Kradence

Being a populated city, all manner of cultures and races can be found within its walls. From the most progressive-thinking cultures to xenophobic isolationists, at least some segment of almost every culture can be found within the city. Every known intelligence race known in Kerine can be found in Kradence. However, due to the results of the Cabali War, goblins are exceedingly rare within the city. Additionally, the city experiences a higher rate of Khedrazi, or elementally-touched births, for some unknown reason.

Class disparity is nothing foreign to Kradence. Some districts possess more nobility while others are stricken with poverty. Generally, however, Kradence sports more upper-class citizens compared to other settlements across Kerine. Many nobles do business outside of the city, whereas the working middle- and low-class citizens tend to work and live within the walls.

Professionally, like the culture there, Kradence is home to almost every profession to some extent. Blacksmiths, alchemists, jewelers, restaurants, grocers, artists, architects, researchers, and all other manners of services and luxuries can be found within the city, many lending unique prospectives on their trade based on their own culture. The quality of the services varies on the district they're found in with poorer districts tending more towards lower-quality goods and noble-run districts demanding premium quality and stock.

Kradence is the capitol city of the Idoran Empire and the seat of power for the Bay Emperor Seraphel Idoran. As such, law and policies are enforced more strictly within city walls.

The laws of the city are broken into three categories, crime against nobility, crimes against the citizenry, and crimes against commerce. The contents of each of the categories are as follows.

Crimes Against Nobility

• Assaulting a representative: Death
• Impersonating a representative: Imprisonment up to two years
• Assaulting or impersonating noble: Imprisonment up to four months and fine of 200 gold
• Blackmailing an official: Assets seized and exiled from the city for 10 years
• Bribery or attempted bribery of an official: Assets seized and exiled from the city for 5 years
• Murder of a representative, official, or noble: Death
• Using magic to influence a representative without consent: Assets seized and a life sentence in prison
• Using magic to influence an official or noble without consent: 800 gold fine and imprisonment up to a year

Crimes Against The Citizenry

• Assaulting a citizen: Imprisonment up to a week in a stock and pillory and a fine of 50 gold
• Blackmailing or intimidating a citizen: Imprisonment up to a week with a 50 gold fine
• Burglary: Fine of damages for stolen goods along with up to one month of imprisonment
• Damaging property or livestock: Damages covering the cost of repairs plus an additional 50 gold
• Disturbing the peace: Fine up to 5 gold
• Murdering a citizen without justification: Death or Imprisonment up to 25 years, assets seized by the city.
• Murdering a citizen with justification: Death or a choice between imprisonment or exile up to 15 years, assets seized and given to kin of the murdered.
• Robbery: Community service up to 3 years, fines covering the cost of stolen goods

Crimes Against Commerce

• Arson: Death or community service up to 5 years, with fines covering the cost of repairs.
• Brandishing weapons at market: Imprisonment up to a tenday in a stock and pillory
• Espionage: Death
• Fencing stolen goods: Fine equal to the value of the stolen goods and public flogging
• Forgery of an official document: Exile for 5 years
• Littering: Fine up to 1 gold
• Theft: Community service up to 3 years, fines covering the cost of stolen goods
• Treason: Death
• Vandalism: Imprisoned in a stock and pillory for 2 days.

Anything purchased within city walls, like many other settlements across the Idoran Empire, have a sales tax associated with the good. Additionally, a percentage of earnings produced by Kradence's citizens are paid monthly to the empire to fund continued services, protection, and respresentation.

The governing of the city is, surprisingly, not overseen by the emperor, but rather a five-member chamber of elected representatives from the five districts of the city. They meet to discuss new additions, modifications, or removal of policies or legislation that might help their district and the city as a whole. Elections for these representatives are held every two years, with each candidate allowed to run for office as many times as they are able.

A massive wall of a light blue colored stone surrounds the entirety of the city. The walls have battlements far above the ground with each support pillar hosting a barracks of city guards and soldiers. Additionally, each section of the wall (north, south, east, and west) are overseen by a circle of arcane mages, implementing all manner of protection wand warning spells across the stone.

Kradence developed a crude form of gunpowder from dried substances harvested from Scolipods and Kessawoks mixed with isolated compounds found in mineral deposits. Because of this, Kradence guards, soldiers, and battlements all employ rudimentary firearms in the forms of single shot pistols, rifles, and cannons.

