The Domed city of Nauhiltepec
The dome helps protect the city from the effects of Warp Storms, and keeps it warm in the long arctic winter nights. In the summer some panels may be open.
Demographics
The old city sections are walled villages under dominion of each of the Clans of Vampire Lords. The areas between used to be outside and wild, or under cultivation. Within a thousand years of the Vampire Lords rulership, the dome was added with each section having a grand chimney and the water wheel turning fans to push fresh air in. Underneath sewers were added.
The Harbor: This part is open air with walls from the main city to the water and a low barrier wall between the water and the city section before the greater wall that has gates to the city proper. This section is held in "common" and patrolled by sheriffs and their bully boys. The necromancers and Blood Mages are here along with pens holding the skeleton and zombie crews. Outside the city is another pen for Risen with a special gate leading directly to the harborside. It is the only part of the city open to foreigners and only special permit residents and workers at the ship yard. The residences along the walls go up three levels, though free standing buildings of 5 floors are found in the main body of the harbor section.
The Vetala section: This is one of the two inner walled sections adjacent to the harbor on the far right. The village wall towers to 5 floors. The Vetala section is dedicated to food, music, drink and entertainments. The Vetala Lords feed off blood and are also energy vampires that feed off strong emotion. Their palace in the center features a theater and a brothel where some of the Vetala and Estries tease, provoke and seduce. Social monitoring and control are tight, including gate guards. However they allow visitors from the Harbor with special permit.
The Patrician Section: The second section that opens to the harbor via a gate on the left. Clean and well maintained, the Patricians support clothiers and tailors, artisans and crafters. The Lamashtu control most of the section and it's four levels and is a favorite spot for the Nobles of the city to visit, and only the wealthy or Noble are allowed in. The common folk are wealthier than most with fine goods and Noble customers. Residents have a medallion that allows passage of the gates. The Striga and Alukah have small halls flanking the larger Lamashtu one.
Free City: Between the other sections are the warrens of huts and small homes clustering up against the old walls of the Village sections. They have sewer grates and limited water, narrow lanes of clutter and filth. The Sheriffs and their gangs patrol infrequently, while Mages may set up as neighborhood rulers. Life is cheap and might makes right. These are also where the Blighted Varcolac , the feral path Hermits, and Infernal Baali like to nest and hunt hiding here.
The Infernal Section: Another four level section controlled by the Tempters, the blue skinned and red rimmed eyed Ramanga. They delight in decadence, excess and mayhem. The Baali are banned as they are judged a madness and threat to the city itself. This section is almost lawless.
The Blighted: The Haunted section is ruled by the skeletal twisted Tilberi and the ghostly Heteraki who are almost mist. The rotting and decayed Varcolac stay mostly in the free city, where they feel their decay is reflected. The ruler tries to walk a mortal morality in the four leveled section.
The Wyld: The ring of this section is larger and contains wild park-like core. The walls are a five level section. Gyllo are few and policed by the other blood lines because they tend to breed out of control ferals who feed, killing and in excess. Yaka and Pricolikae rule by force and survival of the fittest amongst their own kind and do not punish humans who can defend themselves from Vampire attack.
The Harbor: This part is open air with walls from the main city to the water and a low barrier wall between the water and the city section before the greater wall that has gates to the city proper. This section is held in "common" and patrolled by sheriffs and their bully boys. The necromancers and Blood Mages are here along with pens holding the skeleton and zombie crews. Outside the city is another pen for Risen with a special gate leading directly to the harborside. It is the only part of the city open to foreigners and only special permit residents and workers at the ship yard. The residences along the walls go up three levels, though free standing buildings of 5 floors are found in the main body of the harbor section.
The Vetala section: This is one of the two inner walled sections adjacent to the harbor on the far right. The village wall towers to 5 floors. The Vetala section is dedicated to food, music, drink and entertainments. The Vetala Lords feed off blood and are also energy vampires that feed off strong emotion. Their palace in the center features a theater and a brothel where some of the Vetala and Estries tease, provoke and seduce. Social monitoring and control are tight, including gate guards. However they allow visitors from the Harbor with special permit.
