Krastis

Krastis, in ruin.

> *"Build high, not wide. That's what we are, that's who we are." -*Eran I Krane, from Krastis archives.
>
>

**Krastis** is a ruined city, destroyed by the Mallus. Prior to the Mallus, Krastis served as a political, cultural, religious, and economic center of Uvonor. Krastis is most notable for being the largest city for the Elven peoples of Uvonor, including the illustrious Krane family who ruled the city.

## History

Krastis was founded around 3000 years ago by Adabros Krane, a refugee from an ancient war. Krane, along with his family and other Elves, fled their hometown of Krane fearing death and destruction. Starting from a small farm town, Krastis and its citizens developed a distinct identity across Uvonor as a religious, cultural, and ethnic capital for all of Elven-kind. Over hundreds and thousands of years, Krastis quickly grew in population and became a powerful city-state, independent and protected by universal decree.

Although it was relatively untouched from the outside world, Krastis played an important role in the war between Gods and mortals. As a trade city with scientific and economic prowess, Krastis played both sides in the war, supplying weapons and ammunition for mortals and providing magic and intrigue to the Gods. However, after the Day of Vengeance under Erjeon Krane's rule, Krastis became a target for the Gods when Mitera, the patron Goddess of Elves, turned against her kind. In the dark days that followed, Krastis suffered economic downturn and revolts arose, deeming the city unstable and unfit for its illustrious identity.

Not too long after, the Mallus struck and Krastis became a victim towards its power. The city, which spanned for miles, was suddenly toppled and ripped in half with the family castle and churches remaining in Raylea and the houses and shops belonging to Kranox. However, the entire population, including all but one of the Krane family, was decimated, leaving whatever was left of the once-great city in ruin.

Attempts to revive the city have been made, but never successful. The Elven scholar and traveler, Teriaris, gathered around 500 Elves to re-populate the city thirty years after the Mallus. However, the area had become a beacon for Mures and other deformed creatures, killing nearly all of the travelers, including Teriaris.

## Inhabitants

Although the ruins are now a center for Mures and other deformed beings, Krastis was home to millions of Elves. From its creation to its destruction, Krastis was primarily inhabited by Elves with many other races residing in the outskirts of the city. However, when Ferados Krane assumed power, these races were barred from entering the main city, resulting in these other races moving away and causing a brief economic downturn.

The exact number of these inhabitants is unknown, due to a loss of records from the Mallus. But, estimates from scholars and secondary evidence revealed Krastis to have had a peak population of nearly 8 million. These estimates derive from existing census records, enlistment in the city's watch, royal family trees, and the layout of the city.

Due to it's sheer size and prowess, Krastis was often referred to as the "Great Vassos of the West". Scholars, scientists, political leaders, generals, and other famous and fabled individuals have visited or lived in the city. The scholar Eegee Eggarton visited the city once and called it the "pierce in our darkness" and the "pinnacle of Elven prowess and civilization itself."

## Politics

Krastis was always ruled by the House of Krane, spanning the city's entire lifetime. The Kranes instituted a gavel-kind succession law under Norzeiros I that gave titles and fiefs to lay Krane family members after the oldest member would take the Krastis throne. However, due to the sheer size of the family, this law was abolished in favor of primogeniture under Eran II.

At first, Krastis held regional and local elections to the Krastis Parliament, which was one of the first examples of a representative democracy in Uvonor. The city was separated into many districts, however the exact number is unknown. These local leaders would sit in a chamber room with Kranish family members and discuss politics and what needed to be done. Under Ferados Krane's rule, this form of government was dissolved, in favor of a more direct and authoritarian rule by the Kranes. This continued until the city's demise.