Ilsgaer

**Monarch** | Ruler Duarthe Daerclaw
 **Location**
 **Religion** | The Allfather, minorities of Shadeites and Agostrians

Ilsgaer, the capitol of the Iedonian province of the Aiedonian Empire, rests on the mountainous shores of the Shattered Sea, rising from the sea like a white pillar of marble and gold. The city hosts some of the most prosperous Trade Houses of the Empire and is home to the Ruler of the Iedonian Province. Its vicinity to the wealthy Kouran capitol of Iellnouth along with its large population of Arkiish craftsmen and traders has made the city a hub of activity in the region and is by far the most prosperous city in the Empire. Daily, hundreds of ships from throughout Haulthenn, Aellkouar, the Thousand Isles and beyond moor in its harbor and tons of goods and money exchange hands.

The rampant trading and strong Arkiish presence inspired the formation of the embryo that would become the Imperial Bureau of Inquiry, and the local branch remains one of the most developed among the provinces. In general, the political branch of the government holds a significant amount of control and the Black Cloaks hold an inordinate amount of respect and influence.

The current Ruler is one Duarthe Daerclaw, a member of one of the lesser Noble Houses with a significant amount of Arkiish heritage. Ruler Duarthe has acquired a lot of respect in the region over his career, which has advanced through the local bureau after a relatively short but lucrative career within the Trading Houses of Ilsgaer. In general, Duarthe is an extremely effective administrator, lawmaker and investigator who is respected and feared by the local political officers and nobles alike.

## King’s Square

This is the main trading hub of the city, as the trade of goods is strictly forbidden within the harbor. King’s Square is located in the central parts of the lower parts of town, yet it still towers over the harbor and the wide and steep King’s Street that lead up to it. The square itself is over 800 m in diameter and houses a large, if quite withered, statue of dark stone in its center surrounded by a fountain. The statue bears a striking resemblance to Braedon the Conqueror, for whom the square is named. Throughout the square there are hundreds of permanent shops, but there is also substantial room for more temporary fixtures and the square is often filled with laughter, screams, music and exotic smells. While few of the shops in the square are specialists or the very best of their trade, it serves as a one-stop-shop for almost any good or service a person could require and traders from outside the Empire are solely relegated to this area to conduct their business.

## The Harbor

The Harbor lies at the center of the Gaer Bay, the only inlet within over 10 miles that can house ocean-faring vessels and is always rife with activity as ships come and leave. The harbor area, locally called the Roughs, is a rather rough neighborhood to which most sailors are confined. There are a lot of taverns, brothels and inns in the area, but only a very limited amount of shops, as major trade must be conducted in the King’s Square. The entire harbor area is lined by a wall marking the end of the area that foreigners can freely visit, but even so they are kept under guard by Black Cloaks even here.

Everyone knows that there is a substantial amount of smuggling occurring in the Roughs, but local administrators tolerate this lapse in discipline to a certain amount, as there are more than a few supplies that cannot be imported by Imperial decree, yet are crucial in the formation of the local Weaver Academy, and similar projects. The Roughs also house several criminal gangs, mostly consisting of mostly Arkiish, Egran and Uncivilized origin, but they are maintained on a very decentralized level. Some say that Duarthe was once a member of these gangs and that is how he initially acquired his fortune.

In the past, insurgencies in the city have originated in the Roughs, which is why the local Bureau of Inquiry have invested great resources in the area. With regular intervals, the Bureau undertakes “touch-ups” where they cull the Roughs of criminal elements.

The Roughs consists of Cobbeton, Shiweak Creak, the Burrows, the Docks and Wallhill.

### The Burrows - Cutter Town

The Burrows is under the exclusive control of Amon Ruesh, leader of the Ruesh Family that control the Razor Chaps. Amon Ruesh has established his rule over the eastern parts of the Roughs through his incredibly sharp mind, quick wit and sheer endurance. He has thrown himself into several difficult fights but has, with his shrewdness, managed to emerge without major casulties. The Razor Chaps enjoy a strong reputation and has many allies outside the Roughs.

Cutter Town itself is a very dreary neighbourhood with many workshops and old, rickety buildings, but the area is surprisingly prosperous due to its manufacturing and skilled workforce, most of which enjoy the protection and partial ownership of the Razor Chaps. Cutter Town also contains an area outside the Burrows, namely the Middocks and Eastdocks, the former containing the nicest Inn in the entire Roughs: The Middocks Inn, wholly owned by the Chaps.

### Cobbeton

Cobbeton is under divided between two Gangleaders, namely Rivera Tauthni and Mardel Tocha, divided into Cobble Grove and Stonesteppes.

#### Cobble Grove

River Tauthni and her Starfallen control Cobble Grove, which they spearhead from the fabled part-bar, part-brothel, part-drugden Lover's Haven.

#### Stonesteppes

Mardel Tocha and his Rothi Traders of the Kraugai Clan has an ironhold of the central piers of the Roughs and the areas surrounding the central road up toward Gatehill, where their territory intersects with Revera's.

### The Docks

The Docks is divided in Westdocks, Middocks and Eastdocks, with the ownership of Middocks divided into Cuttertown and Stonesteppes.

### Shiweak Creak - Marker's Hill

Shiweak Creak is the poorest area of the Roughs, mostly containing run-down warehouses, empty shops and slums. The Long Knives, under the leadership of Aethwynn Aejiedhan have carved out a sizeable portion of this area from the Razor Chaps and their predecessors, the Gaerish Boys, and run it like proper slumlords. The area has suffered greatly from their profiteering, which range from slavery, to drugtrade, to trafficking, to murder, to racketeering, to blackmail, to mercenaries, to larceny, to arson etc. In general, the Long Knives doesn't shy from a business venture just because morals might be involved. As such, the inhabitants of Shiweak Creak, at least those who remain there, live in terror under the total control of the Knives. Ironically, Shiweak Creak was once the most prosperous part of the Roughs.

Marker's Hill also contains the Eastdocks.

### Gatehill

Gatehill contains the nicest areas of the Roughs and contains the surrounding area of the Gate through the wall separating the Roughs from King's Square. Gatehill also contains the local Black Cloak garrison for the Roughs area, spearheaded by its separate Gur. The Black Cloaks of the Roughs are rumored to be bought men, but few allegations can ever be proven, and few have the nose for it. Instead, the local Rulers tend to favor the "Culling" method of rooting out criminal elements by sending in outside Black Cloaks to cull the criminals every so often. Ruler Duarthe has thus far not held his own culling.

## Merchant Hill

The pathway up to the Ruler’s Castle is colloquially known as Merchant Hill, as the elite during the Kouran days were the servants of the Merchant King. Today, the fancy villas and estates houses the provincial nobility, and most major family has an estate in the city from which to conduct its business. Here, you can also find most of the major university buildings and the wealthy Trade Houses, as well as a small amount of wealthy individual traders and craftsmen.

## Orgastille Castle

On top of Merchant Hill, overseeing not only the bay but also most of the surrounding area on the hilltop is Orgastille Castle. Supposedly built by Arkii and Olthan craftsmen, the castle was built on the foundation of a previous Elven stronghold such that the lowest levels of the mighty building are older than human knowledge. The castle was taken by Dagor Battleborn through a combination of cunning and brute force as the starved and exhausted defenders were unable to stop the mighty Emperor.

Today, the castle serves as the seat of power for the Ruler and the Protector, and houses both a regiment of Black Cloaks as well as the local contingent of the Legions. Many of the province’s administrative elite also resides in the castle.