Erendel

Erendel is the capital city of Aleyum. Erendel is located in a corner of the Melwood and was built around a small lake at the bottom of a waterfall. The city was founded in the wake of the War of Giants in the year 4,500 DC. In the year 6,000 DC, the population of Erendel was estimated at 42,000 residents. Erendel is the center of the Aleyum government, and is where the High Council resides. The city is organized in to 7 districts, each with subtle changes in architecture and separate cultures.

Erendel is the one of three main cultural centers for elves in Midland, and is predominantly populated by Sunborn, Woodborn, and Pureblood elves. Other races that have made Erendel their home include humans, halflings, and gnomes. However, these races typically have a harder time integrating as most of the city caters to elvish culture and preferences.

Due to the nature of elves, much of Erendel's public utilities are managed and operated via magical means, and harness the flow of water from the waterfall and lake. This has made Erendel a place of awe and wonder for those who are estranged to elven culture and society, and is a popular tourist destination for wealthy Aranian Nobles.

Geography
Erendel is nestled in a corner of the Melwood, beneath a large waterfall. The city was built around the lake that formed beneath the waterfall, and was reshaped by elven architects and engineers who saw potential in controlling the flow of water. The waterfall is located in the corner of two large cliff faces, which provide a natural barrier against attack in two directions. The Melwood is thick near the foothills, and provide additional protection, making Erendel a strategically valuable city. In the few attacks made against the city, none have succeeded in breaking the city's defenses.

Due to the shade provided by the mountains and trees, Erendel's climate is mild, if not cool or cold. The mountains also protect against violent winds, though heavy rain can lead to excessively wet streets. While mudslides and rock slides are not common, they have been known to occur on rare occasions. Dwarven workers have been known to be employed by the Erendel government from time to time to examine the cliffs for any potential hazards. Since this practice, there has not been an incident in hundreds of years.

Districts
Erendel is organized in to seven districts. Each occupies a unique place in terms of culture, demographics, and purpose. In general, the closer to the city walls the districts are, the lower on the social class the residents and business are.

The Misty District
The Misty District gets its name due to its proximity to the waterfall. Mist from the waterfall rains down in this area, and much of this district is decorated in moss or ivy, carefully manicured and integrated in to the architecture. The Misty District is where the high class residents live and work, and is the location of the Queen's Manor and the Aleyum High Council.

The inner half of the Misty District is the Erendel Lake, roughly 2,000ft wide. In the center of the lake accessible by a single main bridge is the Queen's Manor. It sits closest to the waterfall, a few hundred feet away. The Queen's Manor has a full courtyard, a small garden, twelve bedchambers, ten common rooms, three dining halls, five storage rooms, two libraries, four kitchens, and a full time staff and guard. The Queen's Manor appears cozy and compact, yet still features the signature sweeping and laced design elements of elven architecture. Half hidden by trees that seem to grow directly from the wooden manor, the home is kept dry by a magical warding that allows the smallest bit of water to mist the plants each day. Noise from the waterfall is subdued with magic as well, making the Queen's Manor one of the most quiet places in all of Erendel.

Directly across the bridge from the Queen's Manor is the High Council, which feature the Royal Apartments, the High Court Garden, administrative offices, a grand dining hall, two kitchens, small council chambers, and a full time staff and guard. The High Council building is adorned with the finest elven architectural works, with intricate gold accents and inlays working seamlessly with the ivy and moss that marks the Misty District. Rare and delicate flowers grow in the gardens and are additional features of the subtle details spanning the walls and columns of the High Council. Each Royal Apartment is its own tower, atop which is a glowing magical lamp. Trees are worked in to the design as well, and beneath all the meaningfully placed colors and accents are clean, white walls that sparkle in the occasional sunlight, as small flakes of gemstones were ground in to dust and worked in to the white stone.

Beyond the High Council are bridges that connect it with the rest of the Misty District. Here one can find Noble houses and apartments, all mimicking the aesthetics of the High Council but without the added refinement and detail. Older stone structures long since abandoned or worked around have been reimagined as gardens and ponds, filled with songbirds and exotic flowers that glow in the moonlight. Here, high court bards will play to the high class denizens of Erendel, and extravagant parties are held during the summer season.

The the outskirts of the Misty District spanning one cliff side to another in an arch is the District Wall. This wall separates the Misty District from the rest of Erendel, complete with a constant guard and magical wards that protect. The wall also serves as a dam, trapping the lake water above the rest of Erendel. Underneath the district are a series of engineered pipes and channels that allow the water from the lake to flow out and down through the rest of the city.

Greenside
Greenside is an administrative district, and one of the smallest districts in Erendel. Administrative buildings here differ from those of the Misty District, in that they are specific to the function of Erendel, rather than the Kingdom. Greenside is famous for its vertical gardens, and is positioned on the sunnier side of the inner city to allow for the full illumination of its diverse flora and fauna from across the known world. Greenside employs specialist gardeners who tend and care for the plants each day. A complicated water pump system pumps water from the river up to the top of open gardens, and allows water to drip down and irrigate the plants and produce. The city also sells these plants and produce as a means of petty income. Many of these foods wind up at the restaurants or in the markets at certain stalls in the lower districts, and some are even exported where they are sold outside of the city for exorbitant prices.

The grand jury resides in the town hall here, and resides over trials. other government officials live here, and the Erendel Bank is located here as well. There are few shops. There are a few fine clothing stores and tailors, a few cafes, and a produce market. The rest of the buildings are residential or for local government services.

Passerside
On the opposite end of the city from Greenside is Passerside. Located in the shaded part of the city, the district is a religious area, most noted for the medica, church, and catacombs. There are a few book stores here and a small modest library. The rest is residential. The medica is for the sick and injured, with strong physical and magical medical professionals looking after the ill. The church, the Hall of Næhmar, can be seen rising above most of the buildings in this area, and behind is is a garden that leads to the northern cliffside, where the entrance to the catacombs is located. The Church is a tall, blue and white hall with four spires at each corner. There are no hard transitions between the spires and the main structure, as the stone seems to flow right in to the spires themselves. The catacombs are marked by a large, spindled bridge that meets a magnificent gate. Two towers rise from either side of the bridge, and the grand hall that leads to the catacombs merges with the cliffside. Above this entrance is a tall tower, with a statue of the goddess Næhmar solemnly welcoming those who enter. The hall leads down and in to the mountain, and as more dead are buried there, the catacombs are expanded.

Waterside
Waterside is the center most district in Erendel. It is a service and utility district. Many artists, inventors, scholars, and public service works can be found here. Like Watergate it is split by the main river that runs through the center of Erendel from the lake above, with bridges spanning both sides. Between the bridges and down in the channels are devices and machines that are turned by the water. These harness the energy of the flowing river to power machines and shops closest to the river. Separate side channels run water from the main channels through the rest of the city, where waste is carried away from workshops and other sources, and is rejoined with the main channels outside the city walls.

Waterside mainly hosts service shops and residential living quarters. Jewelers, blacksmiths, potters, engineers, designers, bookshops, repair shops, and finer crafts set up shops here and do business due to the central location and ease of access to the other districts. Due to their reputation, real estate in this specific region of town is high and only offered to the most skilled of workers. Outside of King's Breach in Arania, there are few who can match the skill and craftsmanship of those in Waterside in all of Midland.

Woodgate
Woodgate is located in the southern third of the city, beneath Greenside. Like the rest of the gate districts, Woodgate is where one of the three main gates are located, and is in the lower rung of the city nearest to the Erendel walls. Woodgate includes the outer neighborhoods that border the Melwood on the outside of the city walls, and the southern road travels through the center of Woodgate to its terminus at the Woodgate Central Round. Much of Woodgate is residential inside the walls, and the homes are reminiscent of the Queen's Manor in style. Despite individual family homes, the structures are packed tightly together. A small park near the homes and the Central Round is a popular destination for the residents of Erendel, described as if the Melwood suddenly sprouted from the ground in the middle of the city. A part of the park is the Erendel Honey Farm, where gallons of honey are produced each day.

Woodgate features a large outdoor theater called Thrornwood, where plays are commonly held. Most of the shops are oriented to residential life rather than travelers, with few inns.

Watergate
Watergate is the district of Erendel that surrounds the main gate and damn. There are a variety of shops here, mostly tailored towards traveler’s needs. The river splits the district down the middle, though walkways span the river connecting the two sides.

