Aetherin

As the ancient capital of an Elven Kingdom, the city is primarily made up of Elves, with noble Dwarves and Humans having made it is home as well. Given its location in the continent's center, it does not have as high a level of immigration as other capitals of its allies (Mauribon and Aelagrad).

Social Structure

As the capital of a powerful kingdom, there is a great deal of wealthy nobles and merchants centered around the royal palace in the center of the city. The city's outskirts are poorer, with slum districts on the north side.

Education Levels

The level of education varies by district within the city.

Atherin is the capital city of the Kingdom of Askel and is governed by a hereditary monarch who rules with absolute executive, judicial, and legislative power. He is aided by a small council of advisors who carry out his orders. As the seat of the monarch, Aetherin does not have its own Marshall, unlike the other major cities in Askel.

The Wall of Aetherin

This world-renowned defensive measure is an architectural marvel built to keep the city safe during the massive military conflict known as the Great Storm. Because the capital was only 200 miles from the front lines, the masons, woodsmen, and other craftsmen built the wall over the span of two hundred years.

Over 100 towers were built around its defenses, particularly to the northeast to provide ample flanking fire from multiple angles. The ruins of several towers can still be seen as monuments to the war.

There are three primary gates located at the southern, eastern, and western edges of the city.

The city's infrastructure includes a massive city wall built during the Great Storm, meant to withstand a substantial invasion force. The Askellian Architects have claimed that the wall is impenetrable and that the city has not been breached since its completion.

Bureaucracy and Government Center - The center of the city is largely devoted to the royal palace and other governmental buildings, including the headquarters of the Royal Guard and the Military.

Royal Center

The heart of the city where the royal palace is held. There is an inner wall surrounding this district to protect the King and other government officials. This district is not open to wanderers.

Upper City

The areas to the south and west of the royal center, where the various nobles and wealth merchants make their home. It is where the most affluent citizens live.

Lower City

To the city's northern edge lie the 'slum' districts.

Elven Migration and Split

Early in the Age of Light, the original Elves traveled down the River Envalcir with their creator and deity Mauri, seeking to explore the world. As the river began to curve towards the west, it ran past the edge of the Great Plains, full of animals and wildlife that fascinated many of the Elves. After a brief sojourn of a few years, the majority of the Elves continued on the journey with Mauri, but a few hundred decided to stay behind amidst the Great Plains and the life within it.

It was one of these Elves, Plasael, who discovered the lake, which was later named Lake Plasael, to the south, and established the original settlement. It would take several hundred years before it became a proper settlement of multiple families.

Return of the Maiden and Naming

It was in the 6th century that Mauri returned to the Great Plains, seeking to see how the rest of her children had fared there. It was during this time that the city was named "Aetherin" by the Elven deity.

Period of Strife

It would be another 3,000 years before the Kingdom of Askel began to emerge due to the Silan, the Elves of the region, who had solidified their control over the region and had conquered the Glassair to the west, the Whickerby to the east, and the Parie to the northwest. The newly proclaimed monarch of the plains decided that his family's ancestral home at the heart of the city would remain his seat, officially making Aetherin the capital of the new kingdom.

The next few millennia were ones of conflict between the Kingdom of Askel and the remaining tribes. This included a conflict against the coalition of Gallantire, Uisneach, and Claiswater, which saw the other tribes drive the royal family out of the city, temporarily placing it under the control of the Gallantire tribe for three decades. The Silan dynasty eventually reclaimed its royal seat and has held it ever since.

By the end of the Age of Light, the Great Plains had been unified under the Kingdom of Askel, making the city the region's official capital.

The Great Storm

The global conflict between the Fallen and the Elves, Humans, Dwarves, and Eldrin brought great changes to the capital of the elven kingdom. Throughout the first few centuries, several invasion forces had sought to take the city located only 200 miles from the Fallen's declared territory. The storm front brought thousands of refugees to the city. Aetherin became the center of the Free Alliance's response, where the Dwarves of the Mountain and the Elves of the Elemental Alliance sent their troops on their way to the stormfront.

It was after the first invasion that the Great Wall of Aetherin began and it was built piece by piece throughout the next few centuries as they sought to keep the orcish hordes out of the city. Upon completion of the wall, many nobles and even regular folk sought refuge.

Aetherin is where the surviving leaders of the central continent gathered their forces before the Moranstar Campaign that brought about the end of the conflict. It is also where King Rilwin of Askel, King Than of Siorain, Steward Auradir of the Elemental Enclaves, and Queen Dagmar of the Dwarves met after the war to ensure the peace.

Age of Restoration

In the 11,000 years since the Great Storm, Aetherin has been fully restored to its former glory, though its defenses remain as a reminder of the past.

Aetherin is located on the southern bank of Lake Plasael in the heart of the Great Plains. This vast biome at the center of the continent has relatively flat topography.

General Climate

Aetherin has hot summers, cold winters, and moderate precipitation befitting a continental climate. Due to the city's relatively landlocked nature, it heats up quickly in the summer and cools down rapidly in the winter. Located at the northern end of the plains, the capital regularly experiences snow during the winter months.

1. Arable Land - The Great Plains provides abundant areas of low-relief topography used for large-scale agriculture. The area around the city is capable of growing enough grains to supply the capital city.
2. Wildlife - Massive herds of bison and pronghorn have long been a major resource for the city, providing both food and other materials.