Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #132

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #132 

May 12th, 2023 

• Number: 132 

• Name: Tulagan (“Town of Three Heights”) 

• Location: Southern narrows along Taop Bay 

• Population (approx.): 890 (between all levels and surrounds) 

• Brief: At the height of the Ta’arnan Empire, Tulagan was considered one of the most beautiful towns in the region if not the empire. Built upon three levels, all the buildings, roads and exterior staircases were of matching light sun yellow stone (quarried locally but enchanted for color and durability) with tile roofs of complementary blue-gray slate. The temple of the Sun and Sky, at the third height, was notable and influential at its peak. As the Empire fell into decay so did Tulagan, the congregation and population diminishing to current levels. The community and local surroundings are ruled by the Viscount Priest and their Clerical Elders, protected by a few remaining Paladins and Warrior-Priests. Tulagan exists as a neutral Church-State carefully negotiating or paying for peaceful relations with surrounding groups such as Reaver’s Rock (#22), the Gatherer (#28) and the County of the Setting Sun (#128). 

• Geography: Tulagan was built on the west coast of Taop Bay. The founders found a prominent stone hill on a cliffside overlooking the bay below. The town was started at the base of the hill (the “second height”). Staircases were carved up the slopes of the hill to the summit (the “third height’), where the church rose into the sky, and down the cliffs to the seaside (the “first height”), where docks and wharves served fisherfolk and merchanters (protected by the naval forces to the east and ports elsewhere). Tulagan was designed with uniform coloring (rising sun walls and sky-blue-gray tiles) in celebration of their patron Gods. A main avenue threads along the cliffside, continuing west and east along the coast to other local settlements. Currently about 2/3rds of the town’s structures are empty but well maintained as the populace continues to appreciate and maintain Tulagan’s beauty.