Braelor

Nestled on the banks of the Valen River, Braelor is a vibrant city that thrives as the cultural, economic, and administrative hub of the region. Known as "The River's Heart," it is a place where waterways and bridges connect people, trade, and ideas. Braelor is renowned for its picturesque canals, industrious docks, and a strong sense of tradition mixed with an enterprising spirit.

City Layout

Old Town

The heart of the city’s history, Old Town boasts cobbled streets, crumbling towers, and buildings that date back to Braelors’ founding. It is a maze of narrow alleys and open squares filled with market stalls and street performers. Warehouses, docks, and merchant guildhouses dominate the riverside while luxury shops, taverns, and exotic goods dealers line the main street known locally as the "Golden Mile".

"The Exchange", a grand trade hall where deals are struck and fortunes are made.

Arena District

The entertainment hub, home to the Durholde Grand Arena, a multipurpose stadium for gladiatorial combat, horse racing, and other grand spectacles. This district buzzes with energy, attracting gamblers, thrill-seekers, and merchants selling food, drink, and souvenirs.

Military District

The Military District houses the city’s garrison, armories, and barracks, along with a towering fortress that oversees the river. The streets are clean and orderly, filled with soldiers and smiths.

The Hall of Valor, a memorial to fallen heroes.

Blacksmiths and artificers specializing in arms and armor.

WIP, the main fortress and command center.

Administrative District

The bureaucratic heart of Braelor, this is where the kingdom's policies are crafted and executed. Government buildings, courthouses, and noble townhouses dominate this district.

University District

The University District is the intellectual heart of Braelor, a place of higher learning, philosophy, and academia. Unlike the Scholarum Arcanum, which is dedicated to the study of magic and is heavily monitored by the government, the University District serves as the center for non-magical education, attracting scholars, nobles, and aspiring intellectuals from across Duare. The institutions here focus on history, law, medicine, engineering, natural sciences, and the arts, producing the finest minds in the civilized world—at least for those who can afford the steep price of tuition.

The district itself is a place of grand halls, towering libraries, and lush gardens, where students and professors debate philosophy in open courtyards and scribes transcribe important legal documents by candlelight. Though magic is not formally taught here, its presence is still felt—many scholars employ minor magical conveniences, and some subjects, such as alchemy and astronomy, tread close to the arcane. However, the university’s Chancellor’s Board ensures that all research remains grounded in reason and science, rather than veering into mystical speculation.

Temple District

A spiritual haven, the Temple District is home to grand temples, small shrines, and sacred gardens dedicated to the Five Divines and other faiths. Pilgrims and priests walk its serene streets.

Terrace of Reflection: A spiritual haven, this terrace is a district that is home to grand temples, small shrines, and sacred gardens dedicated to many of the mainstream faiths of the area, including some that are less popular than others. Pilgrims and priests walk its serene streets.

A Garden of Serenity, where worshippers meditate.

Mage’s District

The Mage’s District is a secluded and heavily monitored quarter of Braelor, home to the Scholarum Arcanum and various arcane institutions. It is a place of mystical experimentation, regulated study, and whispered secrets, where magic is both a tool and a weapon—one that the local government keeps on a very short leash. Unlike the University District, which focuses on non-magical education, the Mage’s District is dedicated to the study of arcane sciences, spellcraft, and esoteric knowledge. However, every aspect of magic taught and practiced here is closely scrutinized by the Arcane Regulation Council (ARC), a governing body that ensures magic remains a force of order rather than chaos. Unauthorized magical experimentation, particularly in volatile fields like necromancy or planar summoning, is strictly forbidden. The district itself is an architectural blend of grandeur and eerie tranquility; stone towers adorned with runes reach toward the heavens, floating lanterns illuminate cobbled streets, and unseen wards hum softly in the air. The scent of burning incense, alchemical reagents, and old parchment lingers everywhere.

Notable Locations

Scholarum Arcanum

Shops selling magical items, reagents, and curiosities.

The Conflux Nexus, a mysterious magical anomaly.

Noble District

The wealthiest part of Braelor, home to noble estates, private gardens, and lavish parties. Guards patrol the district, ensuring only the invited may enter.

The Slums: Located along the riverbanks where the docks meet the less-developed outskirts, this district is a stark contrast to the rest of the city. The slums are a maze of cramped, ramshackle buildings, home to

University Row: A prestigious area dedicated to higher learning, philosophy, and the sciences. The University of wip stands at its center, offering education to scholars from all over Valendross and the surrounding regions. Streets are lined with libraries, lecture halls, and housing for students and professors.