Sasserine

**Sasserine** is the largest city on the Isle of the Ancestors. It is a hub of trade, and home to more than fifteen thousand souls, a bastion of civilization in a realm haunted by piracy, disease, violent weather, and monsters.

Sasserine is located at the northern coast of the island, nestled in a sheltered harbor. Most travelers come to Sasserine via ship, as only the only other city of significance on the island is Cauldron to the southwest. From the sea, Sasserine isn't much to look at; two rugged cliffs of stone jut from the coastline, their faces home to seahawks and gulls but little else. Then a vast rent in the cliff slides into view, its summit crowned by the shattered remnants of an immense stone bridge. Sailing between the slowly eroding pylons that once supported the bridge above, a visitor passes from the open sea into a thriving harbor of commerce, whaling, and intrigue. Certainly the smell of the city is breathtaking - a tremendous riot of exotic spices, smoke, humanity, and sewage that assaults the senses. Perfumes and scented candles are popular commodities in Sasserine.

Sasserine is split into seven distinct districts, each with its own personality. These districts are separated by inner walls, by networks of canals or rivers, or simply by age. Friendly competition between the districts is common, especially during festivals, yet the citizens of Sasserine do not hesitate to come to each other's aid. Perched at the edge of civilization, Sasserine is (and always has been) often the target of assault from land and sea; pirates of the Crimson Fleet - a navy linked to the sinister Brotherhood of Black Lies, the frog-like bullywugs of the surrounding marshland, and even gangs of ogres and giants from the nearby mountains keep the city on constant alert, yet to date the fiercely proud city has fallen to the enemy only once, and even then only through the act of the cities most notorious traitor.

Like most of the Isle of the Ancestors, and the other main settlement of Cauldron, the inhabitants of Sasserine chiefly comprise a Mokerian underclass, a Spluerian artisan and merchant tier, and a nobility heavily populated by the descendants of ancient crusaders who accompanied Nawar Sasserine from Port Jiang to the new city. Most of the oldest noble houses can proudly count a heroic crusader as their founding father.

## History

Just like nearby Cauldron, Sasserine can trace its origin back to the series of crusades once waged by the nations of the north on the Orschan tribes of Orspederia.

Nawar Sasserine was born in Port Jiang, the child of parents who had been refugees from the fall of the crusader Kingdom of Lewerik. The town of Sasserine was founded in 3E:397 by a group of pilgrims led by the same Nawar Sasserine, now a Mokerian priestess of the Red Lady inspired to found the town after receiving a vision.

Not much is known about the early times of the city outside of Sasserine's death in a battle with a marauding black dragon named Zelkarune. However, after her death, the town gradually grew and expanded until it encompassed not merely the area inside the city walls, but a number of farming plantations lying on the outskirts.

The success of the city made it a target for raids from pirates as well as attempts of subversion by the Brotherhood of Black Lies which the city would first encounter in 3E:551.

After a time, a family named Teraknian, descended from Sasserine's lover, Clovis Teraknian, began to rule predominantly over the city as Lord Mayors, taking advice from the Church of Ralom. Some nobles from nearby Cauldron, taking advantage of Sasserine's relative wealth, relocated themselves there to grow rich off the ever-growing sea trade.

In 3E:1001, Orren Teraknian, the last of the lord mayors, began a reign of terror and launched a persecution of Mokerianism in the city. Orren was deposed soon after the city was conquered by the so-called "Sea Prince" of House Yatouli, Zhin Yatouli. The Prince kept the existence of Sasserine a secret from the rest of the Orspederia to prevent the city from being taken from him.

The subjugation would last for a century until the last of the "Sea Princes" were forced to let go of Sasserine due to internal turmoil in their own lands as a result of the War of the Orcish Incursion and the destruction of Maiyushi.

Sasserine is still recovering from its century-long domination and isolation.

## Places of Interest

### Azure District

* Whaler's Guildhall
* Azure Gong
* Islaran Manor
* Dredger's Guildhall
* Kellani Manor
* East Market

### Champion's District

* Lorchester Manor
* Zelkarune Hall
* Sasserine Arena
* House of Khor
* Khor's Market
* Brotherhood Embassy
* Toregson Manor

### Cudgel District

* Low Market
* Church of the Whirling Fury
* Sasserine Cathedral
* Stonemason's Guildhall
* West Market
* Taskerhill Manor
* House of Violets

### Merchant's District

* Harbour Market
* Temple to Talas
* Merchant's Guildhall
* Smith's Guildhall
* Arabani Manor
* Seeker Lodge
* Alchemist's Guildhall
* Vanderboren Manor
* Telvanta Academy

### Shadowshore

* Little Ancestor Island
* Shrine of the Misshapen Dwarf
* Dracktus Manor
* Orspederian Trading Concern
* Shipwright's Guild

### Sunrise District

* Thunder River Lumber
* Historian's Guild
* Landowner's Hall
* Dawn Market
* Knowlern Manor
* Dawnhouse
* Standing Stone Park

### Noble District

* Witchwarden Tower
* High Market
* Meravanchi Manor
* Sasserine Opera House
* House of the Dragon
* Lidu Manor
* Cartographer's Guildhall
* Temple of the Red Lady