Emberkeep
Government
Emberkeep is the seat of the Kingdom of the Vale, with the throne being in Ember Castle. The King rules directly over this city, though most of the day-to-day is delegated to City Council.
Infrastructure
City blocks are extraordinarily small and spacious, with as many desire paths crisscrossing yards and parks as paved roadways. Famously, the city has no fewer than seven main gates, and though the city itself is large, travel within the city is fast and simple, facilitated by a robust public transit system.
Districts
The city can be divided into five general districts.
Castle Town
The region immediately surrounding Ember Castle. Home mostly to castle staff. Merchants in this area, whose primary patrons are castle residents, pride themselves on the "Royal Quality" of their wares.East Gate
This district is sometimes divided by local between the East Gate and the southeast Sunrise Gate. Together, they comprise the east and south-east areas of the city and house several key locations, such as the Temple of Lathander (Largest in Primus), and a sizable hospital.The Ashbowl
A region in the west of town built around a hollow in the earth, the Ashbowl is a verdant district and home to several parks and gardens, fertilized by the ashes of the Great Fire.The Villages
A few sprawlings of houses and farms cluster around the city's gates. These are referred to collectively as The Villages, but are specifically, running clockwise from the northmost gate: Raven Town, Seven Brooks, The Arch, Elmwater, Lowshade, Redcrest, Fogpark, and Highbarrow.The Gates
Smaller regions named for the city gate they are nearest to. The specific scope of each region is debatable, but is generally held to include at least the gate itself and the two blocks immediately surrounding it, as well as any important landmarks within or adjacent to this area. Beginning with the northmost gate, they are: North Gate, Littlegate, Sunrise Gate, Ivy Gate, Southgate, Redgate, Mistgate, and the Stair.History
During the Cataclysms, Ember Keep was destroyed by the magical assaults of the Abenese Empire. Like much of Primus, the Vale was devastated by the attack, finding shelter only in the mountains and ancient warrens of its hill-country.
Many moved to rebuild the capital on the coastline, where the crown could shelter at sea, or nearer the mountains, but King Alayne Dragonslayer insisted on rebuilding in the same place. The memory of the calamity, she promised, would be neither forgotten nor repeated. Indeed, a ring around the edge of the city was left untouched, the earth still scorched and warped, as a memory of just how much the Vallean people can weather.
Alternative Name(s)
City of Roads
Type
Large city
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank