Martyr's Tower
Standing tall in the center of the sprawling city of Kradence lies a great marble tower. Its design is unconventional, bearing no stylistic resemblance to other buildings within the city, nor from any other city within the empire. Some of the city's less educated citizens believe this to simply be a monument of some kind without a plaque, perhaps holding significance for a handful of influential individuals. Nonetheless, the tower serves a vital purpose in daily operations of the Idoran Empire.
This monumental tower, known as Martyr's Tower, operates as a branch or division of the Kradence guard as well as the Idoran military. While the guard deal with the general matters of city safety and overt gang activity, the Tower deals in politics, conspiracy, premeditation, and magical. Where the rank-and-file guards resolve the issue at hand, Tower officers (Known as Black Coats, often shortened to Blacoats) delves into the reasoning behind the criminal or unusual event.
The Tower also acts as a separate branch of the ruling party of Kradence and the Idoran Empire. Internal investigations are of paramount importance should a system of governance succeed, particularly those done by an independent party. While the empire benefits greatly from the Tower's service, the officers of the Martyr's Tower do not adhere to the Bay Emperor's beck and call. Those interested in becoming involved in district governance, high positions within the empire, or steward of an empire settlement are all extensively vetted by the agents of the Tower.
Purpose / Function
The main purpose of the building is to provide a training ground and office for agents of the Idoran Empire to conduct business investigating crimes and patterns of said crimes or events. Perhaps there is a pattern that needs to be identified from a crime scene, or a difficult to find piece of evidence linking the happenstance to a creature loose in the city; solving and preventing these events are the day-to-day tasks of the Blacoats of the Martyr's Tower.
The other purpose of the Tower is to act as a staging ground for internal empire investigations and vetting. When an individual wishes to become more involved in their local government, perhaps run for district leader of Kradence or mayor of a town outside the city, Blacoats are sent from the Tower to investigate their ties, history, and current status both within and without their community. Furthermore, should concerns be raised about corruption, malpractice, or treachery within the Idoran Empire, the Blacoats are sent as well regardless of the station of the individual in power. Theoretically, should the Bay Emperor himself be openly charged with treason or corruption, the Tower would lead investigations into the claims and discern the validity of the charges.
Architecture
The style of the building is unlike others within Kradence. It bears a more angular design with hard edges distinguishing sections of the building rather than the wave-like and rounded features of Kradence architecture. It also looms over the city, taller than almost every building besides the universities as well as the Sapphire Citadel itself.
Additionally, while most of the city is build from wood or brick, this tower appears to be made of exclusively white marble. Supposedly, it was sourced from Cabali mines after the war and given to the empire as an offering as a part of the peace agreements.
Concept for the Martyr's Tower, looming over the city of Kradence.
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