As Atalatha was the inception of this idea, it stands to reason that Atalatha would be the first place to really embrace it and have a team.  We’ll be looking at the arena that their matches take place in, as well as seeing our first look at their top five players in the Atalatha Firebirds.

Below, you’ll see the initial sketch that Wern provided for us.  It was important to nail down three things: the towers, the arena, and what exists outside.  You’ll notice that there are towering statues on the outside edge of the arena, and that is because we wanted to have the heroes of Atalatha and Raleigh embodied and memorialized

We briefly lost the towers when we were designing the look of the arena a little further.  You can also see we dialed back the number of statues outside.  Where’d the towers go?  Well, typically speaking, the towers are themselves magical, being constructed on the day of the event.  Because the towers can be placed in a zone on a team’s side, it needs to have a bit more flexibility in the way that it is “built”, so to speak.

For the sake of visual appeal, we’ve kept the towers in an established order.  You can see that they’re pretty standard in their appearance (although one thing we did need to work on was a proper entryway into the towers—you can’t play without an entrance).  Wern also touched up the environment both inside and outside the arena.

Here we’ve got our doorways in the towers.

And here, we have another quintessential part of the towers: the flags.  The flags are magically enchanted to react to the other very important part of the game, the sphere.  When the sphere passes through the tower, the flag atop it will change to the color of the sphere, represented by which player holds it.  Atalatha’s team flag is often blue, because of their team logo, and the color of their city’s sigil.

Here in our final piece, you can see the top five players of the Atalatha Firebirds.  From left to right, we have Harun Jadar, Luca Kreegan, David Garus, Degrad “Dirk” Camdy, and Venathryn of the Whisperwind Elves.  They’re a very competent team, and Atalatha is lucky for not only having been the place where TowerSphere was born, but by having a great set of contenders who are eager to keep the championship in their city.

That’s all for today, but at the time of this writing, we have three other teams and their arenas which we’ll be showing off in the months to come, so keep your eyes peeled!

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We started with something pretty basic.  From what I knew of heraldry, I started putting together a few different concepts for our half-dozen sigils that we were going to work on.  For Atalatha, a golden phoenix on a blue background seemed like it would fit the feel of the “golden city.”  Francois delivered an awesome concept, but he didn’t stop there.

Francois ended up giving us an awesome set of the sigils with expanded effects.  This is a version of the sigil with a metallic embossing, on a canvas-like material.

This one is also a sort of flag-like material, but the symbol isn’t metallic.

This is a cool one.  I imagine this is like a tile that’s been lost to time that once sat outside a prominent building.  Wear and tear somehow makes the piece look even cooler.

This effect is my absolute favorite, across the board, for all of the sigils that Francois did.  That’s why this one is getting the featured status.  Big thanks to Francois for all his work on this project.  He did an awesome job that we were really happy with.  I’m definitely going to get him involved in more of this stuff.  Stay tuned for the next sigil in a few weeks.

Bonus: If this kind of thing tickles your fancy, how about a version of the painted sigil that’s sized for mobile phones?

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Early Life

Zachariah Caista is known for being the captain of Atalatha’s guard.  His parents died when he was very young, leaving his brother, Stephen, as his guardian.  Unfortunately, neither brother was left well off.  Zachariah spent much of his youth in subpar housing, while his brother pursued techniques of the sword.

The brothers’ luck changed when Stephen began training Atalatha’s guards in combat.  Though Zachariah was still left to his own devices for most of the day, he was afforded some time to pursue an education.

Country Life

When Zachariah was slightly older, his brother took on a personal task.  Years earlier, he had seen a young child named Michael Kreegan in an obstacle course during a city-wide celebration.  Stephen uprooted his small family, and moved to the Kreegan farm, in an effort to train Michael to be a master swordsman.  While doing so, he began training Zachariah how to be Michael’s squire.

During the war with Blacklehn, the Kreegans took Zachariah in, treating him like a second son.  All of the children enjoyed the addition, leading to more fun in the countryside.

Return to Atalatha

When Stephen returned from the war, he brought Zachariah back to Atalatha with him.  Stephen was renowned for his prowess in battle, and for his many feats in the north part of the country.

With the Caista name in good standing, Zachariah set out to make his own name stand out.  He applied for the Atalathian guard regiment, and began working his way up to the top, becoming the captain of the guards in a short amount of time.

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Family and Early Life

Alicia Mane was born on Nehr 8^th, 959.  Her father was a heroic adventurer named Eltan Mane, who was best known for his role in the fall of Roark, the tyrannical undead king of Blacklehn.  Later, Eltan was given permission to begin construction on the city of Atalatha, which evolved to be even bigger than Viscosa, Raleigh’s capitol city.  He took on the title of Duke, governing over the city.

