Andarud Refuge
Unlike other Alfar refuges, Andarud is not suspended deep within The Otherworld. Instead it hums within the borders between the Mortal World and The Otherworld, existing between moments and on the other side of reality's wavelength, a folded pocket of space maintained by the eternal hum of The Gyre.
Call the "Skyless City," if you look up from one half of Andarud you see the other half. Between the two, along the plane where gravity shifts, the two sides meet, connected by metal towers and bridges, all build around the holy chamber where the Gyre itself rumbles away.
Demographics
Parentages
| Category | Parentage |
|---|---|
| Dominant | Elven |
| Minority | Dwarven |
| Enclave | Fairy |
| Groups | Goblinoid, Human |
| Individuals | Halfling, Warforged |
| Singular | -- |
Upbringings
| Category | Upbringings |
|---|---|
| Dominant | Abjurer, Artificer, Skilled Labor |
| Minority | Banker, Mage, Tinker |
| Enclaves | Consular, Scribe, Specialist |
| Groups | Dextrous Soldier, Dismantler |
| Individuals | Enchanter, Incognito, Sleuth |
| Singular | Insightful, Raven-Queen Ally, Spell Thief |
Backgrounds
| Category | Backgrounds |
|---|---|
| Dominant | Guild Artisan, Magic Item Scholar |
| Minority | Independent Business Owner, Sage |
| Enclaves | Alchemist's Apprentice |
| Groups | Appraiser, Entertainer, Noble |
| Individuals | Diplomat, Spy, Student of Magic |
| Singular | Cloistered Scholar, Spymaster |
Classes & Subclasses
| Class | Subclasses |
|---|---|
| Alchemist | Science of Creation, Science of Destruction |
| Antiquarian | Curator, Disenchanter |
| Artificer | Alchemist, Architect, Armorer, Artillerist, Battle Smith, Crystal Shaper, Disruptor |
| Bard | College of Innovation, College of Lore |
| Cleric | Arcana Domain, Craft Domain, Knowledge Domain, Lore Domain, Trade Domain |
| Craftsman | Any/All |
| Fighter | Arcane Archer, Eldritch Knight, Rune Knight |
| Investigator | Antiquarian, Archivist, Detective, Occultist, Spy |
| Magus | The Arcane Order |
| Monk | Way of the Avowed Preserver |
| Noble | Path of the Brave, Path of the Mystic Royal, Path of the Tactician |
| Paladin | Oath of the Aegis, Oath of the Bastion, Oath of the Glyphscribes, Oath of the Golden Pact, Oath of the Guardian, Oath of the Lorekeepers |
| Ranger | Horizon Walker, Mage Hunter |
| Rogue | Alchemist, Arcane Trickster, Fixer, Inquisitive, Mastermind |
| Scholar | Diplomat, Physician, Ritualist, Tactician |
| Sorcerer | Ancient Artifact, High Magic Bloodline, Spellslinger |
| Warden | Loreseeker |
| Warmage | Any |
| Wizard | Academic Lore, Bladesinging, Cantrip Adept, High Magic Specialist, School of Abjuration, School of Elven High Magic, Spellsmith |
Economics/Wealth Classes
Thanks to trade with the outside world and magical automation, few in Andarud lack anything. That said, due to the same trade, while there is no poverty, there are definitely scales of wealth. Magical skill directly correlates to wealth, as do other crafting skills. Merchants who are capable of interfacing with humans, smiths who can lay spells over their steel, fletchers with magical talent--all these roles tend to lead to wealth, prosperity, and luxury.Government
Leaders
| Role | Leader |
|---|---|
| Ruler | Hadarai An'Andarud |
| Consort | Naivara Casselltinera |
| Councilor | Nithroel Luwynn |
| General | Salihn Miamaer |
| Treasurer | Nesterin An'Casselltinera |
| Grand Diplomat | Ylndar Miamaer |
| Heir | (VACANT) |
| High Priest | Gwawyn Na'Andarud |
| Magister | Hjordis Luwynn |
| Marshal | Khyrmin Miamaer |
| Royal Enforcer | (VACANT) |
| Spymaster | ??? |
| Viceroy | N/A |
| Warden | Thanril An'Miamaer |
The Alfar tend towards magocracy as a government model. In Andarud, the most important leaders are the Cothromóirí. These esteemed abjurers manage the delicate balance of forces that govern the Gyre and maintain Andarud's position between the planes of existence. Chief among these families is the house Andarud itself, whose ancestors have balanced the Gyre ever since the refuge was established. Beyond that, officers appointed by the Cothromóirí tend to the various aspects of Andarud's management. The Warmage in Chief leads military efforts, the High Artificer handles trade and economics, the Mortal Envoy diplomatic relations, and so forth.
Defences
Master abjurers wield powerful defensive spells, constructs stand by to defend, trained bladesingers and warmages are ready to use Andarud's system of folding notes to respond to any threat. Most potent of all, however, is the ability of the Cothromóirí to manipulate the Gyre, moving the refuge out of sync with its nearby worlds and isolating it in a worst-case scenario.
Industry & Trade
Andarud's primary export is war magic--enchanted weapons, scrolls, potions for use in battle. Due to the dangers of the outside world, there is high demand for their product, and so they are able to command vast imports of metals, reagents, and luxury items. Their warmages consult the magisters of desperate kingdoms seeking aid against the Demonic Imperium--or against their neighbors.
Infrastructure
Thanks to the unique properties of gravity in Andarud, machinery that spans the Central Plane can harvest it to generate mechanical energy, dropping enormous weights across the barrier to turn wheels, mills, and bellows. Access points spread around the city like the spokes of a wheel grant safe passage into the Mortal World or The Otherworld.
Focusing nodes built at resonant points within Andarud enable teleportation from one to another. The central axel that connects the two sides is also a hub of planar reverberation, harnessed to assist with enchanting magical items.
Forges, workshops, and foundries round out the rest of the infrastructure. Andarud is built vertically, each side reaching up towards the other like a parted lover, but elegantly and gracefully, from stone and steel.
Founding Date
5438
Type
City
Population
14,893
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Comments