Lerwick

The city of Lerwick sits on the Southern coast of Caos. It is a lively kingdom built directly on the banks of the Jade Sea, with high walls to protect it from imposing sea waters. It does a healthy amount of business as a port kingdom, and is also well known for its natural exports of granite, wine and olive oil.

Lerwick rules over a section of Caos and has its own nobility and sociopolitical structure. Although it is not as powerful as Breim, it has refused to bow to the larger nation, leading to many wars and political conflicts.

Lerwick has been ruled by the Glorfindel family for many generations. They value law and order, and maintain high expectations for everyone around them - their daughters, their staff, even the entire city.

History
Lerwick was founded after the war between Suen Harrak and Hayyan Harrak, which resulted in the absolute desolation of their former kingdom of Omeria. Thudaar, the goddess of war, egged both of the Harrak brothers on to the ultimate destruction, throwing off the balance of the universe. Tehad, the goddess of Death, punished both brothers by cursing them with undeath so that they could never escape the horror of what they had done. Driven mad with power from Thudaar, Suen embraced this curse and traveled north to build armies and command an empire, eventually founding the nation of Breim; Hayyan, however, was deeply disgraced and fled south. Amassing a small following of wanderers searching for a better life, Hayyan discovered the quarry that Lerwick would eventually sit upon and began constructing the city. Hayyan declared Tehad as he patron saint of Lerwick to try and reap penance for his sins.

The Stonearms
Founded upon a granite quarry, early Lerwickians discovered that the terrain beneath them was inhabited by earth elementals who questioned the Lerwickians presence. While the early Lerwickians found this move strange, Hayyan discovered he could both save the city and rest his undead soul with the same plan. Hayyan met privately with the leader of the elementals and surrendered his soul to the leader, Afa. Initially surprised by the offer, Afa grew fond of Hayyan's spirit and agreed to the exchange. Not only could Lerwick mine granite freely, but Afa also blessed the first nine Lerwickian soldiers with her touch and turned their right arms to solid stone. These enchanted arms could still be moved as normal, but any bladed weapon held in these arms would petrify any enemy it pierced.

Now, whenever a Lerwickian soldier proves themself during training and demonstrate immeasurable virtue, they are encouraged to take the March of the Stonearms. The soldier must enter the first mine to seek out Afa and offer themself just as Hayyan Harrak did. If Afa detects the spirit of Hayyan within the soldier, they are granted her blessing - an arm of stone. However, if she sense any impurity within the soldier's heart, she commands the earth to devour them.

The Hands of Eight
The Amazing Clock, a gargantuan clocktower fashioned by a silent mage and gifted to Lerwick shortly after its founding, predicts the phases of the moon, eclipses, seasonal weather patterns, and, greatest of all, catastrophic events. Unlike most clocks, the Amazing Clock's face only has eight numbers instead of twelve. Whenever the clock's hands align as one over a number, catastrophe follows. Thus far, the clock's hands have aligned themselves seven times. Since there is only one number left on the clock face, many suspect that the eighth number will signal a final catastrophe followed by the end of the world.

The First Hand of Eight
The Treaty of Earth, over 2500 years ago: the emergence of Afa questioning the city's use of her granite, and King Hayyan Harrak I's unusual move to exchange his soul for access to the granite.

The Second Hand of Eight
All records of this catastrophe have been lost

The Third Hand of Eight
All records of this catastrophe have been lost, though it is rumored that this refers to the "Great Dragon out of the Sea," a monster of varying descriptions that emerged out of the sea and wrecked havoc on the lower lands of the area before the Stonearms could stop it. The "petrified body" of this supposed monster remains on the beach further down the coastline to the southeast, though most who see it say that it is just a natural rock formation

The Fourth Hand of Eight
The Unlimited Eruption, over 1000 years ago: sand erupted from the ground in unending waves, swallowing civilizations and destroying millions of lives. The sky was filled with sunblasted sand as the land turned from fertile grasslands and coasts to wretched, scorching desert. Lerwick and Doriath both blame Naqaad for this catastrophe that wiped out large portions of their kingdoms and replaced it with a harsh, barely hospitable desert.

The Fifth Hand of Eight
The Madness of Reddick, 859 years ago: while under the leadership of Archmage Reddick, a massive explosion rocketed the Guild Arcana and opened up a tear into the Far Realm, which allowed many aberrations to pass through and wreck havoc on both the Guild Arcana and the city in general. It took the entirety of the Guild Arcana and the Stonearms to defeat the aberrations and close the rift, but not before several thousands died.

The Sixth Hand of Eight
The Tyranny of Ceaer, 376 years ago: the rise of Ceaer and the battle between his troops and The Circle. The tales only tell of the great power that Ceaer wielded, but not much is known about what gave him his power or how The Circle defeated him.