The Patrician Section: The second section that opens to the harbor via a gate on the left. Clean and well maintained, the Patricians support clothiers and tailors, artisans and crafters. The Lamashtu control most of the section and it's four levels and is a favorite spot for the Nobles of the city to visit, and only the wealthy or Noble are allowed in. The common folk are wealthier than most with fine goods and Noble customers. Residents have a medallion that allows passage of the gates. The Striga and Alukah have small halls flanking the larger Lamashtu one.
Free City: Between the other sections are the warrens of huts and small homes clustering up against the old walls of the Village sections. They have sewer grates and limited water, narrow lanes of clutter and filth. The Sheriffs and their gangs patrol infrequently, while Mages may set up as neighborhood rulers. Life is cheap and might makes right. These are also where the Blighted Varcolac , the feral path Hermits, and Infernal Baali like to nest and hunt hiding here.
The Infernal Section: Another four level section controlled by the Tempters, the blue skinned and red rimmed eyed Ramanga. They delight in decadence, excess and mayhem. The Baali are banned as they are judged a madness and threat to the city itself. This section is almost lawless.
The Blighted: The Haunted section is ruled by the skeletal twisted Tilberi and the ghostly Heteraki who are almost mist. The rotting and decayed Varcolac stay mostly in the free city, where they feel their decay is reflected. The ruler tries to walk a mortal morality in the four leveled section.
The Wyld: The ring of this section is larger and contains wild park-like core. The walls are a five level section. Gyllo are few and policed by the other blood lines because they tend to breed out of control ferals who feed, killing and in excess. Yaka and Pricolikae rule by force and survival of the fittest amongst their own kind and do not punish humans who can defend themselves from Vampire attack.
Industry & Trade
For the living, the city prospers with food and goods from raids by the pirate fleet, and the small amount of trade from the free states and other pirates in The Teeth islands, the northern shore of the Golam wilds and the eastern Olien wilds and Icelands.
Infrastructure
The Chiaca river supplies the power of sawmills and the transport of logs floated down the river. The primary industries are lumber milling and the production and repair of the black Corsairs, the undead galleys of the Harrower. The only other good port that is not icebound most of the year is on the Necatemoc river on the western side of the the Harrowland. The dome covers the city behind the harbor wall with several gates in the various village sectors and the harbor wall. Outside of the city are fields tended by undead under direction of mortal farmers via necromancers, magical control devices or Dhampir. Livestock are kept in outlying villages and brought to the city weekly. It is rumored that there is a lively business in fresh human flesh as well, though not sold as such.
Assets
The thing that the city is known for locally and in the wider world, is the Undead Fleet. The bulk of the fleet are 92 large 3 and 4 row unmasted galleys which raid and pirate all across the inner sea as well as the 31 Warship galleys. The undead skeleton and zombie rowers all under control of Dhampir, Necromancers and other undead types. They are tireless, strong and silently synchronized in their rowing. Additional skeletons and zombies stand ready to attack or defend, while Blood Mage and other magics and creatures like wraiths and hungry ghosts provide added supernatural force.
Guilds and Factions
Nauhiltepec is one of the few settlements were all the Vampire clans have nests: the Wyld, the Patricians, the Blighted, the Infernals and the Ravagers.
History
The ancient settlement held out against the initial waves of the Harrower's minions. The town wall was good and set with spiked ditches. It also had a powerful Elder God and Skinchangers . The settlement fell in a massive attack where the undead were so numerous that they climbed over each other to finally climb over the walls. Survivors fled the town by secret tunnels made by the Ratkin (wererats) and by taking ships from the harbor. The Harbor area was rebuilt and fortified, then several other walled villages were added. Later a frame of metal was raised over the villages with glass panes and windows that could open or close by great gearwheels and chains.
Nauhiltepec is still secretly inhabited by the wererats and it was under their influence that the Elder God withdrew and slept letting a lesser part of itself be destroyed by the Harrower's forces. The tunnels extend deep into the icy ground and outward to smaller settlements.
Type
Large city
Location under
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