Akek, City of Scales
City
Territory 15,000 square miles
Population 13,000 (20% human, 20% Kobold, 10% Saurian, 10% Lizardfolk, 5% half-Orc, 10% Nezumi, 20% dragonborn, 5% other)
Ruler Dragon Empress Armiyah the Adored
The history of the City of Scales begins with the discovery of the dragon graveyard at the feet of the mountains of the Scorched Barrier. In ages past, hundreds of dragons made the journey here when they felt their end approach, bringing parts of their treasure hordes with them. They would bury these treasures nearby before laying down and falling into their final sleep. The location of the dragon graveyard was a well guarded secret among dragons for millennia and while this dragon graveyard fell out of use, it was still well known to older dragons. Treasure hunters and grave robbers who somehow stumbled onto the location were not given a chance to reveal the secret. The graveyard's guardians, spirits of long dead dragons, never allowed them to leave. This changed when Armiyah, a human hunter from a small tribe in the Soulcleft Marshes found her way to the graveyard. During a hunt she shot and wounded a basilisk, which turned the hunt on her. For days the creature followed her and the two played a game of cat and mouse. Eventually she fled into a valley naturally hidden by rock formations. This is where she found the dragon graveyard and was confronted by its protectors. As those who had entered the valley before her, Armiyah was not allowed to leave. Unlike the others, she also did not try. Instead she spent her time with the draconic spirits, learning from them. Somehow she convinced them to allow her to leave, and even more, to claim the site for herself. Six years after her fateful hunt, Armiyah returned to her tribe, calling herself the Dragon Empress. She had aquired impressive magical abilities which she used to claim leadership of her people. She led them back to the dragon graveyard and began building a new settlement. Over time the settlement grew into a mighty city. For a long time Akek's growth was unimpeded. It's closest neighbor, Amon, the City of Fiends, seemed uninterested in its existence. This changed when an Amon demononologist attempted to bind a demon into the skeletal remains of a dragon in Akek. The demonologist was caught and executed, which raised the ire of the elite in Amon. Small incidents between the two cities kept increasing until two delegations eventually came to blows near the closest Bloodgate. Amon declared war against Akek and their animosity has only increased ever since. The guardians of the dragon graveyard have not been seen in centuries. Initially they acted as protectors of the growing city. Armiyah claims to still conferr with them, but their absence during some of the city's recent troubles did not go by unnoticed. Armiyah new powers seemingly include immortality, as she has not aged a day since she first returned from the valley. She has at times also demonstarted the ability to fly and breathe fire. Some say Armiyah was taught a ritual to become a dragon, while others believe the real Armiyah was killed and replaced by a dragon during her initial stay at the graveyard. Armiyah herself offers no explanation.
Akek consists of sprawling single-storey buildings with flat roofs. The walls are mostly stone supported by beams of dragonbone and decorated with dragonscales. Many buildings decorate the entrance with dragon skulls with a gaping maw. Most buildings have at least 1 more level below ground and 2 or 3 is commonplace. Instead of building up, Akek prefers to build down into the earth. The two exceptions are the Hall of Wings, an aerie from where the city's drake-riders take to the sky and the Arena, a massive colloseum. The Vaults of Akek are some of the city's most famous features. Dragon Empress Armiyah had them built to house the grand treasures dug up during the city's construction. The vaults are located deep beneath the ground, but each is accessible through a distinct tower featuring the name and likeness of the dragon that once owned the horde. These towers are, of course, guarded extremely well.
Akek is a rich city. While no large city is without a poorer population, Akek does not tolerate beggars or thieves, throwing them in jail, selling them as slaves or feeding them to the drakes in the arena. There are no slums in Akek. Those without homes hide in the sewers or in old underground lairs yet unknown to the city officials. Akek is also a harsh city. Showing weakness of any kind in Akek is ill-advised. Brawls and street-fights are not interrupted unless too much collateral damage is caused. While thievery and graverobbing is dealth with harshly, murder is legal. Killing a man in broad daylight is not a problem, looting the body afterward is. The city is run by the Dragon Empress and her Parliament of Scales. Noble families hold elections among themselves each year to determine who gets a seat in the parliament. Although the parliament can officially overrule the empress, it has happened twice before that the dragon guard, the empress' personal guards, marched into a session of parliament to kill all representatives present. While many suspect at least a few dragons to live in Akek, none have been confirmed. Some powerful nobles and merchant have adopted lifestyles similar to manu dragons with kobold servants, underground lairs and hordes of wealth, but none have come forward as a true dragon. Another large part of Akek culture is the breeding and trading of drakes. New species and lineages are constantly being bred according to the needs of the city. Wingless battle drakes for the arena, fast and lean runner drakes for the races, light drakes with large wings and powerful breath weapons for the aerie-guards, smaller drakes with the ability to track by scent for the city guards, ... The drakepen markets are always busy.
