The City of Fensalir

Description

The oldest settlement in Melrath, Fensalir has existed long before the first refugees from hailing Ne’haer arrived. No one really knows how long the city has existed, except that it was in existence for at least a hundred arcs prior to the building of Raelia and the creation of Melrath as a nation.

The people of Fensalir lead a simple life, unburdened by the complexities and politics of society. The locals claim ancestry reaching back to the very first humans that conversed with the spirits of the land. Spirit worship is the primary “religion” in this place and there is also an undying respect and love of the natural world.

It is here that the Ydaliri Rangers dwell, beneath the dappled shadows of the Myrkvior Forest. This faction is one of the oldest in Melrath and defends the Wilds themselves; especially the forested lands of the nation. Many of their members are raised in Fensalir and go to train at their hall on the outskirts of the city.

The buildings within Fensalir are often made from beautifully finished wood that is sometimes painted a dark emerald green with ivory and copper accents. Rooftops are pitched steeply and many are embellished with small statuettes at the peaks of the roofs that display the image of a particularly beloved local spirit. The majority of the spirits revered by the people of Fensalir take the form of animals, especially foxes, deer, and hawks.

Fensalir itself is quite sprawling, interspersed between towering elms and slender pines. The Myrkvior Forest washes over this place and makes its presence known no matter where you are standing. Roads are paved with polished river stones, but many lesser used roads are little more than green forest paths that have been worn down by generations walking upon them.

Fensalir is more or less arranged in a large crescent moon shape, central to Fensalir rests the town center where there is a modest shopping district and open city square that is framed by the famed Aurelien Arch. The Arch has mysterious origins but stories suggest that it was there before the city itself was ever founded. The Arch is made from a soft colored golden marble that is carved with almost inhuman levels of precision. Beneath the Arch lies the city square where residents come to relax and shop.

Here locals peddle their wares. Leatherworking and woodworking are prominent here as there is a high demand for leather armor for the local Ydaliri along with beautifully made bows. Around this central area is also a large outdoor amphitheater made from stone with a shallow but wide stone pool at the center on a plinthe. Here the leaders of the town come to speak to the people during civil gatherings. The Ydaliri Rangers more or less handle the policing of the city, although there is very little crime. They will settle petty disputes in the markets while also guarding the borders. It is customary for less senior members of the Ydaliri rangers to tend to Fensalir while the more experienced members spend their time protecting the vast expanse of Melrath’s Wilds.

Fensalir does fall under the rule of Melrath’s governing body; the Circle, though it has been a rocky relationship at best. There is a fair amount of resentment between the more traditionalist population of Fensalir versus the more modern residents of Raelia.

Layout Overview

Fensalir is the second biggest city in MeIlrath. It contains several main city districts. The city is sprawling, with a roughly crescent-shaped layout. It is concave to the south and convex to the north. This means that both end tips of the crescent shape point to the south.

Due to a height difference in nature, the city has two levels. A ridge divides the crescent-shaped layout lengthwise in two twin-crescents. The northern part of Fensalir, named Upper City, consists of the two districts. Those are Aspenglade and Juniper Hills. The southern part, named Lower City, consist of the three districts. These are The City Center, Pinegarden and Springwater.

The main street named Crescent Street runs trough Fensalir from end to end. It follows the ridge between the upper and lower city, on the lower side. This is the biggest street in Fensalir. A network of other streets connects to it. It covers the whole city and offers a plethora of optional routes.

Fensalir has grown in an organic manner. They built the city in harmony with Nature. This means that the streets are often meandering. This is to spare the trees and the ground unnecessary impact.

Outside of the city proper, south of Springwater you find Fenmoor. This is the small outlaw district where the few criminals of Fensalir dwell. To the northeast, there are old ruins of unknown origin.

Map Credit: Brent Forrester