The ancient city of Cihuateopan was once a thriving megapolis centered around Dalyeric's Seat, devoted to the worship of this entity who they called Cihuacaotl. In a previous era, Dalyeric directed Zalikar's armies and empire from this location, far more skilled in the minutia of organization as Krithda is one of their aspects. This empire is long dead but now Ilnithic uses the ruins as their base of operations, deep within the reaches of the Festering Peninsula.
One might expect such an ancient city to be in total shambles especially in such a decay-ridden location. However, Dalyeric personally designed the city to withstand their element, similarly resistant as the city Accia. Most of the damage is instead from the attack that toppled the once great empire. Not much is known about this attack aside from that it related to Dalyeric's defeat at the hands of Accia Syltharis during the Downfall of the Erlithmanil more than 60,000 years prior to its current occupation. Lily Desjardins finds it poetic to revive the city now for the aims of reviving the Erlithmanil.
Demographics
Nearly all residents are Shape Shifter or are direct family of these shifters—though even these are few. Residents are extraordinarily wary of non shifters and outsiders, many of them having suffered extreme rejection, imprisonment or even torture/experimentation because of what they are and this city is their lone safe haven. Otherwise, ethnicities are extremely mixed. Although, ethnicity is as interchangeable as gender for these beings.
Government
by Lee Stepp
Mother or Father shifters handle the overall governance and leadership of both the city and Ilnithic, both nearly the same. Ala oversees much of the community, social events, defenses, architecture and some training while Lily Desjardins handles city planning and organization, oversees the hospital and medical training, trains their agents in espionage and subterfuge and manages those agents. They still have a number of trusted leadership among the Children but they have the final word in all matters as is a benefit of their prestigious and hard earned rank.
Defences
by Lee Stepp
Due to its location within the heart of the Festering Peninsula, it is a natural fortress. This swamp is rife with terrain and lifeforms blessed with decay magic. These include Torith's poisons, Bulok's insects and parasites, Ithkor's fungi and Veksit's diseases. These magics are extremely deadly and poorly understood, most going out of their way to avoid the Peninsula entirely let alone it's deepest most treacherous depths. Luckily for residents, an enchantment had been lain into the perimeter of the city which repels local lifeforms from entering the city. The swamp makes for a natural barrier but if it comes down to it, the shifter themselves are far more dangerous than even the swamp itself. Especially their Mother or Fathers Ala and Lily.
by Lee Stepp
Industry & Trade
by Lee Stepp
They are primarily self sufficient and possess their own internal credit system. However, they do have one outside trade partner—pirates. Further down the river is a port town which acts as a pirate hideaway. Hidden within the mangroves and estuary of the edge of the Festering Peninsula is the pirate stronghold and once primary city when the region was still a part of the kingdom. Lily has worked out an alliance of sorts with their pirate king, personally familiar with them. She primarily trades in secrets and intelligence for the supplies they need, having shifters planted across Emynea and even within the kingdom, their largest enemy. However, she will occasionally find rare materials from within the swamp or trade in favors instead.
Infrastructure
by Lee Stepp
This was a well planned city with remains of aqueducts, ball courts, plazas, temples, roads, canals and buildings constructed by highly skilled masons. They primarily followed a grid system in city planning. They used limestone rocks and adobe bricks in their construction. Larger houses all have inner courtyards, are painted white and had flat thatched roofs. Ilnithic has primarily built into the remains of what was already here, filling in the gaps and letting members of their organization choose their homes for themselves from the spacious city they've moved into, within reason.
Stone platforms rise directly from the swamp water and districts are separated by canals and bridges with decorative creatures carved from stone. There are also a number of islands which are set aside for gardening and agriculture, growing food amid the swamp with dams and efficient irrigation systems. They even have running water. The rest of the city is divided into separate zones and districts, their exact purposes lost to time. Lily has redesignated many of these based on utility whether that be their market, social spaces, sport facilities and even a working hospital.
by Lee Stepp
Assets
by Lee Stepp
They are self sufficient, possessing agricultural islands raised above the swamp and well irrigated. More than enough to support their small population as many of their members are out on assignments. Otherwise, they take what they need from the surrounding swamp. Lily is a local of the Festering Peninsula and is knowledgeable on coexisting with it's exotic but dangerous environment. They also possess an open market which utilizes a loose credit system. They are expected to work but never let their own go hungry or sick, Lily or Ala having the final say on matters case by case if an issue arises.