Many in Akek worship the ancient spirits of the dragons that came to die at the dragon graveyard. Shamans tend to shrines to specific dragons near the places their dead bodies were found. Kobolds often worship personal ancenstors. Temples or chruches do not exist in Akek.
Akek has a large, strong and proud standing army. While initially the city relied on its city guards and conscripts in time of need, the war with Amon showed the need for a more professional military. The army relies heavily on its drake cavalry, both on the ground and in the air. The aerie-guards are a special unit of winged drake riders. The aerie drakes are a special breed that most resemble wyverns, but with a strong breath weapon.
Akek remains neutral towards most of the other city states. Trade with Wave's End, Den and Corp is common, but mostly done through private merchants. Akek's main focus is Amon, the City of Fiends. The two cities have been at war for decades, with no end in sight. The fiendish armies of Amon have layed siege to Akek twice during the war, and were pushed back both times. Akek, in turn, has dealt a massive defeat to the armies of Amon in a large battle only recently. Raids and battles between both states are common and mostly take place near the Bloodgate between both cities. The blootgate located between Akek and Amon changes hands every few weeks as the armies win and lose territory. Travelers are still allowed to use the gate. Both armies have allowed neutral parties to enter and exit while in control of the site. Only those suspected of espionage or those seeking employ as mercenaries for the enemy have been detained. Akek's has been growing closer to Sa Owu over the past years. Dignitaries from Sa Owu have offered to sell armied of undead to Akek to replenish their ranks in their war with Amon. For now the Dragon Empress has rejected the offer, but necessity might soon force her hand. Akek looks to Wave's End with a weary eye. That city's expansionist tendencies have caused concern within the Dragon Empress' court, but the war with Amon prevents them from acting against Wave's End, for now.
Territory 15,000 square miles
Population 13,000 (20% human, 20% Kobold, 10% Saurian, 10% Lizardfolk, 5% half-Orc, 10% Nezumi, 20% dragonborn, 5% other)
Ruler Dragon Empress Armiyah the Adored
History
The history of the City of Scales begins with the discovery of the dragon graveyard at the feet of the mountains of the Scorched Barrier. In ages past, hundreds of dragons made the journey here when they felt their end approach, bringing parts of their treasure hordes with them. They would bury these treasures nearby before laying down and falling into their final sleep. The location of the dragon graveyard was a well guarded secret among dragons for millennia and while this dragon graveyard fell out of use, it was still well known to older dragons. Treasure hunters and grave robbers who somehow stumbled onto the location were not given a chance to reveal the secret. The graveyard's guardians, spirits of long dead dragons, never allowed them to leave. This changed when Armiyah, a human hunter from a small tribe in the Soulcleft Marshes found her way to the graveyard. During a hunt she shot and wounded a basilisk, which turned the hunt on her. For days the creature followed her and the two played a game of cat and mouse. Eventually she fled into a valley naturally hidden by rock formations. This is where she found the dragon graveyard and was confronted by its protectors. As those who had entered the valley before her, Armiyah was not allowed to leave. Unlike the others, she also did not try. Instead she spent her time with the draconic spirits, learning from them. Somehow she convinced them to allow her to leave, and even more, to claim the site for herself. Six years after her fateful hunt, Armiyah returned to her tribe, calling herself the Dragon Empress. She had aquired impressive magical abilities which she used to claim leadership of her people. She led them back to the dragon graveyard and began building a new settlement. Over time the settlement grew into a mighty city. For a long time Akek's growth was unimpeded. It's closest neighbor, Amon, the City of Fiends, seemed uninterested in its existence. This changed when an Amon demononologist attempted to bind a demon into the skeletal remains of a dragon in Akek. The demonologist was caught and executed, which raised the ire of the elite in Amon. Small incidents between the two cities kept increasing until two delegations eventually came to blows near the closest Bloodgate. Amon declared war against Akek and their animosity has only increased ever since. The guardians of the dragon graveyard have not been seen in centuries. Initially they acted as protectors of the growing city. Armiyah claims to still conferr with them, but their absence during some of the city's recent troubles did not go by unnoticed. Armiyah new powers seemingly include immortality, as she has not aged a day since she first returned from the valley. She has at times also demonstarted the ability to fly and breathe fire. Some say Armiyah was taught a ritual to become a dragon, while others believe the real Armiyah was killed and replaced by a dragon during her initial stay at the graveyard. Armiyah herself offers no explanation.
