Erathium

A century ago, war raged across the former magocracies of what became the Dragondown Coast as the arcanists vied for control of the ley lines, wielding dangerous and unpredictable magic. Acid rains and vampiric fog were called down on rival towns and cities and, worse still, terrifying alien monstrosities - the Great Walkers - were summoned from the Wraith Walkers to wipe out their enemies.

An arrogant archmage had overestimated his own capabilities and botched a spell that would have banished some of the Nerathilords and their loyal acolytes to the depths of the Wraith World. The spell had l caused a group of alien structures to manifest in Ulgrotha. These are the ten blue stone pillars that stand in the City of Blue Towers to this day - said to drain power from the ley lines to power the long dead mage.

Since Elidyr's Folly, a small community and trading hub has grown up around the pillars, which continue to fascinate arcanists to this day. The golden domes are tarnished. Haggard citadels now glower over the pride of this once splendid city of the coast. Citizens cast refuse into streets where processions of regal kings once marched. Most care nothing for the shattered glory of their heritage, scorning temples and scrawling petty graffiti across friezes of a better time. The citizens of Erathium live in the specter of their ancestors - once lead astray by a cult of Erzulin the Colorless Lord, Nerathilord of Order. That was before Zeech, Prince of Rivers, took control of the city and turned the people against the Cult of Erathis.

In return to the loyalty of the Erathium tribes, Zeech showed them the true power of the city - manastones and democracy. Entire mines worth that grew beneath the Whitefall Highlands. All theirs for the taking - and gave the people of Erathium a chance to build back up to their former glory. Through the years, nature and civilization into a single living organism. The polis extends from a huge tree at its center, like the rings of a still larger tree. Between the greenery, tarnished golden domes, and great stelas, had sprung up townhouses of river-stones and shale. Giving the impression that, even among the espionage and violence, there is something truly worth saving here.

Defences

Since the Erathis Cult had ben pushed out - it can come down to fishermen not to be hyst simple food-gatherers but defenders of the community as well. They always carry nets that they can use as non-lethal weapons and when needed they carry powerful spears or other weapons. They are typically well trained and hardy.

Fraternities of local Arcanists, like Lashonna, maintain their own guards as well. Often recruited from families attempting to curry their favor - some are augmented by the very arcanists they serve.

Districts

Threshold

Tidal flats on which rows and rows of ramshackle houses have been built. Visitors to the City of Blue Towers usually make landfall at the docks on the southwest tip of the delta, where locals from the Block Scramblers tribe will attempt to rent them a room or sell them whatever interesting knick-knacks they’ve manage to scavenge from the half-ruined empty buildings that make up most of the town crowded around the base of the pillars.

The Pillars

Several dozen well-constructed one and two-story buildings situated alongside many pillars, reached by a set of stairs leading up from surrounding rambler houses. Many of the Elder-Elects families live here in the towers, while beneath them are countless local crafters and specialists. Primarily working with Dragonshard - weaving it into clothes, tools, and weapons. Though it should be noted that Arcanist's Fever runs rampant here. None of them have the political clout or physical presence to gain an edge over their fellows or the bandits who run the town, so for now, the sorry state of Earthium’s crafters seems destined to persist.

Mutas

The Mutas district was once a messy sprawl of urban life, but that has gone to the wayside after the Erzulin Cult was removed. Now it is a shaded hillside maze of aboreal boulevards, incense parks, and exlusive fraternities owned by an informal noble class. A few powerful Priest-Magicians, Occultists, and Divinators keep full scale strongholds here, though they look like ordinary manors from the street. While the Elder-Elects rule the city, it is here that anyone looks for what may shake the foundation of Erathium next.

Salinmoor

Salinmoor is less apart of Erathium, as it is an expansion of the city to cover extensive Dragonshard mining operation overseen by Eliander of the Firewalker Tribe. Salinmoor is budding burgh less then a few hours travel from Erathium. Allied MagLaunnd Dwarves, Elder-elects, and other inspiring artisans have agreed to keep this holding running.
However in recent years, Salinmoor has grown increaingly independant of Erathium - and Elder-Elect Erolin has actively antagonized Prince-Elect Zeech. Or atleast Zeech claims, as the tribes of Erathium are starting to want to reclaim Salinmoor.

Guilds and Factions

The Six Conspiracies of Erathium:

