Utëar

**Utëar** *(Mermish: Droplet)* is a sprawling underwater **city** located off the coast of the Alfírma Isles, close to the middle of the Uinen Ocean. Many Merlings call the city their home, its years of peace and neutrality are shown in how much it has grown over the centuries.

## City

### Location and Layout

Located in the ocean, under the tumbling tides and roaring waves, the underwater world of Utëar is large and confusing. Many buildings are lined with coral and all kinds of sea-plants and life. Many smaller fish make their home in the smaller nooks and crannies of buildings, their bright colors flashing in the grand city.

Buildings are tiered, the materials for larger buildings seemingly made out of sea-stone, while smaller buildings are grown out of coral, encouraged to grow a certain way. Larger Merlings tend to live lower, where the Merling-made coral reef of their home is darker, while on the upper tiers, smaller Merlings tend to dwell.

On the bottom-most level dwells Uinelle, the Orantir whom rules over the Merlings. Her tier is known as Tidal Bottom, for from it comes the very power of water.

A sandy bottom gives out to a rocky underwater cliff which then leads down to the Eternal Prison. The Eternal Prison is located deep in the ravine that borders the city, deep and dark. In the Eternal Prison dwell many criminals whose crimes are unspeakable, chained and bound by Uinelle's own power and will.

### People

Merlings as a rule are a contradictory people, ever changing like the waters they live in. Many are shy, preferring to keep away from those above land, at times becoming threatening. There are those however, whom speak Common Tongue and guide mariners and sailors to their destinations safely.

However, one should be careful. Merlings are highly territorial and possessive beings, one seeming laid back and friendly suddenly becoming a fearsome foe if something they deem as 'theirs' is in danger of being taken away from them. This extends to Utëar as well, curious scholars and mages meeting their demise by territorial Merlings.

### Economy

The economy of Utëar is made of engraved sand-dollars and shells, although what makes them special from any other kind of shell picked up from the sandy bottom is currently unknown and kept between Merlings. Many have speculated that their monetary system and the engravings on the shells and sand-dollars play a part.

## History

### Founding

Utëar is the first and only permanent settlement of the Merlings, their domain deep into the water and away from the troubles occurring above land.

Utëar was founded by Uinelle herself, constructing the barest skeletons of the city and encouraging the Merlings to shape it in their own wants and thought. This encouragement, as well as giving them a permanent settlement was a grand gesture to the Merlings, which they took happily, many helping in the construction of Utëar. The few who did not wish to leave their nomadic lifestyle of traversing the seas however, did not help in the construction.

### Recent History

In recent history, the Eternal Prison was built and added into the ravine that borders the western side of the city. Below dwell the Archon, and numerous other figures who have been declared as traitors to Merling society or are dangerous individuals.

## Trivia

* No land-dweller has been able to visit Utëar.