Sarnac

"On the northern shores of Lake Ryrmon sits the city of Sarnac. This place is built on top of and among the ruins of a much older place, partially submerged and whose original residents have been lost to time. The ruins of the old city climb out of the lake, like the bones of a dead creature, and these crumbled foundations serve as the skeleton for Sarnac: a city built of the carcass of a forgotten place.   Little is known about the original city that stood here, as is the case for so many of these strange ruins across the continent. All that is known is that they were made in a time when the water levels were lower. On clear days one can see the ruins of the old city disappearing in the water of Lake Ryrmon, deeper and deeper, until their old stones can no longer be reached by the sun's light.   The city of Sarnac was built among these ruins, streets meandering between the ruined walls. Buildings are hidden away in nooks and crannies, forming tight alleys and dead ends. Remnants of what must once have been great monuments are now used as the foundations for city walls. Even the citadel, sat on Citadel Hill, is built on the ruins of a strange structure, circular and tiered. The Circle Ward is a small, almost enclosed district that is built among what's left of a similar structure. Each part of the city is built in this manner, fitting itself in whatever place was left behind by the old people.   The western district is walled off, with the long market that stretches out over half the length of the city. The ruins here offer many tight, crammed spaces that are used for smuggling goods into the Empire.   Sarnac sits on the border between Burbry and Tarnen, and as such is an important military outpost as well, though this part of the border sees very little conflict and has been quiet for decades. Instead, the people of Sarnac like to focus on telling stories. Ghost stories in particular. Every crumbled wall and every dead end has a story told about it, from ancient folk being cornered by werewolves to vengeful spirits of these First Folk lingering among the ruins and hunting down anyone that tears down what's left of their old city.   This last story is a prevalent one, and is mostly the reason why so much of the old city still stands. People are afraid to incur the wrath of those First Folk if they tear down what’s left of their home, and prefer to live among the ruins."   D. Harewood, Fendalian Cartographer