Esudel-Astra

**Esudel-Astra**, half of the former court **Astra-Morscuro**, is the Capital Court of **Sumarfold** and home to the **High Archon**. Its rich history, impressive generative powers, and lavish lifestyle draw in a higher class of foreign delegates, courtesans, artists, nobles, travellers, and students. Anyone who seeks the grand allure of Sumarfold or possesses hearty ambition to scale the shameless social ladder may look to Esudel-Astra to claim a stake in the capricious interests of the nation's political hub.

## Society

### Races

Elf
Rivtenya

## Description

A truly glittering cityscape, Esudel-Astra is built around the voltaic rift of the coastal valley. The entire city gleams with a changed atmosphere and a landscape that once shifted around the elemental invasion, only to grow into a sprawling and lavish metropolis. The town itself bustles, never-ending with its constant parade of lights and folly seen from the Archon's marveling, lonely, cliffside palace.

## Geography

Seeing a generous share of sun throughout the year, Esudel-Astra is one of the southern courts in an already southern nation of Sumarfold. Resting along the coast, Esudel-Astra was originally an untouched side of the continent until the rifts opened and construction began around them to quell their expansion. Hosting the rift that provides the most intense source of light and heat, the ziggurat built to contain this rift sits inland, nestled into the cliffs and just on the court's border as a safety precaution.

The sheer grandiose nature is enough to make any non-Esudelan's head spin. The city lies in twisting alleys and bridges that connect the grand structures hoisted on clean plinths and exceptionally carved pillars. The city's heart is dedicated to artisans, guilds, theatres, museums, and shops. Towards the coast is more tourist attractions, including restaurants, beaches, gardens, inns and taverns. Once one walks far enough, the din of drunkards and tourists fades to Esudel-Astra's citizens' ambience of home. Many live in large townhouses built with an extravagance that suits the city. Those who do not live directly in the heart of the court live on hillsides, out in vast meadows, or near treelines, to live respectfully quiet lives in comparison.

## Government

Esudel-Astra is overseen by the **High Archon Sebastian Esen Kit**, who also presides over the entirety of Sumarfold. Due to his numerous duties as head of state, Esudel-Astra is also overseen by a **Magistrate**, who dedicates their efforts to administering the law, organizing political delegates, meeting with minor ambassadors, and speaking with the citizens via public hearings. Each court also has a **Lesser Archon**, who typically fulfills these duties alongside their chosen counsel. Still, due to the nature and size of Esudel-Astra, the magistrate plays a vital role in liaising between citizens and the government. A Magistrate is chosen by the Archon based on their qualifications and rank in the aristocracy; for an Archon, this choice is weighed heavily and holds significant political value as the magistrate would be the one to act in place of the Archon if they were away from Esudel-Astra.

### Law and Order

The magistrate oversees the application of law enforcement of Esudel-Astra and may only act within the confines of written law; however, they are free to make choices regarding the presence and location of law enforcement, employment, and arraignment. The magistrate may also sit on the council of high lords who speculate and vote on laws they present to the Archon, as the Archon's word is final on what becomes law.

Court is held every new moon where the accused are brought forth with arguments for and against their case. Those of noble and political birth, outstanding education, social influence, wealth, and other hereditary titles and offices are summoned as a general assembly to hear these arguments and declare a verdict of innocence or guilt. The Archon then establishes a sentence after convening with his own advisors. Crimes of malicious violence or incredible injustice are brought before a smaller assembly, typically comprised of previous Archons, Magistrates, and wisened court advisors. The Archon's duty to sentencing doesn't change, but they are allowed the right to sit alongside the panel throughout the proceedings, unlike average court hearings.

Notably, Esudel-Astra's law enforcement presence is currently the highest of all courts. However, this doesn't detract from a national agreement that the ziggurats of each court should remain under martial watch, as Esudel-Astra has been meticulous in its vanguard of regulating its rift.

### Crime

Matters of crime are more prominent in areas concerning politics. Blackmail, extortion, defamation, fraud, bribery, and embezzlement are among the most common active crimes in Esudel-Astra. Meanwhile, particular breaking and entering crimes can be expected, such as foolish attempts to seek out powerful items and resources around the ziggurat. Usually, theft of artifacts, museum pieces, or art is a top concern, but Esudel-Astra has been quiet on that front as of late.

