Keppel-Brahem
Demographics
As the center of academia in Eira, the town is host to scholars from all nations - the ???-masks of Namu, the high clergy of the Sun Cult, and great Enkurine philosophers all gather here to discuss the nature of their research.
Within the Viden League, Keppel-Brahem is the measure by which the populations of other towns and cities are defined. Humans form the majority of the populace, and are spread evenly through the social hierarchy. Dwarves are the next most numerous, but are a rarer sight within the enclaves as they tend to focus on more practical pursuits. Elves are less common among the citizens of Keppel-Brahem, but still make up a sizeable community. The Dragonborn of Keppel-Brahem are unusual in that their scales are flecked with both silver and gold, perhaps reflecting their heritage from the twin cities.
There are a smattering of other races not native to the Viden region within the city walls. The Genasi of the Kingdom of Enkur are usually too impulsive to dedicate themselves to study in the Viden manner, but are not unknown in the city. Halfling followers of the Sun Cult are numerous enough to not be met with stares, but the few Orc-blooded retainers of the Cult are a true rarity, and it is not uncommon for small processions of young children and junior researchers to form around them.
Government
As the de-facto capital of the League, Keppel-Brahem has a single Lord-Chancellor who wields executive power for both the twin cities and the League as a whole. The mercury-scaled dragon Conalbrandt holds this role, and whilst his voracious appetite for knowledge has spurred the growth of the League's cities, his ambition is tempered by centuries of life near the fragile borders of the Kingdom of Enkur.
Due to its unusual status as a twin city, the roles of Principal and Rector are duplicated across Keppel and Brahem. Undertaking administrative duties, the Principal of Keppel is a driven and ambitious dwarf named Sofie, with designs on increasing the town's standing above that of Brahem. The chief of academic and military matters in Keppel is the elven Rector Ignatz. Though young and impulsive, he has proven to be capable in his position.
In Brahem, the human Principal Jacobine deals with administrative duties. There are rumours that despite her pride in the city, her loyalties are split between the League and the Republic of Namu. Academic and military matters are handled by the gold-scaled dragonborn Rector Erling, whose tactical acumen is often hampered by his heritage: originally hailing from Keppel, there is a vein of distrust amongst the citizens of Brahem.
Industry & Trade
As the administrative heart of the league, taxes and trade for the cities of Viden go through Keppel-Brahem first of all. Its position near the border allows for healthy trade with the Kingdom of Enkur, but through the other cities in the league Keppel-Brahem reaps the profits of trade with nations across Eira.
Currently, lenses, spyglasses, and navigational tools from Keppel's workshops are popular amongst wealthy merchants, explorers, and entrepreneurs. Almanacs and calendars drawn from Brahem's divination array are more often found in the hands of poorer and middle-class farmers and yeomen.
Infrastructure
The academic enclaves of Keppel and Brahem sit opposite each other, covering the uppermost ground of the parallel ridges the two cities are built on. Whilst each enclave is scattered with various minor observatories, the tallest and most grandiose structure in each are the Eyes of Viden, the great telescope arrays that track astrological phenomena. These observatories also serve as the home and offices of the Lord-Chancellor, and following Conalbrandt's tenure have come to be known as the Dragon's Roost.
The enclaves of the two cities are linked by the great Viden Bridge. Established as a symbol of peace and cooperation between the two cities, it has fallen out of use as tensions between the two enclaves have grown over the centuries. However, it still stands as testament to the strength and industry of the two cities.
Within Keppel's enclave lies the League's Teleportarium, a series of arcane stone daises that are magically linked to other locations in the League. Stepping onto the appropriate runed platform allows instant travel to a few select locations: Agrichav as the second-largest city in the League, Huygepel as Chronomancy and Teleportation are closely-related schools of magic, and Vesalihem as there are few other practical ways to access the isolated town.
Deep in the sub-levels of Brahem's Eye of Viden, scholars combine their astrological findings with the runed stone pillars of the enclave's divination array to predict the course of the future. Whilst the citizens of Keppel are quick to dismiss the practive as superstitious quackery, Brahem's predictions have borne out more often than not.
Keppel contains some of the finest glassworks in Eira, where lenses for use in spyglasses and telescopes are produced. Smaller smithys and workshops turn out simple non-magical navigational tools such as sextants and astrolabes.
Brahem contains the taxhalls of the League, where fines and levies are applied according to both scholarly analysis and the predictions of the divination array. There is also a well-known network of unlicensed runecrafters outside the walls of Brahem's enclave who peddle magical runes and wards.
Keppel-Brahem is the northernmost city on the Circle of Wisdom. The road to the West goes through the deserts to the fertile river valley leading to Huygepel, and to the South through the desert to the shifting dunes that surround the oasis of Boorhav.
Architecture
Keppel-Brahem is built in the standard Viden style, with winding streets of 2- to 3-storey buildings made from grey and ochre stone bricks. The two cities' less-than-harmonious history can be seen in the areas either side of the gorge they are built on. The walls here are significantly thicker and more reinforced, and the buildings behind them stretch further and further up into the sky as if in competition to be the tallest.
Geography
Keppel and Brahem are built on either sides of a narrow gorge in the rocky plains of the southern deserts of Eira. A cluster of oases lie in the vicinity, and these, along with dew-collectors, provide the city and surrounding farmland with fresh water.
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