Caliphas City
Caliphas is the capital of the Immortal Principality of Ustalav. It is a city where obsessions, traditions, innovations, and ambitions clash in a storm of secrets. Over the ages, it has transformed from a rugged trade outpost to a cultural war zone, and today it remains a city of grandeur for a select few and a labyrinth of crime, corruption, and horrifying secrets for others.
Demographics
- 14,950 humans
- 350 dwarves
- 220 elves
- 120 other
Government
Since relocating Ustalav's capital from ancient Ardis to Caliphas, the city has been home to the Royal Court of Prince Archibald Ordranti, a nest of power-hungry merchants, treacherous nobles, and corrupt courtiers.
An ancient rivalry has existed, seemingly since the earliest days of Ustalav's refounding, between the Royal House of Ordranti and the rulers of Caliphas, House Caliphvaso and Countess Carmilla Caliphvaso. With the nation's capital moving some three decades ago, the two houses have now become close neighbours, only intensifying each side's subtle scheming to undermine and, perhaps, ultimately, destroy the other.
Industry & Trade
Caliphas thrives on trade routes from Lake Encarthan, making it a wealthy and somewhat decadent city. It is a cosmopolitan hub attracting many travellers.
Districts
Laurelight Hill
- Affluent district home to the wealthy elite.
- Lavish manors, exclusive clubs, guarded properties, scenic views.
Crownskeep Ward
- The political heart houses the Royal Court and government buildings.
- Quarterfaux Archives: Academy for young nobles and home to the royal collection of artifacts and documents.
- The Crimson Citadel: Headquarters of the city guard and fortress.
- Palace of Prince Aduard Ordranti III: Residence and administrative center of the ruling prince.
- Hall of Whispering Lore: Secretive hall of potent and dangerous knowledge.
- The Black Rose Courtyard: Exclusive club for influential figures.
- Noble Estates: Lavish residences of the city's nobility.
- The Silver Spoon: High-end restaurant known for gourmet cuisine.
- Crown's Gate: Main entrance to Crownskeep Ward, heavily guarded.
- Castle Stryithe: The seat of Ustalav’s government, known for its treacherous politics.
- Lethean Manor: Home of Countess Carmilla Caliphvaso, known for its extravagant galas.
Foreign Quarter
- Diverse and busy neighborhood with shops from dozens of nations and numerous inns.
- Midnight’s Muddle: A part of the Foreign Quarter with varied construction styles and diverse ethnicity.
- The Crooked House: An inn with a charming but uneven structure, managed by Tarquin Shortstone XXIV.
- Barragaro Road: The main commercial street where anything can be found.
- Brookman’s Alley: The most haunted street in Caliphas.
- Dalliance: Restaurant specializing in Taldan cuisine.
- The Hound’s Tooth: Tavern frequented by the working class.
- The Majesty: Opulent hotel catering to visiting nobles and dignitaries.
Old Town
- It is a historic center with ancient architecture and narrow streets.
- Landmarks, churches, inns, and family businesses.
Temple District
- The spiritual center of the city is home to major religious institutions.
- Maiden’s Choir: The royal church of Pharasma.
- Dawngrace Memorial: Memorial for those who died during the Shining Crusade.
Artisan’s Quarter
- Creative hub for craftsmen and artisans.
- The Shroud Theater: Renowned theater offering dramatic performances.
- The Enchanted Garden: Botanical garden filled with rare and magical plants.
Outside the Walls
The Cairns
- Refugee district housing numerous families of Kellid descent in tightly packed tenements and shacks.
- Elaborate cellars connecting communal spaces, Kellid decorations and glyphs, leadership of Brynran Khoraseid.
- Lively waterfront area essential for trade and notorious for crime.
- The Fog Lantern: Famous tavern near the docks.
- Castle Golbanze: Fortress protecting the city from sea threats.
- Devil’s Cut: Filthy quagmire of trash and pollution in the harbor.
- Traitor’s Drop: Slipway used for disposing of traitors and deserters.
Castle Balatz
- The main trade gate of Caliphas, where taxes are levied and travelers are documented.
- Offices of General Drannon Ulvodos.
Castle Borgoffi
- A fortress bristling with weapons, mainly used for military exercises.
- Ballistae, mangonels, experimental weapons, pet ravens of Colonel Joelm Colmar.
Castle Mashir
- Military bastion, seat of the city’s port authority, and prison.
- Military operations, Gateless Tower prison, Harbormaster’s office.
The Reaping Rock
- Natural breakwater sheltering the city harbor, notorious for shipwrecks.
- Cliffs, wrecked ships, dangerous currents, and winds.
Restoration Park
- Large, manicured gardens and lawns in the shadow of Castle Stryithe.
- Scenic views, well-maintained paths, popular leisure spot.
Miscellaneous
Crown and Carriage Livery Yard
- Prestigious stables for noble steeds.
- High-quality horses, ties to Whitestaff Ranch, occasional sales.
Mists and Dreams
- The tea house is run by the veiled fortune-teller Tidadimara.
- Smoky atmosphere, pesh den in the cellar, mysterious concoctions.
Palace of Voices
- Royal theater and opera, pinnacle of Ustalavic society and entertainment.
- Stage performances, opera, internal rivalries.
The Seventh Eye
- Strange restaurant with unpredictable hours, owned by Dr. Low.
- Exotic menu, mysterious owner, criminal associations.
Havenguard Lunatic Asylum
- Asylum specializing in mental maladies, also a Pathfinder lodge.
- Unique treatments, diverse patients, and assistant Cereis Linas.
Guilds and Factions
Caliphas has long grappled with issues of overcrowding, and the influx of Lastwall refugees pouring into the city following the destruction of their country at the hands of the Whispering Tyrant has exacerbated the situation, escalating it into a full-blown crisis and outbreaks of xenophobia. Amidst this turmoil, local factions have emerged, styling themselves as the "Havenguard Greeters." They roam the streets armed with clubs and blades, ostensibly claiming to evict squatters from alleys and parks. In reality, their actions cater to their own bloodlust, using the guise of civic duty as an excuse.
History
Caliphas was refounded as the city it is today in the wake of the Shining Crusade (and its victory over the Whispering Tyrant) by Countess Sesasgia Caliphvaso, a distant ancestor of the city's current ruler Countess Carmilla Caliphvaso.
Quite recently, the re-emergence of the Whispering Tyrant on the Isle of Terror and his conquest of the neighbouring nation of Lastwall (now known as the Gravelands) has caused a huge outpouring of refugees into Ustalav, and particularly Caliphas, and the disruptions caused by the newcomers provoked a xenophobic backlash against them.
Points of interest
Havenguard Lunatic Asylum
A most unusual hospital spreads its batlike wings across the crumbling cliffs overlooking Caliphas. Here, doctors seek to see past legends of fiendish possessions and cursed blood to treat the unfortunates suffering from ailments of the mind. Under the direction of its founder, the dedicated but locally slandered Dr. Beaurigmand Trice (NG male bard 10), the asylum’s physicians attempt to protect, understand, and heal without the aid of expensive magical interventions—though many admit incomplete understanding of the maladies they treat, or missteps in their more experimental therapies. Dr. Trice firmly believes that humans hold the power within themselves to help one another. To this end, he has pursued a life as a healer, yet he forgoes reliance on divine magic. Through a lengthy career, his interests have focused on maladies of the mind, the study and healing of which brought him to construct the Havenguard Lunatic Asylum. Many in Caliphas misunderstand Dr. Trice’s intentions and unconventional treatments, viewing the asylum as a prison or house of horrors. Yet the good doctor has been able to help untold numbers of unfortunates. For those he can’t aid medically, Trice relies upon his position as a Pathfinder venture-captain to find others capable of offering assistance. To this end, he maintains Ustalav’s largest Pathfinder lodge on his hospice’s grounds. With the asylum’s seemingly endless number of patients, Trice has come to rely more and more on his assistant Cereis Linas (N female sorcerer 6), especially regarding the fascinating but frightening case of Mr. Tembs (CE male witch 10), a confessed but unconfirmed murderer with at least three deadly personalities.Maiden's Choir
Located near the centre of Caliphas, the Maiden's Choir is dominated by a gigantic dome of amethyst-veined black marble. Led by High Priestess Verith Thestia, Maiden's Choir serves as Caliphas' most prominent temple dedicated to Pharasma. At its heart, stands a silver, mausoleum-like reliquary claimed to contain a hoard of holy treasures including the Sarkorian song skulls, the scroll bones of Father Gesenge, the armoured Gown of Tears, and one of the steel feathers of Pharasma's herald, the Steward of the Skein. Maiden's Choir is also home to the prominent exorcist Zetiah Mardhalas.Geography
Nestled behind protective breakwaters that spare the city from the worst of Lake Encarthan's storms, the entrance to Caliphas is guarded by the Reaping Rock. Caliphas is frequently shrouded in lake mist, its fog lanterns barely cutting into the gloom that all too often engulfs the city. Caliphas is considered by many to embody the soul of Ustalav, which perhaps prompted the Eunuch Prince to move the nation's capital there from Ardis. To the east of the city, the Laurelight Hill (also the name of the district which sits atop it) overlooks Caliphas and serves as home to some of its wealthiest inhabitants.
Type
Large city
Population
15,640
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
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