The other common crime, partially due to the coastal access, is trafficking goods. Whether magical goods, alcohol, drugs, or weapons, there's a small crime circle by the coast, but it's challenging to grow a business dependent on secrecy and shadows when the entire town enjoys talking.

## Trade

Esudel-Astra's domestic gross product is mainly found in their winery production, textiles, fruits, and spices, as the lands just beyond the central city are very well suited to growing flora that requires heat and sun. Their sale of magical implements, art production, and jewel crafters is just behind that of their produce and wine exportations. Esudelans are always looking for the most fashion-forward and modern technologies or groundbreaking pieces of art and exclusive experiences; thus, their domestic economy thrives on luxury goods.

Esudel-Astra has a surplus income via educational and tourism pursuits. They've found great value in opening their borders to students and scholars who wish to study and further understand the rifts in experimental and hands-on frameworks. Esudel-Astra's pricing for international students is ludicrous but supported by elitist values and review, making it a lucrative venture. Many scholars and arcanists travel to further confer with elder elves who've seen the rifts existences and changeability for themselves. This has also been taken advantage of via non-resident taxes and expensive teaching licensing that requires an annual update and fee. Meanwhile, the whimsical natural and imposed views of Esudel-Astra are hard to resist. With glittering leylines, eternal seasons, glowing waters, and vast cityscapes, Esudel-Astra is an extravagant city that caters to those who seek vacation and contrived elegance.

One smaller but thriving industry is their outfitting and designer industry. Fashion is an export in its own way, as many people who visit the capital are swept up in the artistry and polish of Sumarfold's cultural garb and jewels.

## Culture

Esudel-Astra is home to elves, rivtenya, fae, and humans, although the latter is a minority. Each Sumarfold court is considerably insular in its own right, tending to be more concerned with matters of gossip within the aristocracy and ensuring someone does not vie for their place. However, despite citizens being preoccupied with affairs of their own state, many outsiders regularly visit Esudel-Astra as a place to study, a tourist destination, a political hub of the nation, and artistic interests; thus, the borders are easily permeable.

Esudelans live considerably affluent and comfortably; even if one is considered lesser in the aristocracy, their life in Esudel is undoubtedly more comfortable than someone less fortunate in Syldor or the Empire. For this reason, many grasp for success and lavish lifestyles within the court and are far less concerned with leaving or seeking more beyond the borders of Sumarfold. Esudelans are also aware of the power that personifies their city and are protective of the natural resource they warden.

The nature of Esudel-Astra lies in the midnight whispers of cohorts, the passing stories between palace caretakers, and the incessant want for drama. Despite constantly seeking out the melodramatics and intrigue of court life, Esudel-Astra would prefer if Sumarfold were to make deals with other countries that benefit from an alliance so they may continue to frolic about and live in great avarice and fancy.

### Fashion

Fashion in Sumarfold is of the utmost importance. Particularly in Esudel-Astra, citizens and nobles are concerned with enjoying the natural heat and city life while remaining at the forefront of trends.

Garb is often draped with light but expensive fabrics such as silk, linen, chiffon, lace, organdy, organza, tulle, satin and cotton. The city boasts an array of designers and dyers, seamstresses and tailors, all of who take great care to please their customers, as news travels fast in a city like Esudel-Astra. Light warm colours, such as white, cream, beige, gold, and orange, and rich, glorious colours, such as lapis lazuli, purple, burgundy, and wine, are sported by locals. Robes tend to be free-flowing and perfectly tailored, along with formal uniforms or everyday wear. Sheer fabrics, fashionable cutouts and even significant nudity are considered appropriate in Sumarfold as a whole.

It would be a social dilemma if one were to meet with any of the Archons, High Lords, or Magistrates without proper dress, including accessories. One should wear anklets and bangles to formal Esudelan events, including court hearings, weddings, funerals, balls, and other local celebrations. Aside from the compulsory anklets and bangles, it's looked well upon if one is highly bejewelled or interestingly dressed.

Fashion is itself a tool of politics in Sumarfold. It's not only used against foreign enemies but on the domestic people of the nation and among its own political leaders. The subtleties of a message often go unnoticed by a less refined eye or government more preoccupied with war. Still, Sumarfold, especially its capital, has always utilized the silent technique. Due to the aristocratic nature of Sumarfold, fashion, above all, is used as an indicator of one's importance, and each social caste always tries to dress above where they truly lie.