Miss Mane was unfortunately unable to know her mother, Kyra, very well.  During her fifth birthday celebration, Alicia’s mother passed away to illness.  It was during that tragedy that she first met the Kreegans.  The Eltans and the Kreegans developed a brief friendship, despite the difference of their class.

Manifestation of Powers

Nearly ten years after the tragedy of her mother’s death, Alicia heard rumors of Michael Kreegan returning to the city.  She attempted to reconcile with him, during an event at the fledgling coliseum, but was unable to find him.  Instead, she intended on meeting him at the inn where she knew he was staying.

When she arrived at the Centurion, Michael had already left for his home.  Instead, she was approached by a band of thugs, who were searching for the winner of the coliseum event.  Finding her instead, they attempted to sexually assault her, and kidnap her for ransom, before they learned of her high stature.  She didn’t let them ruminate on her position for long, however.

Desperately trying to escape, a fire shot forth from her hand.  The Centurion burned to the ground, along with the thugs that attacked her, and the owner of the inn.  She never spoke of her involvement to anyone.

Atalatha’s Youngest Diplomat

Following the tragedy at the Centurion, Alicia spent a long while trying to forget about the cruel images that plagued her memories.  Much time was spent grooming her to be an aid for her father.  She became a diplomat, traveling to other Raleighn towns when he could not.

She also spent some time within the capitol of Viscosa.  There, she pursued a brief education, specifically trying to figure out more about what had caused the fire to leap from her hands all those years before.

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History and Name

The Sapphire Square is one of Atalatha’s oldest and most prestigious taverns.  Over the years it has acquired a finer dining feel, though it does still retain some of its rustic charms.

It comically acquired its moniker when the owner met with the master craftsman just after the foundation was laid.  At that time, the place was nameless, and only a painted outline was visible beside the stone.  Henceforth, it had become known as the Sapphire Square.

Location

The tavern is located just north of Main Street on the western side of town.  It is also just east of the golden bridge that separates the upper class district of the city.

Clientele and the Endorsement of Eltan Mane

Because of its proximity to the upper class district, many nobles happened to attend the tavern as a matter of convenience.  Because of the polite and thoughtful treatment he received there, the Duke of Atalatha became a constant visitor.  It became his meeting place of choice, and has expanded remarkably because of his attendance.

Its proximity also makes it a prime location for the soldiers and guards of Atalatha, as the barracks is also on the western side of town.  The men in uniform will typically have their meetings there, including business arrangements with mercenaries and anyone else who might be in need of some spare coin.

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The Great Cathedral is located within Atalatha, among some of the northernmost structures.  Specifically, it is beside both the Museum of Wonders and the Great Library.

The Cathedral is a tall building with a sharply sloped roof.  Compared to the rest of the city, it appears quite foreboding and gothic.

Within the Cathedral, rows of pews lead to an altar, not unlike one of the temples in the city.  There are no effigies, however.  No symbols to the gods are apparent, and no statues are present.  It is typically dark, matching the deep tones of the wood outside.

Behind the Cathedral, Richard Lener’s cottage sits, fenced into the same lot.  A small stable also sits there, home to the massive horse, Ox.

History

Richard Lener had once been a cleric in Seramore, offering up his services to the people in an effort to help to offer prayer and reverence to the gods of Tellest.  As time went on, however, he learned that he didn’t fully endorse the polytheistic beliefs of the people of his congress.  He abandoned his city to try and find a more true purpose, and determined that he believed in a higher power.

His faith is not shared by many, and though he was given the means with which to build the Great Cathedral, very few people ever visit.  Almost nobody attends Richard’s services willingly.  In spite of this, he still holds a ceremony at least once every week.

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Location

The Great Library is a tremendous building within the city of Atalatha.  It sits at the end of the northernmost road, adjacent to both the Museum of Wonders and the Great Cathedral.

History

When Atalatha was being built, the Knights of Virtue were given the means to create lasting legacies within the city.  Richard Lener, the eldest of the knights, is the only one to personally supervise the building and maintenance of two of the edifices.

Lener’s passion had always been his cathedral, a temple to what he calls “one true God.”  However, because he is so singular in his belief, the cathedral stands as nothing but a monument to what many people see as veiled lunacy.

Because of the lack of concern for his cathedral, Lener also focused much of his energy on the Great Library of Atalatha.  Due much in part to the high number of citizens, the library is one of the country’s most popular research and entertainment spots.

Physical Description

The Great Library is one of Atalatha’s larger buildings.  It stands two stories high, but it is quite wide, with a wing that spreads wide from all four corners.

Inside, a set of spiraling staircases leads to the second floor.  The roof is comprised of thick glass, letting natural light spill into the building.  Marble benches and wooden tables populate many of the wings, and bookcases line the entirety of the perimeter, except for the doors.

