Crusene

**Crusene** is one of the major settlements of the Artus Empire, formerly one of the great Avonstead city-states.

# History

Like many of the other Avonstead city-states, Crusene was founded by a culture hero.  Theirs was the King of Pelts: a legendary hunter who slew the Wolf King and claimed the territory for his own.  With the Wolf King’s pelt and his sword Isangrim, the King of Pelts managed to attract a variety of individuals, beginning Crusene in earnest.

As with the other Avonstead city-states, rivalries, alliances, and wars all cropped up with Crusene’s neighbors, with the balance of power constantly fluctuating until Estary and Dhrinragh’s alliance forever changed the game.  In addition, a cadet branch of the Gordons eventually founded the religious settlement of Arborro.  Despite being independent of each other, close ties between the two settlements have remained ever since Arborro’s founding.

Crusene remained independent for quite a while: their relationship with Estary had been a contentious neutrality at worse, so there was no forced assimilation.  The Great Madness changed this, however.  The King and Queen at the time, Taranda and Veelva, willingly incorporated themselves into the Empire in exchange for their city’s protection as they went to staunch the attacks, taking with them Isangrim, the Wolf King’s Pelt, and the crown of Crusene.

# Government

 ??? - ???
 1,179 - 1,211
 1,211 - 1,240
 1,240 - present

Before Taranda bent the knee to the Artus Empire, Crusene was a monarchical city-state, under the continued rule of the Gordon family, descended from the King of Pelts himself.  After Taranda bent the knee however, the city was incorporated into the Artus Empire, now fully beholden to the Empire’s whims.  This included the title of the rulers of Crusene being downgraded from “king and queen” to “lord and lady”; something that rubs Duff raw.

Lady Duff Gordon is the current individual in charge of Crusene; next in line is her only son, Hunter Gordon.

The symbol of Crusene is a single, solemn wolf, wearing a crown.  This is an artistic rendition of the Wolf King that the King of Pelts slew.

# Society

Fashion is king here.  It is considered one of the most “cultured” places in Artus, and indeed all of Salbus.

## Religion

As a location of fashion, many residents of Crusene worship Tasphine to aid in their creative process.  With the newfound reliance upon the tapestry spiders, Orthabe worship has spiked as well.  Crusene’s close relations with Arborro also means a considerable population also actively worships Kotune.

# Trade and business

Over the course of Crusene’s existence, the focal point of Crusene commerce has always, in some fashion, come back to furs.  Crusene hunters are widely held to be at least the most skilled in the Empire, if not the entirety of Salbus.  As such, fur trapping and hunting is a very regulated market: a handful of close calls with bottlenecking the wildlife populace has led to a very swift and unreserved smackdown on poaching in Crusene’s area.

As Crusene developed however, furs went from being sold for warmth to be utilized for *fashion*, which is what Crusene is known for today.

# Layout

Crusene can be divided into five essential districts:

## Chateau Aesthetica

In the heart of the city lies the Chateau, where the Gordon noble line rules.  Filled with portraits of old Gordon nobles and royals.

## Masquerade Market

The fashion nexus of the Artus Empire.  Royalty and nobility from *all over* the world come *here* (or send someone) to get their hands on the things that are the most fashionable.

### Manual Prismatics

A prestigious boutique run by the full blooded elf Colanil.  Colanil has refined his technique for centuries, to the point where he only takes projects that truly excite him in some way.  He is so skilled, in fact, that he can take someone’s measurements just by looking at them.  He is currently in the middle of trying to crack the riddle of shamir silk: a silk so resistant it supposedly could put full plate to shame.

## Splendor Quarters

Where the posh of Crusene live, as well as the more expensive temporary lodgings.

### Top Shelf Standard

A high class tavern.  Live music that “soothes the soul”.  Not rowdy at all.

### Colum Bathhouse

A wonderful little bathhouse run by a human name Lasilv.

## Woodrunner Market

This is the locale where hunters (either citizens of Crusene or brought in from elsewhere) bring in the furs and meat.  This is also considered the food corner of Crusene, as well as the adventuring outfitting locale.  If you need weapons or food, you come here.

## Eighter Alleys

Named so due to most of the silk farmers living in this corner of the city, the Eighter Alleys are where the poorer residents of Crusene live, as well as the modest inns in the city.

### The Silk Tunnels

Running underneath the city, the Silk Tunnels are the home of Crusene’s newest animal byproduct resource: tapestry spiders.  The Tunnels run in very organized lines (carved out through contracts with miners from Dhrinragh), with plenty of alcoves for the spiders to settle in.  It smells of rotting meat: much of the remains of animals slain during hunts are brought down here to support the spiders.

# Inhabitants

As of 1,283 AY, Crusene’s inhabitants numbered about 20,300 individuals.