Salon

Braes's magic created the tracks in the sand that brought his first followers to safe shelters and hidden water sources. Once they drank from his water the Brass Dragon became aware of them. He caused illusionary images of monsters to lead them deeper into the canyon where he made his lair among ancient stone ruins and caves beneath arid mesas. The dragons was only looking for people to talk to.
Carved into a complex canyon where echoes carry; Salon is the city of conversation, the font of philosophy, poetry, documentary, stand-up comedy, and so much more. A beautiful town of balconies, where cloud companions protect good citizens from the glare of the sun, and the air is filled with a deafening chorus of birds, small animals, and sapient creatures talking extensively. At the base of the city in the iconic Haven Amphitheater, Braes hosts a nightly talk/variety show. The only requirement...?

Don't Be Boring

To win Braes over and earn time off from rent and other dues you need only win the dragon over during a one-on-one conversation during his talk show. How do you get on his talk show? An entire industry of agents and managers has come into existence to get people there, taking a percentage off the top the whole way. For agents and managers, an interesting sentient item is just as good as a person, if not better since an intelligent telepathic weapon or a magic lamp with a djinni bound inside it so rarely gets caught up in scandal.
Braes prefers yellow, orange, and brown gemstones that coordinate with his own scales, and he favors precious art objects fashioned from brass, including items such as pitchers, braziers, and bells. He also cherishes organic treasures, from finely crafted wood to textiles.

Culture

The spectrum of personalities in Salon can vary from the outwardly friendly, so curious about new people and different perspectives, to the painfully vain, more excited for others to smile and nod while they listen to the sound of their own voice. There's a push and pull between cultured knowledge, compassion, and juicy gossip. Braes loves it all, be wary of those skilled at making others feel they're interested in the details of their tiny, meaningless lives. Secrets are the other currency of Salon. When everyone talks it can be difficult to keep them for very long, and the cruelest find it hilarious when they hurt people who think they're important. But by the same token the most compassionate believe hearing stories and songs that share each other's pain and loss can bring comfort, calm, peace, and unity.

Government

Salon is run by an elected City Cabinet, different members are in charge of the economy, infrastructure, parks, etc. Every other year at least one Cabinet Member goes up for re-election, including all of the discourse, debates, and scandals this kind of system creates.

Industry & Trade

Salon's greatest export is knowledge. Books and scrolls the traditional way, touring comedians, philosophers, poets, and talk shows like Braes's being uploaded into the Magic Weave. In return, Salonists are fascinated by intelligence with no brain—talking swords, sapient Constructs, and the like.

Infrastructure

Bridges connect the different neighborhoods built into the varying crevices Braes has widened for his inhabitants. The best apartments have balconies into those crevices, where Salonists make friends with their neighbors, hang laundry across the way, and can listen in to whatever conversations or performances echo up their way.

Tourism

Salon is full of bars, clubs, and venues, but it all revolves around Salon Tonight with Braes, the nightly variety/talk show hosted by the Brass Dragon himself in the amphitheater at the base of the city. Even during the day, the venue is filled with artistic treasures such as;

• A sculpture depicting a pod of dolphins leaping among stone waves, all of which the dragon has named.
• A statuette of an unknown deity Braes baby talks to.
• A large tapestry depicting a party of elves riding stags through the woods; the dragon has named all the stags and offers condolences on their being saddled and mounted.
• A large mirror in a frame studded with gemstones; the dragon likes to gaze in the mirror and imagine having a mate
• An idol of an obscure minor divinity; the dragon addresses it reverently as “O mighty Froglet” (its shape is only vaguely frog-like)

The show itself as minted multiple local celebrities and recurring bits;

• Cornelius, the sentient finely carved bust of a long-dead human ruler who the brass dragon argues with incessantly.
• Lux, Braes's current dragonborn Councilor.
• The Sphinx and Man, a comedy double act Braes likes to get in between.
• Bruno, a brilliant human woman philosopher.
• Fweep, the sculptured song bird Braes sings with.

Architecture

Braes like his city to be spacious and well lit; apartments feature windows, skylights, and balconies to let sunlight in. He respects skillfully wrought stonework and canyon fortress type structures for government work. Braes is capable of fine stonework himself and has meticulously carved out grand halls and galleries in which to store and display his hoards.

Founders

• Braes

Type

Large city

Inhabitant Demonym

Salonists

Owner/Ruler

Braes

Owning Organization

The Council of Dragons