Zasceaze

## City Description

Known to some in the empire as the fortress in the west, **Zasceaze** is the only city not on the mainland of the empire. Its position and power is paramount in keeping the western powers of Russar and other factions of Loykia at bay from invading west. Zasceaze started out just an outpost however after realising how vital its positioning was, more and more time and effort was spent into sustaining it and building it into the great fortress city it is today. The Great Western Wall is a testament to that. This tall, thick and multi tiered monument has never been breached and is ever being build upon and added to. Although there is thick gray stone wall all around the city the west is most heavily fortified.

A lot of the cities buildings are made with the same gray stone slabs as the wall, it's all mined from the mountains in the west and as a result the architecture and colour of the city can seem a bit dull and drab. The buildings are very straight and defined. The way people counteract this is by growing colourful flowers down the sides of their houses or draping finely embroidered flags from their windows.

As well as the physical defences another factor in keeping the city safe at the edge of such a chaotic land is by the way it's run. The military hold most of the power here and at times it can go into strict lockdown with curfews and street level checks.

### **Districts**

The 4 districts in Zasceaze are defined on how important the empire deems them be and are easily recognisable, the walkway is covered by the colour of the metal so everyone know where that are at all times.

**Platinum** - The platinum district is to the North east of the city, its smaller compared to the other and its reserved for most of the elite members of high society, you're normally need to go through a checkpoint to get into the platinum district. It's mainly a residential district however there are plenty of scenic open garden or members only establishments. There is also a pavilion where you can watch a number of artistic expression, such a music, poetry and interactive dance.

**Gold** - The gold district encompasses the north and middle of the city, it's also the most diverse and holds what some people see as the pillars of society. Not many people live in this art of town but it's filled with places of entertainment, such as the The Obsidian Amphitheater. Temple's to the 8 permitted. Military barracks and training areas so if anything does happen they can reach all parts of the city quickly. A lot of the guilds bases are in the gold district

**Silver** - To the south of the city is the sliver district, mainly used for Merchant trading and Manufacturing for the wall or build other city improvements both for defensible purposes or pleasure. It's also where the majority of the people of Zasceaze live. You'll an also find a lot of taverns and inn around this part as the southern gate is the post popular. You can also find many races and types of buskers telling stories or ballads from all over. To the south east lies The Sanctuary, a residential area for Russar or other Loykia deserters. Here they can lived a conferable life in somewhat safety, most citizens stay away from them as they can be of races not that common or the fact they've come from a foreign land.

**Bronze** - Lastly to the west is the bronze district. Known mostly for housing the poorer members of society, it also holds the low level criminals that can spend time in jail or work off their debt by being sentence to work on the western defence. There's also a bit of farmland where people grow crops or tend to animals.

### **Geography**

As previously stated Zasceaze is the only imperial city not on the mainland on the empire. However Port Delcroft, another imperial settlement that deals mainly in fishing/ trading lies on the coast to the south east. North in the middle of the ocean can the small cliff village of Bridgin, in the opposite direction in the south is the extremely secluded dwarven keep Skyhold. Going any eastern direction will take you deeper into the snowlands and Loykia. Here you can find the mainly impartial sanctuary of Cliffer Edge. If you decided going deeper you'll eventually find Russar however the two powerhouse try to keep as far away from each other as possible and when they do clash it leads to conflict.

### **Weather**

Zasceaze is only a few days travel from the start of the mountains and snow lands so the weather can be quite cold and often windy at times, the stone houses help keep the heat in. However its not cold enough for snow apart from the winter and it still has its warm days. Coats are very common for the people here and as a result take times finely embroidering them to show call or rank.

### **Gods**

Throughout the empire, by law you're only allowed to worship one of eight divine deities, those being Pelor, Ioun, Erathis, Eldath, Buhamet, Moradin, Corellon and The Raven Queen. All other worship is outlawed and if caught one can can be fined or imprisoned, and in very rare cases executed.

## City Life

Everything in the city from the way its run to its entertainment is somewhat martial focused and as a result the people living here very much live that way. The streets, homes and even people are usefully clean and very organised, with another task ready and waiting after the one at hand is done. The kids in the street play solider and the mind set is often militant. The people are very much into battle and glory, as so much of it happens and the people celebrated in this land are ones who've won great battles or slain monstrous creatures, *Razir's Mound* for example. Along with the heavy imperial propaganda and the instilling Xenophobia to the west, Zaeases produces soldiers ready to fight and defend its land every day.

However not everyone in Zasceaze feels the same way about the empire and how the cities run. There are a number of different factions ranging in size, some secret and some not so that are fighting for a number of things. Firstly the two most popular are fighting for the same goal, for Zasceaze to leave the empire and run as its own independent state, as much of the cities are in Ellarith. However while one group does this secretly, plotting in higher positions of power you have the other who try to send their message by acts of vandalism and guerrilla attacks in an attempt to send their message a more forceful way. The last faction wants a more extreme separation from the empire, and instead of independence wants to join and merge with the sovereign state of Russar. If caught these rebels in particular face much harsher punishment and after the interrogation and whatever else the authorities want to do to them get hung upon the *The Deserters Post.*

## Notable Locations

*Building/ Shops*

**The Amber Anvil** - A highly skilled blacksmith who's mainly used to craft fine details into trophies and trinkets brought from high society.

