Alni City
Alni City, the gleaming jewel of the desert, stands as both a monument to Kleubraizia’s ancient legacy and a scar of its conquest. Named after Tala-ni'alni the god of Light and Life, the first god of light and life, the city was once the bastion of divine magic and knowledge, its spires and towers radiating hope across the endless sands. Today, though its brilliance remains, it shines under the shadow of Demon Commander Sralios, the resurrected king who once ruled this land and now bends it to Krane’s will.
Built atop a labyrinth of forgotten tombs and ley lines of raw magic, Alni City thrives where the rest of Kleubraizia struggles. Magical traps and enchanted barriers are woven into its streets and walls, making it one of the most defensible cities in the world. Though conquered, its people are resolute and cunning, adapting to the eternal eclipse and continuing their pursuit of arcane mastery. Even under demonic rule, Alni hums with the same lifeblood that birthed the world itself.
Demographics
Primarily humans and tieflings with significant populations of genasi, aasimar, and desert elves. Arcane-blooded lineages are common, resulting in an unusually high percentage of skilled casters.
Government
Once ruled by a council of sages and powerful magic casters, Alni is now under the absolute authority of Demon Commander Sralios. The old council exists in name only, acting as advisors while Sralios enforces Krane’s laws with ruthless efficiency.
Defences
Magical traps saturate the city: shifting walls, illusionary streets, wards that summon elemental guardians, and sigils capable of launching city-wide counterattacks. These measures, combined with Sralios’ tactical genius, make Alni virtually impenetrable.
Industry & Trade
Known for enchanting magical items, spell scrolls, and desert-forged weaponry. The city thrives on exporting rare spell components harvested from the desert’s harsh ecosystem.
Infrastructure
A marvel of desert architecture and magical engineering: sandstone towers reinforced with arcane wards, underground aquifers sustained by ancient spells, and a network of leyline conduits that power the city’s defensive arrays.
Assets
- The Grand Leyline Nexus, a magical hub that channels energy from across Kleubraizia.
- Vast libraries of pre-Ascension arcane knowledge.
- Tombs and catacombs holding both treasures and horrors from forgotten ages.
History
Alni City’s history spans eons, from its founding as the “first city,” through centuries of divine enlightenment, to its fall at the hands of its own resurrected king. Sralios’ betrayal-turned-conquest remains one of the most infamous events in Baltharos’ history, and many still whisper that Tala-ni'alni the god of Light and Life weeps for the city that bears their name.
Points of interest
- The Obsidian Spire – Sralios’ seat of power, a tower forged from the ashes of his resurrection.
- The Eternal Wells – Magical aquifers said to be blessed by Mardros herself.
- The Hall of Light – A ruined temple to Tala-ni-Alni, now sealed and cursed.
- The Nexus Arches – Floating runic gates that hum with leyline energy.
Tourism
Tourism is rare and heavily regulated; those allowed in are often scholars, enchanters, or dignitaries. Many come seeking knowledge, though few leave with it unaltered by Sralios’ scrutiny.
Architecture
A fusion of divine elegance and harsh pragmatism: sandstone towers crowned with crystal domes, floating platforms powered by leyline anchors, and enchanted mosaics that shift colors with the city’s magical currents.
Natural Resources
Rare spell components (sands infused with latent magic, elemental crystals), enchanted water from the Eternal Wells, and fossils of ancient beasts that serve as potent arcane foci.
Founding Date
~2000 years ago
Alternative Name(s)
The Cradle of Life
Population
350,000
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
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