History
by Lee Stepp
This ancient city was once the heart of a now long dead empire. It stretches all the way back to before the Downfall of the Erlithmanil at the end of their long reign over humanity. The Mexica people were avid worshipers of the Erlithmanil and thrived under their hand much like their polytheistic neighbors in the valley. This specific city was devout to Zalikar and Dalyeric specifically, having awe and respect for their roles in the cycles of death and decay. Dalyeric themself directed their armies from this city in the interests of Zalikar. They even held special sacrificial rites in the temples atop their central pyramid and Zalikar would journey here to take part, to fulfill his commitments to his pact with Azryth. There were even priests amid these people who knew the true purpose of this pact.
Unfortunately for the Mexica, their empire fell alongside the Erlithmanil. Many polytheistic societies fell with the collapse of their gods during this time and this city fell fighting alongside their patron. The Accian hero orchestrated an attack on Cihuateopan and "cleansed" the city of all those worshipping the Erlithmanil. The actual events are shrouded in mystery and much of it lost to history, buried in tales of valor and heroism. Either way, the city is drenched in death, bloodshed and tragedy. It is only brightened by the hope of shifters trying to build the community many of them have always craved, a place they need not hide what they are. Yet still the shadow of the Erlithmanil hang over this city, inescapable.
by Lee Stepp
Architecture
by Lee Stepp
Ruins of old palaces remain close to the central pyramid which are spacious and well built of stone and cedar wood which never rots. Sweet smelling woods are commonly used, assumably to buffer the smell of the swamp. They possess courtyards with awnings of woven cotton. The walls shine with lime and are decorated with all kinds of murals of the city in its prime or features carved stone work.
by Lee Stepp
Dalyeric's palace was by far the most exotic and spacious. A number of fully glass terrariums the size of zoo enclosures are found throughout this palace and are home to rich ecosystems from around Emynea. However, rather than animals they contain unique insects, fungi and even rare diseases. All manner of organisms related to decay thrive within. Lily has taken this for her own and maintains a beautiful garden in the central courtyard, having transplanted the tree which is her familiar into it.
by Lee Stepp
As a sacred city, it is populated by a number of temples and a few pyramids, the largest temple set atop the central stepped pyramid. Dalyeric's actual Seat lays within this pyramid, a series of trials and barriers waiting within which can only be overcome by Dalyeric, Wyrm or a potential host. The pyramid consists of four different terraces and two sets of staircases that reach to the top platform. There are two temples atop the pyramid, one to Dalyeric and a second to Zalikar. The pyramid reaches to 180 ft (60 m) high. The staircases are very steep and are decorated by elaborate serpent mouths painted with bright colors.
by Lee Stepp
Contrasting the temples and palaces, the residential districts were meager and did not stand the test of time. Ilnithic has constructed wooden shacks and cabins along the remaining platforms which possess stilted porches overlooking the swamp. There are a few of the residential districts located further in that have mostly survived which were for middle class citizens. These are made from adobe mud bricks, Ilnithic filling in the gaps with their own sunbaked mud. These have mostly dirt or stone floors and thatch rooves. They are single room, quite simple.
Geography
by Lee Stepp
This city is at the heart of the Festering Peninsula. Thick and lurid swamp dominates the landscape, chock full of immensely dangerous beasts and plant life. The swamp is also rife with rare diseases, giant insects and parasites, poisons and most notably giant fungi. There is hardly a tree that isn't strafed or capped by giant mushrooms and the acrid smell can be overpowering at times. It is almost sickeningly colorful but contains immensely complex ecosystems beneath its torpid waters. Even the plants are known to be man eaters, so citizens must be cautious when leaving the confines of the city.
Climate
Sub tropic if not actually tropical. It is hot, humid and a bit suffocating given the smell of the swamp.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
3,801,166 DE
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
Dalyeric's Seat
Type
Outpost / Base
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Your portrayal of Cihuateopan is truly captivating. The vivid descriptions, the careful integration of real-world influences, and the contrast between the grand temples and the simple residential areas all contribute to a rich and dynamic portrayal of the city. Your attention to detail and creativity shine through in this article. Great job!
Thank you so much! I'm glad it all came together smoothly, I was worried it might be too dry and detailed. I really appreciate your comment, thank you for taking the time to do so!