Dolerin
Capital of the darkening queendom Nosirith. Until a matter of months ago the capitol building, then called Barad Castle, housed the aging monarchs of the royal line descended from King Johannes the First, slayer of the Strix. A trio of ex-soldiers led a coup to overthrow the rulers after their own mistreatment, one of whom claimed the throne as her own and now rules with a nigh literal iron fist. Now guards are starting to don darker armors featuring thorns, nervous citizens watch their backs if they leave their homes, people barricade their doors at dusk, and each day criminals and loyalists are dragged to the throne room never to return. All this and more is the beginning of the new queen's reign.
The capital is a large town divided into three districts by a pair of rivers and the central area has three further districts by age. The east edge of the city's core area features the highest district which hosts the capitol castle, now called Schmetterling, and the fortress of military garrison. This area is called the Peak District and is built atop a mountain with a mighty spring that feeds both rivers. The second highest is the Plateau District, which is also the wealthiest. It holds shops, a theatre, galleries, artists, and most middle and upper class houses inside the city's core section. Finally is the Founders' District which holds the old city hall & mayoral office, the gardens, and countless small houses which may date back to Dolerin's founding 300 years ago. These tend toward more rundown homes, hovels, sewage trenches, less successful businesses, the guard's base, and the old prison. Dolerin is also one of the only settlements built on a sewer system that accommodates the invention of toilets and safely drains waste out of the city.
To the south, past the Jade river, are the farms, mills, mines, guildhalls, shipping companies, and the new Arcane Tower mage college. These are the most spacious areas within the the walls and the area where trade beyond them flows. The Venetors' Guildhall was built across the bridge from the city core as a means of defence before the city expanded beyond. Construction began on the tower 27 years ago and it is now Nosirith's new center for mages though it is closely watched by authorities for everything from signs of treason to summoned monsters. The core is bordered on the north by the Diamond River, which has shallow and crystal clear waters. The area to the north is a mix of noble estates, large businesses, hotels, forts, and open fields. The latter are even used to host short term shanty towns when traveling caravans will set up camps of several wagons and tents on occasion. While they rest and sell stocks to merchants they often trade with locals on a smaller scale.
