Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States - Week7
Compiling week 7 of the project, comprised of an additional 7 settlements and/or sites of the City-State of Ceannar as shown below.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #43
Feb 12th 2023
Number: 43
Name: The Sacred Aerie
Location: Northern Flattop Hills north of the capital, Overlook.
Population (approx.): 40-50 plus transient pilgrims
Brief: Centuries ago, as the legends and fables relate, Saint Aestus of Winged Kin of Lagi the Sky, wandered the hills and plains of the southern continent. She came upon a cluster of tall ancient trees upon the hills of Ceannar. Those trees, and the surrounding lesser trees of a forest, were filled with nests of all manner of winged creatures. Aestus made her home here, in a modest cabin on the edges of the woods, and hand-built a chapel to her god Lagi of the Sky so she might study and worship these great creations of Lagi. The winds carried word of the new shrine to others who joined the Saint at the site, where they venerated, cared for and protected the eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. To this day the site is sacred to Lagi and it is said that all the birds, especially the owls, are “superb.”
Geography: The Sacred Aerie can be found in the Flattop Hills about two-thirds of the way between Overlook, to the south, and the coast to the north. The protected area is a roughly circular site about 15-20 miles in diameter, watched by the Skywardens of Lagi and Rangers of associated churches. A narrow trail leads from the west to a small settlement of a half dozen buildings including the Chapel of Saint Aestus, dormitories, an aviary (for treating injured birds), a library and workshop.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #44
Feb 13th 2023
Number: 44
Name: Sogra’s Bookbinders
Location: Along the main highway southeast of the Orchard Hills (#14) of the Tuton Maug Spur.
Population (approx.): 25 (Clan Sogra members) and 50 (other workers)
Brief: For academics, scholars and collectors, Sogra’s Bookbinders is considered to be the best in the business of creating, maintaining or restoring both magical and mundane texts. Clan Sogra, proud members of the Bookworker’s Guild of the Collegium, has honed their craft over the past several hundred years. Their business has expanded to include papermaking, specialty covers, mundane and magical inscription and transcription. The adjacent village of Taiga (population 750) has grown over the years to support the Bookbinders, providing raw materials for all components such as paper, ink, thread, covers and bindings.
Geography: Sogra’s Bookbinders can be found in the village of Taiga on the Ceannar Road (the City-State's main artery leading from the border to the capital, Overlook (#8). It consists of two main buildings (mundane works to the left, magical to the right) separated by a combination of office, showroom and library. The entire site is enclosed by what appears to be a simple wrought metal fence, but at twilight one can see the shimmer of the interlocking wards enchanted into the construction.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #45
Feb 14th 2023
Number: 45
Name: Long’s Sandy Isle
Location: 2nd largest island between the Red Water Bay and the ocean off the coast of Ceannar
Population (approx.): 1,250 (Winter) to 3,000 or more (Summer)
Brief: Long’s Sandy Isle, the origin of the name is lost to history, is a favorite summer watering hole for the locals in the settlement around the southern bays of the City-State. The winter population is spread among a half-dozen settlements, most along the bayside shores, consisting of mostly fisherfolk and traders. As the day lengthens and the sun dries out the winter rains, locals take the short ferry ride from the mainland and pitch their tents and canopies above the high tide line on the white sand beaches of the oceanside shores. The nights are filled with song and story, food and drink, the numerous firepits and bonfires forming a line of twinkling lights that can be seen from miles away. The island’s fauna and flora have been tamed for centuries and the naval base to the west, facing Noldrune, keeps the shores free from bandits or buccaneers.
Geography: Long’s Sandy Isle is an irregularly shaped island, resembling a lady’s boot or shoe to some mapmakers, about 25 miles long (west to east) and perhaps 12 miles at its widest (north to south, across the western edge). Most of the shoreline is covered sandy beaches broken up by stretches of pebbles or rocky ridges extending into the seas.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #46
Feb 15th 2023
Number: 46
Name: Surecliff (originally “Sure on the Cliff”)
Location: North coast of Ceannar just east of the border with Noldrune and the Lesser Staplefish Bay
Population (approx.): 7,350
Brief: Surecliff is the second largest city of Ceannar. It is unusual in that most of its population does not claim to be of one of Ceannar’s Peoples. Surecliff was a Ta’arnan Empire stronghold, home to troops from across the Empire tasked with controlling a large portion of what now is Noldrune and Ceannar. Five centuries later, Surecliff retains much of the flavor of the Ta’arnan’s culture and style, the city design focussed about the 12 Masks (the positive and negative aspects) of the Six. As Surecliff is somewhat isolated from Ceannar by trhe Tuton Maug Spur, it has been the spot of some unrest and dissent. Old Ta’arnans and young riff-raff mix freely in the lesser bars and taverns, plotting and planning.
