Crisial of the Four Towers

Crisial City (formally Crisial of the Four Towers) is the capital of the Crisial Kingdom. Located on the southern tip of Lake Coy'in, it's one of the newest cities in the Federated Nations. Founded by the Council Lands in 199 AC under the name Yuuras Zaali, it was the site of the Catalysts' first exploits, and is the closest city to the Towers of Sun, Earth, Moon, and Stars and the Lady's Grove. It is also situated directly on the main (and only) trade routes from the western nations to the east (and back). As a result of those location advantages, it began to expand rapidly by about 214 AC. A major exodus of the High Houses of the gwerin from Kaelthia to Crisial City occurred shortly before the Crystal Spire War (and in fact were a major factor behind that short-lived conflict). As the Council Lands became moribund and began to disintegrate, the citizens of Yuuras Zaali decided to take matters into their own hands. By 220 AC, they had begun to construct a new wall of stone and expand the docks both outside and inside the wall; the wall was mostly finished (at least the eastern portion) by the start of the civil war in 227, and played a role in the defense of the city against forces from other regions. It was completely finished in 237 AC, although finishing touches (including a facade of marble) are still being added slowly.

Map

Sections and Color Codes

• Areas marked in yellow (bright or faded) are predominantly gwerin-occupied.
  • The Unhoused (outside the wall to the west, near the Lady's Grove) is the gwerin "slum" where gwerin commoners and those without House affiliations live. This area has mostly long, low apartment buildings with communal kitchen areas and other facilities surrounding courtyards with wells. There are also many shops here, selling diverse wares.
  • The Low House District is populated by people associated with the Low Houses, many of whom serve or work for the High Houses. This area has lots of large houses subdivided into apartments. There are also commercial buildings here, mainly catering to the upper class gwerin.
  • The High House District is, despite its large size, thinly populated Each block is an estate containing multiple houses and towers belonging to one of the high houses. As a general rule, those closer to the river and closer south are higher status.
  • The Palace is the estate where Queen Raanee lives. Not a formal palace, nor is it heavily defensible except by opening the bridges that connect the two sides of the river. It's mostly just a well-built estate. The actual seat of government is on the smaller island to the north.
• Areas marked in green (dark or light) have mostly wall-builder occupants.
  • The Outwall is the "human slum", but actually has the largest halfling population. Much more ramshackle and impermanent than the Unhoused, these tend to be wooden houses and shacks crammed close together. Shops here tend to be heavily guarded and/or shady.
  • The Ring Road District (just inside the wall on the western side) is the oldest portion of town, with a few buildings dating back to the founding. It used to be high-class, but has degenerated significantly. Now it's lower-class, where the unpopular artisans and other skilled workers live and work.
  • The River District is the home of the wealthier merchants and artisans. Many of these aspire to nobility and/or ape the fashions of the gwerin across the river (a fact which the gwerin studiously ignore). Larger houses and higher-class establishments are located here.
  • The Feather District is home to the human noblility (at least their city homes). Large, fortified estates and a few very-high-end shops, taverns, and clubs fill this area.
• Areas in brown are trade, mercantile, or warehouse districts.
  • The Foreign Merchants district is home to most of the companies that trade between nations. Major shipping concerns have their headquarters (or branch headquarters) in this area. It is also where the foreign ambassadors live and have their embassies.
  • The Inner Docks are a small set of docks inside the wall. Most of the bulk cargo is offloaded in the Outer Docks, but couriers, pleasure boats, passenger vessels, and other such boats dock here.
  • The Trade District is where much of the larger business establishments are located. This also includes the main city markets (although each district has its own smaller markets).
  • The Outer Docks District is where the large ships dock and where most of the warehouses are. Especially for those transshipping with the western nations along the Dragon Road.
  • The Grain Merchants District, contrary to its name, doesn't have many grain silos (although some remain). Instead, it's where much of the industry happens. Factories (especially those needing water), tanneries, etc. It's also where fishing boats dock.
• The Dwarven District, the smallest of the districts, is home to many of the dwarven-run companies, forges, etc. It is also the main storage location for minerals and stone coming from the mines and quarries upstream. One of the major docks for traffic down the river is located upstream of the Dwarven District outside of the wall.