Xarthekei

Xarthekei, is a small city (formerly a metropolis) in the northeast of the Shimmering Shore, and the nearest major settlement on the Shimmering Shore side of the line between itself and the Atarlie Frontier. Once part of the Republic of Petrenea, it fought against both the elves and the dwarves of Khaz Elarnzak during the Atarlie Empire's Southern Campaign. Since the Great Collapse, the city has been largely independent, controlling several small fishing villages and port cities near itself to the west.

Geography

Xarthekei rests atop a hill, heavily fortified in both the traditional sense of walls and gatehouses, as well as non-traditional senses in that it is patrolled by all manner of golems and has many blessings and enchantments on its walls, kept re-enforced by local sages. Many roads once lead to from Xarthekei, to locations such as Rokea, Rookpoint, High Toor, and Baghar, but since the Great Collapse rendered much of the countryside incredibly dangerous, only the smaller roads to the eastern coastal towns are maintained, though a few still remember the routes traced by the old roads, and milestones exist for those brave enough to attempt to follow them.

The city itself is actually built onto (or more accurately into) an artificial lake, and consists of wards or blocks connected by bridges that are separated by broad canals. Much of the city is given over to industry, either to support its sizable army or to manufacture and up-keep the golems for which it is so famous. Down the slopes of the hills are a semi-fortified residential district, but these areas are in heavy disrepair and are largely abandoned after the crushing ending of the Southern Campaign.

Xarthekei's temple district is home to many temples to the Awakened One, and the city is known to be the birthplace of the minority sect of his followers, the School of the Elders, whose teachings place an emphasis on monastic practice and pursuit of spiritual awakening through perfection of one's fated trade or occupation.

Economy

Xarthekei is famous for its arcane constructs, which it used to export in great numbers, and now largely hordes for its own defence, attempting to bolster its flagging army through arcane craftsmanship to deal with the dangers of the Great Collapse and stand ready to repel a repeat of the Southern Campaign. The city has an incredible demand for materials of all kinds, some of which it provides for itself and others which it imports at great expense by trading as far afield as Port Arbita or, where possible, South Port. They export great volumes of materials less needed for their war effort, such as silk (of which they are Wisteria's primary source), fine pottery, and written documentation of the teachings of the School of the Elders. This has lead to a small paradox where throughout Wisteria the philosophy of the School of the Elders is thought to be dominant, whereas in the lands where worship of the Awakened One is actually common, the School of Elders tends to be a minority view.

Politics

Xarthekei used to be one of the many city-states that made up the Republic of Petrenea. Now, however, the city is ruled by a council of the elder members of its temples, the head of which is known by the secular title of Master of Xarthekei in addition to their secular roles.