Elaria

The capital of the Dom of Raone, Elaria is the largest city in the Dom by far, boasting roughly 85,000 population, the city offers opportunity, arts, education, and festivals.

The Mesa Top

  The Capital City of Raone stretches most of the length of the 8-10 mile long (3/4 – 2.755 miles wide) mesa that runs NE to SW in the near center of the valley. Elaria proper is on the top of the mesa in the middle section -- what is called the Central Mesa or Elaria Center -- and comprises of the government center, Council meeting halls, the Sun and Moon Palace, most of the noble’s city estates, the Archivist’s Hall and Library, temples and largest marketplace. The Central Mesa also boasts many manicured public areas of the city such The Plaza of Roses, Elaine's Fountain, Duchess' Arch, The Mage's Hedge maze.   North of the main city, still on the mesa top are beautiful green farms and orchards, private land of the Duke, and the northern Fort, the Fort of the Sun (also called the Red Fort due to the reddish coloring of the stone used to fortify it's walls). On the far northern end of the mesa top are the Ruins with the gate that initially brough the people of the old city, Alarya. The land near the Ruins changes and becomes less fertile, and thus, less usable.  No one builds or lives on the land between the Fort of the Sun and the Ruins, which are being studied by the Archivists.   Further north, past the Ruins, the Mesa top ends, but tall spires of rock jut up next to the Mesa. The closest matches the mesa top's height and is dry and rocky, but sizable. Reaching it is extremely dangerous and difficult, except for flying creatures. Oddly, not a single creature has dared to make a nest on it in all the years Elarians have been here. Past the large single pillar of stone, several smaller ones stand proud. Commonly called the Giant’s Teeth, these northern towers nearly match the height of the mesa.    In the large tower farthest to the north, small windows had been carved throughout. A door was discovered at its base as the people explored their new world, leading to the discovery of a very old prison. A single spiral path wound its way upward, with barred iron doors on each side. Every door was closed and the bones of several people were found in each. The first explorers learned the hard way that staying overnight led to terrible nightmares. Each night, the ghosts rise and illuminate the tower in an eerie glow of pale light, visible for a couple miles away. Dubbed The Tower of Ghosts, the people of Elaria removed the bones and laid them to rest nearby, though the ghostly apparitions still appear.  It's currently used as a prison for the worst convicted offenders in the Dom.   On the southern end of the mesa top are the major markets, fine artisan shops and top workshops, and city homes for Elarian residents. Near the massive elevator system is the souther fort for the mesa top, The Fort of the Moon (also referred to as The White Fort due to the limestone used to build it's facing).  

Under the Mesa

Below the mesa, under the massive arch that bridges the central mesa to the southern mesa, are The Banks, where lower class citizens live and work. A complex series of immense elevators allow citizens and goods to go back and forth from below the mesa to the top.   At the base of the mesa near the northern end is a pass-thru arch opening through the width to allow travel below the arch from one side to the other, as well as well guarded portals to go above and below the mesa’s top. This is also where delegates are brought up to Elaria proper. At this base, there is a small city of buildings and staff built into the arch to accommodate guests, nobles, and the guards that frequent this waystation.   Throughout and all around the mesa are some known caves as well as caves waiting to be discovered.