Ramah Alaliha

In the eastern region of the Great Continent stands the mighty Ramah Alaliha, a massive tower stretching half a mile into the sky. Legend states that it came directly from the world of the gods, or is a recreation of the original. Containing more than a hundred stories, the tower has become a city unto itself. Twelve comparatively squat towers circle the main tower in a ring and serve as anchor points for cables made of an unknown material (proving that the gods must have built this place), ensuring that even in the fiercest storms, the tower may sway but never collapses. It has stood for thousands of years, powered by magical engines to produce light and purify water, and the humans within have defended it against all attempts at conquest.
The tower consists of terraces on the outside, spiraling upward to the pinnacle. These are used for limited farming, though the labor of bringing arable soil and water to the top prohibits serious agriculture. A vibrant series of neighborhoods has sprung up between the tower base and the anchor buildings, which sit roughly one third of a mile out, and a strong but conspicuously human-built wall rings this city. Beyond are less protected neighborhoods and farmsteads, securing the tower as a city-state.

Purpose / Function

Why the gods chose to build this structure is anyone's guess, as the deities are silent on the matter. None have intervened in the ten millennia since humans occupied the structure, so humans assume they are simply taking advantage of a gift from the deities.

Architecture

The finest dwarven engineers can grasp how the tower was built, but don't have access to the materials used by the gods. The tower's lower levels are broad enough to be neighborhoods in their own right, with more open areas for markets and the like. Residences proceed in blocks, with every few levels having more open area for exchange.

History

The tower has stood since the beginning of human history, and has been occupied nearly as long. The citizens within are largely descended from the original inhabitants or those who emigrated; never has a hostile force been able to conquer the tower, though insurrections against tyrants have happened on occasion. The interior wasn't constructed with the same materials as the support structures, and humans have remodeled the interior on numerous occasions, showing their prowess and capacity for learning as they've successfully duplicated the complex plumbing originally found within. The interior is ever changing, even as the exterior remains a fixture of the landscape.

Alternative Names

The Ramah

Type

Arcology / Residential Complex