High Aranthaes Overview

High Aranthaes Overview

Nearer to the Heavens High Aranthaes crowns the city like a diadem, a sunlit terrace of white marble villas, wide promenades, and manicured public gardens that step down toward breathtaking views over the whole island. Fountains whisper along walkways shaded by cypress and citrus, beds of exotic flowers blaze with color, and the air carries the soft strains of string quartets from garden pavilions. By day, sunlight warms sheltered lawns and belvederes designed to catch the sea breeze. By night, lanterns glow along paths of pale stone, reflecting in long

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Aranthaes Wynds Overview

Aranthaes Wynds Overview

Aranthaes Wynds Aranthaes Wynds is a bustling and densely populated quarter, a labyrinth of crooked lanes where it’s dangerously easy to lose your way. Narrow timber buildings rise high and lean over the streets, their dark wood creaking and groaning in the wind. All around, the sounds of the city swell – from the clanging of metalworkers to the raucous laughter spilling out of tavern doors. The Wynds’ residents are a mixed lot: newcomers chasing opportunity, seasoned hawkers, and some of Aranthaes’ poorest clinging to survival. Stalls crowd the alleys,

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The Defenders of the Mother

The Defenders of the Mother

The Defenders of the Mother are a non-miltary offshoot of the City Guard, a faith-based police formed to ensure that the generosity enshrined in Lady Bune’s teachings translates into charitable works to help the neediest in the city, and that support for the faith continues to flourish. Comprised primarily of devout citizens, members of the clergy, clerics and military veterans, The Defenders of the Mother perform a wide range of duties, in service to Lady Bune – under the overall command of cleric Rilith Jol’gonas. From providing charity for the

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The Great Banks of Aranthaes

The Great Banks of Aranthaes

Secure Banking in the City of Gold The great banks of Aranthaes are some of the most impressive and imposing buildings in the city, symbolizing the immense wealth and power of its merchant class. There are four great banks in the city, one in each of Aranthaes City’s commercial quarters, each managed by the most experienced and trustworthy financiers. Aranthaes Bank, based in the Jewellery Quarter is the largest and most valuable of all of Aranthaes’ banks. It is a massive stone structure with an impressive marble façade that stretches

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The ‘True Born’ of Aranthaes

The 'True Born' of Aranthaes

In Aranthaes, the concept of being “true born” is deeply ingrained in the culture and society of the city. It refers to the idea that certain families have an ancient and illustrious lineage, dating back to the earliest days of the city’s founding. These families are believed to have played a key role in the city’s development and history, and are thus considered to be of superior stock. This belief is based on the idea that the first settlers of Aranthaes were a select group of individuals who possessed exceptional

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The Walls of Aranthaes

The Walls of Aranthaes

The terraced city of Aranthaes is heavily fortified by three walls, each wall separating and elevating the three main tiers of the city, Aranthaes Wynds, Aranthaes City and High Aranthaes. City Wall The outermost wall surrounding the whole fortified city is a sight to behold. It’s a towering structure of grey stone, standing at least twenty feet tall and reinforced with sturdy buttresses at regular intervals. The wall is thick enough to withstand a battering ram or a siege engine, and its imposing presence is enough to deter most would-be

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The Mother Will Provide

The Mother Will Provide

‘The Mother Will Provide’ is the most common phrase in Aranthaes, used as a greeting and farewell, and a phrase of hope, friendship and support. Like most elements of life in Aranthaes, the phrase is associated with the Aranthaen religion and devotion to Lady Bune, ‘The Mother Dragon’ – and is based on the belief that the deity Lady Bune will provide wealth and success to any true believer. This is nowhere more a hope made real, than in Aranthaes’ unique and generous system of support, one that is the

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Aranthaes and Tax

Aranthaes and Tax

The Golden Economy of Aranthaes Aranthaes is unique in the known world: a city without taxes. Merchants, adventurers, and pilgrims alike keep every coin they earn inside its walls. There are no tariffs on income, no tithes, no mandatory levies – only the freedom to spend, invest, and trade. This has drawn merchants in droves, who flock to Aranthaes not only for its wealth but for the liberty to expand their fortunes unhindered. Gold Beyond Measure. Over millennia, vast hoards of gold have been stored beneath Mon Arant. Some claim

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Bandits on the Highways

Bandits on the Highways

Drawn to the vast wealth carried on highways to and from Aranthaes, it’s unsurprising that merchant caravans will see attacks from gangs of bandits and thieves. One of the most notorious bandit gangs is the Black Blades, a group of skilled swordsmen who operate on the main trade routes leading to neighboring cities. They are known for their swift and deadly attacks, often leaving no survivors. They are said to be led by a charismatic and ruthless leader known only as “the Blade.” Another group of bandits, The Red Cloaks,

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Aranthaes’ Busy Highways

Aranthaes' Busy Highways

The highways of Aranthaes are a symbol of the city’s wealth and power, attracting merchants, adventurers, and travelers from far and wide. The highways that radiate from Aranthaes are always a bustling hub of activity. They connect the city to other major trading centers and cities, creating a network of commerce that spans across the continent. The roads themselves are wide and well-paved, allowing for smooth passage for both travelers on foot and carts drawn by horses or oxen. Along the roads, there are inns, taverns, and rest stops for

