Founded by
Veil in 49 Dragon Aten was built to rival
Hope. The city was built using Stone available from Vioddoll as well as local quarries. Built with the Phervians seeming pushed out of the shadow plains, Aten was built with magical rather than physical defenses. Aten was on a raised plateau of pure
Void stone built in a large grin pattern in honor of
Cheshire. The gate is in one corner while the Veil's tower was in the other.
Though founded mostly by ex-slaves from the 2nd sacking of Vioddoll, a few nobles moved into Aten from Hope while Merchants also started using the city once it was established. The ten small districts, each serving a specific purpose for the city as a whole. The main road splits the entire city down the length all the way to the tower.
Districts
Gate house
The joint smallest of the districts, it holds a large set of six Void stone towers that act as a barrier against enemies, four at the front of the city and two at the entrance of the next district. Also, the district holds small barracks and armories, for the guards currently on duty. In the center of the district is a statue of Veil.
Trade district
The trade depots for inter-city trade, it is surrounded by a void stone wall. The center was a huge hub with offices, a giant pair of scales, and a temporary storage depot. The rest of the area is full of storage facilities and warehouses. It has several guard posts throughout. This is also the last district to be reachable from the ground
Slums
Starting as a temporary settlement area for refugees arriving in the city, it quickly grew into a tightly packed slum full of temporary housing built from anything available. The only part totally clear is the main road, kept so by city guards that patrol it. A small fortified military post sits in the middle of the district with the main road going under a tunnel, underneath the fort.
Military district
The main military of the city, the district looks more like a fortress rather than a city guard base. Fully walled off with a large gatehouse on each side. Inside is everything needed for a military to function including blacksmiths, fletchers, leatherworks stables, barracks, armories, food storage, a warehouse, a small library for mages, and small temples to
Akoom and Cheshire.
Farm district
The joint largest district, the area is covered by farming, each farm is independent with its own storage and choice of crops, and livestock. The district can supposedly feed the majority of the city, everything higher than the slums, indefinitely.
Lower city
The other largest district holds the majority of the population. interspersed in amongst the small houses are taverns, inns, and a few guard posts.
Market disrict
Based around a large central market. The center has a statue of the void travelers surrounded by the main market with basic stalls, surrounding is open shops for basic goods, such as a bakery, blacksmith, and an inn. the further out you go the more specialized the shops get with streets dedicated to certain themes. A medium guard post sits in the middle of the market with smaller ones around the district.
Upper city
Holding the elite of the city, the upper city is covered by estates of the wealthy, guards are stationed at the entrance of the district but rarely go much past this point, most places employing their own security.
The acadamy
The district is dedicated to the education of the elite, many schools and libraries dot the small area with a large temple to Cheshire in the middle.
The tower
The final and joint smallest area is the gardens surrounding Veil's tower. Many dark experiments were said to take place here.
Archtecture
In a similar style to other
Shadow Republic cities buildings were square-contained structures with a small garden on the second floor. the exception was Veil's tower which more closely resembled the architecture from other plains of existence, being cylindrical in design.
Fate
Little is known about the fate of Aten. After the fall of Hope in 640 Dragon communication between the cities became stretched. This became worse when direct contact became disrupted between the trade district and the main city. Several caravans noted the increased military presence with conveys going through the slums, one even saying they were refused passage at night. By 827 Dragon communication had completely ceased and the swamp had passed the city. Expeditions are yet to refind Aten.
It was discovered by
Grunkle's Angels in 122 Fey to not only be alive but functioning, if not a little inbred. The outer districts had become ruins due to neglect with the slums filling with cannibalistic monsters, the Military district had become the first proper district. The population when found was in decline due to unknown health issues with Veil doing what he could as a spirit to keep going. The citizens believed they were the last people on the continent due to the spreading swamp and were surprised to have visitors.
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