Rel Astra, City of
Rel Astra, the "City of the Heavens," is a powerful and ancient port city once central to the Great Kingdom, now ruled independently by the enigmatic and immortal Drax. A hub of political intrigue, dark pacts, and martial discipline, it balances precariously between tradition, ambition, and the looming shadow of the Overking.
History
Rel Astra is one of the oldest and most storied cities in the Flanaess, the first great Aerdi settlement and once the capital of the Great Kingdom before power shifted to Rauxes. Its noble houses—particularly those of the Old City, with their rigid adherence to archaic Oeridian customs—have long contested for influence, often conspiring against the ruling House of Naelax. Rel Astra’s semi-independence was secured during the Turmoils Between Crowns, when the city’s rulers betrayed the Overking at a critical moment. Since then, it has remained a palatine state, controlling a vast swath of land from the Lone Heath to the Mikar River, including the town of Ountsy.
The city is currently ruled by Drax the Invulnerable, a being of unknown origin, rumored to be undead or something far older. Drax has reigned unchallenged for over a generation, his rule both pragmatic and ruthless. Unlike many lords of the Great Kingdom, he harbors no blind loyalty to Ivid V, instead forging alliances with Medegia and the Sea Barons to counterbalance the influence of North and South Province.
Politics and Society
Rel Astra is a fortified city, divided into three major districts: the Old City, the Common City (named for the copper coin), and the Barbarian Quarter, where outsiders, sailors, and merchants are confined. While technically under the Overking’s rule, the city operates independently, engaging in political intrigues against House Naelax while carefully avoiding direct rebellion.
The city’s nobility are notorious for their ruthless pragmatism, adopting the veneer of civilization while engaging in dark dealings. Drax’s court is infamous for its intrigues, and many whisper of his secret advisor, the Fiend-Sage, a molydeus demon who affects the demeanor of a genteel scholar.
A peculiar local fighting style, using short sticks to disarm and cripple opponents, is practiced in Rel Astra. Masters of this art train students for a price, though the techniques remain largely a city secret.
Religion
Rel Astra is a bastion of Flan and Oeridian faiths, with prominent shrines to Hextor, Nerull, and Wee Jas. The great cathedral of Pholtus stands in the nearby village of Farlen, though its influence wanes under Drax’s rule. The worship of Syrul is explicitly forbidden, though many believe it thrives in secret.
Military
Rel Astra maintains a formidable military presence, including:
- 100 elite knights (the Iron Nation Knights) and other heavy cavalry.
- 400 medium cavalry, consisting of noble squires and sergeants.
- 1,000 light horse, used for rapid deployment and scouting.
- 800 standing infantry, trained as both city watch and military defenders.
- 1,000 additional cavalry and 6,000 infantry, levied from the surrounding lands when needed.
The city employs scouting bands of mixed races, including human and demi-human skirmishers in the Grandwood and Lone Heath. Additionally, Rel Astra’s naval fleet patrols its waters, ensuring the safety of its merchant routes and keeping the Sea Barons in check.
Notable Locales
- The Sorcerer’s Nexus: A sprawling guildhall of twisting towers and bizarre architecture, where powerful mages train and experiment.
- Stannic Hill: A district known for its ancient mansions, many of which are haunted or serve as secret meeting places for the city’s elite.
- The Fiend-Sage’s Library: A dark repository of forbidden knowledge, rumored to house infernal texts and otherworldly relics.
Despite its independence, Rel Astra remains caught in the political turmoil of the Great Kingdom, balancing between ambition and survival under the rule of the enigmatic Drax.
Proper Name: The Free and Independent Aerdi City of Rel Astra
Ruler: Constable Mayor Drax (orc)
Government: Palatinate principality
Major Settlements: Rel Astra; Ountsy
Resources: Shipbuilding supplies, fish, lumber
Population: Human, Halfling, Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Orc, Half-elf
Law: LE
Allies: Sea Barons, Great Kingdom, North Province, Medegia, Ahlissa (all political rivals)
Enemies: Free Folk of the Grandwood, Dwarves and Gnomes of the Hestmark, Sunndi, Lordship of the Isles
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