The Solace Summit

* Current Sigil
* Original Sigil

The Solace Summit is a major faction operating within the continent of Ahlus.

## Description

First discovered to the people of the Material Plane by Asher Sung during his Second Expedition, Solace Islet had existed in the Plane of Air for centuries, inhabited mainly by Aarakocra. By guile and charm alike Sung managed to establish trade with the settlement, bringing them furs, stone and wood, all difficult to acquire within the Plane of Air. During his Fourth Expedition, nearly a decade later, Sung would spend most of the four years parleying once more with the inhabitants of the Islet before finally a final agreement was reached and with it new plans were drafted, scheming to bring the collection of earthmotes and the city of Aviacrest through to the Material Plane. Coghearts were sent to assist in this task and the necessary construction began.

One of the smaller isles was brought through first, an effort facilitated by a vast cache of Waystones. When it proved to be without incident, the rest of the city was transported through section by section, and once a resting location was chosen, the Great Conduit was extended by means of Jolberry Bluff to connect Aviacrest to the rest of the Astedian Empire. Such a connection allowed the quick expansion of the population of the city, making the settlement a city by the standards of the Material Plane.

The city of Aviacrest was ruled over locally by a governor-like position referred to as the Aethnarch, who in turn paid fealty to the Emperor of the Astedian Empire and the Increscent Six. Since the Materialisation, the Aethnarch has served as an independent sovereign, beneath which operates a mass of minor functionaries and officials. Lowest amongst them are the bedels and bailiffs, teams of each assigned to a ward within the districts, the districts themselves the domain of the Magistrates, who uphold the laws and the Stewards, who manage the needs of the residents. Collectively, this bureaucracy makes up the structure of the Solace Summit.

## Goals

Aviacrest has been guided by the Aethnarch for centuries, but only recently has the city found itself thrust into the continental stage in 101WD. The agreement of the Aethnarch to connect to the city to the Great Conduit in what would become known as the Wayfinder's Confluence was heralded as a landmark event for the residents of the city. While public perception is shifting, many individuals in the city outside of the more commercial regions remain relatively insular in their interests and the goals of the Summit Solace place the city's wellbeing first and foremost beyond expanding relationships with their neighbours. The Aethnarch maintains a formidable fleet of Aerships, and is highly protective of their usage.

It is rumoured that the Aethnarch has ensured that the city can be decoupled from the Great Conduit on a whim, as previously saved it from much of the damage of the Manifestation by doing the same at Jolberry Bluff, although upon inspections by the Galeriders nil modification to the constructions seem to have occurred.

## Tenets of the Solace Summit

* Destiny and desire will oft align, and there are many purposes to be achieved by wandering far guided by whim, but never shirk away from the maker's path laid ahead for no reason but to avoid a route previously travelled.
* A cloud tethered in place is posed with the constant threat of falling as rain. Do not lose yourself in beholding yourself to the whims of others.
* As above, as below. Those that serve below should be treated with a measure of the same respect afforded to those above to which you serve.

## Relationships

Similar to that of Khonoldhur, Aviacrest's location as the crossroads of the Great Conduit leading to Howell Town in the north, Viridell in the east, Oxresh to the south and Khonoldhur to the west affords it a number of connections. Subsequently all major organisations maintain a presence in Aviacrest, acknowledging its positioning to be a significant asset to their reach, although near all find themselves relegated to the Central District. Despite this, the Solace Summit rarely deigns to utilise the Great Conduit, instead utilising the fleet of aerships to forge their own trade routes, allowing their produce to flow freely like the clouds, instead of being bound to the rails.

The Aethnarch is known to entertain company from time to time, though has never been known to leave the city itself. Despite this, and in reference to the desire to utilise their aerships for sake of trade, the Aethnarch has financed the creation of the Aerodromes throughout the major cities of the continent, specifically within the Vasseur Canton of Chalimar, the Low City of Howell Town, at the Climb in Khonoldhur, the Riverbreak Constituency of Oxresh, the Radiant Heart of Rydoon, Old Alcyon in Viridell and the Cadre Ward of Whittengrove.

## Characters

The city of Aviacrest often forges one of two drastically different personalities in its citizens. Some amongst them see the wandering history and aloft nature of the city as a stimulus and inspiration to desire to travel far and wide, never sated by one journey, ever planning the next before the one before has reached its conclusion. These people make natural adventurers and explorers, often compelled by faith in the Pathmaker Veth to seek out stories and secrets alike.

By contrast, the insular nature of the city and its time spent in isolation amongst the clouds all but unknown to the rest of the continent save for within historical textbooks has created generations that believe Aviacrest's greatest strength and defence was in its isolation. With this now cast aside, many seek other methods to fortify their interests and assets, in preparation for threats real and imagined alike.

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