Necropolis

Approximately two-thirds of Necropolis' inhabitants are undead of various kinds, including zombies, vampires, and specters. The remaining third consists of the mortal descendants of refugees, as well as family members of the Gray Order. A decade after its founding, Necropolis had a steady population of around eight-hundred residents. Today, that number has more than doubled in size. While the city is renowned for its undead populace, it's also known for its thriving job market. Key professions include logging, farming, carpentry, textiles, and smithing.

The leading force of Necropolis is the Grayveils. The council is made up of six members, all of whom are undead. A single mortal held a seat within the council for much of her life, but after her death, her seat was left empty. The head of the Grayveils is Ms. Pepperpot, a lich who was appointed as mayor by Jordeira due to her compassionate spirit. She works day and night to keep Necropolis running, and she has the final say on who is allowed within their walls. She assigns hourly patrols, as well as being responsible for the recruitment of new guards.   Lucky Kociak and Morticia, an elven vampire, are the city's most powerful mages. They handle the transfiguration rituals that undead undergo to free themselves of corruption and regain their self-control. They also tend to the physical condition of Necropolis' residents, providing them with necromantic healing when needed. Kataledaris Amall is the leader of the Blades of the Veil, bolstering Necropolis' guard force with elite combatants. She's also responsible for training each generation of elusa hounds. The Whisperer isn't an official member of the guard but has received honors for protecting Necropolis for over a century.   Horatio Thorn is a former politician turned intelligent undead after he was assassinated. He serves as the ambassador of Necropolis and, as such, handles much of the Grayveils diplomatic affairs. Discretion is needed in his line of work, and he's not quick to reveal the true nature or name of Necropolis until he's sure that he can trust a potential ally. Jordeira Ferus is the founder of Necropolis but formed the Grayveils to rule in his stead. His work takes him out of the city often, and when he isn't monster hunting, he trains future hunters at the Kronia Academy.

Necropolis has a professional guard force, as well as the Blades of the Veil. Much of its protection in its early years came from a crypt thing known as the "Whisperer". It doesn't remember its name nor its life before undeath and remains motionless at the mouth of a cave until needed. Despite this, the Whisperer happily engages in conversation with those who seek it out. To monitor magically capable outsiders, Necropolis utilizes a pack of trained elusa hounds. The use of mind-altering magic and most control spells is strictly forbidden within the city, and failure to abide by the ban can lead to severe consequences.   Mortal necromancers are not permitted to enter the city under any circumstance. The Grayveils consider these mages to be a threat to the freedom and well-being of their people. Even undead necromancers face suspicion and undergo rigorous interrogation before being allowed inside. Shortly after Necropolis' founding, the Order of the Oracle's Eye made a deal with the Grayveils. With the council's approval, they established a lodge on the northern side of the city and called themselves the Gray Order. In return, they pledged to protect Necropolis, which was a promise that proved invaluable in recent years.   After the original Order of the Oracle's Eye fractured into separate sects, a violent group of undead hunters known as the Order of the Holy Light attacked Necropolis. With the Gray Order's intervention, their assault failed and led to the formation of the Blades of the Veil. Since then, the descendants of the Gray Order have either joined the Blades or maintained Necropolis' traditional defenses, including the southern wall. The city's proximity to the Shyali mountain range offers some protection through sheer cliffs that surround much of Necropolis.

Necropolis' main source of income is its logging operations. Residents that are capable of disguising themselves through magical means are tasked with establishing and maintaining trade routes with a select few settlements that are trusted. Through these places, Necropolis is able to sell timber in bulk to many companies. Their largest orders come from the various military encampments in Caelsimil. The city is also involved in the fur trade. Many of its residents have taken up hunting as a hobby, and after the meat is distributed between the mortals in their walls, they sell the pelts to merchant caravans.   The city boasts many shops, several of which are luxuries that neighboring towns can't provide. The cost of living in Necropolis is expensive, but exceptions are made for refugees or travelers desperately in need. Unfortunately, the world still carries prejudice towards the undead, and after being attacked in the past, the city's gates aren't open to all travelers. Those who do get inside, though, can find whatever they need, whether it be an inn, a general store, or magic shops. One of the undead blacksmiths works around the clock.   Near the main gate is an open marketplace where mortal residents can find fresh goods that are imported daily. The guard force is active at all hours, ensuring that Necropolis remains a safe and fulfilling home to its undead.

The Blades of the Veil is a group formed to counter the Order of the Holy Light. Led by Kataledaris, the Blades are elite fighters from all walks of life. Many of their members are descendants of the Gray Order, while others are undead residents that have taken up arms and combatants that were trained at the Kronia Academy. The Blades are the leading force of protection against monster hunters and corrupted mages that attack Necropolis. They fight without a shred of mercy for their opponents, as one wrong move could spell doom for the city.   The Gray Order was originally a sect of the Order of the Oracle's Eye. They made a deal with the Grayveils in order to build a lodge within Necropolis. In exchange for protection provided by the Swords of the Oracle, the scholars of the Gray Order were allowed to study and observe its residents to better understand negative energy. As of today, the descendants of the Gray Order still reside in Necropolis, though the group itself is nearly dissolved. What remains of it are those who have taken up the maintenance of the city's defenses, as well as mages that aide the Grayveils in tending to the physical condition of both their mortal and undead residents.   The Golden Claw Fellowship is a merchant guild that primarily serves the Isles of Basilla, even to this day. After the Grayveils struck an alliance with the Basillian Council, the guild was permitted to open a chapter within Necropolis. This relationship made it easier for Necropolis to secure certain resources, as well as luxury imports that neighboring settlements didn't have access to. Even after a century of operating within Necropolis, the Golden Claw has failed to expand within Caelsimil due to the presence of much more established local guilds.