Ibridan

The city of Ibridan sits on top of alluvial silt washed into the sea by the rivers in the Kolodarin Mountains, and it is built on hundreds of small islands in the Ibridan Lagoon, off the coast of Ére in the Free Isles. Many of these islands are man-made, and are separated by canals and linked by hundreds of bridges that connect the different areas of the city. Outside of Castel Maschera, the large castle that overlooks the city, most of the buildings within the city are built on wooden piles, and transportation within Ibridan is achieved primarily through the extensive network of canals using gondolas and other forms of water transportation.

Ibridan is one of the four cities of Ére allocated to Malleum control, and is currently governed by Prospero Maschera, Lord of Castel Maschera and Master of Ibridan. Ibridan became a city of wealth and prosperity very quickly, because ships wishing to transport goods to the Northeastern side of Ére must first dock at Ibridan to transfer their wares from their deep water trading ships to the flat bottomed boats that can traverse the shallow water between Ibridan and Ére.

As a result of this near monopoly on the transit of goods, residents of Ibridan are incredibly diverse in both racial and religious composition, but are almost exclusively wealthy merchants or the rich elite who can afford to live in affluence, while the poorer members of society, such as the gondoliers, often reside on the mainland and commute everyday on the ferries that operate between Kolodnokivam and Ibridan. The Merchants Guild, led by Master Prospero, is by far the most powerful political and economic entity on Ibridan, and any merchant or trader wishing to establish a charter will have to pay a significant fee for an ongoing membership in the guild. Additionally, Ibridan exacts a high port tax on all incoming and outgoing goods, so purchasing docking rights, not to mention the rights to move goods between Ibridan and Ére, comes at a considerable cost. However, most are willing to pay these expenses, because Ibridan functions as the gateway to to the Free Isles, and as a center of intercontinental trade between Erechcolth and Forlunhein. It is both protected from pirates and well-regulated to prevent extortion, unlike other port alternatives in the Free Isles, such as Buccaneer's Bay, which although a center of much illicit trade, is also a far more dangerous and risky port of call.

The residents of Ibridan enjoy all the luxuries of high culture, and many merchants send their children to the exclusive and highly competitive academies on Ibridan, to learn a unique mixture of business, economics, and practical magic. The arts are held in high regard, and many merchants act as patrons for musicians, actors, and artisans. It is particularly common for dwellings in Ibridan to be painted vibrant jewel like colors, and to feature ornate stained glass windows, each one a unique piece that speaks to the owner's taste in both artists and art. Beautiful, intricately carved masks are also a common expression of art and culture in Ibridan, and masquerades are often held at the homes of prominent merchants, and even by Prospero at the Castel Maschera itself. The Artisans Guild is therefore quite well off in Ibridan, although it is not quite so prosperous as the Merchants Guild.

Slavery is not only legal and practiced freely in Ibridan, but it is also seen as a sign of wealth and prestige. Most slaves are sourced from the nearby island of Siloxin, the center of the slave trade, but some are acquired through other means as well. These slaves most commonly serve as personal bodyguards, military protection for Ibridan, brothel workers, and sailors, among other occupations.