Nexus

Nexus is the citadel of the oreads, built around the great rift in the heart of the Bonebreak mountains. Located mostly underground, it is constantly assailed by the Sun below and held in place by powerful earth mages. As the mines are prone to collapse and the aether within is toxic to organic beings, the actual mining is done by aetherborn constructs, called underlings by the oreads.

Demographics

The city is inhabited mostly by oreads and aetherborn underlings.

Government

Nexus is an independent city-state which holds sway over the smaller oread settlements in the Bonebreaks.

History

Once an oread keep like any other, the city grew to its present size due to sheer luck, hitting a massive aether vein that proved to lead to yet more. Geological instability and aether-based accidents have plagued the extensive mining operation, and there are hundreds of miles of blocked-off tunnels and caves waiting to be reopened.

Architecture

The subterranean halls are wide enough to head off claustrophobia and the walls and floors are polished, but the oreads are much more concerned with functionality than with aesthetics.

Geography

The city is built on three levels. The upper level of the city is the commercial quarter; most industry and fungus farming takes places there, as well as shopping. The second layer is the dwelling place of wealthy nobles and royalty, as well as official functions. Lower Nexus is the residential district.

Natural Resources

The great success of Nexus, and its bloated size compared to other oread settlements, is attributable to the vast quantities of aether mined beneath the city by the underlings.

Type

Large city