City of Ya'rin
500 Years ago, a great landmass broke through the ocean, from way below, in the Underdark . Risen with the telepathic and arcane prowess of the The Empress , the Ulitharid ruler of the city.
Ya'rin is built on the foundations of the Empress' former colony, the City Hall and Palace of the Empress used to be the colony's sanctum, in which its Elder Brain used to reside. Today, the city is home to anyone and anything typically rejected by the more "civilized" Silean Empire . Like that, Ya'rin became a sanctuary for monsters and villains, though heroes of their own stories. A hub ob cultures and species, all working together to keep their home safe, the only place that no one can take away from them.
The city has a sizeable underwater district in the harbor basin, along with a heavily guarded access point to the Undersea . Ya'rin draws its resources from the Sea, their artificial island, and, most importantly, the Ya'rin Colonies on the mainland. Many guilds work directly with the Empress' Court to keep the city alive. While commerce is very much alive, the basic necessities in terms of food are always provided to citizens for free.
Ya'rin values community above all else, in a world that is so hostile to its people.
Demographics
Ya'rin has just about every type of humanoid, with the exception of Elves and Humans themselves. Half-Elves are present, but less frequent.
Most notably, Ya'rin has sizeable populations of Merfolk, Drow, Illithid, Gnolls, Tieflings, Goblins and Kobolds. Those make up the bigger part of its population, though smaller minorities are present and accounted for.
Some noteable examples are chromatic Dragons of all ages, Githyanki (of which only two currently exist), different types of Fey, including Hags, Harpies, a handful of Beholders and the like.
Government
The Empress is, as her name suggests, the de-facto ruler of Ya'rin. She is, however, no dictator. The Council, composed of influential merchants and Guild Leaders backs her up, and her advisor, the Drow Laelin Do'sek , have a considerable amount of power.
The Empress does not take any taxes from her citizens. Instead, the honor system of everyone contributing their part to the city's survival functions - some in monetary/material form, others by offering their services.
Smaller crimes such as theft and inter-citizen disputes are brought before a trusted, but nonpartial Council member, who mediates the argument and finds a solution.
Violent crimes, from serious assault to murder are not tolerated, and after a trial, if the perpetrator is found guilty, reprimanded with the death penalty, which is often carried out by the Empress herself.
Defences
Ya'rin's defenses are largely magical in nature, safe for the city wall.
There are five locked tunnel systems in the sewers, only accessible with the consent of Hariath , the Archfey deity that has taken a liking to the city, which house the activation mechanisms for Hariath's defensive spells that, among other uses, completely cloak the city under an illusory veil.
Furthermore, The Empress is known to have shielded the city from airborne attacks with a massive psychic dome, although that is, much like the Planar evacuation portal, a last-ditch effort.
Ya'rin's best defense is its offense. The Bloodforged form the city's military, along with the Seamaids' navy force.
Industry & Trade
Due to its isolated nature, Ya'rin does not trade with other nations. It is forced into complete self-sufficiency.
Much of the currency flows in the city are for prepared food (in addition to the necessity-serving they get for free), entertainment and luxury, such as fashion and art. There is also an amount of blacksmiths and other manufacturers who usually rely on Zihara to sell their produce. The Astralarium tends to make a profit with the creation of magical items.
Infrastructure
Ya'riin is protected by a duergar-built city wall, whose three gates open to the west and allow access to the island wilderness. Both the Palace and the Astralarium possess teleportation circles that allow access to the city via spellcasting.
The harbor district is dominated by the Seamaids , the seafaring guild that enables access to the mainland colonies, as well as the Undersea access point.
The spacious sewer system underneath the city houses the Thieves' Guild and all their assets.
In the main tower of the Astralarium is a permanently open portal to the Astral Plane, which has been established as a last-ditch evacuation opportunity in times of peril. It has, to this day, not been used for that purpose.
Type
Large city
Population
800.000
Characters in Location
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