Ihlzlar & Odunzlar
Ihlzlar and Odunzlar is a Dekarti settlement found at the very tip of The Pinching Gulf. It is also named the Twins due to it technically being two cities linked together through a series of repurposed galleons and sea vessels.
Demographics
With the twins being one of the few coastal cities that are easily accessible to outsiders, both Ihlzlar and Odunzlar remain less popular than the more well known cities, such as Olziir. As a result, a majority of the populace are Dekarti; a small fraction of this are Elven people that have sailed in from the Sunward Isles; a chain of isles far south of Dekarth.
Professions
As a maritime city set around the The Pinching Gulf, many residents of the twins are often fishermen or hunters. Adventurers also sometimes land within them out of eagerness to venture forth into the treacherous Golgelen Woods that can be found far north of the two cities. Furthermore, the city is renown for its piracy; a trade that's often kept under wraps to outsiders -- even towards the royalty. Piracy is mostly done through strategic raids along certain settlements found within the Sunward isles; this is mostly done due to the ongoing rebellion that the archipelago is embroiled in, leaving two sides to often pay a hefty sum of coin and treasure for the services of mercenaries and sellswords to sail beneath their banner. Grains are notably kept separate from both cities, but are often considered to be living a better life than your usual Grain found within Dekarth. This is because they're mostly tasked to live as fishermen or scouts, given the opportunity to explore and adventure out into the world to make a name for themselves, or live at sea aboard one of the many galleons found serviced through the gulf.Industry & Trade
Fishing Industry
Among the most important industries within the Twins is the fishing industry; the Shipwalk allows for fishermen to fish right from home in certain circumstances, while the northern quarter is dedicated to making specialized fishing boats solely for fishing from the gulf. As one might guess, seafood is very common within the twins.Piracy
Notorious to outsiders, revered by locals. The 'treasure hunting' expeditions are easily what the twin cities are most known for, sending frequent voyages overseas in hopes of finding riches back home -- ill-gotten or otherwise. The string of isles below the continent of Dekarth are frequent targets to the coastal raids, if only due to the nation being steeped within political strife that allows Dekarth to raid villages without repercussion, so long as they stray away from the Sunward isles' imperial cities.Infrastructure
The Twins are built at the very tip of the Pinching Gulf, with two cities found at each coastline. Ihlzlar makes up the left, western half of the city, while Odunzlar makes up the right eastern half.
Ihlzlar
Ihlzlar is entirely a beachside city, settled around the gulf with wooden buildings. Most of the housing built along the coast of the beach is made up of wood that's scavenged from the several ships that have found themselves broken at the Breaching Bay; a section of the city that's notorious for countless shipwrecks in the past. Wood nearby the Golgelen is also quite plentiful. Asides from being constructed from wood -- a rarity in Dekarth, the buildings are also raised slightly off the ground and connected by a series of wooden bridges and platforms supported by various columns, so's to assist with the flooding that frequently inundates the shoreline. The beach is cut off from the rest of Ihlzlar by a cliffside. Buildings built along the cliff are left spaced away from the ledge of the cliff, though a few finely carved stone stairways lead up into the rest of the city above. Here, a majority of the city is still erected from wood, and is mostly composed of farmland before leading towards the few bridges that close the gap along the gulf.Scavenged Ships
The twins are most known for the ships that have been both scavenged or repurposed to serve as quarters for a home. Countless galleons are found floating amidst the gulf, remaining anchored and connected through a series of different bridges strung amidst the many different ships. These galleons are repurposed to serve as fisheries, though there still remains segments of the gulf where they're strictly used as unique residencies for the Grains.Odunzlar
Odunzlar is constructed mostly of stone -- a traditional material used by the Dekarti people. It's also found more inland and far from the beachside on the eastern half, built upon a stone terrace surrounded by a dense bamboo forest. Odunzlar is often considered to be the den of decadence; a palace built solely for the higher-classed nobility.Twin's Meet
At the center of the gulf is a massive, stone mountain that emerges from the water; it's considered the bridge that links together the two cities. Most impressively, however, is the variety of stone buildings carved out in a variety of different edifices that are left at the sides of the mountain, creating a small city in its own right. It is linked to the ships found across the shipyard it remains at the heart of.Districts
Breacher's Bay
