Mon Arant: The Sacred Mountain of Aranthaes
On the edge of the Aranthaes Cauldron rises Mon Arant, a sacred mountain and wonder of the world. Upon its slopes and terraces sprawls the great city of Aranthaes, a place of untold wealth and spiritual power. Three mighty walls divide the mountain into distinct terraced realms – the cramped Wynds below, the bustling mercantile city at mid-level, and the radiant High Aranthaes above, crowned by the golden spires of the great High Temple dedicated to Lady Bune. Mon Arant is both mountain, symbol of the Mother’s blessing, and the axis upon which all Aranthaes turns.
Setting & First Impressions
Mon Arant dominates the horizon, its slopes rising like a throne above the Cauldron’s waters. Ships approaching from the north and south can see its terraces stacked in grandeur: smoke and bustle from the Wynds below, stately boulevards climbing above, and gleaming marble and gold catching the sunlight at its peak. Bells from the High Temple echo down the slopes each dawn, a sound said to stir both awe and peace in every soul who hears it. To stand at its gates is to stand before the holy heart of the island.
Geography & Structure
Geologically, Mon Arant resembles a vast crag-and-tail formation. The slopes facing the Cauldron rise almost sheer, their cliffs plunging directly into the sacred waters. By contrast, the southeastern side descends in gentler gradients, its broad foothills rolling outward into the fertile Aranthaes Fields. The city itself ascends these easier slopes in three immense terraces, each defined and defended by colossal walls, transforming the mountain into both a fortress and a shrine.
The Three Walls & City Tiers
The City Wall: The outermost wall covers the south and eastern parts of the mountain’s base, twenty feet high and bristling with towers. Entry is tightly controlled, with non-citizens required to register and even submit to magical restriction amulets if they wield spellcraft.
Mother’s Wall: Ancient and awe-inspiring, this tektite rampart divides the lower Wynds from the mercantile city above. Its black, glassy stone is nearly impossible to climb, and the Wynds Gate is a marvel of iron and magic, flanked by towers older than memory.
The High Wall: The innermost and most ornate, High Wall separates the elites of High Aranthaes from the bustling city below. Carved reliefs of history and myth embellish its grey stone, and within lie gardens, mansions, and avenues of wealth. At its heart rises the path to the temple complex and eventally the great High Temple itself.
Districts of the Mountain
Aranthaes Wynds: A dense warren of twisted alleys, cramped dwellings, and teeming life, where the poor, pilgrims, and smugglers crowd together in shadow.
Aranthaes City: The mercantile heart of the island, where grand boulevards and guildhalls resound with the business of trade. Merchants, bankers, and artisans thrive here, their wealth feeding the temples above.
High Aranthaes: A realm of opulence and sanctity, where the wealthy dwell in palatial estates and the path to the divine ascends. The streets are wide and tree-lined, fountains sparkle in courtyards, and all roads lead to the High Temple.
The High Temple
At the pinnacle of Mon Arant stands the High Temple, seat of the Church of the Mother and the greatest shrine to Lady Bune. Built of gleaming white marble, its towers rise like supplicant hands, surrounded by gardens and fountains of unparalleled beauty. Within, golden doors open to vast halls lit by thousands of candles, frescoes depicting Bune’s transformation from dragon to deity, and a jeweled throne encrusted with offerings of gold, gems, and flowers. Scholars guard a vast library here, preserving the holy teachings and histories of Aranthaes. Pilgrims speak of feeling the very presence of the Mother in its incense-laden air.
Notable Places
The Wynds Gate: A massive tektite archway leading from the Wynds into the City, flanked by ancient towers and rumored to be guarded by forgotten magic.
The Merchant Boulevards: Wide, cobbled streets lined with banks, guildhalls, and mercantile palaces, where fortunes are won and lost daily.
The Gardens of High Aranthaes: Exotic and lush, filled with fountains, pools, and rare flowers from across the world, maintained for the city’s elite.
The High Temple of Lady Bune: The mountain’s crown, visible for leagues, its golden spires a beacon of faith and power.
Rhythms & Customs
Every terrace has its rhythm: the chants and cries of the Wynds, the bustle of trade in the City, and the solemn processions of High Aranthaes. Pilgrims climb the mountain stair by the tens of thousands each year, their footsteps wearing the stone smooth. Citizens of Aranthaes cast flower wreaths into the Cauldron before great ventures, while nobles in High Aranthaes hold lavish feasts timed with the ringing of the Temple bells. Laws are strict, magic is tightly controlled, and devotion to the Mother permeates every act of trade and civic life.
For the Storyteller
Mon Arant is the jewel of Aranthaes – a setting for intrigue, politics, faith, and legend. Each tier is a city within a city, with walls that divide classes and opportunities alike. The Wynds provide fertile ground for crime and adventure, the Merchant City is a hub of espionage and mercantile drama, and High Aranthaes sets the stage for divine mysteries and political machinations. From the hidden alleys below to the radiant spires above, every step up Mon Arant is an adventure.