Erstal

Other 10%

**Erstal**, originally **Vagh Erstal**, is the second largest city in the nation of Tamwull, originally being its capital before the construction of the largest city, Roufort, when they wished for a better location on the sea. It now holds most of Tamwull's old history.

## Landmarks

### Magma Glass

Magma glass is an object that allows the citizens of the cities to see a large lava river that flows underneath them. It was created by the Dwarves who used to control the city but has now turned into a tourist attraction. The glass itself is quite hot to touch, so there are signs warning people.

### Statue of Henrik

The Statue of Henrik is a sculpture made of the man that led the slave rebellion in Tamwull. He was the one who inspired the populace to turn on their masters, risking his own life to gather weapons and keys to free them from their shackles. While he died during the rebellion, he has been honored for creating Tamwull.

### The Old Castle

The Old Castle was home to original Dwarven rules of Erstal, the Dwun family. When they were overthrown by the slaves, the castle was used as a government building for some time. When Tamwull decided to make its capital the city of Roufort, they abandoned the Castle, making it a museum to represent their history.

### The Old Graveyard

The Old Graveyard is the Dwarven city that used to be under Erstal. During the rebellion, the fighting accidentally caused an explosion that trapped most of the dwarves underground. Soon, the cave underneath began to collapse, killing everyone underneath. Since the rebellion, construction workers have been able to open a gate to the old city but everything is destroyed, making it named the Old Graveyard.

## Education

Since Tamwull has such a focus on education, there are many schools in Erstal. Though there are two that stand out, separated from the other public schools that are in the city, where the government controls the curriculum.

### Erstal School for Higher Learning

The Erstal School for Higher Learning is the best tertiary education in the nation, holding some of the best teachers in the region. It is even comparable to the Octavian Institute. The school itself takes up a large block of land in the city, and has large buildings with different sections, rather than a campus.

### Henrik Private School

The Henrik Private School is the best primary and secondary school in the nation, with many rich from both Erstal and Roufort spending vast fortunes on upgrading the school and getting attendance. Outside of the Erstal School for Higher Learning, it has the best teachers, all regarded as the highest calibre in terms of primary and secondary tiers of learning.

## Guilds

### Aliquam

The Aliquam Guild is the guild police of the world, acting as the natural check of power to the others. They are completely neutral, working to assess or enforce the current regulation and procedures placed on the guilds. If two guilds, or nations, enter a dispute, the Aliquam Guild are the ones who mediate it and come to a conclusion.

### Barktree Lions

The Barktree Lions are one of the 3 big adventuring guilds in the region. They are easily identified by their unique piece of bark attached to their armour or clothing, coming from their famous Lion Tree. In Erstal, they are able to enter the mountain ranges to the North and the Hogh Forest.

### Cold Steel

The Cold Steel Guild is a Tallian adventuring guild, holding a large amount of popularity and influence in the nation, especially in the capital, Roufort. They are known for taking quite dangerous jobs and are the main guild working on the Sunwarm tunnels, clearing out any danger from underground.

### Infernal Bards

The Infernal Bards is a bardic college, teaching other bards their ways. They often travel around the nation and have been hired by the Tallian Government at times to improve the happiness of the people. In Erstal they hold regular concerts, going to Roufort every few months to do the same.

### Lucent

Lucent is one of the 3 big adventuring guilds in the region. Their name comes from their founder, who is said to have skin that always had a small glow to it. Many members later decided to mimic this, having some sort of shiny material or item attached to their clothing and armour.

### Sunwarm

The Sunwarm Guild is a major merchants guild in the world of Arlec. In Erstal, they hold extensive ties through their history in the city and nation, coming in after the slaves rebelled and took over. These ties allowed them to force any competition out, giving them a complete monopoly on all trade. They are currently working on underground tunnels for safer trade routes.

### The Labourers Guild

The Labourers Guild is a guild that primarily helps labourers find work. Taking a commission from the first few paychecks, they are popular with both employees looking for a job and employers looking for good workers. In Erstal they have a close relationship with the Sunwarm Guild as it is their labourers constructing the tunnels.

### Viper's Fang

The Viper’s Fang is the final 1 of the 3 big adventuring guilds in the region. They are famous for their use of poison and willingness to accept any dangerous tasks. Their fame also spreads to their initiation process, where a person must drink poison to be fully accepted into the guild.

## Sports and Entertainment

### Brodd Ring

Brodd Ring is a medium-sized building that hosts wrestling events in the city. Holding a capacity for around 6,000 people, it has a large circle in the centre with seats on all sides at different heights, giving a good view to any audience member. The champion of the ring is called the Brodd King and has a large golden belt they can put around their waist.

### Magnuson Course

Magnuson Course is a large horse race course just outside the walls of the city. Monthly, there is a big horse race that draws in tens of thousands of spectators, holding a capacity of 60,000. It is called the Magnuson Course because it was president Emil Magnuson that constructed it back in **419PR** when he did an extensive revamp of the city.

### The Old Arena

The Old Arena is a large arena built for fighting, it was constructed above ground by the Dwun family so that if anything went wrong it couldn’t hurt them underground. Now, it is used just as it was before, allowing people to fight however they like. A popular sport now is pitting adventurers against different captured monsters, letting others bet and spectate the battle where they normally wouldn’t.

## Religion

### Libertas

Libertas is the major religion in Erstal and Tamwull. They incorporated it as their state-religion in **513PR**, abolishing slavery to stay with the ideals. In Ertstal there is a large church, used to generate both tourist revenue and allow the followers of the religion a place to stay, though little do.

### Novus

Novus was the church of the Dwarves from Old Erstal. Still devout followers of the religion, the freed Tallians decided to build a temple for each god in their honour, the biggest being Destica, as they now had a free life again.

## History

### Notable Citizens

Henrik Eklund **(329PR - 365PR)** - Leader during the Erstal Rebellion and founder of Tamwull.