The old capital of E’rathia.

Massive walls keep out the dangers from the lands.

In the center of the city stands The Great Structure, a massive wooden building consisting of several levels of housing. As more people fled to the safety behind the walls of Steadfast, the city started expanding upward instead of outward. Many generations have built upon the homes of the last, and now a patchwork construction stands as the heart of the city. Most of the city’s inhabitants live inside the structure.

“Bring a little trinket for the customs office.” A tradition created because there was so much bribery going on.

Guards

As most of the city is located within the structure and made up of narrow hallways, the city guard has developed into a very specialized force. Fights are often conducted in very close quarters where one does not have the luxury of swinging any two-handed weapon or getting clean shots at any type of distance. But the danger of outside threats always looms over the inhabitants. As such, three different positions exist within the guard:

• Hall-duty, those working within the lower levels of the structure. Wearing heavy chainmail armor, equipped with shields and one-handed weapons. Uses clubs for non-lethal encounters. Consider their job to be the roughest as they have to skirmish in dark corridors. Known as Blackshields, or just “The Shields”.
• Wall-duty, those working outside the structure. Their daily job mostly consists of manning the wall and patrolling the harbor. Dressed in leather armor, equipped with spears and bows. Consider their job to be the roughest as they are the first responders to any monster attack. Known as Redspears, or just “The Spears”.
• Sky-duty, those working the upper levels of the city. Wears polished chainmail over colorful tunics, equipped with short spears, long-swords, and small bucklers. Would never claim that their job is the roughest. Known as Whiteswords, or just “The Swords”.

Recruits to the guards undergo basic training at The Beamwatch and are then assigned to serve in each of the three positions for six months. After which, they get permanently assigned to a company. Companies are responsible for protecting various districts of the city and consist of approximately 30-50 guards, divided into squads of around 6-12 people. Shields number in the lower end, and Spears in the opposite.

Locations

The Aery

The top of The Structure is the most recently built, but also the most unstable. Many believe that it can grow no taller, as the winds buffet the few houses built on its highest level. Home to hermits, oddballs, and obsessed scholars. Very few establishments work out of the top levels.

Places of Interest

Skysight - High-end restaurant built to overlook The Royal Lodge. An in-house wizard makes sure that the tower is not affected by winds or weather.

The Silver Nest – An aviary turned café where trained hawks and messenger birds carry letters between levels. The air is thick with feathers and ink.

The Pulleyways - A vast vertical transport hub where goods and people are hauled between levels on counterweighted lifts and pulleys. Entire families work as “lift-runners,” guiding the ropes and calling warnings across the shafts.

Upper Levels

Inhabited by the upper class of the city, who live in grand houses that bask in sunlight. The seneschal of the city has both a home and an office here. These levels house high-end establishments, numerous restaurants, galleries, and educational institutions. Often referred to as Skyside.

Places of Interest

The Royal Lodge - On the northern point of the city, with a large open square before it, stands a massive lodge which houses the highest rulers of the city. This is where the Royal Seneschal holds office and where the royal family lives whenever they visit.

Architects Hall - The largest building of the Structure, as it spans from the Lows all the way to Skyside. The hall is home to the architects of the city, who work constantly on fixing and expanding the Great Structure. Run by the Wooden Council, which consists of five elected members. Currently, those seats belong to: Saris Highhammer(Architects Guild), Merevis Yinrie(Arborist Guild), Torcall Moss (City Official), Sylvie Morrowcall (Church of Lagreth), Avra Orthas (Church of Tavara)

Arista’s Knotted Emporium - The city’s only magic item shop allowed to trade with high-level magical items. Arista is an elf-blooded gnome who has worked as an arborist for over a century. She specializes in creating and enchanting wood and plant-based magical items. Her shop has moved positions many times to stay in the upper levels. The space is neatly stacked and quite spacious for a Steadfast building.

Mid Levels

The beating heart of the city is populated by a large working class. Houses are stacked tightly together, but sunlight beams down on most streets at least a few times every day. Several larger spaces can be found, but the number of people rarely gives one room to breathe. The Traders' Path connects the east and west entrances to this level by massive wooden slopes.

Places of Interest

The Suncast Market - The largest market in all of Steadfast, built so that sunlight shines down on it for most of the day. Business here is divided between permanent fixtures and traveling traders. Always buzzing with people. In the morning, people swing by for breakfast or to get errands done before the workday starts. In the evenings, they hunker down at one of the many eateries for drinks and street food. 

Lightbearer Lodge - The church of Iri within Steadfast. A squat building on the side of The Structure that has access to a balcony which looks out southwest.