The two main streets follow the river directly to the waterfall. Smaller streets branch off from here and lead out deeper into the city. Since the streets narrow and widen, abruptly turn into stairs, twist wildly, and can sometimes be highly confusing to non residents, signs are posted for each street, and are notated as cart ways or walkways. There are several inns here: Riverdam Inn, Loveleaf Inn, The Auburn Tavern, and Fleyria’s Aleroom. This district is mainly made up of shops and cart or animal services, along with residential areas. Erendal Guards line the streets and patrol the area to ensure peace.

Stonegate
Stonegate borders the Watergate district and surrounds the northernmost gate. The district stops at the northern cliff side, where a few exclusive inns and restaurants are located carved high in to the cliff wall, accessible by a platform that can be raised and lowered by a pulley system.

Stonegate has gained a reputation as the lowest district in terms of social status, making it an affordable place for the average traveler or merchant to sleep, eat, and shop. Despite its reputation, Erendel's high standard of living makes this more than a comfortable district for those used to other cities in Midland. Stonegate also has a heavier police presence, and the Gate Precinct is located in the center of the district, a headquarters for most of the Erendel guard.

Politics
Erendel was the seat of power for the Aleyum government, and remained an important political location once Aleyum became a part of the Aranian Empire. The Aleyum High Council was located here, a body of important individuals that would consult the Queen of Erendel on matters pertaining to the Aleyum territory.

Before the Aranian Empire
Aleyum as a sovereign state was ruled by the Queen of Erendel as well as the Aleyum High Council. They shared power, with the Queen herself holding as much power as the High Council. In a majority of decisions, the High Council would need to debate and vote on their collective decision while the Queen would simply give her decision. If they opposed each other, both parties would meet in the Council chambers to debate until a decision would be made. This process had no time limit, and on some cases the Queen and the High Council would be locked in the Chambers for multiple days at a time until a resolution was passed.

The High Council
The High Council of Aleyum was comprised of eleven members from various backgrounds. Almost anyone could become a member, all citizens of Aleyum were legally allowed to be considered for the position. However, the seats were almost exclusively filled with Pureblood elves, and occasionally a Sunborn or Woodborn. There were only a handful of non-elf council members in Aleyum's history, and they were all halflings or half elves.

Council members were selected through a lengthy process, and were appointed by existing council members with the Queen as a decider on inconclusive choices. The perspective council members would be those called to the High Council due to their social standing and accomplishments. In these hearings, the prospective members would be interviewed for months on end, where the council would ask them questions for hours each day as a group and as individuals. The room would be occasionally warded to force the occupants to compulsively tell the truth, and the High Scribe would be present for all hearings to record the events. This process typically took a year or longer, the longest selection taking four and a half years, at which the Queen had to make the final decision. Once appointed, a council member would hold the position for a maximum 300 years, or would be replaced earlier if the council called for an expulsion. In this case the council would provide its reasons for removing a member, the member would provide their defense, and the Queen would make a decision.

The High Council would review major and minor decisions regarding the kingdom. Internal affairs were a majority of the minor issues brought before the council, while foreign relations were primarily brought before the Queen, who would often travel while the council remained within Aleyum. The issue would be recorded at lower levels of government, and a representative would travel to Erendel to bring their issue to the High Council after it was approved by reviewers that were employed by the council members. Each council member had three reviewers, for a total of thirty three reviewers who would spend their days reading and listening to complaints from all over the land. Requests from lords and nobles would take precedent over smaller disputes, which would often be deferred to the Erendel Court an the Grand Jury.

The Queen of Erendel
The Queen would oversee the city of Erendel, administering power to the Grand Jury and approving their decisions. She would primarily deal with sweeping measures such as the increase or decrease of taxes, declaration of war, and other major decisions that would effected Aleyum as a whole. The Queen would also be responsible for holding traditional ceremonies and granting her blessing, an event that held similar significance to the knighting of individuals within the Aranian Empire.

The Queen is a position inherited through marriage and family ties. She chooses a husband, who becomes the King, and bears children until a successor is born. Her male children usually go on to hold important positions in Aleyum, some even becoming Kings themselves. The firstborn daughter becomes the heir to the throne, and is tutored and trained for hundreds of years, or until the Queen passes.