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Aranthaen Gold Caravans

Aranthaen Gold Caravans

The heavy wagons and armed caravans of Aranthaen gold are a common sight on the trade routes leading out of the city. Each wagon is made of thick, sturdy wood and is drawn by a team of powerful horses. The wagon is heavily guarded by armed guards, some of whom ride on horseback alongside the wagon, while others ride on top of the wagon itself. These armed guards are highly trained and skilled in both combat and diplomacy, able to negotiate with local authorities and fend off any would-be bandits

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Aranthaes City District – Overview

Aranthaes City District - Overview

The Heart of Mercantile Life The City District is the thriving heart of Aranthaes, a hub of wealth, commerce, and culture where merchants, nobles, and commoners mingle in a constant tide of trade and entertainment. From its bustling bazaars to its glittering jewelry shops, this district is a place where fortunes are made, reputations built, and deals sealed with a handshake or a goblet of wine. The wide avenues and carefully paved boulevards are filled with wagons, porters, and fine carriages, while side streets echo with the chatter of guild

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Aranthaes Merchant Families

Aranthaes Merchant Families

Aranthaes is home to thousands of thriving businesses but there are 7 families who hold as much wealth and power as all the rest of the merchants combined. In a city with no formal royal family, the wealthy merchants of Aranthaes are more than happy to take the place of kings and queens – the total of their wealth and power greater than that of many kingdoms. The 7 families run much of the city, from it’s banks to the city council, the private merchant police watching over their business

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Rilith Jol’gonas

Rilith Jol'gonas

Rilith Jol’gonas was born to a tiefling mother and human father in the slums of Aranthaws Wynds. Despite the challenges of her upbringing, Rilith showed an early aptitude for the divine, and her raw talent was quickly recognized by the Church of the Mother. She was taken in as a novice and began her training as a cleric with the Mother’s Children. Over the years, Rilith rose through the ranks of the church and became a powerful force for good in the city. She is known for her compassion and

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Lady Bune / Mother Dragon

Lady Bune / Mother Dragon

Lady Bune is an ancient, powerful and benevolent deity who bestows her wealth and knowledge upon those who seek her aid. A draconic demon, she chose to leave the infernal realm and has since taken a millennia-long journey of transformation to become the beloved goddess she is now. Lady Bune is at the heart of Aranthaen religion, which plays a pivotal role in every aspect of society in the city she is said to have formed thousands of years ago. Although demonic/draconic by nature, her ability to shape-shift means she

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Aranthaes City Guard

Aranthaes City Guard

The Aranthaes City Guard is a formidable force that serves as the city council’s military and is responsible for protecting the city from both external threats and internal crimes. Unlike the private merchant police or religious police forces with their specific fields of operation, the City Guard is dedicated to the defense of all Aranthaens. The City Guard is well-funded and well-equipped, with access to the best weapons and armor available in the city. They are known for their strict adherence to the law and their intolerance for corruption within

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Aranthaes’ Merchant Police

Aranthaes' Merchant Police

As a wealthy merchant city, Aranthaen businesses are keen to protect their stock and trade with more favor than that provided by the City Guard. Over the space of several years they have built up a significant private police force – not so much focused on the rule of law, but rather a keen dedication to looking after their paymaster’s interests. The Merchant Police are divided into four main battalions, each sponsored by a wealthy merchant family or business cooperative, and with a key exception of The Merchant Volunteers each

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The Blood Moon Tribe

The Blood Moon Tribe

The Blood Moon Tribe is a ferocious horde of orcs that terrorizes the trade routes around Aranthaes. They are infamous for their brutality and willingness to use extreme methods to intimidate and kill their enemies. They are led by an orc warlord named Gromm, who is known for his tactical prowess and his merciless treatment of prisoners. The tribe is comprised of a mix of powerful warriors, skilled archers, and fearsome spellcasters. They often employ shamans and witches who use their dark magic to cast powerful spells that can cripple

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The Iron Fist Clan

The Iron Fist Clan

The Iron Fist Clan is a well-organized orc horde that has terrorized the surrounding lands for years. They are known for their brutal tactics and skilled warriors, and have built up a fearsome reputation among travelers and merchants alike. Led by the fearsome chieftain Gorgoth Ironfist, the clan is made up of several tribes that have banded together for strength in numbers. Gorgoth is a towering figure, even among his own kind, and wields a massive battle axe that has claimed the lives of many of his enemies. The Iron

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The Red Cloaks

The Red Cloaks

The Red Cloaks are a highly organized and ruthless band of bandits who have been terrorizing the trade routes leading to Aranthaes for several years. They are known for their distinctive red cloaks and their willingness to use violence to achieve their goals. The group is led by Robynne, a half-elf crime-lord. She rules her band with an iron fist and is not afraid to make an example out of anyone who crosses her. Under her leadership, the Red Cloaks have become one of the most feared criminal organizations in

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