Architecture
Akek consists of sprawling single-storey buildings with flat roofs. The walls are mostly stone supported by beams of dragonbone and decorated with dragonscales. Many buildings decorate the entrance with dragon skulls with a gaping maw. Most buildings have at least 1 more level below ground and 2 or 3 is commonplace. Instead of building up, Akek prefers to build down into the earth. The two exceptions are the Hall of Wings, an aerie from where the city's drake-riders take to the sky and the Arena, a massive colloseum. The Vaults of Akek are some of the city's most famous features. Dragon Empress Armiyah had them built to house the grand treasures dug up during the city's construction. The vaults are located deep beneath the ground, but each is accessible through a distinct tower featuring the name and likeness of the dragon that once owned the horde. These towers are, of course, guarded extremely well.
Culture
Akek is a rich city. While no large city is without a poorer population, Akek does not tolerate beggars or thieves, throwing them in jail, selling them as slaves or feeding them to the drakes in the arena. There are no slums in Akek. Those without homes hide in the sewers or in old underground lairs yet unknown to the city officials. Akek is also a harsh city. Showing weakness of any kind in Akek is ill-advised. Brawls and street-fights are not interrupted unless too much collateral damage is caused. While thievery and graverobbing is dealth with harshly, murder is legal. Killing a man in broad daylight is not a problem, looting the body afterward is. The city is run by the Dragon Empress and her Parliament of Scales. Noble families hold elections among themselves each year to determine who gets a seat in the parliament. Although the parliament can officially overrule the empress, it has happened twice before that the dragon guard, the empress' personal guards, marched into a session of parliament to kill all representatives present. While many suspect at least a few dragons to live in Akek, none have been confirmed. Some powerful nobles and merchant have adopted lifestyles similar to manu dragons with kobold servants, underground lairs and hordes of wealth, but none have come forward as a true dragon. Another large part of Akek culture is the breeding and trading of drakes. New species and lineages are constantly being bred according to the needs of the city. Wingless battle drakes for the arena, fast and lean runner drakes for the races, light drakes with large wings and powerful breath weapons for the aerie-guards, smaller drakes with the ability to track by scent for the city guards, ... The drakepen markets are always busy.
Religion
Many in Akek worship the ancient spirits of the dragons that came to die at the dragon graveyard. Shamans tend to shrines to specific dragons near the places their dead bodies were found. Kobolds often worship personal ancenstors. Temples or chruches do not exist in Akek.
Army
Akek has a large, strong and proud standing army. While initially the city relied on its city guards and conscripts in time of need, the war with Amon showed the need for a more professional military. The army relies heavily on its drake cavalry, both on the ground and in the air. The aerie-guards are a special unit of winged drake riders. The aerie drakes are a special breed that most resemble wyverns, but with a strong breath weapon.
Relationships
Akek remains neutral towards most of the other city states. Trade with Wave's End, Den and Corp is common, but mostly done through private merchants. Akek's main focus is Amon, the City of Fiends. The two cities have been at war for decades, with no end in sight. The fiendish armies of Amon have layed siege to Akek twice during the war, and were pushed back both times. Akek, in turn, has dealt a massive defeat to the armies of Amon in a large battle only recently. Raids and battles between both states are common and mostly take place near the Bloodgate between both cities. The blootgate located between Akek and Amon changes hands every few weeks as the armies win and lose territory. Travelers are still allowed to use the gate. Both armies have allowed neutral parties to enter and exit while in control of the site. Only those suspected of espionage or those seeking employ as mercenaries for the enemy have been detained. Akek's has been growing closer to Sa Owu over the past years. Dignitaries from Sa Owu have offered to sell armied of undead to Akek to replenish their ranks in their war with Amon. For now the Dragon Empress has rejected the offer, but necessity might soon force her hand. Akek looks to Wave's End with a weary eye. That city's expansionist tendencies have caused concern within the Dragon Empress' court, but the war with Amon prevents them from acting against Wave's End, for now.
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