The Radiant Stag - A large inn and tavern, situated just at the entrance to The Suncast Market. Full of life, but quite safe. Charges 2 silver per room and night, which includes access to baths and breakfast. 12 silver if one stays for a tenday.

Halls of Steel - Adventure Guild Hall of Steadfast. A squat building within a patchwork of narrow streets. Has limited lodging for its members, which is currently full because of Foundation Day. Its limited size means it offers little more than a mission reception and a small seating area.

The Beamwatch - Central headquarters of the city guard

NPCs

Lightbearer Karaka - Leader of the church within the city. Calm, yet witty. Seemingly quite young for her position. Contrary to her mild demeanor, Kara is quite ambitious. She wants to make the church’s standing grow within both the city and the country. She truly believes that it would be right for Tavara to make her Archon the leader of E’rathia.

Dothraq Stonefist - Guildmaster of the Adventure Guild. An older Goliath with greying hair and trimmed beard, round glasses adorn his tired face.  Leaves the adventuring to the younger folks.

Low Levels

Sunlight is desperately rare on these levels. Old houses are stacked tightly together, lining narrow streets. A large amount of the city’s population calls this level their home, walking its streets with colored lanterns. Patrolled by city guards, but there is only so much they can see at any given time. Crime-lords are the true rulers of this level, the biggest of them being The Black Crown.

Places of Interest

The Light in the Dark - Largest drinking establishment in the Lows, run by The Black Crown. A vast complex that has been pieced together by combining numerous old structures. The first few halls are easy to navigate, but quickly become like a maze when venturing further in. Serves as a tavern, inn, and gambling hall, thus running The Crowns' more legitimate business.

The Greywood Palace - The first home of the Royal Family, from the time when Steadfast was still the capital of E’rathia. Has since become housing for the City Guard of the Lows. An efficient and clean building, where only warm, fire-like light is used to brighten the halls.

Verdant Plaza - This area was once the main plaza and garden for Steadfast, but then the city kept building around it. But a powerful spell was cast to keep the plants growing, and no one ever saw fit to dispel it. So there exists a large hall in the lows where plants cover every wall and ceiling. Denizens of the Lows make great use of the magic of this place to grow everything from food and spices to spell components and luminescent mushrooms. Protected by a small group of druids known as the Verdant Watchers

The Mawhall - A gigantic vertical cavity once meant for an elevator shaft, now turned into a communal plaza. The floor is uneven, a patchwork of old decking, scaffolds, and ladders descending into darkness. Markets, beggars, and preachers all claim their corners.

NPCs

Faragroth - Dwarven leader of the Black Crown. A well-dressed man who presents himself with few luxuries. Ruthless and cunning, yet protective of those who serve under him and the level he calls his own.

Jeska - Faragroth's right-hand lady and enforcer. Orc stormcaller. Powerfully built with swirling tattoos all over her body.

Lothen Oakenstep - Leader of the Verdant Watchers. Very old human, dressed in leathery rags. Has become senile with age and considers that nature must come before absolutely everything.

The Foundations

Known by the city's inhabitants as The Lost, The Dark, or The Dregs. These dark corridors were once home to the first buildings of the structure, but are now lost to time. No natural light makes its way to this level, old trash collects along its streets, and ancient magic runs unchecked in forgotten studies. Beasts and dark things prowl the streets. Home only to the desperate and the depraved. The cult of the dragons is both.

Places of Interest

The Roots - The very heart of Steadfast and The Great Structure is an ancient tree, which burrows into the ground upon which the city has been built. A massive, dark pine with branches that stretch into every part of the city above. Warded by some of the most powerful magics of E’rathia, which is renewed every year on Foundation Day.

NPCs

Hidden until further notice

The Harbor

Outside of The Great Structure, in the western parts of the city, lie the harbors. This city district much resembles that of any other town, with houses constructed on regular levels. As the main hub for trade and import, the Harbor sees massive traffic every day.

Places of Interest

The Ebon Docks - The northern-most part of the harbor falls under the control of The Black Crown. This is where they conduct most of their smuggling business. Their operations are an open secret, but the city guard chooses not to do anything about it. In parts to uphold the peace, in larger parts because of bribes.

Guilds and Organizations

Verdant Watchers - Druidic circle that watches over the Verdant Plaza in the Lows. In charge of making sure that everyone has the correct permits and tends to their gardening in their assigned areas. A small circle of only 8 members.

Druid names: Mantissa, Kiley, Atula, Guido, Sichar, Sergius