prefers to attend nightly sermons there than with the rest of the city.
Old Town is a quiet part of the city, with perhaps only the sounds of hoofs trotting around as the beasts carry a noble or two. The cobble stone in these parts are constantly renewed to maintain the high quality look, and estates are gated so that no one may take a peek inside the large homes of nobles. Public gardens and parks adorn the streets and are used by the ladies and lords when they wish to breath fresh air. Overall Old town is quite disconnected from the reality of the city, and the nobles often gather to talk philosophy and politics in a vacuum. Coffee houses of the highest qualities are actually one of the more common and accepted gathering points for these, and at one time or another great thinkers and writers have begun their careers in one of them.
Much like Banlew, there isn’t much you can’t acquire in Old Town. With that said, the quality and legality of the items are never questioned here. Furthermore, exotic goods from both the north and east can easily be found in boutique stores. Tailors and leatherworkers are abound here ready to fulfill the need of any lady or lord. There is also a smaller lodge of high quality which houses more influential Knights such as the esteemed Sir Kovac.

Rosegarden Road

An exquisitely decorated and gardened road, this is the heart of hustle and bustle for the nobility. At its center is a magnificent garden of roses tended by only the highest paid gardener of the kingdom itself (its wage only rivaling that of the palace groundskeeper himself). Rosegarden Road stretches almost the entirety of the uphill of Oldtown, starting from the Naurus river to nearby the palace. The majority of boutiques and cafes find their home here, while many others proudly line the side streets. The men gather in the Royal Roast to discuss how best to tax the peasantry and philosophize, and the women frequent a variety of salons to gossip and talk (the most popular being Lady Roullet’s). Of course, it goes without saying that these establishments are never manned by the nobility themselves, though they are often sponsored by some.
The younger folk of the nobility have been playing around with velocipedes, and one will usually stumble into the troublemakers as they walk up and down the road. It’s become quite a fashionable way of getting around without a horse, and is seen as a way of the future; horses being just so passé.

The Shells/The Circles

East of Naurus stands Elliaster’s Mast Tower and heart of the city. The Shells represent the administrative and commercial spirit of the city. This district is simply called the Circles, or The Shells, and its ‘Shells’ or levels radiate outwardly from the tower, beginning with the first Shell, home of the Knight and Squire lodges. The river houses docks throughout its length which receive imports and exports from and to the north. Likewise, tax collectors temporarily reside here before heading off to their region of management. Presbyterates and churches dot the first shell to allow the countless people to seek guidance specially during festival seasons. Then in the Middle Shell, respectable shops, smithies, inns, and the like. One a normal day, this is the busiest of the shells as people come and go to do their shopping. The entertainment sectors is located in the Third shell which is considered the least reputable of them due to the abundance of taverns, brothels and gambling houses. Finally, homes and apartments are clustered in the Outer. These homes, while not being mansions, are still large and serve as most of the middle class or lower nobilities residences. The largest homes are found in the southeastern end of this circle’s level, as they are closest to the water, and thus closer to Old Town. Most of these streets are cobble-stoned, though in some areas they are in high disrepair with stones missing, or simply deteriorating to dirt roads. It’s difficult to not find a store that will fulfill your needs here, as the small river docks are full of barges from the north bringing in a variety of goods.

Overlook

Finally, a hill divides the Outer Shell from the eastern-most district of The Overlook, named as such as it overlooks the dense forests that cover much of the hilly terrain thereafter. While this district is home to most of the lower class, it is not a slum. The raw-good industry, like mining, forestry, and farming takes place here in awe striking numbers. Many hunters and foresters enter the southern forests for their work, while the farmers and herders are found throughout the north and much farther past the city limits. This tends to be the quietest and religious of all the sectors, and the Bishop of this diocese is known for being heavily involved with the expansive community. The industries here - be they farms or lumber mills - are all owned by different Noble families.
While in terms of distance they are the farthest from Old Town and also the lowest class, the people of Overlook are proud and glad to have steady work. They are often overseen by managers appointed by noble families, and are ironically connected closely to their counterparts because of it. Lords will do well to remember to keep the peasants in this area happy or it could mean the loss of money and goods.
The Overlook is divided into several different communes as its by far the largest sector of the city. It spans most of the outskirts of the city, and are usually divided into the different industries.

Gates

Renais Gate - The southern and largest gate of Elliaster. Built by the General Galvarix in 282 AA as well as the two towers on its sides and most of the bridges of the city. Most of the overland commerce finds its way through Renais.
Leora Gate - The northern gate of the city and second largest. It has a second portcullis for all the barges making its way through the Naurus.
Overlook Gate - Shorter but wider than the others, this gate has most of the farmers pass it and guards checking the goods. However it’s far removed from the center of the city and one would still have to cross a tunnel or bridge to reach the inner shells.

Type

Capital

Population

~600,000

Related Ethnicities

• Ellistrean

Location under

The Kingdom of Elliaster

Owner/Ruler

Dedrik Medois

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Elliaster (Organization)