Sunguard

Large City: Population 14,862 (68% lynoxi, 12% humans, 8% vesperkin, 12% other races)

History

Sunguard is the largest city of the Yzerid Desert, and can be considered the "capital" of the region -- though at one point, the city of Saltstrand to the south was its capital before the dissolution of the Rojek Dynasty. Once the Rojek Dynasty collapsed, the founders of The Synodical Republic wanted the capital of the Yzerid to be closer to Evergarde so Evergarde could respond more quickly in the event of a revolution. There is still some lingering propaganda among the Lynoxi speaking of the "good old days" of the Rojek Dynasty which remains pervasive because none of them were alive to actually live through that period. While the Rojek Dynasty was not tyrannical, the constant feuding between the Yzerid's Lynoxi feudal lords led to many unnecessary deaths and harsh living conditions for its people. The Lynoxi of current day Sunguard do not understand how good they really have it.

In the time since the Yzerid Unification War, to Evergarde's credit, they have put a tremendous amount of effort into revitalizing the area. Many foreign goods were imported to make the living conditions of the Yzerid more hospitable for its residents. Most buildings in the city contain some Rimestone or Glacierium to provide cooling, and trade deals were worked out to infuse some wealth into the Yzerid's economy. Unfortunately, many of the Yzerid's resources are hazardous to obtain due to dangerous creatures, so it has been a losing battle trying to keep its economy afloat.

The city was originally founded by some of the first Jaggri Lynoxi during the early Upheaval period, when Humans began to settle southern Arak after migrating from Myr. Prior to this, the Lynoxi had never really lived in cities before, preferring a more nomadic lifestyle like the Ettinor. With the Kingdom of Derunadel making pushes southward to claim the southern lands of Arak, invading the Lynoxi's homelands, an alliance was formed with the Humans that became the Rojek Dynasty. However, during the dynasty's days, Sunguard was barely a city, and more like a large town. It wasn't until after they joined the Synodical Republic that they began to grow due to the economic growth that came from Evergarde.

The city's structures are built from a mixture of adobe and sandstone. There is no wall around Sunguard -- rather, the city's buildings are connected, providing a pseudo-wall, leaving only three entrances into the city. This design was meant to keep invaders out without needing to source the material for a large perimeter wall. However, though the walls of the outermost buildings are reinforced, they are nowhere near strong enough to withstand siege weapons.

Government

After the dissolution of the Rojek Dynasty at the end of the Yzerid Unification War, the Jaggri begrudgingly joined the Synodical Republic. However, they refused to take part in the government, and as such, a magistrate had to be appointed to them by Evergarde. Elections are still held in the Yzerid to ensure its citizens get a fair chance to voice their opinion on who should be in control of it, but many Lynoxi opt not to take part in such things. However, the Humans of the region are usually quite eager to take part in the election process.

The current magistrate of Sunguard is a Human man named Tamond Blackstrand, who grew up in the city of Southrock in the southernmost tip of Arak. He is actually the brother of Elias Blackstrand, the commander of The Dawnstar in Arak. He has been in his position for over a decade now and most Human citizens of the desert approve of him -- however, the Lynoxi are very critical of him and wish to see him removed from office. This is unusual, as the Lynoxi do not like to hold opinions in political matters. There are whispers that the Lynoxi are becoming irritated with the laws of the Republic and wish to see the Yzerid return to their control.

Tamond presides over the other two cities of the Yzerid Desert: Saltstrand and Southrock, as well.

Economy

The Yzerid Desert's economy is relatively weak compared to the rest of Arak. They have few export goods, and the ones they do have aren't highly valuable. One of their most valuable exports, Dunesilver, a variety of silver which does not conduct heat, has been in short supply in recent years and has resulted in the Yzerid's economy plateauing. Sunguard especially has seen an increase in homeless and criminal activity, and Tamond has put out a call for relief from Evergarde and Mythwell -- however, Tordynnar Veverell of Mythwell ignored his request. Emrys of Evergarde has provided food, but seems unwilling or unable to provide monetary assistance. Tamond is concerned that if a new source of income is not found for the city, it could lead to a revolt, especially from the Lynoxi.

Sunguard's only real export goods are Sirocco Spice, Wurmglass, and Shiftsand. Sirocco Spice, made from the Sirocco flower, is popular with Myrians, and sees quite a bit of trade with merchants from Catarvoss. It is one of the few edible plants that can grow in the harsh environment of the Yzerid, and has an earthy, spicy, and delicately citrusy taste. Wurmglass serves such a highly specific purpose that it doesn't provide much income, though it is valuable to those in positions of power, as not only is the glass itself poisonous to the touch, but once enhanced with a simple enchantment, it can be made into a pair of glasses that enable the wearer to see a shimmer in liquids that contain poison, and will also highlight venomous creatures such as snakes and scorpions. Shiftsand is not particularly special -- it is so named because dunes made up of this stark white sand shift around almost like an ocean because the sand itself is the finest on the planet. It is valuable to many crafters, and produces the best lenses for telescopes and glasses, and is a surprisingly good tempering material and can be used as a flux for certain metals.

Notable Locations

• Statehouse - The seat of Sunguard's Human magistrate, Tamond Blackstrand. Like the rest of the city's buildings, it is constructed of sandstone, and much like architecture found in Myr and in the town of Hazelwater, features open courtyards, arches, and few doors. The howl of wind passing through its halls can be heard frequently, which can be quite haunting to some, giving rise to some rumors about spirit activity. However, it appears to be spirit free.
• The Oasis - One of the few casinos in Arak due to the widespread ban on gambling in most districts of Arak. Very few of the city's residents visit the Oasis, as they know full well that it is a trap for naïve and wealthy merchants looking to try their luck. The casino turns a good profit, but many residents see it as an eyesore and think it gives the city a bad name and wish to see it removed. However, Tamond Blackstrand relies on the casino's income for the city's restoration efforts.
• Opal's Fine Spirits - This popular distillery produces a number of spirits, both distinguished and simple, that satisfy the thirst of locals. The owner, a Lynoxi woman simply named Opal, is rather shy and tends to hurry along conversations with customers, and struggles to understand social cues -- but she means well, and those who have gotten to know her see a side of her she does not show to most. She gets particularly excited to talk about her new recipes, and is the only brewery in all of Aellorah that has made spirits using dates for flavor.
• The Crucible - A unique type of craft found in very few regions of Aellorah due to the requirement of sand, this glassblower's shop features a number of artistic creations and a variety of useful tools, including lenses. The owner, a Human man named Geth Oakenheart, is originally from the town of Oakenwall, far to the northwest in the Taungar Valley. He despises his wife and takes every opportunity to bring it up in conversation.
• The Sunforge - The most highly esteemed blacksmith in Sunguard, thanks to its usage of a Sunstone lens which enables the smith to rapidly heat and melt metals with precision. This allows the owner, a Human man named Cyrus, to outproduce almost every forge south of Valensir in Arak. Cyrus' specialty is custom armor with intricate filigrees and detail -- but it comes at a steep cost. Adventurers and wealthy soldiers come from all over Arak to order unique pieces.
• Sanctuary of Light - This temple near the center of the city shines brightly at night thanks to a large chunk of Sunstone on the roof that absorbs sunlight during the day and provides a radiant aura to the city at night. The Sunstone has a side effect of warding away undead, including spirits, so spiritual activity is rare in Sunguard. The temple holds regular rituals to beseech Astix to spare the city's citizens her blazing heat. Astix has a fairly large following in Sunguard due to the sun's influence in the desert.
• The Undercroft - Sunguard has a series of tunnels underneath the city. The tunnels are labyrinthine and the full extent of the tunnels have still not been mapped, with some passages having collapsed years ago. It is believed that they were originally dug to be used as a crypt for the dead, as some remains have been found interred in certain areas. However, most people use the tunnels for more nefarious purposes, including disposal of bodies, drug deals, and hiding from the authorities.
• The Ruins of Sahradim - These dilapidated ruins about a mile outside the city appear to be quite ancient. The Antiquarians' Guild estimates that they date all the way back to the late Age of Creation period. Though none have been able to explore the inner ruins, what has been excavated outside them suggests they were once a lush oasis filled with plant life and a small river leading to a pond inside the inner ruins. There are dead trees surrounding the ruins and not a trace of water. Some artifacts the Antiquarians' Guild have discovered suggest this oasis was once tended by a circle of Druids who sought to create more oases like it across the Yzerid, but an artifact they discovered which they believed to have the ability to do just that was cursed and instead destroyed their sanctuary. The inner ruins have a heavy stench of death and sap the energy of any who approach, and even the outer ruins are heavily haunted at night.



Culture

Though many passing through Sunguard may only see a slum that never truly recovered following the Yzerid Unification War, elements of the Lynoxi culture have survived and are ever present in the city. Quen's followers have a large presence in the city due to the overwhelming Lynoxi majority. In particular, the Brood, her charitable goodwill group which provides food to the needy, has a large building near the center of the city that provides dinner to all who show up daily. However, they only have enough funding to provide one meal per day, so many still resort to thievery to subsist. The city also uses hydroponic farming to grow food and various gardens that hang from the city's aqueducts, though many grow this for themselves and those that go about picking from the hanging gardens are seen as thieves.

