Saucro

## Overview

Known as *The Gem of Concordia* to travelers, Saucro is a city on the largest island in the Concordian Archipelago. Sustained by mining precious metals and extensive trade, Saucro is widely considered one of the wealthiest and most beautiful cities in all of Attollendum. The city is one of the seven major cities in the United Realm of Concordia, and is a close ally of Medestad, who offers the small but wealthy island military and political protection.

## History and Information

While the early days of Saucro's founding are ancient and unknown, the islands of the Concordian Archipelago have long been populated by both travelers and permanent islanders. Due to the beautiful, tropic scenery and wealthy, well-supplied port markets, Saucro has continued to draw in even more travelers and tourists in recent years. With such an influx, the city is populated by all races of travelers from humans to half-orcs.

As the city and surrounding islands continued to grow, the need for leadership became apparent. Many of the wealthiest and most influential tradesmen and women, all either master craftsmen or experienced entrepreneurs, collaborated and created the Magistrate roughly 120 years ago. A merchant council tasked with governmental, security, and trade decisions, members of the Magistrate include only master craftsmen or traders and are led by a single elected member known as the Elder.

## The Caverns of Saucro

Near the same time that the Magistrate was founded, a new source of wealth, income, and discovery was also found amidst the archipelago. This was the previously hidden network of tunnels, caves, and catacombs now known as the Caverns of Saucro. Comprised mainly of massive fulgerite-like crystalline tunnels, the Caverns burrow well below the ocean floor and are known to connect, at the very least, all islands in the archipelago.

The original means of construction are all but unknown, as all the walls are comprised of an alien, seemingly indestructible crystalline material. This material ranges in appearance from damage-scarred black stone to crystal clear in some areas.

While the Caverns are not yet fully mapped, they currently account for the largest source of income for Saucro. Some areas of the caverns have walls or floors not covered by the mysterious crystal, allowing for mining and extraction of various rare minerals and gems.

While the entire cave network has, by no means, been completely mapped, many main passages are well known and very distinct. These passages have walls made of transparent crystal and run just along the ocean floor connecting the islands. Well-lit during the day by light filtering down through the ocean above, these beautiful tunnels are what made the Caverns one of the modern Wonders of the World.

The Caverns can be just as dangerous as they are beautiful, however. Unknown hundreds of abysmally dark tunnels burrow deeper into the sea floor. Some of these are known to end in dead ends, dangerous pitfalls, or curve endlessly in confusing mazes of darkness. More than a few have perished attempting to explore all these areas, so many stick to the main passages or well-mapped caverns.

## Diplomacy and Leadership

While Saucro has long been peaceful and (officially at least) neutral, the city-state has deep diplomatic ties to many areas. Trade and commerce connect the city to nearly every port in Attollendum, and the Magistrate continues to work towards open trade agreements to increase the city's wealth. Within Concordia, the city has particularly strong ties to both Medestad and the *Sisters.* Unofficially, Saucro is in an alliance with Medestad, whose landlocked (though wealthy) patrons rely extensively on goods from the ocean. Medestad promises to protect the city from land threats and maintain trade routes, while Magnus and Targus protect the seas from treachery.

The current Elder of Saucro is Ysilla Theran, a half-elf master craftswoman who specializes in architecture. Nearly 90 years old, Elder Ysilla had a hand in designing many of the most famous structures around Concordia including the Bridge of the Sisters, the Ocean's Eye castle, and the Beacon of Saucro: an immense lighthouse and citadel that illuminates dozens of miles around the island. Her unique blend of impactful geometric designs and clockwork mechanical additions created her own category of art now known as Ysillan Architecture. While mostly retired from her work, she still commands respect from the Magistrate and has led them for nearly two decades as the Elder. Wise and cunning, she knows her strengths well and has little patience for those who seem ignorant or at all disrespectful.