Moonstone
Moonstone was founded by the ambitious Merchant Families of Beryl, later joined by the Merchant Families of the other cities as well due to its strategic importance. Moonstone stands along the main trade route through the Jungles of Kar'ack to reach the Great Scar. Even before the rise of the Shadowlord, this was important to ensure that whomever controlled the Great Scar did not also control the only access to the markets along the Great Scar. When the Shadowlord came to power, Moonstone became the safe way to reach the People of Sun and River. Now, with the Empress controlling Scarmouth, Moonstone serves as the first stop for those who wish to avoid Imperial tariffs by taking the land route to the great river.
Demographics
The people of Moonstone are primarily Gemspeakers, though there are many descended from those who use the Scartongue among its population. There are also a number of former Shadowlord subjects who fled to Moonstone during the Empire's war against the Shadowlord.
Government
Moonstone is structured much like the other Merchant Cities, with a Prince and a ruling council. There are far fewer 'Great' Families among the families of Moonstone, partly due to being the youngest of the Jeweled Cities. Many of the Merchant Families of the Jeweled Cities have branch families in Moonstone, meaning even the 'local' families must contend with far more competition.
Defences
Moonstone relies heavily on mercenaries for its defense, as it lacks the manpower to field a strong guard. Due to the importance of Moonstone's location, it often has enough funds on hand to pay for mercenary companies to drive off ambitious warlords or rival cities seeking to gain control of this important trade route.
History
Moonstone was founded by the Merchant Families of the other Jeweled Cities to secure a land route that could go through the Jungles of Kar'ack to the Great Scar to reduce the reliance on Scarmouth. For many years, this was the main purpose of Moonstone. When the Shadowlord conquered Scarmouth and the southwestern portion of the Great Scar, Moonstone became the first stop on the route to avoid the Shadowlord's domain. This made it a crucial strategic target for the Shadowlord, and in 224 of the Age of Iron, the Shadowlord lays siege to Moonstone, overwhelming it and taking the city in only a few months. For six years, the Shadowlord occupied Moonstone, and even 25 years later, the city has not forgotten that time.
As such, the people of Moonstone tend to be more favorable to Imperials, as it was the Imperials who liberated them from the Shadowlord when the Empress launched her campaign against him. The first move she made was to drive the Shadowlord's forces from the city.
Founding Date
157
Alternative Name(s)
The River Gate
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