### Religion

Esudel-Astra lacks a prominent display of religion in the city; however, the edifices that exist to honour the Treisceian deities are just as opulent and well constructed as the rest of the court. There’s a single temple in the city that’s open-air and multi-floored, decorated with hanging gardens, and each corner honouring a deity and their patronage.

Religion is not practiced as a uniform or overly prevalent expectation of society in Esudel-Astra, but some find comfort in beings who make sense of the world’s chaos. If one walks around Esudel, they could spy expensive trinkets, effigies, and architectural details that decorate people’s homes and buildings like libraries or hospitals. Those who partake in a more regular practice of faith tend to follow the older traditions of sacrifice, often switching some of the more archaic offerings for something within their reach. Undoubtedly, there is a more prevalent sect of devouts who prefer to keep with the old ways. However, their practices aren't usually found directly in the central city, as it's preferable to hold rituals and rites considered taboo in the wilds of Esudel-Astra, away from a sacrilegious society.

### Festivals and Holidays

**Feast of Ereus,** once called the Avarice New Moon, is a celebration of rest and respite. During this holiday, the people of Esudel-Astra celebrate for a week, indulging the fruits of their labour as their ancestors did after struggling through their settlement in Sumarfold. It’s now named after the Tresceian God of poetry, art, music, and cunning, but other deities are also associated with the week, as the faith altered the general social landscape of Sumarfold with the arrival of humans.

The feast starts with a harvest of fruits fermented for the next year; often, there’s a dedication to Antemeon during this day to acknowledge the seasons and crops harvested to celebrate. The following days are full of games, street fairs, food, music, poetry, dance, performance, alcohol, narcotics, and relaxation. By the end of the week, people gather on the beach for a final night of fun and close out the celebration with a show of lights over the water.

## Defenses

Defenses are controlled and empowered by the leylines that run all over Sumarfold. With the ziggurats that host and channel the ancient wells of power, Esudel-Astra has used it to their advantage by providing regenerating power and robust magical defenses.

The rift found in Esudel-Astra is remarkably competent in channeling electric volts (in its purest form, plasma). Under the careful supervision of arcanists and scholars, the rift can be directed towards the sky in a consistent cloud cover of lightning storms. An electric barrier spanning its entirety is also one of the other known defenses of Esudel-Astra.

## Transportation

Being a coastal city, ships in the port is not an uncommon sight for citizens. Passenger ships and smaller ferries are engaged nearly around the clock, bringing people to other nations or making trips along the Sumarfold coast.

While inland, walking is the most common mode of transport. The city was designed for people to walk through and access with ease. Although the population grew, so did the court, and some areas have become quite distant from one another. Transportation hubs and elevators were added to certain corners of the main city to combat traffic and quell tired citizens.

## History

Esudel-Astra is technically new in name but ancient in history. Most records of the court's history are found under the shared name of Astra-Morscuro, and only in the last 300 years has Esudel-Astra been established as a single court. Some officials don't recognize it, claiming their maps still read Astra-Morscuro. However true that may be, the Archon's lack of care for the forgotten ruins of Novus-Morscuro, a court his predecessors helped destroy, speaks louder to most than map labels.

Eirodan Vayne, the first High Archon of Sumarfold and the first Archon of Astra-Morscuro ruled for centuries over the court until his death of natural causes. From there, modern-day Esudel-Astra had seen many Archons since their ancient days; most recently, Illifir Glyn, a Rivtenya and native Esudelan, held the throne for sixty years. It is generally accepted by Sumarfold nationals and continental delegates that his rule was chaotic and authoritarian, drawing much attention to Sumarfold as Illifir was vocal about his distaste for the Empire despite a long-running allyship between the two nations. Illifir stoked competition amongst his lesser Archons, degraded his court, overindulged, deprived his people of an audience, and dried up coffers meant for the court and country. The first half of his reign was successful for the most part, but the latter half was a slow decline into disrespect.

The most well-known modern tale of Esudelan history has to do with Archon Illifir and his son, whom he sent to the labyrinthine ziggurat as punishment for challenging his rule. The Archon said if his son found his way out, he'd prove he knew better and could have the throne. Illifir laughed as he walked away. The Archon and his people believed they'd hear no word from the young Rivtenya ever again, believing his fate sealed in the maw below. Until one day, he arrived home with two different-coloured eyes instead of the pure blue he was born with. He had a glow about him that couldn't be contended with eithuszar, and when he strolled into the palace, he demanded the stranger on his throne be tossed out.

