Kestor's Past

Kestor's Past is a sprawling coastal city, situated in the southeast of the Qahir Region at the head of the continent's longest gulf. Founded roughly 600 years ago, it evolved from a small fishing village into a holy city of Geryu, ruled by an eternally reincarnating king, from whom the city gets its name. Its openness to outsiders, connection to the sea goddess, and favorable location often lead it to be called the "gateway" of Al'Taj, where prospecting travelers and aspiring traders make their first steps.

Description

History

Over 600 years ago, Kestor's Past was a humble fishing village. That all changed when a lone man named Kestor—motivated by a divine vision of Geryu—came to the village and, through a combination of will, skill, and sacrifice, transformed it into a city of worship. Near the end of his life, he was granted a mysterious crown by Geryu as a reward for his piety. When his son donned the crown for the first time, Kestor reincarnated into his body, thus becoming King Kestor II.

Since then, the crown has been passed down among some of the city's greatest minds, each sacrificing their body and much of their consciousness to become the latest Kestor. Under the eternal king's influence, Kestor's Past evolved into a hub of trade, worship, and travelers. The 23rd Kestor’s decree opened the city freely to visitors from abroad, setting the stage for an era in which intercontinental travel became increasingly popular.

Government

Kestor's Past operates under a unique monarchy centered on its pseudo-immortal ruler. Throughout its history, the city has been governed by King Kestor, who reincarnates into the body of whoever wears his crown. The crown itself is a relic gifted to the first Kestor by an Emissary of Geryu; when he placed it upon his head, it stored his soul within it forever. Each time a Kestor dies and their successor dons the crown, it records fragments of the new wearer’s soul, combining them with the original “Kestor” soul, overwriting the wearer’s consciousness and binding itself to the new king until death. Currently led by Kestor XXIII, the city continues to thrive under the guidance of its eternal ruler.

Each Kestor also maintains a circle of advisors: firstly, to help govern a city that grows ever larger and more complex, and secondly, to ensure strong minds are available to inherit the crown when the time inevitably comes for reincarnation

Economy

The city's strategic location, welcoming policies, and safe waters have made it a bustling trade hub. Maritime goods from abroad nearly always pass through the city first, and beyond Aecho, it remains a consistent stopping point for nomads and travelers, whether by skiff or other means. Additionally, it is the continent's largest exporter of textiles and aquatic goods—the former thanks to one of the most famous weavers, Ludari, and the latter owing to the city's deep connection to the goddess of the seas.

Climate

Kestor's Past is consistently warm, the sea and resulting breeze keeping it comfortable to most year-round and only allowing for sparse frost. Much of the land surrounding the city consists of farmland.

Districts

Kestor's Past is made up of numerous districts, with Kestor's advisors each overseeing one if not multiple Some of the more notable:

The Old Quarter: The oldest section of the city located near its center. Many of the city's historical buildings are here, including its oldest temple of Thassa and Kestor's Keep. The proximity of Kestor's Keep and the city's old families make this one of the safer districts, with frequent guard patrols.

Longshore District: The southernmost district that encompasses much of the city's coast. The city's expansive docks are located here, where fishermen and sailors alike do their business. It's also where the largest temple of Geryu can be found, where priests perform daily sermons and bless the city's water.

Central Quarter: The centermost district of the city where most of the city's commerce takes place. The mainstay is the famed Thousand Sands Bazaar, an open air market open from dusk to dawn where merchants regularly compete for the best spots. Other city staples like the Blackstone Inn and the Delver's Guild Hall can be found here.

Northern Ward: The newest and fastest growing district along the city's northmost edge. The largest development is the Skiffyards, an expansive set of dry-docks where skiffs can be built, repaired, and sold.

Outer Kestor's Past: Beyond the city's walls is several miles of farmland. Officially, this region is under the protection of the city and is meant to receive regular patrols by guards. In practice, the outer sections of farmland are largely on their own.

The Undertow: Not so much an official district as it's a landmark, the Undertow is a series of expansive Precursor catacombs that stretch underneath nearly all of Kestor's Past. The uppermost sections of the Undertow are somewhat explored and are even integrated into some buildings, but much of its depths still remain a mystery.

Factions

The Delver's Guild: The first and original branch of the Delver's Guild is located here. Any for-hire mercenaries, scouts, and scholars (often known as adventurers) operating in the Qahir region do so under this city's branch. Led by Velira K'Tarsh.

Temple of Geryu: The continent's largest congregation of followers of Geryu, who hold significant influence over the city's development.

Ludari's School of Weaving: The school founded by the great artificer Ludari, who exists as one of the most famous Weaver artificers and created the original prototypes of skiff. While not particularly ambitious, the school holds a lot of power in the city for its skilled magical tailors and connection to skiffmaking.

The Howling Gale: The city's newest faction, consisting of a collection of taverns and businesses across the city. In secret, it's the front to the city's largest organized crime group.

Trivia

• Kestor's Past was the original city that players began in when Al'Taj was first created. The 'typical entrance' involved your character arriving by boat, as the old character creation rules prevented you from having a character directly from the continent.
• The city was originally envisioned being in the middle of a desert rather than along the coast. This was quickly retconned within the first sessions that took place here.