Geography: Surecliff is built on the south edge of the nearly circular Sure Bay, which is almost enclosed by 2 natural breakwaters to the north, creating a large natural harbor. The city is divided into 12 wards, each dedicated to a mask of the Six. The harbor falls within the 4 wards of Air and Water. The center of the city are the 4 wards of Light and Dark. The wards of Fire and Earth are wide and narrow, encompassing lesser surrounding residences and businesses.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #47
Feb 16th 2023
Number: 47
Name: Firewalker Ridge
Location: Tuton Maug Spur just east of the border between Noldrune and Ceannar
Population (approx.): 1,300
Brief: Firewalker Ridge is the largest Dwarven Canton in Ceannar. The Dwarves settled in the hills centuries ago, delving into the depths of Aenwyld for a variety of valuable minerals include common ores and some unusual gems. The region's name originates from the numerous magma caverns underground and the lengths Dwarves will go to cross them to reach the presumed riches on the other side. (The old saying being, “Why did the Dwarf cross the flaming cavern? Because gems were on the other side.”) The Dwarves are nominally aligned with Ceannar insomuch most current trading agreements are with that City-State. In the past said alignment has changed as different Dwarven Clans have come to rule the Canton. However, they hold no love for the remnants of the Ta’arnan Empire and avoid Surecliff (#46) to the north.
Geography: The Canton of Firewalker Ridge is recognized as covering about 150-200 square miles of the Tuton Maug Spur centered about the major Dwarven settlement of Firespur (population about 600). It can be reached via a narrow road headed north from just east of where the main highway crosses the border at the town of People’s Portal (#48).
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #48
Feb 17th 2023
Number: 48
Name: Everfrozen Lake
Location: Eastern Ceannar between the capital, Overlook (#8), and the coast.
Population (approx.): None
Brief: In a secluded area of rough terrain a day or more’s hike from the nearest settlement can be found a rather strange phenomenon. Surrounded by a low ridge dotted with scrub and small trees is what appears to be a perpetually frozen small lake of what the locals believe to be water. No matter the weather, the water remains solid. If heated, the water will melt but then immediately freeze once the source of heat is removed. The lake has been in this state as far as the locals remember, but some stories of the Ta’arnan Empire suggest there was a temple to Vai in this area at one time. Very rarely and witnessed by few, the lake appears to suddenly shake and convulse, the ice shattering with a thunderous roar like something is attempting to escape from within, but then within seconds the lake freezes, the surface showing no signs of damage.
Geography: The Everfrozen Lake covers several acres of land in an area of rugged terrain covered with sparse vegetation. There are no nearby inhabited settlements, main roads being further north to the interior or south along the coast. Exploration would reveal evidence of a small village on the edge of the lake pre-dating the independence of Ceannar.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #49
Feb 18th 2023
Number: 49
Name: County of Airontir Taun (“Oceanview Forest”)
Location: Southern coast of Ceannar at the end of the western spur of the Flattop Hills
Population (approx.): 1,200
Brief: The County of Airontir Taun is the largest Fey community in Ceannar. It was founded well before even the Ta’arnan Empire and has weathered all storms both natural and kin-made. Although the Elves therein do not use either County or Count to refer to their community or their leaders, the 1st Baron of the City-State granted Airontir Taun this status in order to recognize their unique powers and contributions to the founding of Ceannar. Airontir Taun contains a number of settlements and 2 small harbors, one on the ocean to the south and one on a small bay (Airontir Copa) to the west. The Elves infrequently interact with the Kin of the City-State, but when they do, they prefer to do such at a small settlement, known as Elfmeet, to the west of the County.
Geography: Airontir Taun is considered by the City-State to cover the irregular peninsula at the southern tip of the western spur of the Flattop Hills. Most of the approximately 400 square miles of terrain is covered with dense climax forest, as old as the Elves themselves. Elven hunting parties and their Fey Kin may be encountered in the hills directly north as well.
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