There is a culture in the city surrounding divination, with various people claiming to be able to predict the coming of the sandstorms. The Lynoxi rely on these predictions to plan out their daily lives, and charlatans have been known to be dragged out into the streets and beaten, sometimes to death, for false prophecy. The sandstorms in this region of the Yzerid are deadly not only due to the potential for suffocation and blinding, but due to creatures known as Kurmanke which inhabit the storms. The people of Sunguard rightfully fear these creatures who resemble sparkling clumps of sand with glowing green eyes who are very hard to spot in the storms. Those who are able to reach shelter in time wait out the storm listening to the chilling beckoning of these creatures who pound on doors and call out to the residents in a gravelly voice, demanding tribute. The residents believe the Kurmanke to be the result of a Wellspring anomaly, but the Sorcerer's Cabal long ago confirmed that to not be the case. The sandstorm will remain in the city until inevitably someone decides to sacrifice their life for the city, giving themselves to the storm, which results in the storm coming to an abrupt end. Nobody knows exactly what happens to these "tributes", and those foolish enough to attempt to fight back against the Kurmanke have never lived to report on what they are capable of, but those found in the aftermath of the storm have been covered in thousands of tiny holes that suggest some kind of explosive shrapnel... from inside.

There is also a sandstone sculpture in an out-of-the-way back alley in the northwest region of the city that resembles a bulky humanoid creature, almost like a golem. The residents swear that the sculpture occasionally moves position ever so slightly, but none who have observed the sculpture have ever seen it happen. They are unsure whether it is a guardian of some sort, or perhaps a malevolent creature. Many think it is a prank being played by an artist or wizard, but nonetheless, the city's residents occasionally leave offerings in front of the sculpture to "appease" it, usually in the form of Sirocco flowers or Lily of the Valley, hoping Aellor will quell whatever magic animates the sculpture.

One of the most popular festivals in Sunguard is that of Has'tik, a celebration performed by Astix' followers during the peak of Asten when the Yzerid reaches its hottest temperatures. At nightfall, citizens will gather near the Sanctuary of Light to honor Astix and beseech her to show mercy and retreat further away from the desert to allow them to enjoy the outdoors without threat of dehydration and heat exhaustion. They will perform elaborate dances involving fire sticks while others play music, usually with drums and tambourines.




Defenses

Sunguard has relatively little in the way of defenses, much like the rest of the Yzerid. The sandy terrain makes it difficult enough to move effectively outside the city, but the city does not have walls to protect it. Instead, it employs an architecture where buildings connect so there are few entrances to the city. The entrances that the city does have are gated and heavily guarded. Buildings are constructed rather tall and made of sandstone that is polished to make it difficult to climb. Outward-facing building walls either do not have windows or they are very small so as to allow for airflow without allowing potential invaders to enter through them. Despite having such tall buildings, many buildings have interiors that are recessed into the ground to help keep the interiors cool, and they use the upper areas to hang clothing and decorations, or for storage.

The city does employ a series of lookout towers surrounding the city though that allow archers to spot potential threats and either pick them off or quickly alert the city through the usage of flares. The towers are sturdy, constructed of the same polished sandstone as the city's buildings. Due to the sandy terrain, the archers have a great advantage over those attempting to approach the city, but the sand can also be a detriment to city defense. When a sandstorm kicks up, the archers can't see any better than potential attackers. A Vesperkin can fetch a good wage as a lookout, given their natural thermal vision, allowing them to spot approaching threats even during a sandstorm.

The city's aqueduct system can make it difficult to traverse the roofs of the city's buildings. They are used to transport water throughout the city, and it keeps the water circulating to prevent stagnation. The aqueducts use an enchantment to transport the water back to the central tower where the supply comes from so it can recirculate. The aqueducts are decorated with various hanging plants which give the city the feeling of an oasis.




Crime

Due to the Yzerid's poor economy, Sunguard has a relatively large homeless population. Roughly 20% of the city's population does not have a true home and have tents set up across the city, whether on rooftops or in alleyways. The city's residents do not mind the tents on the rooftops, as it's not exactly a desirable place to be given the intense heat. However, while those without homes do not always turn to a life of crime to make ends meet, the limited options for survival make this a sad reality for the majority of them. The market sees heavy patrol from the Enforcers due to the amount of thieves who must take food to survive. Quen's followers try to mitigate this by importing food for the needy, but there is only so much food they can provide for free, so there are plenty that fall through the cracks.

The homeless are not the only thieves in the city, however. Because of the disparity between the rich and the poor in Sunguard, there are quite a few ambitious cat burglars in the city who target rich homes attempting to recover valuable artifacts that can be sold for large sums. However, the rich pay well for private guards, and only truly skilled thieves can hope to get past these defenses. Besides thievery, the city also has a large number of murders that never see justice. The Enforcers do not have the numbers to solve every crime, and in most cases do not even try. At any given time there are probably three serial killers active in the city -- but because many of them will target the homeless, nothing is done about it since the rich folk funding the Enforcers do not care to bring them justice.

The city has had a number of riots started over the inequality between the rich and the poor, but the Enforcers have used dirty tactics to protect those in power, and uprisings do not last long.