Selected Works

Among the many books available in the Great Library, perhaps the most numerous are those penned by Lener himself.  He’s deliberated through a multitude of books on his faith, as well as historical references, including that of Batrura, Romus and Semia’Laz and Roark.  Most of his work is contained in the history of Raleigh, though occasionally, he has performed research for Enarice in Tarson, where demons are said to have found a portal to the world of the living.

Another author who is widely renowned whose work is available in the Great Library is Gaston Camlann.  Many of his writings on magic have found their way to the shelves of the library, although he has never personally been there.

Even other races have their materials within the place.  The orc philosopher Sol’bek has one of his earliest works, A Treatise of Orc and Man signed in the foyer area of the Great Library.

A Deep Secret

Some of the people who spend time at the Great Library have noticed noises coming from below the floor, and have seen people disappear, as if from thin air.  Typically, these absences occur late at night, although no one has been able to substantiate such wild claims.  

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Location

The Museum of Wonders is located in the city of Atalatha.  It stands adjacent to the Great Cathedral and the Great Library.  It is one of the northernmost buildings.

History

When Atalatha was conceived, and the Knights of Virtue were given a chance to forge their destiny, Maximus Xanders knew exactly what he wanted to leave in his name.  The Museum of Wonders was a place for all the antiquities and oddities that he had acquired or built throughout his life.

Rather than safely tuck the relics of great importance away, he decided to put them on display for all to see.  The Museum allows a great deal of coin to flow through the city, as out-of-towners will often flock to the building while on holiday.

Maximus has living quarters within the edifice, as well as a workshop where he tinkers with some of his more queer items.

Physical Description

The Museum of Wonders is a building that stretches fairly deep.  The entrance is styled almost like a temple, with marble steps and pillars that seem to hold up an effigy of the god, Mathias.  His eyes seem to follow passersby, enticing people inside.

Within, a large, lifelike statue of the dragon Batrura greets people, its legs opening toward the rest of the museum.  Each room within the place houses many of the items that Maximus has collected, the rooms open wide enough to fit several houses inside.

Each antique is typically held beneath thick glass or attached to the walls to deter thieves.  Some of the larger items are housed inside clear boxes in the center of each area.

Notable Items Within

Maximus has collected dozens, if not hundreds of antiques over the years.  Sometimes things are gifted to him, and occasionally, he visits far off lands to come back with souvenirs.

Among many of his presentations are busts of long lost leaders.  Several of them line the halls that lead one room to the next.  Full statues of other legends, including the dragon in the foyer, can also be found.

He is also an avid collector of weaponry.  The knife of Jasmine Byrne, which delivered the final blow to Roark, is situated not far from his workshop.

Maximus is also well known through the city for his personal ingenuity.  Several of the items that he’s tinkered with are on display as well, including everything from an underwater breathing apparatus to small windup toys.

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General Information

Atalatha is the largest walled city of Raleigh, and is located beside (and also encompasses) the Spirit River, one of the largest rivers in Draconis.  The Spirit River also directly connects Atalatha with Viscosa, the capital of Raleigh, which lies south of Atalatha.  It is also the center of commerce between Fostervilla, to its west, Westwick, to its east, and Sentinel, to the north.

Atalatha is mainly an import city, housing more than 64,000 inhabitants.  But it also provides exports in many luxuries, such as fine jewelries and textiles among its trade districts.

Atalatha is protected by a long, unbroken wall that surrounds the city in a nearly perfect circle.  Should any intruders break through the wall, Atalatha’s own numerous city guards would be there to meet them.

History

Atalatha takes its name in the form of a joke.  One of its founders, Grant Scott, exclaimed “At last,” when he and his allies were commended and rewarded for their part in the victory of Raleigh over a tremendous undead force from the north.  When they all discussed what they were going to do with the rewards, one of them suggested that he was going to begin construction on a town which hinged on values like honesty, honor, respect and justice.

Grant, together with the seven other Knights of Virtue, is credited with founding the city of Atalatha, though only five of them actually live in the city.  One of them did not even live in the same country during the time of its founding.  Eltan Mane is the ruler of the city, and is also one of the Knights of Virtue, specifically, the one who came up with the idea for the city.

Atalatha is still a young city, established on the 21^st of Gaune, 956.  However, it is expanding with the vigor of its eight young founders, and all the people who live within the city that help to earn it its name as the City of Wonders.

Eltan and his companions were left exceedingly wealthy after their brave endeavors, and were compassionate enough to share with the populous of Atalatha, which helped to build the city, and also helped keep its people in line.