Sebastian Esen Kit was the Rivtenya who escaped that maze, and nobody truly has an answer as to how. But under his rule, people have been incredibly prosperous, rich with fancy and feast, and enjoying a most delicious life. The last twenty years have been quiet in Esudel-Astra, aside from the raucous balls and soirees; there have been no reported anomalies to worry about or rumbling to fear. The Archon is well-loved and respected by his people, albeit considered reclusive compared to his father. Sebastian put his efforts into seeing a restored half of the court and achieved enough reparations that some people could move back into the forgotten land.

Ten years ago, the shadow rift went inert, however. The ziggurat had been peaceful for years, working perfectly as designed, and one day, the glow was lost. A dimmed ziggurat signaled a lost connection to whatever elemental plane Esudel-Astra had been siphoning energy from for years. This sudden loss of power triggered a humanitarian crisis in Esudel-Astra and other disparate parts of Sumarfold. Loss of rift power caused an ever more significant social divide within Esudel-Astra and Novus-Morscuro. Sebastian had completely stopped acknowledging half of his land once the last few people were evacuated, and he declared the land abandoned. Any Foldian was banned from ever stepping foot in the lost court. His people felt slighted and disowned; they felt the Archon didn't honestly care for his own subjects; many left Esudel-Astra and Sumarfold for good.

Today, Esudel-Astra stands in proud grandeur. With a booming economy, relative internal peace, and the consistent allure of the magical city, Esudelans go about life with little care for the external struggles beyond their nation, let alone their court. In the last decade, the High-Archon has become increasingly reclusive yet holds a grand party or ball almost every fortnight. Esudelans question little aloud, but rumours and gossip are inevitable in the court, and many wonder what's in store for their own energy source while trying to ignore the apparent dark fold that mars the land next to them.

## Notable Locations

*The Archon's Palace* is an inimitable edifice that spans the cliffside and looms over the Court like a marble panopticon. Somehow both a breathtaking view and a reminder of overbearing pressures put forth by Esudelan society in contrast to the debauchery of some of the other courts. Somehow an odd juxtaposition of loneliness, sitting majestic on the cliffside, while the world below mingles and coexists in grandiosity.

*Soubrette's Square* is the artists' hub of Esudel-Astra, where one is sure to run into the oddest of characters and prettiest sights. A whimsy square that’s home to the court’s theatre, art galleries, studios, and outdoor space designed to host entertainment and festivities. Soubrette’s Square emanates with lovely music that softly travels over the breeze of the court, intertwining with all the natural ambience of Esudel-Astra at all hours. Students of art and tourists easily find their way to Soubrette's Square and its appeals.

The path winds long, bordered by a sheer cliff that drops to the ocean and forested mountainside on the other side; *the* *Long Path* is the only road into the central heart of Esudel-Astra’s court. The court itself spans wide, from coast to forest and meadow. Still, the capital city itself is accessible only by the Long Path, well travelled by local merchants and farmers and Foldians of all stripes from across the nation – or the seaports, which bring tourists and supplies and politicians more often than anything else. Although somewhat of a begrudging trek due to its length, the Long Path is considered a tourist destination for the dedicated traveller, as its landscape is nothing to scoff at.

## Inhabitants

### Nobility

Esudelan nobility is the talk of the town; they're law bearers, professors, scholars, hereditarily wealthy and well-titled. Nobility runs Sumarfold as a whole, but its microscopic details of title, fashion, wealth, union, influence, scandal and land are almost all that one can think about in society. Every move and choice made in the spotlight is one to be scrutinized or praised, and one can make enough terrible choices to lose stature or climb to the top. There's nary a noble who does not scheme for more or scathingly defend what's already theirs. Esudel-Astra is a particular hot bed of nobles who play political games and take intense charge of society.

### Merchants

The market that lines the streets above the coast is the lifeblood of Esudelan society and culture. Merchants have worked the lane for hundreds of years and treated the land as a meeting place for things cherished by the rivtenya and elves who first settled there. Now it is a fraction of the city, but majority of Esudelan merchants still seek that bustling thoroughfare and are met with the same eager engagement from locals who look forward to and depend on the cultural goods they sell.

### Adventurers

Whether they seek transport via sea, a lively tavern, or the rewards of a monstrous bounty, adventurers are never a rare sight in Esudel-Astra. They come from all over, pass through, but rarely settle down. Amongst them, students of the arcane may seek Esudel-Astra to hear a lecture or scope out the library for material that suits their curiosities.