Urra's Rest

Urra's Rest — otherwise known as the City of Thirteen Wonders — is a massive city that dominates the cultural, religious, and economic landscape of Tax-Xatt along the south-eastern coast of Syvat. The city is home to over 100,000 residents, making it the second largest settlement in all of Syvat, just behind Stolitsa, the Imperial capitol.

History

Urra's Rest is believed to have been the site that Saint Urra Farwander landed upon Syvat and made their religious proclaimation that "This here is the most beautiful cove, for it is one exactly like all others across the world." The city was founded using the thirteen baubles the Saint carried with her from over the Furthest Shore, which were revealed to be miniaturised buildings. These buildings have since become sites of religious pilgrimmage, and have received centuries of embellishment, becoming the Thirteen Wonders.
During the early years of Urra's Rest, the community and its religious sites were seized by a knightly order known as the Masons of the Sealed-Gate, who went on to exact heavy taxes upon pilgrims, gaining significant wealth in the process. The Masons were poor administrators, however, and though the city bloomed in population, its infrastructure and the well-being of its people suffered greatly. During this period, many of the Wonders were modified to better suit the needs and desires of the Masons' elite. After decades of occupation, a rebellion was won by Rqajna Lockwreck, who a few years later was crowned Sultan before perishing under the weight of her crown. A later elected Sultana — Tbattira — abdicated her throne in the face of the Vekhen Empire's invasion. Since then, the city has been a republic.
Recent rumours — told by Drago Apostolov to Cassowary Burya of the Scofflaws' Guild — suggest that Urra's Rest "disappeared" from its original location along the Eastern Shores shortly after the End Times, and has since reappeared in Gol-Kasha, upon the northern coastline of Lake Dvor. These rumours have now been confirmed, with the city apparently "empty" of its citizens, and transported to the north of Lake Dvor by some unknown means.

Points of interest

Though a massive city in its own right, the real attraction — or rather attractions — of Urra's Rest are its Thirteen Wonders. These sites, though in some cases now holding very little resemblance to their origins, began as the thirteen miniaturised buildings that Urra Farwander brought with them when they first arrived on the cove that would become the city. The Wonders are as follows, in no particular order:

