Caldor

Caldor is primarily populated by Elves, who make up 90% of the population. Dwarves from the Kingdom of Krouin's Forge, which is only 20 miles north of the city, have also made it their home. Scholars from the Citadel, located 35 miles to the East, have also settled in the city.

House Saelsir has ruled over the city for millennia, since the founding ruling House Gwynt went extinct during the War for the Balance. They maintain a strict hold over the settlement and have developed several administrative offices to oversee the various aspects of its continued operations.

Caldor has become the one of the trade hubs of the Elemental Enclaves, primarily being a way point between Mauribon and the Dwarven Forge to the north.

Caldor has all of the amenities of a modern city of the Elemental Enclaves, which include sewers, roads, and heating systems throughout the city.

The primary infrastructure are the various raised structures, which include the central spire, one of the largest known Relics. Rather than being able to fly as many believe, it instead exponentially decreases the weight put on it, allowing for a massive structure to reside with minimal support.

Founding and Migration

Caldor, originally known as Beathnoc, was founded in 3,550 Age of Light when Elves that had moved East from Mauribon settled here to study the distinct air patterns brought about by its geography. This is one of many factors that led to the formation of the Air Tribe, and 'Beathnoc' quickly became the capital of this group of Elves.

1st Iteration

The original city was built into the cliffside overlooking the valley, featuring buildings that are either integrated into the cliffs or suspended in the air, supported by air elementals and structural beams. The original settlement was not centrally planned, but instead grew organically almost like leaves scattered by the wind.

The War for the Balance

House Gwynt joined with House Tomder of the Fire Tribe to start the war against the Water Tribe in an attempt to usurp the favor of the Maiden. However, the conflict turned out to be ill-advised once their historical enemy, the Earth Tribe, joined the conflict, allied with Water. The combined forces devastated House Gwynt's forces, ultimately leading to the extinction of the House. Finally, Beathnoc was attacked and destroyed in 6298, with many of its inhabitants fleeing.

2nd Iteration

House Saelsir, previously one of the top lieutenants, rose to power and immediately sued for peace, taking the Air Tribe out of the conflict in the last month of 6298. They returned to the city, renamed it Caldor, and sought to rebuild it to its former glory and beyond.

With a new generation of leadership, new architectural techniques were introduced, and greater use of magical enhancements. The Maiden herself created several magic relics to assist with the rebuilding, including the platform that practically allowed the central government building to float in the middle of the city with limited structural support. While the buildings carved into the cliff face were restored, the majority of the buildings were torn down and built from scratch, leaving an odd mixture of central planning and organic growth to the city.

The Elemental Alliance

When the Fallen began their war on the Free Races, Caldor joined with the other major cities in the valley to form the Elemental Alliance. Being the city closest to the border, Caldor was often used to organize any troops heading towards the Kingdom of Askel and the Western front of the war.

Battle of Citadel Pass

The Elves learned two months in advance that the Fallen had sent a force 300,000 strong through the mountains to outflank and destroy the Elemental Alliance. The majority of the population of Caldor moved to Mauribon to the West, with the defenders using it as a temporary base to prepare for the invasion. With the collapse of the defense at the Citadel Pass, only 20 miles to the East, those citizens who remained in the city were forced to flee.

3rd Iteration

The defenses collapsed on May 5th, and by May 7th, the army of Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and Oni had already begun ransacking the city and using it as a temporary home. The Orcs built a few crude dwellings before marching West to Mauribon and/or south to Damadoer.

When the Siege of Mauribon failed and the Dwarven reinforcements began arriving from the North, the remaining 50,000 invaders retreated to Caldor. They held the city for another 20 months before being forced out. Throughout the 22 months that the Orcs had control of the city, much of the artistic architecture was destroyed, and the central platform collapsed.

The Remaining Years of the Storm

One of the last acts of the Maiden before she joined the march east was to reraise the central platform. The few Elves of Caldor that had already returned quickly made it secure, but with the majority of the warriors, blacksmiths, and leadership marching East with the Maiden, much of the rebuilding of the city was put on hold.

4th Iteration

After the Storm was over, the newly appointed Steward of the Seasons, Auradir Rylin, made the rebuilding of Caldor a priority, seeking to ensure that the new Elemental Enclaves rise again and is the beacon that the Maiden hoped they would become. The 4th iteration takes advantage of building techniques learned over 21,500 years of development and has more spires and raised buildings than the previous iterations. The Central Spire, which is the community center, stands tall and can be seen from miles away.

While the Elemental Enclaves has faced several conflicts over the third age of Restoration,