Cere

It is rare that the Triton build coastal cities but when they do, their beautiful architecture is able to be enjoyed by races that would have never seen them before. Cere is a sprawling city built in a series of terraces linked by a deep canal that is kept full by a complex series of water gates that allow for the denizens to travel from the portions of the city that lie on the ocean floor, all the way up to the palace built into the side of the high mountains overlooking the bay.
The city is built on a harsh stretch of coast on a forested island in the far east of the archipelago Solags Folly, the beautiful Pagodas that make up the surface building crawl up the steep mountain terraces with the Royal Terrace taking up the highest portion and its Pagoda stretching nearly to the peak.The canal that runs through the center of the city goes all the way to the sea floor, even from its highest point and many of the denizens of the city live inside of this canal and in the hidden city sprawl on the sea floor extending out from the coastal shelf.
The city is very stratified, the upper reaches of the city to include the upper reaches of the deep canal that leads to it are reserved for the rich, noble and powerful. The portion of the city that lies on the floor of the bay, sprawling from the coast and out past the temples is where the real day to day business of the city takes place with many markets, merchants and well off residential areas covering the sea floor here. It is in the lowest portion of the canal and the deep crevasse that it was originally built from that is where a lot of the darker aspects of the city lie.
On five islands out in the bay, rising from the sea floor and surrounded by city sprawl where eyes from the surface would not see are five temples to the surviving Triton gods. Their Pagodas rise high above the water and are usually the first thing visitors to the city see. All the temples extend down into the earth of their islands and have entrances on the sea floor and domociles built into the sides of them all the way down.
Though this city is governed by the rule of law, it is not a place of cheer and happiness more often than not. Other races are welcome but are under harsh restrictions and sometimes untenable rules that can hold deadly consequences. Also found here are populations of Sahuagin, Kua-toa and Merrow. In smaller amounts are found Aquatic Elves and Merfolk.

Demographics

23 thousand Triton
3000 Aquatic Elves
1500 Merfolk
700 Merrow
600 Sahagin
500 surface dwelling humanoids

Government

This city is governed by a King whose is advised by a council of the Arch-Priests of each temple. The various noble families have representatives on a large council but they do not have much in the way of weight. Those that do not have any sway within the priesthood have difficulty enforcing anything notable. The current ruler is King Kagoryu (LN Triton Veteran).

Defences

The armed forces of the city are the Coral Guard, a well armed force of mixed trained soldiers and drafted militia. Every adult in the city must serve in the Coral Guard for two years unless they have some special dispensation. Druids and Priests in training gain this dispensation. A group of elite hunters and scouts are the Kelpweave Skirmishers and the elite core of the cities defenses are the personal guard of the king known as the "Kings Trident".

Infrastructure

Temple of Kaga The Temple of Kaga is a pagoda like tower, each floor of the temple is a flourishing garden and this temple serves as the breadbasket of the city in regards to surface crops. Each floor is dedicated to a particular set of crops, several floors dedicated to fruit trees and others for crops like Barley, wheat and Oats. The bottom tiers serve as the training grounds for the cities corp of scouts known as the Kelpweave Skirmishers.
The Tower of Tides Temple of Shen Ryo serves as the lighthouse for the harbor, sending out a pulse of light in regular intervals. It holds one of the largest libraries in the city and has within its depths several colleges of magic and a war college where all prospective officers are trained.
The Sanctuary The Temple of Izyu is a bastion of peace and healing in a sometimes overbearing city. All citizens may go here and get treated for their ills. It is a place of soothing music, flowing water and tenderness. The pagodas upper levels are wide gardens with fountains and gentle animals. The druidic Circle of Whalesong makes its home in the lower reaches of the tower.
The Tower of Commerce This sharp edged pagoda serves as the first stop for any and all traders seeking entry into the city, where they are thoroughly inspected and all duties and taxes are payed. Both shipborn and underwater traders must pass through the temples halls to gain entry. The outer portions of the temple complex on each of the pagodas floors are dedicated to meeting halls, counting rooms and vaults for the merchants of the city. The central areas of the tower serve as the cities bank as well as where the dead are interred.
The Bastion of Oburi This large fortress rises out of the sea as a strong deviation from the pagodas that are on either side of it. It is a squat heap of stone bristling with ballista and trebuchet whose only entrance is deep under the oceans waves. At any given time at least half of the cities compliment of Coral Guard are here (500 soldiers,clerics,scouts and wizards).
High Rift The High Rift is an enclosed series of canals that lead from the Sunblind Palace down into the large rift that leads to the greater city. High Rift is the home of the cities elite, affluent homes build into the walls of the canal with the best ones being those that are just under the water. Able to enjoy the sunlight while also being still under the water.
Low Rift The dregs of Cere society find their way here, as well as a large population of undesirables. While the Tritons do not keep slaves, they are not above using cheap and expendable labor of which much can be found here. In this place there are nearly every aquatic race one can think of.
The Sunblind Palace The tallest pagoda in the city sits in the crook of a tall mountain, the base of its tall stairs ending in the top of the High Rift with seawater constantly flowing down them. A blinding building of white marble and gold gilt, it serves as the home of the King, his councils and the kings personal guard. It also holds the Tower of the Tides where a special cadre of magic users work on projects for the king specifically. Within the Tower of Tides is a portal to the Elemental Sphere of Water, the main reason that this city was built here in the first place. It is from this portal that the everflowing water comes and fills the High Rift, flowing out into sea.
Shark District On the outskirts of the city lies a rambling shantytown filled with Sahagin and Merrow.
Whalebone Near the edge of the city this well known Inn sits, built from an assemblage of whale bones its clientel is generally a broad spectrum of individuals from all walks of life.
Low Market A more common market with goods for the masses located in a pleasant hollow between the Tower of Tids and the Tower of Commerce. Goods from primarily undersea traders are most commonly found here. It is surrounded by a large coral bunch that has been grown and molded to provide living quarters and select shop space above the market proper. Large warehouses are carved underneath the coral and storage space can be rented by merchants.
High Market This Market is on the sea floor closest to the coast, it is nestled on a flattened section of the coastal shelf. Several large water powered elevators give access from the end of a long dock to the High Market and the Trade District. This market is bright, it gets more sunlight during the day than any other and is a common shopping location for the more well to do members of Ceren society. Perishable Goods from the outside world are sold almost exclusively here due to the proximity to the trade district.
Deep Market Deep in the Low Rift lies a collection of merchants whose goods are on the decidely grey side of legality, the location of the market changes every day to stay ahead of any attempts by authorities to crack down on the trade. Its location and its construction changes, some days it looks like a legitimate market with stalls while on others it could be located inside of an abandoned warehouse or inside of a cavern attached to the rifts walls.
Abbatoir Cleft Next to the Deep Market in the Low Rift is a menacing crack in the rock face, clustered around its entrance are the various industries based around slaughter and death. The Cleft cuts deep into the bedrock of the island and eventually breaks out into open water 3 miles north of the city. This is where animals that have been hunted are brought as well as where the various sea life that is cultivated for consumption is cared for before slaughter.
Trade District A collection of warehouses, docks, taverns and inns that lie on the lowest coastal area of the city, it is also called the "Foreign Quarter" by many inhabitants since most foreigners are restricted to only this district. It is hemmed in by a low marble wall that serves mostly as decoration. There are three gates that lead into and out of the district through this wall that are guarded at all times and non-triton without the proper paperwork will not be allowed through.

Type

Large city

Location under

Solags Folly