• Lead Bellow's Wharf, a huge industrial drydock powered by captured Elemental spirits, that surrounds Lead Bellow, a large (paradoxically) brass fish that was said to be "birthed" by a now collapsed and sunken "egg" that was a part of Urra's initial trappings. Since its "birth," artisans have been attempting to "awaken" Lead Bellow via scientific artisanry, though they have never achieved this feat. The Wharf remains a site of technological innovation, and is considered the pre-eminant place for inventors and artisans to gather in southern Syvat. Theologians remain utterly baffled by the purpose of Lead Bellow and its "egg."
• The Palace of Sultana Tbattira, a massive palatial complex of three tiers — the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard, and the throneroom itself — which was the original seat of Tbattira, last queen of Urra's Rest. The Palace was converted into a museum and cultural centre after the abdication of the Noraddem throne with the invasion of House Vekhen. Only the throneroom was part of Urra Farwander's original baubles, and of its original construction, only the central dias remains. Theologians believe it was once a compass of sorts, though few can be certain.
• The Kannierji, also known as Rqajna's Vaults, which serve as a sprawling centre of administration and banking within the city. Originally built around a sealed vault, the bank rose to prominence — and indeed funded the rise of the city in general — when the first administrator Rqajna Lockwreck managed to crack it and spread its wealth around. The Vault — and those built surrounding it — thereafter was used to store the most precious goods of the city and elites from around Syvat, with a claim that it was impossible to crack except by Rqajna and their successors. Some Theologians are skeptical that the vault was ever opened, however, and point to other theories as to the origins of the wealth, and what may still be within the original Vault.
• The God's Eye, a library dominated by a huge circular table inlaid with an enormous seeing-stone that allows those who commune with it to scry across Glüm and — according to some — anywhere within Creation. Many have suggested that the Eye is actually attuned to the Lord of Bridges & Baubles's nature as a trickster, and the visions it shows are false, though this is hotly contested (from both sides of the argument) by members of the Lord's clergy.
• The Tower Incandescent, a glorious combined lighthouse and clocktower that is believed to sit on the exact spot where Urra herself fell dead. The Tower radiates light in opposition to the Sun, and is said to be inaccessible during the day. At its summit are seven strange hollow orbs which theologians believe may represent something ineffable about the Lord of Bridges & Bauble's nature. It is believed that a tune can be played via the orbs to activate some hidden power, though none know what it might be, or how it might be achieved.
• The Envisioning Theatre, a huge play-hall large enough to house thousands, but outfitted with seating to give only a fraction of that a comfortable and luxurious experience. The Theatre is merely the facade for the true Wonder; the Beholder's Beauty, a mirror, kept behind the enchanted back curtain called the Obscura. This Beauty is said to be able to reflect the thoughts of all those who look within it back to all those present, and is believed to have been intended as a diplomatic tool to avoid confusion and mistranslation. The Obscura has been installed to more finely curate what visions are brought alive to allow playwrights to give life to unbelievably performances.
• The House of Glass, a glittering crystalline greenhouse infused with verdant enchantments allowing anything planted there to grow and thrive, regardless of temperature, light, water, or any other concerns. Believed to have been intended to feed the masses with an inexhaustable source of fruit, the Masons replaced the fruit-bearing trees with gifted plants brought by pilgrims. This practice continued even after their removal from the city, and now it stands as the largest collection of exotic flora in Syvat.
• The Cathedral of the Compass Rose, a large temple built around a mosaic of a compass rose (and believed to be the origin of such upon Syvat). The Cathedral is the holiest — though not largest — temple to the Lord of Bridges & Baubles on the continent, and is a site of constant pilgrimmage. The mosaic itself is believed to be a 'monoardis,' a mono-point in the Song of Creation — though not existing in any other Plane beyond Harmony — which can be referenced and translated to a relative point by those magically attuned to it. Though the ritual for attunement is long lost, it is believed those who once were able to connect to its energy were able to freely navigate all of Creation, a gift said to still be held by the Olmey of the Blinding Plains.
• The Lance of Thought, a mechanical marvel whose secrets and properties remain unknown even to the monks of the Order of Sending who have tended it for generations. Believed to be the housing for a telescopic device that can open and extend into the heavens, the Lance's true powers have hotly been debated since the founding of Urra's Rest. Some believe the Lance might be a weapon, though others insist it is intended to allow communication freely across Harmony and beyond. Sadly, even the writings of Urra Farwander were unclear on its purpose...
• The Baths of Taħmiġ, a vast and deep stepwell whose waters are traditionally clear and pristine, enfused with life-giving minerals, and filtered of any toxins. Though believed to be originally intended as a pure source of water for the people of Urra's Rest — vital given their original home on the coast — the stepwell was converted into a bath house for the city's elite, and its waters treated magically with perfumes and oils.
• Farwander Plaza, a vast concourse housing restaurants, a post office, and a massive mechanical clock. Though physically impressive, the true marvel of the Plaza is its pervasive aura of peace, blunting weapons, silencing magic, and calming emotions for all those who enter. Perhaps paradoxically, the Hall has become infamous as a den of organised crime and economic violence, as the businesses within are extorted and in turn extort those who patronise them (typically overwhelmingly tourists).
• The Elixian Hall, a house of healing and considered to be the most prestigeous hospital in the known world. The Hall is believed to be under the effects of supernatural healing spells woven into every aspect of its construction, making it a site of pilgrimmage for those seeking cures for the worst of ailments. As such, the Hall has historically been a focal point during plagues and other epidemics, though with a greater degree of laxity than most other hospitals due to perceived arrogance from the staff. Some scholars believe that this might be counter productive, and the Hall may have caused more virulent spread than it has healed.

In addition to the above twelve Wonders is the Colosseum of Clarion's Gout, a huge arena that was once found within the city (though since its dislocation, it is now underwater in the north of Lake Dvor). The Colosseum is constructed around a wide sand pit, which can be used to conjure temporary structures and magical effects, believed to have originally been intended as a common square for the burgeoning community.

Maps

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  Map of Urra's Rest

Founding Date

Restday, 26th of High-Summer, 1319 BE

Founders

• Saint Urra Farwander

Type

Metropolis

Population

~100,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Urrans

Location under

Eastern Shores