City of the Steel Lotus
Capital of the Principlaities of An-Teng, nestled on the cliff tops of the Dragon's Mouth Bay, built after the destruction of Flowers and in many ways still a new city, dedicated to the desires of the Dragon-Blooded Dynasty.
Unusually for An-Teng it has streets rather than canals, though it still sits next to the re-directed Queen of Rivers, with river docks for upstream travel but rapids and waterfalls prevent access to the sea.
The Street of Sun-Kissed Flowers near the centre holds dozens of Houses of Courteous Attention, combination restaurant, tea house, social club and brothel where only the most beautiful of all genders work.Red Stone is the most famous, with the Sunset Dancing House owned by Dusk Caress rising to prominence.
The Great Market near the river sells food from across An-Teng and the world beyond, as well as smuggled goods with impeccable paperwork from Lintha ships. Shops for luxury goods dot the city to encourage vistors to search for "native crafts" and have stories to tell at home, these shops never attempt to cheat Dragon-Blooded.
At the precise centre lies the Palace of Threefold Magnificence, meeting place of the Princes (and the satrap when they so desire). Built in a combination of Realm and An-Teng styles, made of gold, teak, lapis, and pearl. Prince Laxander (the Shore Prince) is currently in residence along with his family, and he hosts Dynasts every night (and has them served by his own family). Around the palace are a temple to the Golden Lord, an empty one to the Pale Mistress and an Imacculate Temple.
The most luxurious housing is found between the Royal District and the Market District, further out are the markets and shops and houses of the merchants, scholars and craftsmen. Around the edge, running from the cliffs to the River of Queens are the slums and alleyways of the poor, the thieves and those who plot against the Realm. Across the river are found noble estates.
Dragon-Blooded society is insular and inward looking, rich and powerful nobles or beautiful courtesans may be invited to parties or required to host them, but this evidence of attention is all they will receive. Some Terrestrials have better manners or genuine interest in some aspect of the Principalities (such as scholarship, art or history) and have better relationships and form alliances.
Tepet Denile is a young Dragon-Blooded with no offical position but he makes a habit of entertaining other youths and is the social lion of the city and indeed the satrapy.
Ledaal Catala Ceris is the satrap's Chief Liason with the local powers (anyone who is not a Prince), and the visitor with the greatest knowledge of An-Teng. Spends her leisure time researching classical poetry forms and is liked by several noble families.
Around 100 Dragon-Blooded can be found in the city at any time, with only around a dozen "old hands" staying more than a few years. Roughly 24 are involved with the governance of the Satrapy.
Upstream a few miles a small tributary joins the main river, on its bank is the Stone that Falls Not, chapter house of the Wyld Hunt. Its source is a spring in the grounds of the Satrap's country estate (a Water aspected Manse whose Hearthstone is held by the Imperial Legions)
Government
Officially the Princes are co-equal in their authority here, but in practice the Satrap's whim is law. Judge Pan of the Noble Peony family has judicial charge of the city, with Comissioners for each District, though Dynasts are effectively above the law.
Districts
- Market District
- Royal District
- DBs area (not in any district)
- Cliff District (middle class & slums)
- Ditch District (middle class & slums)
- River District (middle class & slums)
Notables
- Prince Laxander
- White Osprey, his oldest daughter
- Satrap Ragara Soros Jor
- Jan, owner of the Red Stone
- Dusk Caress, owner of the Sunset Dancing House
- Comissioner Denatis of the Righteous Urn family (oversees Market District)
- Judge Pan of the Noble Peony family
- Abbot Foulu, chief priest of the Golden Lord
- Abbot (Mnemon) Santeris, Immaculate Abbot
- Tepet Denile, social lion
- Ledaal Catala Ceris, Chief Liason