The Isle of Esker

Our adventure starts on the island of Esker, a bit of land which houses six notable settlements, including one sprawling city. Historically home to humans settling the coast and dwarves deep in the mountains, the island is now home to a variety of races. The dwarves have seemingly disappeared, with only a few entrances to their now-ruined cities even known.

• The largest city, Demiluna, is a mostly human city, ruled by Lords Oberon IV and Artemia. Other races who live in the sprawling city tend to have homes in suburbs or quarters of the vast city, though this level of segregation lessens each year.

• There are a small handful of Dragonborn who have come from the nearby island of Blackfire, which erupted only 175 years ago, rendering the island uninhabitable and killing most of the Dragonborn who lived there. Initially they settled along the eastern and southern coasts, most notably in Firereach. Today, most who remain live in Wyrmrest under the leadership Chief Xiuhcoatl (Shwiko-ahtl) or just Shwiko)

• Elves came over from the land beyond the erupting mountain, from the continent of Avandil, about 80 years ago. They settled along the eastern coast, pushing what they considered the less-civilized Dragonborn race away from their homes and across the mountains to the other side of the island. They took up Firereach as their new capital, and tried to establish a new name for the city, Avonyr. However, the name Avonyr is used only by the elves who inhabit the town and even then is falling out of favor, used primarily by the oldest and most proud (stubborn) of the elves. Avonyr is run by Chancellor Valery.

• North of Firereach and South of Demiluna is the small town of Aysu, which is the home of those who tire of the politics of race and war. There are elves, some dragonborn, and others in this small hamlet. It is an accepting place, and thus one that houses many who simply seek refuge either for a lifetime, or as they pass through to other places.

• The southernmost city of Sadaf is a settlement as varied in architecture and layout as it is in the races who live there. Home to numerous races, it is the second largest settlement on the island. Notably, there are many half-races who call this city home. Sadaf is run by a halfling with a giant's confidence, Yigit the Tall.

• On the northwest coast is the town of Sonyin Cove, noted both for its large multiworship cathedral and the acolytes therein, and the shadowy network working in the underbelly of the settlement, an organization of thieves and assassins led by a single unnamed leader known only by the title of Rani. Sonyin is officially ran by a dwarf named Bronach, who is so preoccupied with finding his people in the mountains that he does not even realize he has lost control over his town,

The Lords of Demiluna have a loose rule over the entire island, even the city of the Elves and the refuge of the Dragonborn. Their hold is weakest, in fact, over Sonyin Cove, due to the number of those who consider the rule of the Gods higher than the rule of any man, and to those who follow Rani's word above all else.
Other lore and background of Esker:
Most adventurers steer clear of the mountains, even with the potential riches of abandoned dwarven cities, due to the shadowy rumors of vampires living among its peaks. There is a sect of people on the island (some call them a cult) who dabbles in blood magic. Some say these are descendants of vampires who came out of the mountains, while others claim they are descendants of those who heard tales of the vampires and wanted to reproduce such powers for themselves.
Some claim that what is known as the Isle of Esker is actually the top of a great spined sea-drake that floats sleepily through the waters. The stories have been handed down by those races who live the longest, but the humans of the land refuse to believe such wild stories. According to the legend, Esker is the name of the ancient drake.
Occasionally, Warecho Coast, the northern coast of Esker, will see an old Warforged wash up upon the beach. These broken remains come from the war-torn land across the water, Gundala.

Maps

• 

  Firereach

• 

  Sonyin Cove

Type

National Territory

Included Locations

• Sonyin Cove