Bluehaven

Bluehaven is an ancient city in northeastern Jeltir, located to the west of the southern tip of the Rimstall mountain range. It is the most populous city in Jeltir, Talazic, and indeed the material plane. Aside from this, it is known for its connections to the Meydra Elairus, its now-closed lapis lazuli mine, and Lei Cemetery. It is governed by the clerics of the temple of Elairus. The current Head Archcleric is Eldain Elleria.

Demographics

61% human, 26% dwarf, 11% halfling, 1% elf, 1% other

Defences

Bluehaven has a twenty-foot stone wall built around its perimeter with watchtowers spaced intermittently.

Infrastructure

A wind farm stands directly to the southwest of the city, in Ishoutir Pass, between the Blue Mountain and Mount Lestan.

History

Bluehaven was founded during the Age of the Meydra by the Meydra Elairus and has persisted for over five thousand years. It came to be when Elairus encountered a small tribe of nomads who desired a stable home, and he helped them build a city near the Blue Mountain which they were just about to pass. Initially there were no more than 50 people in the village, but it grew rapidly as more nearby humanoids heard that it was under the protection of a god. The population was decimated by a deadly disease after just a few decades, and though the god Perennitus was able to find a cure, the disease cost Bluehaven Elairus, as he lost many people to it and disappeared for many years afterwards. Still, Bluehaven endured, the attention paid it by Perennitus nearly leveling out the damage taken by its reputation in the wake of Elairus's disappearance. He returned many decades later to a town of about 8,000, and remained there until the Death of the Meydra.

Sometime during the first century of the Era of Cloud, the inhabitants of Bluehaven discovered a lapis lazuli deposit at the foot of the Blue Mountain. Within a year, the population of the town was swelling rapidly again as miners poured in. Many of the miners reportedly had spiritual experiences while working, and it is widely asserted that the deposit was a gift from Elairus.

Though the mine was eventually shut down, intrigue surrounding the city remained, and the economy boomed. Due to Elairus's teachings and influence, the town put great care into the keeping of their cemetery and the crafting of their tombstones, and over the years the plot grew to an enormous size, so much so that it is now a major tourist destination.

Architecture

Bluehaven is built into the side of a gentle hill. In the oldest part of the city, the typical house is built directly into the earth, with soil and grass constituting the roof and smooth clay floors, and a white stone wall forming the front. Initially there were no doors, only empty doorways, but wooden doors have been added to all the currently inhabited members of this category.
The further down the hill, the newer the buildings; Bluehaven extends all the way to flat ground. Most of these buildings are made of limestone or sandstone.
The temple of Elairus is largely constituted of marble and alabaster, and is famous for its opulence, beauty, and history.

Type

Large city

Population

52,300

Inhabitant Demonym

Bluehavener