Riek, The City of Stars
The capital of the province Riek.
Riek can be considered as one the most important cities in the north, as it lays in a middle of a bustling merchant route between northern way to Oroii and to the south and to Amaran. With dozens uponm dozens of ships sailing through it every single day. This has made the city very rich, which can be seen on it's exquisitely ornamental architecture.
Riek is also considered as of the holiest cities in the world. A temple for every major god has been build into the city, most notably the Lightning Temple of Astach.
Countless pilgrims flock it's streets, raving zealots of Yavakatra whipping themselves bloodied until the streets run red. In every other corner of each street, a shrine has been build, where speakers and preachers spread their word.
Riek itself is build upon the slopes and the root of the mountain where the range and the ocean meets. An intricate city that zig-zag over and inside the mountainside, from the port of Vrakvar to the observatories and libraries on the Far-Peak. Countless tunnels and line-carts cross the mountainside. Mountainside, which is dotted with towers of metal and glass, as if monuments dedicated to the gods. Bridges, made from steel, marble and blue granite, connect each and everyone one of them into a complex web of bustling cityscape. While the lower city is dedicated to the worship of gods, the upper city is a place for silence, study and meditative study of holy firmament and the stars. The Star-Shamans and other brilliant minds from all over the world, travel to Riek for their knowledge.
It was a late afternoon when the Observatory 3 located near Far-Peak suddenly exploded. Followed by an onslaught of unknown hostile creatures, that poured down the mountain slopes in their thousands.
The defending city guards had little to no chance of defending against such a sudden act of violence.
Eye-witnesses tell, how these insectoid creatures used weird, dog-like creatures while systematically searching buildings and slaughtering everyone they encountered. Until they suddenly looked to the sky and started panicking. After this, they went into some sort of berserker rage and began excessively butchering people and burning everything. This lasted for a while until a nearby battalion of elite High Spikes were alerted and along with Riekian Guards a battle ensued.
The combine forces managed to destroy their around half of them, rest were routed to the hills. The battalion took heavy casualities, but the city was saved.
Even then, Riek was ravaged and almost half of the city was burned to the ground and thousands of civilians were killed in the process. The reasons for this attack remains a heated topic, but seeing that the Hridi were part of the Razing of Saah, this could have been a part of larger campaign. However, many are adamant, that the Star-Shamans of Observatory 3 were conducting a dangerous experiment that went horribly wrong. Certain few also claim that the mysterious party that went up there just moments before the attack, must have had something to do with it.
Riek itself is build upon the slopes and the root of the mountain where the range and the ocean meets. An intricate city that zig-zag over and inside the mountainside, from the port of Vrakvar to the observatories and libraries on the Far-Peak. Countless tunnels and line-carts cross the mountainside. Mountainside, which is dotted with towers of metal and glass, as if monuments dedicated to the gods. Bridges, made from steel, marble and blue granite, connect each and everyone one of them into a complex web of bustling cityscape. While the lower city is dedicated to the worship of gods, the upper city is a place for silence, study and meditative study of holy firmament and the stars. The Star-Shamans and other brilliant minds from all over the world, travel to Riek for their knowledge.
The Attack on Riek
On the third day of Deerjald, in year 1574 of New Azyrian Calendar. Riek was partially devastated in a surprise attack by an enemy, later confirmed to be of "Hridi" origins.It was a late afternoon when the Observatory 3 located near Far-Peak suddenly exploded. Followed by an onslaught of unknown hostile creatures, that poured down the mountain slopes in their thousands.
The defending city guards had little to no chance of defending against such a sudden act of violence.
Eye-witnesses tell, how these insectoid creatures used weird, dog-like creatures while systematically searching buildings and slaughtering everyone they encountered. Until they suddenly looked to the sky and started panicking. After this, they went into some sort of berserker rage and began excessively butchering people and burning everything. This lasted for a while until a nearby battalion of elite High Spikes were alerted and along with Riekian Guards a battle ensued.
The combine forces managed to destroy their around half of them, rest were routed to the hills. The battalion took heavy casualities, but the city was saved.
Even then, Riek was ravaged and almost half of the city was burned to the ground and thousands of civilians were killed in the process. The reasons for this attack remains a heated topic, but seeing that the Hridi were part of the Razing of Saah, this could have been a part of larger campaign. However, many are adamant, that the Star-Shamans of Observatory 3 were conducting a dangerous experiment that went horribly wrong. Certain few also claim that the mysterious party that went up there just moments before the attack, must have had something to do with it.
Demographics
Like the province itself, Riek is mostly inhabited by Humans. However, there are a large minority of Qurians, living mostly around the port and lower slopes. And a small minority of Dalis, mostly embassadors and scholars, living in the upper city.
Architecture
Riekian architecture is grandeur manifested, as it is partly dedicated to the dissatisfied gods themselves. With high towers and colossal halls build into mountain itself. And them adorned with spikes, gargoyles and statues everywhere.
"He looked over the balcony, the city below with it's silvered spires and glass domes looked like it was forever glistening in the morning dew."
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments