Beleren
Beleren is the Capital of the nation of Gerlander. The city was only a fortress built atop a tall pointed monadnock (a lone mountain with no mountain range attached to it). When the Solarian Empire took control of Gerlander they turned the mines and machines of the nation into building a permanent seat of power. Since then the mountain fortress has become a bustling city! The peak of the mountain holds the Griffonstone Keep. a Massive structure that resembles a large bird of prey with its wings encompassing the main Keep. The main road curves its way up the back slope of the mountain. The base of the mountain there is a crecent shaped lake.
At the bank opposite the monadnock, travelers will find a smaller trading outpost and Thunder Rail junction for Beleren. They send supplies back and forth across the lake via a cable car that reaches to the top of the mountain, and a simple ferry system transports people. At the top the townsfok use a series of ziplines to transport the supplies down into the rest of town. Water is brought to the top via a massive Archamedes Screw that runs up the center of the mountain to the front gates of the keep.
On the mountain itself, the base holds more amenities for travelers. Here is where they'll find all sorts of taverns, inns and shops to aid them on their adventure. Higher up they'll find more general shops and homes. The housing district grows nicer the higher you go until you reach the gates of the keep itself. It is also in this are where the supply and mail service is run. Inside the keep is where the seat of Gerlander's power is held.
Demographics
Beleran has the greatest diversity of the nation. They have Gerlander's only Cloudspire Port and the main hub for Lightning Rail in the nation.
You'll find primarily dwarves and Gnomes here. But as it is the Capital, it isn't difficult to find a little bit of everything mixed in.
Government
The city, while being the Capital of Gerlander, is not commanded by the Jarl. Rather a subordinate Senate. They represent the four districts of the city and run it while the Governing of the country is run by the Triumvirate.
Defences
Their local contingent of Senate Guards are a well trained force. They have purchased well crafted equipment from Beldan including revolving guns and hand held arcane cannons for officers. Otherwise they only have the walls of the Keep and the lake as a line of defense.
Industry & Trade
Beleren doesn't produce anything for themselves. They are a trading hub. And as such they have the capital from tariffs to import everything they could ever need.
Infrastructure
There are two main roads. They begin at the gates where the archamedes screw is built at an angle that sends it over the gate. It splits in two and snakes up either side. There are plenty of side streets that lead to housing and business districts that are set up on terraces. There are a few cable cars that allow for transport up and down the terraces and to the Wanderer Outpost.
Districts
The Wanderer Outpost:
A small trade outpost on the bank of the lake surrounding the mountain. They have a single cable car and a ferry to the city proper. The ferry system is the way in for all people to enter the city. The cable car is for mail and trade goods. Inside the outpost is also where the city's thunder rail station is.
The Nest:
Where all trade goods, mail and water end up at the peak of the mountain. The water supply trickles down from here in a series of aquaducts and plumbing channels. Every building has running water. It is also here where mail is distributed to one of the four hubs via Zipline and delivered to the recipient. It is also where the nicest homes and Griffonstone Keep are located.
Skyreach District:
The largest district and where most of the housing is located. Towards the edges of this district is an unofficial district known as the Molt District.
Silver Talon:
Here is the market district. Place right in front of the gates to try and get the most money out of people who enter.
The Molt District:
The slums of Beleren. Here is where the poorest live. Here, local crime families war over those who they may easily exploit.
Assets
The city dose not produce anything of its own. It relies souly on imports from elsewhere. But as a trade hub, they do well in profits from terrifs.
History
Beleren began as an observation fort close to the Belkan mountains during the Generation of Blood and Iron. The Keep was named after the population of Griffons in the mountain that were displaced by the building of the Keep. Once war kicked up between the children of Gerlander, it was left as a trading post with the abandoned Keep looming over them.
When the Empire came in the traders began asking for higher tariffs from the other countries in the Empire. And when Griffonstone Keep was reestablished as the seat of power in Gerlander, the Empire named the city Beleren, a a portmanteau of Belkan and shadow due to its proximity to the Belkan mountains to the west.
Points of interest
Griffonstone Keep:
A Keep who's walls and primary "palace" are shaped like the head and wings of a griffon. It is the Capital Building of Gerlander and is where the most important government meetings take place.
(Un)Lucky Jack's:
Located in the east wings Molt District is this quaint little tavern. (See Seeker's Guide to Twisted Taverns)
Turning Point Square:
The city's main square at the gates of Griffonstone Keep. Here there is a large man-made pond whos water is slowly rotating clockwise. It is a common place where the sound of the churning screw melds with flowing water. The water here is funneled down into the city's gravity fed plumbing system.
The Griffin Griffon's Tallon Inn:
A simple tavern, and first one adventurers are likely to see. It is a simple square building made of stone that could be mistaken for a large house. It was once a hunting lodge that now serves as a popular travel destination.
Architecture
Most buildings are simple stone or wood. The higher in the city one goes, the more expensive stonework can be seen being used by the people who live there.
Geography
Beleren is built on a 700ft tall monadnock. The slope of this lone mountain goes down into a horseshoe lake that broke off from the Talon River that is just south west of the trade outpost. The peak ends in a near vertical drop down into woodlands that stretch to the north east.
Climate
Temperate
Alternative Name(s)
Griffonstone Keep
Type
Capital
Inhabitant Demonym
Belerans
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