Crimson Fleet - Perhaps the most powerful faction in the polity, the crimson fleet are comprised of river pirates and master mariners. They trade with many other River Clans of the Darish De'Cour, often acting as their agents. Cold Captain Wyther, a man whose reputation as a merciless killer and heartless taskmaster is likely well-deserved, is their current Elder-Elect. Should one seek secrets, flesh peddling, and other vices, seek our the coinmasters of the Crimson Fleet.
Dire Hunger - The tribes of the Dire Hunger seem to all worship Otaih the Blue, Nerathilord of Tides with zeal. It is said worship found a way to make physical their basest emotions and seperate them from their mind, drowning them in the ocean. Doing so freed their minds to focus on the pursuit of pure knowledge. Faithful Irion, Daughter of Oromo is the Elder-Elect of the Dire hunger tribes.
Porphyry House - A rose blooming in a graveyard, the beauty of the Porphryr House tribes had an undeniably sinister taint. Elder-Elect Tyralandi was said to be a monster hunter and herbmonger before raising to her position of the graveminders, tanners, and brothels. Their majestic buildings of ivory are surrounded by hovels and sagging shops, hoping to catch the eye of their talented, gold painted Wasp Queens.
Acuitor Set - All things considering, the tribes of the Acuitor Set are a relatively new Conspiracy in Erathium. Once the Nerathilord of Order cults were removes, an equlizing force was needed. Elder-Elect Kedward Bone, made a propsition: a sanctioned status under the Prince-Elect to perform legal executions, bound under contracts called 'writs. And depending on who you ask, extralegal 'gray writs' are rumored to exist.
In the last twenty years, the Acuitor Set have prevented all-out war - by sending out their Lathemasters in targeted strikes to accomplish political goals. They maintain a strict policy of impartiality, accepting any job provided it is proposed in the correct manner and with the proper payment.
Seventh Coil - Another newer Conspiracy in Erathium, and a magnets for all kinds of unscrupulous activity, outcasts and wanderers. Once a Scavanger Cartel that traded in rare monster materials and materials - it has since grown. It is now more than a set of physical locations, a trade, or even a loose guild of hunters and dealers in proscribed creatures. It is an inspired enterprize, seeking to stablize the lands around Erathium to better ensure their place in the city-state. Elder-Elect Kemchet Flame Stoker - an ogresh, notable for his jade pipe - believes that the manastones mining should stopped. Erathium has become too dependant on it, and the Crafters who elected him are getting sick. He prefers the crafting of Mage Bane Trinkets, but has isolationist ideas.
Sailinmoor - The tribes of Salinmoor as the newest arrival in the Conspiracies. A budding polity in its own right - no one is entirely sure where the tribes of Salinmoor are going to land. Rich in manastone and silver, many seek to sway the village to support their cause. Or subsume it.

Natural Resources

The biggest natural resource in Erathium, besides Jade, is the collection of manastones mines throughout the Whitefall Highlands. While currently mostly used as decrative fashion, the powerful wizards and sorcerers of Erathium know how useful manastones are for crafting the ancient machines or magical items.

Otherwise, the riverlands provides sufficient fish stocks to support the fishing industry. The town is also surrounded by some farmland although such is only exploited to a limited degree given only "tiny" farms are located nearby. Fin moss and Glide Weed are harvested for their usefulness - while Gastronome Tuna and Soldier Helmcrab are fished from the Gulf.

Before Prince Zeech, Erathium was a monotheist culture bound to the words of Erathis, Nerathilord or Order. It is believed Prince Zeech broke free the first generation from the Nerathilord's sway - and brough about a democratic way, where everyone has a say. Communities elect Elders - recognisable by a long staff of ringing bells and jade - who moderate the otherwise lively affairs of Erathium debates. Many people expressing their opinion and members jeering at one another when they disagree - and few agree to return back to the stifling ways of Erathis' teaching.
Prince Zeech acts as a a Prince-Elect. Through guile and the supply of manastones he offers arcanists ensures that he is continuously viewed favorably by Elder-Elects and other influential figures in the town.

Erathium

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A formerly fortress city that has now descended into squalor and distruction. Great granite manors are pushed against translucent blue stents that pierce the ground and draw occultists from around the Coast. Its former protectors - a cult of Erathis - are now hunted as heretics.

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Blue Towers;

Population

~4,700

Inhabitant Demonym

Towermen;

Characters in Location

• Zeech Yed Prior,

Elder-Elects of Erathium

Wyther, the Cold Captain
A ruthless man, elected by river pirates and mariners, Wyther believes only those who can forcibly take their fate in their own hands should be allowed to operate in Erathium. A very loud, intense, and volatile person. He takes pride in who he is and is not ashamed of the way he amassed his wealth. He is a reaver, and takes offence when people suggest otherwise, because of what he's done to get the title.
Faithful Irion, Daughter of Oromo
An aged Elder-Elect who premotes more traditional views. When asked, she claims to speak for those who whorship Otaih, Nerathilord of Tides. She is the most outspoken against Prince-Elect Zeech's expansionist ideas, but is often shouted down.
Tarnished Eater, Tyralandi
A robust woman known for her taste in the finer things. The tribes of the Porphyry House are known for their almost gratudious nature. And Tyralandi is an examplar of this. Throwing influence and people to become the best artisans they can be - from bards of the Skindancer Halls, to most sullen of the Mortiurges. Some rumor that she had earn her title - the Tarnished Eater - literally.
Kedward Bone, New Lord of Order
A tall, gaunt figure, his visage is shocking to behold; his face is a terrible mess of bone spurs formed long ago by a rare disease - making it appear almost like a crecent moon. His hatred of the Nerathilord of order is made the most apparent, as he is covered in old brandings and scars of their order - and he gleeful hunts them down. He maintains an odd, and perverse, relationship with a pair of harpy familiars.
Kemchet Flame Stoker
A giant of a humanoid, covered in scars and tattoos - Kemchet Flame Stoker seems to be the only one noticing that the people of Erathium are getting sick while handling posioned manastone. Relaxed to the point of almost being flippant, Kemchet may be the only level head in Erathium - depending on who you ask.
Eliander Phact
A wounded veteran from one of the countless Wilderland Tribe incursions, this old warrior was once staunchy loyal to the Prince-Elect. however in recent years, the vetran had begun to notice go goings on around Salinmoor. Enough so that is had begun to shake his faith in the Prince-of-Rivers - and prepare for war.