Ell

Wandering through the streets of Ell, it's easy to lose your way through distraction at all the quaint and pretty features of the city. The roads all lined with large riverstones and lush green grass, the sunsetting sky overhead an eddy of purples and blues, fey lights dancing around the edges of the city just out of reach, the buildings all simply built in ramshackle designs but decorated in homely ways that just make you feel warm and invited.

Demographics

All races and ethnicities co-exist in Ell, though enemies of the fey find it more difficult than others to live here comfortably and enjoyably.

Government

There is no formal governance in Ell. Law and order is managed by a small contingent of elected locals to contain the visitors and ensure the safety of both the locals and tourists. Laws are decided by the community at informal gatherings and decided by informal consensus/general agreement. There are no official taxes, but the local contingent of lawkeepers ensure that visiting merchants contribute an amount of their profits to the settlement to keep up the maintenance of the city. Locals are instead held to unspoken social expectation to donate their time and energy to maintaining the city rather than expected to pay tax.

Defences

Ell has no physical defences beyond the natural fey defences, and geographical defences of Vanimaldine. Their lawkeepers ensure (for better or worse) the safety of the city's weath.

Industry & Trade

The main industry in Ell is tourism and retail. Secondary is transport, with the port working to capacity nearly every day.

Infrastructure

Ell has little in the way of infrastructure beyond a somewhat simple sewer system, riverstone roads, and a productive port which imports goods as well as transports tourists too and from Vanimaldine

Assets

The main assets for Ell are its natural beauty and its proximity to Abzur Lagoon and Glimmershore, which drives its profitable tourism industry.

History

Local folklore goes:
The city of Ell was once a modest and impoverished fishing village until a day many many years ago where a local fisherman rescued a Faewilde nymph from a group of bandits. To thank him for his rescue, the nymph brought the Faewilde plane closer to the material plane over Vanimaldine, creating a portal to the Faewilde and enchanting the land. The natural beauty of Vanimaldine has since drawn visitors from all over Iklarel, especially Glimmershore as a world wonder turning the tiny village of Ell into a prosperous port city and capital of Vanimaldine.

Architecture

Due to the diversity of Ell's population, the architecture of the city is very mismatched and eclectic. The adhoc nature of the maintenance system and process lends itself to somewhat simple and ramshackle structures, but the locals are able to mask this with their own styles of adornment and decoration leading to a very cheerful and vibrant looking resort city, with very homely and welcoming houses. The latent magic in the air also adding to a more appealing appearance to the city.

Geography

Ell sits in the northernmost bay of Vanimaldine with Glimmershore running along either side, and Abzur Lagoon behind it. The city's port sits at the edge of the beach and the marketplace at the border of the city and the beach. Palm trees line the beach and surround the city.

Natural Resources

There is no shortage of wood from the forests and metal and stone from the ground of Vanimaldine that is used to form the city of Ell, however there is danger in harvesting these materials. Resources harvested out of greed or exploitation is summarily and harshly punished by the fey spirits said to live in and protect the Vanime Forest.

Visited by the Venturers?
No

Type

Capital

Population

/*The actual permanent population of Ell is rather small with a lot of transient residents moving in to turn an easy profit before heading back to their homelands. At last count there were 4,500 permanent residents.*/