Adayn

Adayn, the capitol of the Tondene Empire, lay near the mouth of the Kikraadi River, at almost the northernmost point of the lands under Imperial control. Just north of it was wetlands, although most of the city was built on higher ground.
It was large, far larger than any other city in the Empire, and likely larger than any other city on the continent. About a quarter of a million people lived within its bounds. Resources from all over the Empire were required just to feed the population, with most of the food coming from the Kikraadi River valley.
It wasn't just a city, however. Adayn was a different animal altogether. It was as much a showplace as a city. Being the center of government for an entire Empire, and housing the Imperial Palace, meant that there was a much greater City Guard presence, often with elite units and officers. It was also the home of the largest military bases, both for land and sea, and those units often found themselves doing guard duty in the city as well.
The Imperial Palace was even more secure, with the addition of the Emperor’s Guard, a high number of Rooks, and the First Legion. With all of those very loyal assets at his command, everyone there was on their best behavior. At least, theoretically. There were always those who thought they could get away with things, and sometimes they were even right. Even with magical diviners, not all threats could be found and dealt with before it was too late.
The Palace was a city within the city, a vast complex of houses, buildings and structures all for the purpose of politics and ruling. An army of clerks worked within the Palace walls, keeping track of everything in the Empire. The Imperial spymasters, known as the Rooks, had their headquarters there. As did the First Legion, whose barracks were within the Palace walls.
At the center of the Imperial Palace complex was the Valacöa, the House of Power, so named because it was the home of the Emperor. When the house was built, it was named in Elven, to show that it was eternal and everlasting, even though the line of emperors didn't have any Elves in it.
It is, like the countless monuments and statues that decorate the city, mainly constructed of marble. At least, it appears that way; the marble is just a facing material, not structural. Colonnades and courtyards abound, as do dozens of opulently-decorated bedrooms, sitting rooms, meeting spaces, and cozy studies. There is a full theater stage, set at the base of a hillside, with the amphitheater's seating area cut into the slope. There are numerous pools, both cold and hot, for bathing and swimming. It is surrounded by manicured grounds.
Adayn was made the capitol of the Empire in 295 AFE, after a massive hurricane flooded and destroyed the original capitol. Due to the massive damage to the capitol city of Capatalon (where Port Bormand is now), the Empress chose to relocate her court to Adayn, a city on the northern coast of the continent. The weather was much cooler and more temperate, with occasional snow in the deepest of winter. The Empress had been complaining for years about the heat, so the massive damage done due to the storm was a perfect reason to finally pack up and leave. Moving the court took a fleet of boats, and several years to complete. Many nobles were unhappy with the decision, as many were forced to leave their ancestral lands. But the Empress let them know that moving was "completely voluntary", and that if they didn't want to come, they didn't have to. Of course, that wasn't a choice at all, since they were there to run the government, and they wouldn't be able to do it effectively from the other side of the Empire.
Adayn is where the real politicking happens. All of the major players in the Empire come here. It's also where the most cut-throat deals are made, although to those new to the area, all of the nobles seem to be playing nicely with each other. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Because of course the Emperor wanted a stable Empire with no internal strife and no rebellions or infighting. They just had to act nice, and seem to be following the Emperor's rules, so they could get done what they needed to get done.

Founding Date

295

Location under

The Tondene Empire