Breacher's Bay is found at the ocean-facing coast of Ihlzlar. It's named so for the many stone karsts that rise out from the waters, forming several stony cliffs that are notorious for battering apart wayward vessels that strayed too close to Ihlzlar's coast. Most of Breacher's Bay is dedicated to being built around making use of the stray ships that wreck into its coast. Several platforms have been built into the raised stone pillars, which have been repurposed into special workshops to salvage pieces of the wreck -- either to recreate a new ship entirely, or to recycle its lost lumber. The Twins are notorious for their sea raids, and one of their common festivals to celebrate the defeat of a rival fleet is to capture ships and steer them into a stiff column of rock after securing their haul. Most of Breacher's Bay is, thusly, dedicated to processing lumber, not just from old ships and wreckage, but the dense jungle to the north.The Grain District
One of the primary ports for ships to arrive from overseas. It's also the primary port where Grains arrive. Aside from being a standard market, many grains are often plucked from here to serve as Gladiators in the arena.Palace Plateau
Found at the highest point of Ihlzlar, the Palace Plateau is a district within the twin cities that's dedicated almost solely to the wealthy elite that live within the city. Buildings here are notably larger than others, with scenic views found resting at the edge of the gulf to overlook the famous 'Shipwalk' district. The Palace also includes a massive temple to Amelia, dedicated not to just Amelia's faith, but also as a museum to showcase the plunder brought back from seaside raids and long ocean voyages.The Shipwalk
The Shipwalk is the famed section of town mostly renown for its innovative use of sea vessels. True to its name, it's a section of the city made up of countless galleons that have been restructured and repurposed to act as living quarters for both Zelarin citizens and working class living within the Twins. It's often divided into two halves; the Northern quarter houses the Grains living within the twin cities, with massive crews that are left aboard each ship, whilst the southern is primarily dedicated to the citizens. The Northern section is also often called the Fishing Quarter due to it being the primary place for fishermen to fish from the gulf.Twin's Meet
The central district of the city, and easily the most opulent of the bunch. Twin's Meet is found at the center of the Shipwalk, in the middle of the gulf. Here, there is a massive stone spire found at the heart of the twin cities, where homes are carved into its sides. These buildings are connected through a series of platforms and stairs that eventually lead up towards the main governing building, which serves as the home for the pair of Ra that rule the cities. For the most part, Twin's Meet is solely made to house the nobility living in the cities.Reed District(Odunzlar)
Found at the foot of a high plateau, this district marks the beginning of Odunzlar, the eastern city of the twins. Here, most of the village is found built around the main palace above. It's named so due to the surrounding high that can be found outside of the village, reaching the height of a fully grown man. This village is also connected to the Shipwalk.Sunset Palace
Often considered to be the heart of Odunzlar. The palace overlooks the Reed district, and is built upon the top of the plateau. At the center of the palace is a massive ziggurat that serves as both a temple to Amelia and a crypt to the fallen. The palace earns its name from both the sun setting in the direction the ziggurat faces, and also carrying an important temple dedicated towards the warriors honored within the city.Tourism
Due to the unique layout of the city, it isn't uncommon for the twins to be the first idea outsiders think of whenever they wish to take a tourist trip to Dekarth. It's also isolated heavily from the otherwise inhospitable parts of the continent; making it a prime choice for adventurers that are just sailing into the country.
Geography
The twins are built upon the center of a massive Gulf of water. Ihlzlar takes up the west inner coast, while Odunzlar is found at the east inner coast. The center of the Twins is taken up by a series of massive, repurposed galleons that serve as housing for Zelarin citizens, with a central stone spire found at the center to mark the middle of the city.
Natural Resources
The Twins are perhaps best known for the treasures that they bring in from overseas; this is through naval operations that raid the seaside coasts of nearby isles for plunder. Mercenary work for the Sunward isles pays exceptionally well, and the Twin cities profit heavily from those that are willing to sell their sword in the service of quelling a rebellion.
Aside from that, the twins are often considered to be the maritime capital of Dekarth. Fisheries across The Pinching Gulf grant a supply of bounty from the sea, such as shellfish, crab, or most notably, Red Urchins.
With the pinching gulf being so close towards the edge of the Golgelen woods, it only makes sense for wood to be plentiful, allowing for a massive amount of ships and floating homes found at the center of the city.
Alternative Name(s)
The Twins
Type
Large city
Population
Roughly 10,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Zelarin
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
Ruling/Owning Rank
Characters in Location
Comments