The Fortress of Brass

Standing at the boundary of the Elven City-States and the rest of the world, the Fortress of Brass stands strong and proud. With a military presence second only to that of The Golden Gate and a bustling marketplace featuring imported goods from across the continent, the Fortress serves as both a literal and metaphorical gateway to the might of the Elven City-States and their culture. The University of Abjuration stands at its center and attracts academics and innovators alike. This is the last city whose council is formed entirely of old Elven political families who can trace their lineage back to the city's founding.   While the typical tourist or traveler would only see the shiny surface, a closer look reveals a city plagued with stark income inequality and the weakest middle class out of all of its sister cities. On the far side, away from any main roads, the poor, the undesirable, and the unskilled live in the few remaining undeveloped neighborhoods. Appearances are of utmost importance, so any meddling with the businessfolk and visitors of the city proper is dealt with swiftly and harshly.   Fifteen years ago, a disease broke out and swept through the city, predominantly affecting the poorer settlements. Due to a lack of available healthcare, many lower class adults succumbed to the illness, leaving behind a large population of orphans left to fend for themselves or rely upon makeshift orphanages created by members of their own community. The surviving children of younger-lived races are now adults who intimately know how cruel their world is and for whom sorrow and rage have been constant companions.