Tal'Tanael "The Ruby Tower"

Tal'Tanael, often called "Tall Ten" by the common folk, is the capital of the Vylvar Empire, oldest known city in the world. Home to the Tar'Eras, the "Elder Men" humans of mixed lineage whose ancestors mingled their blood with one of the elder races: the long-lived Tarnai , or High Elves, who first built Tal'Tanael in an age before fall of the Elven Dominion and the rise of the Vylvar Empire.
The city itself is composed of ten rising, walled tiers, or cantons, originally belonging to different Tarnai noble houses. The walls and oldest buildings are built of nearly immutable, semi-opaque, red stone. What was once a spacious city of towers, mansions, and temples inhabited by near-immortal elves has become a crowded metropolis of common stone and timber buildings thrown up alongside the more ancient dwellings. These new constructions now fill gardens, courtyards and wide avenues with sprawling houses and shops divided by narrow, twisting streets. The upper cantons, though dimmed in glory somewhat, are still opulent and dominated by the wealthy, priestly and martial classes. The lower cantons however suffer from many of the same ills and growing pains of more mundane human cities while admittedly benefiting from a superior water and sewer system unequaled in the world.
The real value of the city, beyond its unequaled design and fortification, lies in its canals. Scholars disagree as to how they were built, but most believe that spells beyond the understanding of modern magicians, and centuries of human slave labor must have been used. The Great Canal runs east to west, centered on the Capital. It connects the great river Eidas, in the East, and the Antaras, in the West. Both run down from the mountains in the north to the sea in the south without ever meeting. The canal connects them. An endless supply of water for irrigation and fortified moat systems floods the imperial heartland from this canal and its many intricate valve-gates. Its depth and width, allows any ship to navigate up to the city, even from the Southern Sea.

Demographics

~2% nobility (established by demonstrable Tarnai bloodlines, or Imperial warrant) , ~30% citizens (military officers, priests, lower public officials, property owners) ~40% non-citizens (barred from military commission, priesthood, public office and property ownership), ~30% slaves (between chattel slavery and indentured servitude, slaves with limited rights)

Government

Tal'Tanael is the seat of Imperial government. Though the dominion of the Empire in the west has fallen, one would never know it to see the crisp and alive administration of Tal'Tanael. After a period of unrest and civil war during which the western portion of the Empire was lost, a series of competent emperors aided by loyal legions restored order and re-consolidated Imperial power and majesty resulting in a renewal of civic faith and a decline in formerly rampant corruption among officials.

Defences

Tal'Tanael is traditionally defended by two full legions. Originally these were the 1st and the 2nd, however after a commander of the 1st betrayed and killed Emperor Ar'Tazor, it lost the honor and has been relegated to frontiers. The 2nd was totally destroyed in battle long ago and the standard was retired. The 13th and the relatively new Imperial Legion now guard Tal'Tanael both numbering about 10,000 at any given point. The city guard numbers about 2,000 and can, if needed be called upon to defend the city. The walls of the city are ten concentric circles. The walls of the lower 5 cantons have eight gates each, and are fifty feet in height. The walls of the upper cantons have walls of similar dimensions, but only four gates each. The last and highest canton has only one gate.

Industry & Trade

Tal'Tanael is the center of the world. Most roads lead there, the great river Antaras flows from north to south on the city's western side where extensive docks serve the river trade. Tal'Tanael is main source of scholarly learning, finest craftsmanship (with exceptions) and luxury goods in the known world. The slave market of Tal'Tanael is said to sell men and women of all origins and from all lands including members of the elder races (though these often cost a small fortune).
The Great Canal runs east to west, centered on the Capital. It connects the great river Eidas, in the East, and the Antaras, in the West. Both run down from the mountains in the north to the sea in the south without ever meeting. The canal connects them. An endless supply of water for irrigation and fortified moat systems floods the imperial heartland from this canal and its many intricate valve-gates. Its depth and width, allows any ship to navigate up to the city, even from the Southern Sea.

Infrastructure

The thousand fountains of Tal'Tanael produce clean water for all from the lowest classes to the highest. The sewers ensure that, even as the city grows more crowded, it does not gather heaps of filth as is common in the lesser "great" cities. Dozens of mighty towers and hundreds of lesser spires, all of the same ancient red stone, rise above the powerful tiered walls of Tal'Tanael giving it an air of other-worldliness and certainly a sense of ancient majesty. Tal'Tanael has never been taken by force in war without the aid of strong sorcery.

Alternative Name(s)

Tall Ten

Type

Capital

Population

Around one million souls

Inhabitant Demonym

Tanaelean