The Seventh Hand of Eight
The Attack of Regrets, 15 years ago: Breim attacked Lerwick with a force led by 5 ivory dragons, despite the fact that ivory dragons were rumored to have gone extinct many years before. Lerwick won this battle when the final dragon was struck from the sky and fell, petrified to stone, into the low area of Cliffside Heights where it still remains, a stone statue still technically alive.

Cloud District
The highest district in Lerwick, the Cloud District is home to the nobles and esteemed guards.

Paelford Castle
Towering high above the city and the bay, Paelford Castle has been home to the ruling monarchs since Lerwick's founding. In addition to lavish chambers for the royal family, the Castle boasts an independent chapel for the nobles, state rooms, an observatory, and deep undercrofts. The castle is also fully operational from within the walls, with pantries, kitchens, stables, larders, and more, along with a full staff completely housed within the walls.

Housed in one of the lower circles of Paelford Castle is the Maktaba, the main library and scroll vault of Lerwick with strict entrance requirements.

Silver Barracks
The Mane (elite palace guards) and the Stonearms (kingdom militia) are housed and trained at the Silver Barracks. The Barracks connect to the exterior courtyards of Paelford Castle, where the guards patrol around the upper walls. Although Lerwick is not the largest kingdom, its ranks are well-trained and courageous, as any militia in Caos must be. Soldiers in training must undertake the March of the Stonearms into the granite mine beneath the city to seek favor from Afa, the earth elemental who controls the granite.

Roseglow Botanical Garden
Established over 1000 years ago with the planting of the Roseglow Tree, the Botanical Gardens are a spot of pure beauty and magic. Herbalists tend the garden and create potions and medicines from the products of the garden. It is also used by the nobles and other high-profile citizens as a recreational spot. There is also a strong connection to the fey here.

Yard of Deterrents
When criminals are tried and found guilty by the Court Jury, they are sentenced to petrification and temporary residence in the Yard of Deterrents. The yard is a large courtyard filled with petrified statues of the city's convicts sitting among the benches. The statues must remain petrified until the criminal has served their time; once the time is served, the family or friends of the convict can pay to have them returned to flesh. However, if no one claims the body within a year, the stone body of the convict is sent to the Petrified Labyrinth where it continues its mission as a deterrent - this time to the armies of the north.

This sentence is especially potent because of Lerwick's worship of Tehad. Pausing the natural cycle of life and refusing death is the greatest sin against Tehad, and therefore petrification is a worse punishment than death.

Aestralevia Sanctum
This chapel on the cliffside is open to all within Lerwick, as is its graveyard. The chaplains are happy to pray with visitors of all religions, but they themselves follow the patron saint of Lerwick, Tehad.

Miruna's Emporium
Miruna's is the primary marketplace of the plaza district. Its upscale wares encompass general goods, fine clothing and armor, and elegant weapons, along with other furnishings and gifts. Miruna's is run by the Reyynore family, Elion and Mariona. Their powerful influence with incoming traders means they get the best choice of goods before anyone else.

Crestwise Manor
The home of Baariq Mansouri and his daughter, Nadia. Mansouri is one of the most influential members of Lerwick society; he serves as a member on the Court Jury, and the manor is home to some of the finest olives in the city.

The Golden Griffin
As the most upscale inn in Lerwick, The Golden Griffin attracts well-to-do travelers as well as notable locals. Traveling minstrels aspire to play at the Griffin in order to be seen by as many potential employers for private events as possible.

Guild Arcana
Lerwick embraces magic, and has established the powerful Guild Arcana to train rising spellcasters and provide an organized base for magic-users of all levels. The guild is home to impressive libraries and labs, and some of the most rare magical components and items can be found here.

The Exchange
The main hub of trading and commerce, The Exchange is an interior bazaar filled with both local vendors and visiting merchants. Since Lerwick does not allow traders to pass through Lerwick on the way to other destinations, all goods that are shipped into Lerwick are either sold to independent buyers or marketed at The Exchange.

The Copper Oak
A lively inn and tavern, almost always full with traveling merchants. The Copper Oak is run by Tarathiel Inara, and also boasts a large yard in the back for outdoor revelry.

Court Valor
While the actual Lerwick Guard is trained at Silver Barracks, Court Valor offers martial training for aspiring adventurers or fighters who come from more humble backgrounds and can't afford to join the Silver Guard. Court Valor also serves as a hub for adventuring guilds, giving them a place to stay, swap stories, and exchange info.

Sankori Lighthouse
Guiding the way into the port, the Sankori Lighthouse is a popular destination for brash youth who want to prove they can swim that far.

King Mayfly's Castle
King Mayfly's is a tavern as seedy as it sounds, and is where criminals and lowlife gather for corrupt games, information, and socialization.

Ninth Hell
Deep on the side of the cliff, Ninth Hell offers a door to debauchery, as long as you have the password. Once inside, strap in for a night of entertainment so delicious you'll experience all levels of the inferno.

The Warrens
Not everyone who lives in Lerwick is well off, and the lower class make The Warrens their home. Built into the cliff and wrapping all the way around, The Warrens are crowded and cheap but full of opportunity.