Starspire

The Keep A large walled compound, which sits on the tallest hill in the center of the city, is home to the Duke's palace. It has entrances to the west and south, and overlooks an internal wall to the east.   The West Docks A largely commercial area at the west end of the city, the area holds many warehouses, along with inns, brothels, and other establishments catering to travellers. Different parts are home to a mix of poor and wealthy residents. Long piers stick out into the Placid Sea, filled with ships bringing goods from afar.   Market Rise East of the West Docks, this neighborhood gently slopes up toward the keep. Numerous shops and a few small markets fill its streets. It is home to a mix of middle to high income residents, including many merchants, and the area closest to the keep is home to many large mansions, often walled off and hidden just off the main streets. The council meets here near the keep.   The Cove Just south of Market Rise and accessible only by horse powered lifts and stairs carved into the rock, another set of docks sits at the bottom of a large set of cliffs. These well sheltered docks hold many mostly local ships, including fishing vessels and a secure area for the city's warships. A fish market and a few shops sit on the thin stretch of land at the base of the cliffs.   Shelter Bay Just south of the keep, this area is home to many nobility and other wealthy residents. It has many large homes overlooking the sea and a nice set of pleasure docks.   Stormshore In the north of the city is a section of poor tenements overlooking cliffs, exposed to the strong winds that blow from the northwest. The population is concentrated in the west, north of the docks, where the tenements are incredibly thick. To the east, north of the keep, the land is rocky and uneven, making building more difficult, though the slums still cover any areas they can be built.   The Elven Quarter Starspire is one of the few places the reclusive elves of the northern isles will come to trade. A small area is walled off near the western docks, trees sticking up above visible to those standing outside. Within, small buildings sit between, used by the visiting elves, who largely disdain the city. The enclave is independently governed, and the elves restrict access.   The East End A large area to the east of the keep is seperated from the city by an internal wall, the walls having been expanded later as the city grew. The area holds the shops and homes of many artisans, and is home to a large market for goods from the land outside the city's gates. A large chariot racing track sits in the middle, one of the largest and most popular still in use in the former empire.

A truly ancient city, Starspire was founded during the The Age of the Dragon Emperors, as a fort and seabase meant for the purpose of controlling the growing sea trade along the north coast of Obseron. When the rule of the dragons came to an end in 2162 AY, the city stayed connected with the empire, and survived the following civil war largely unscathed. From there the city would grow into an important trading port and one of the main bases of the imperial navy.   After the empire lost its land route to the city with the loss of Abadar and Greenwood Valley, it remained connected by sea. However, the diminished remnant of the empire was unable to maintain its navy as it fought for its survival on land, and Starspire grew more distant and independent, until it was functionally no longer a part of the empire. The Aurean flag still flies over the city, but is regarded by most merely as an old custom at best.