Perhaps one of Kradence's best shields against outside attack are the threat of retaliation by the Amitharia, a royal circle of arcane mages that specialize in potent offensive magic feared across the continent. They have only ever needed to be implemented once in the city's history.

Aside from these protections, the sheer amount of economic benefits the city provides as well as how the city draws in adventurers of all kinds also act as a deterrents for would-be invaders.

The Industry of Kradence is usually based on the end-of-production side of manufacturing, importing many raw goods from all across Kerine. Due to its wealth and breadth of ideas, sophisticated equipment and specially trained professionals are more of a commonplace within Kradence than most other cities in Kerine. For example, Kradence may be the only city in several hundred miles that had built a forge strong enough to reach some of the highest temperatures possible, smelting ores that other forges simply cannot. Harvested components for spells from across Kradence are imported, discovering new spells transcribed onto scrolls for daily use that are then sold. Finalized products and items that push the envelope of societal norms are typical exports from Kradence.

In terms of raw goods produced in Kradence, much of the empire's food is produced in the Bay of Blessings. Moi and other freshwater-growing produce are grown here a shipped out. Mollusks and crustaceans are harvested frequently, preserved, and exported to far inland settlements of Kerine.

Kradence's most prized exports, however, are scholars. There are two major universities, The Elegen Academy and The d'Arkil Institute, within the city of Kradence which teach citizens about magic, nature, trades, combat, arts, history, and theology. These scholars are then sent out into the world, potentially improving lives and making new discoveries.

Kradence houses a complex sewer system that is implemented across the city. Transmutation spells have been carved into the basal stone foundations of the sewers, morphing waste into water and nutrients that can be released back into the bay with seemingly no negative consequences.

Transportation across the city can be found in the form of creature-drawn buggies and wagons. The roads are fairly well-maintained, providing and ease of service. Many roads run through city-maintained public parks, displaying meticulously tended flora both locally and from areas far from the city.

The southern wall has been completely built into one of the largest ports of the continent, allowing for transport by ship from all across Kerine. Due to the city's seafaring origins, the sailors and shipwrights of Kradence are some of the best in the continent.

Sand District: The west central district of Krandence is home to much of the lower-class citizenry, ramshakle establishments, and immigrants who moved into the city with nearly nothing. This district gets its name from a lack of stone paving throughout, resulting in sandy roads, streets, and walkways. The Sand District tends to have a more diverse representation of races in Kerine, with many of the goblin races present within the city living in this district. The current representative of the Sand District is a Bugbear by the name of Ouk'Ali the Elder.

Bay District: The southern district of the city houses a majority of the working and middle class denizens. This district also encompasses the city's docks and entrances into the bay. Some shops and food markets are present here, but mostly any manufacturing plants, production facilities, and storage warehouses can be found here. The current representative of the Bay District is a Krenian Dwarf by the name of Enterrin Pyyr.

Academy District: The northern district of the city is home to the two universities, The Elegen Academy and the d'Arkil Institute. Much of the remainder of the district is made up of student housing as well as restaurants and shop that a similar in style and quality to what might be found in the Sapphire District. There is a slightly higher amount of guard activity in this district, whether its to protect the students better or to protect the rest of the city from the students is unknown. The current representative of the Academy District is Krenian Human called Jace Undertow.

Sapphire District: This eastern district of the city is exclusive to many of the city's representatives, officials, and nobles. Some of the highest quality goods and services can be found within this district. Many areas within the district require additional identification and passes to be let in. For the most part, this district is open to the public. Guard activity is extremely high here, with some of the city's most elite soldiers patroling all parts of this district. The current Bay Emperor of the Idoran Empire, Seraphel Idoran, lives in the southern section of this city in the Sapphire Citadel. The current representative of the Sapphire District is a Tirian Human called Dalmiir Thaelan.

Market District: The central district of the city has a majority of the markets and services that the city can offer. These merchants and services can vary in quality, all sharing the same market space within the city. Some housing spaces exist in this district, mostly associated with inns, hotels, and temporary housing for traveling merchants. The empire's banks reside within this district as well, having the highest guard presence in the city outside of the emperor's domicile near the banks. The current representative of the Market District is a Lyrac (a small avian race) named Felix Tenderfoot.