**The Surplus Exchange** - A smith to buy Weapons and armor. Due to always having surplus in Zasceaze incase Russar attacked, the military equipment is now being used to barter for other goods.

**THECHEESEHOUSE** - A small stall selling all different types of cheese by the wheel.

**Arkaval's Archives** - A library of some sorts, Arkaval's has its fair share of books but mainly used for its archive for the land. Maps that charter the land, a history of the city and all things that have happened around it.

**Eagle's Eye** - The only UIMM location to sell arcane items in the whole of Arborlund. As a result there are more items, some more powerful than what would normally be allowed on the mainland.

**Gilberts Gold Exchange -** A smaller store than the regular one but still looks exactly the same; a small golden palace.

**The Sweet Dome** - Bakery run by the Skyplucker family and sells wine and other baked goods, most famously blueberry pie.

*Locations*

**The Imperial Fountain** - Near the middle of the city lies the imperial fountain, a monument to the empire. A huge hexagonal fountain with an incredibly intricate and detailed tree sprouting out the middle and overarching the base. The tree is somewhat of a tapestry with text and script etched into each branch while the stone trunk depicts historic moments throughout the history of the empire and Zasceaze.

**The Great Western Wall** - The great western wall is, quite obviously to the west of the city and its considerably more fortified and defended compared to the rest. this because if there was an incoming army from any direction it would be very likely coming for Loykia.

**The Deep Roots Plaza** - In the vast tunnel system under Zasceaze lies the black market. Here you can smuggle all types of good or people in or out the city. It's also a place to buy contraband goods taken from both Loykia or the empire.

**The Obsidian Amphitheater** - One of the primary sources of entertainment this dark stoned Amphitheater us used for a wide verity of things, some combat related some more theatrical. For example when the Grimfur Slayers bring back exotic animals from the wasteland here is where they show them off or fight them for entertainment. Other times the theatre is used for classic gladiatorial combat or to show the latest play (Imperial propaganda).

**The Deserters Post** - The deserters roots is the name the citizens call the hangman's tree in Zasceaze. Most criminals would spend time in the jail house or work off their sentence in one of the two mines but the deserters roots is used specifically for people who have committed treason or committed desertion from the empire, they are left on the tree to make an example of.

**The Onyx Mine** - Not too far away from the main city Centurion Industries build a mine after finding a rich vain of Onyx. Although the empire doesn't own the mine Centurion Industries is so ingrained and connected it may as well belong to the emperor.

**Skyplucker Chateau** - The Skyplucker family have owned this Chateau/ vineyard for generations. Here the famous Blueberry Sky Vin De Pays is grown and made. occasionally is the batch isn't up to scratch they will instead use the berries for tarts and pies and other baking goods and sell it in the city.

**Razir's Mound** - Razirs Mound is a historical heritage site. Here the famously coined 'Battle for Razir's Retreat' took place, that saw retreating empire forces try to get away from the invading Loykia army, both sides took great casualties and all were buried by the mound. Just outside the Great Western Wall on top of the mound lies a tribute to Razir.

*Guild Halls*

***Sacred Ground of the Knights of the New Moon*** - A decent sized Manor house that once belonged to a highly influential member of the upper class and after she passed was given to the guild to use as a base to operate out of.

***Slayers Pen*** - A small encampment is set up outside the Grimfur Slayers guide/ trophy hall.

***The Ironclad Convoy*** - The once mobile armoured caravan's have now set up permanently within the city and used as a base of operations.

 Gaben Grimfurr
 Utar The Eye Killer
 Archon Bloodsbain
 'Half Blind Belagar'

## Military

The Praesidium Guards - The lawkeepers throughout the whole empire these guards are very recognisable from their sliver armour with red tunic covering most of the metal. There isn't a standard issue equipment for weapons or armour. Due to the empire being so large and covers many different cultures and grounds some weapons are more common or useful in certain places. However you can always spot a captain or another high ranking military official due to their armour being black and red.

The Legion - The Legions is the empires army and used for conquering new lands or defending territory. They look lightly different to the The Praesidium Guards but instead of the silver armour its replaced with a brass/ gold tone. Their weapons and armour also different depending on the realm they are based in.

## History

After the war the emperors one of the new empires top generals Gerrit Stonecolt was given a title and land on Loykia for however long he holds it. He as placed there to stop Russar or anyone else in Arborludn from trying an assault on this new Ceevilian empire

There was insanity skirmishes in the new land but the attackers won and sent the empire back, after 2 years the empire came back with a much larger force led by Razir Krause and took back the new territory, and after a few years of creating stability and pushing Russar further and further back the confident or arrogance took over Razir and for the first time went on the offensive and tired to march to the gates of Russar but their forces and the cold was too much, Razir's forces quickly dwindled and so he began to retreat and he himself died just a short way outside the city trying to defend against the advancing army. The city was then given to his 2nd in command Eldwin Fuchs to command. they fended off the countless counterattacks and when reinforced was given Eldwin learnt from his mentors mistakes and hose to build a place that could last rather than trying to expand. This then ushered in the new staus quo; to build in more than build out. Unspoken lines were drawn between the empire and Loykia, and though there has been many more battles not one great army has tried to invade the other.