Kerine is a land elemental influence. Across the continent are four major Elemental Fonts scholars believe are direct connections to the elemental planes. The fonts of air, fire, water, and earth can be found across Kerine, but change locations frequently within a couple thousand miles from their last known location. This makes tracking the fonts and taking advantage of the raw elemental energy it emits difficult. However, rumors abound in Kradence tell that the empire has found a way to halt the movement of the Font of Water. More yet, a sanctuary can be seen that leads into the bay that no one is allowed to journey to.

A wide array of both basic and complex weapons and armor are kept in storerooms used by soldiers, guards, and empire agents. Stockpiles of preserved food are also stored, known only to Kradence officials in case of a siege or invasion. In terms of valuables, the emperor maintains a base amount of precious stones, metals, and items in the empire's possession as leverage for negotiation both in trade and disputes.

Many guilds in the city hire and recruit members from The Elegen Academy and The d'Arkil Institute due to their wide range of studies. The Outriders are a guild of explorers and enforcers employed by the empire. These are some of the empire's less 'official' agents, acting in the emperor's interested but perhaps not to the good graces of the public. However, their missions are usually in lands on the fringe or outside the empire's control. Fighters, scholars, and naturalists are usually recruited, particularly those of morally grey dispositions.

The Amitharia are a royal circle of mages within Kradence. While not usually recruiting many novice casters, they do bring on a few fledglings from year to year. However, the recruits much be exceedingly naturally talented and quick to learn as the training undergone by the Amitharia is brutal, though not many know of the specifics of the training. Those that complete their training are often some of the most powerful mages in all of Kerine, and later become part of the empire's elite forces. Outside of recruitment, they tend to hire adventurers to find artifacts, locations of import, or components they might need to further their study.

The Flesh Hounds are a particular sort. This organization acts as the monster hunting guild of the city, getting employed and employing adventurers to hunt particularly aggressive or elusive game, or even a creature that might be terrorizing a settlement. However, while some jobs only require the head to return, others require the entire carcass delivered and preserved. This is because as a part of their hunts, whether the patron requests it or not, the Hounds feast on the beast they killed no matter how difficult preparing the beast might be. Because of this, curious nobles with too much coin and a craving for new experiences might employ the Hounds to hunt and harvest a dangerous beast so that an exotic meal may be prepared from it.

The Vendrossi Syndicate, The Strands, The Kapra-Kahnz, The Dorrin Family, The Xin'Tafa, and Faelin's Clutch criminal organizations all have a presence within the city to some extent. The vastness of the districts and cities provide concealed corners that allow these groups to gain a foothold and control sections of districts altogether. These organizations allow for access to illicit activities and substances while within the city's walls

A rudimentary form of the city was founded and realized in 30 AAL along the shores of the Bot'Ilu, or the Bay of Blessings. The districts of the city were finalized around 45 AAL, and the final construction of the Sapphire Citadel was completed around 60 AAL.

During the Cabali War, the city was used as a staging ground for many of the empire's assaults on the Cabali. Though there were many conflicts, the city was never formally attacked at any point during the war.

Around 280 AAL, the first emperor of the Idoran Empire, Aelin Idoran, had passed away, giving the title of Bay Emperor to her son Raenor Idoran by rite of succession. This title was later passed down to the current emperor, Seaphel Idoran, in 512 AAL.

The homes and buildings of Kradence are very classical in appearance. Structures are very symmetrical and employ the use of pillars and columns quite frequently.

Most homes built in more recent times are made of wood with stone used as a foundation or decoration. Almost all stone used for construction in the city is locally sourced, a light blue marble-like stone found only in areas around the Bay of Blessings. More high end homes for nobles are nearly entirely built out of this marble, lending an air of elegance and superiority.

Adorned throughout many homes both poor and wealthy in Kradence are depictions of Elaren and Irelia, the two powerful Lua that preside over the bay. These depictions are both in reverence to the Lua as well as to honor them for their gifts over the years since the city's foundation. Otherwise, homes bear iconography and symbology from the cultures and traditions they were reared with that are still relevant to their everyday life.

The city itself is fairly flat as it was founded on the coast of a large bay. The entire southern part of the city dips into the bay itself, lending access to saltwater and the Trackless Sea. Freshwater streams can be found around the city's borders.

Aside from the curated public parks and recreational areas, much of the natural beauty of Kradence has been developed into a metropolitan area.