Atalatha’s wall was constructed with help from the dwarves and gnomes of Grayforge Gate, in the country of Daltain, which helped to strengthen diplomatic ties with the country, and marked the first especially prominent request from a human for aid from another race.  The dwarves also canalled part of the Spirit River for the humans, letting some of the river flow through the center of the city while the rest hugs the city’s western side.  The head mason on the job, a dwarf named Duinador Proudfoot, still resides in the city, close to the northern wall where the Spirit River first enters the city.

Government

Atalatha was supposed to be ruled by a Duke, who was supposed to be elected by its people every five years.  After Eltan Mane’s second term as Duke, however, he decided to form a council for the city’s well being, so his benevolent nature did not get in the way of his city’s welfare.  Eltan Mane remains the Duke of Atalatha.

Atalatha’s council members are elected every three years.  There are four members on the council, excluding the Duke, each of their strengths changing from term to term.  There is no predetermined position for anyone.  The candidates for the council bring their own ideas to the table, and depending on what the city needs, elect accordingly.

Places of Interest

Taverns

Grimes’ Pub is one of the city’s most notorious dives.  It is known to be anything but a social experience, as many of the people who enter the pub only go to forget what is waiting for them outside.  Grimes’ Pub is known for its strong alcohols and even stronger pipeweed.  It is located just to the west of Atalatha’s famed coliseum.

The Bravado is your general, run-of-the-mill establishment.  It is one of Atalatha’s bigger taverns, accommodating many of the working class citizens.  The ale is cheap, and the company is enticing.  The Bravado is located just beside Atalatha’s eastern border.

Inns

The Sapphire Square is Eltan Mane’s favorite service building in all of Atalatha.  It also functions as a restaurant, the first of its kind, and has a bar within as well.  The building is very upscale, many tones of blue finding their way to all the surfaces within, and also outside.  The Sapphire Square is just outside of the political district of Atalatha, only separated by a golden bridge upon the Spirit River.

The Centurion was the childhood home of one of Atalatha’s coliseum champions.  It was owned by Peyton Garus, father of David Garus.  A fire gutted the building, taking the lives of several people inside.  The bodies were never identified, though it was assumed that Peyton and David were among the dead.  A rich noble has expressed interest in purchasing the lot and building the Centurion once more.  The Centurion is located close to Atalatha’s south wall.

Temples

The Temple of Mathias can be seen very close to the southern gates of Atalatha.  It sits within one of the impoverished sections of the city, but it is still maintained fairly well.  Of all the temples within Atalatha, the one erected to Mathias is the one which is most visited.

The Temple of Galvan and Obsam is at the northern section of the city, looking over the upper class business district.  Though the temple stands testament to two of Tellest’s gods, it is the smallest of the three temples within Atalatha.

The Temple of Animus is at the northeastern corner of Atalatha, where it overlooks the city’s large cemetery.  Also within the Temple of Animus is a small shrine to Cebrum.  Animus’ temple is the largest one within Atalatha.

Manors

Eltan Mane’s mansion lies upon the western edge of the city.  Standing three stories high, from the rear of the building, its tenants can look over the defensive walls of Atalatha, and see the Spirit River beside the city.  The front of the building contains a widow’s walk, a moat, and a garden.  Mane Manor is the biggest single family domicile within Atalatha.

Proudfoot Manor stands at the northern side of Atalatha, directly beside the Spirit River Canal.  Duinador Proudfoot resides there with his human wife Annabelle.

On the eastern side of the Spirit River, opposite the Proudfoot Manor, the Xanders Estate lies.  Maximus Xanders, one of the Knights of Virtue, lives there, and his home connects directly into the Museum of Wonders, where he is the curator.

Hegore Trent, another of the Knights of Virtue, has a home in the business section of the city, just south of the Museum, Library, and Cathedral.  Trent Estate, as it is known, is an eccentric looking home that separates the line of stores with a large open yard.  His land is open to the public, and many people treat it as a park.  It is a very popular spot for picnics.

Finally, the Mayheyre Estate sits just northwest of the coliseum.  Allan Mayheyre, one of the Knights of Virtue, and the owner of the coliseum, lives in a modest two story home sandwiched between a pair of two story businesses.

The Lucerion Bridge

The Lucerion Bridge spans the wide Spirit River, as both forks join again to the south of Atalatha.  The immense construction took several years to build, and was helmed by Maximus Xanders, who was helped by Duinador Proudfoot.  This replaces the need travel from Atalatha to a much smaller bridge further south, which makes traveling to Fostervilla much easier. The bridge is just over one thousand feet across, and has two grand turrets that tower five hundred feet in the air.  Atop each of those massive rises is a catapult said to be able to reach Westwick if aimed properly.  The view also allows a distant vantage to the Sentinel Pass, and the city of Sentinel, much further north.

The Black Tower

A giant black tower dwarfs the other buildings within the city, standing at fifty feet tall.  The entire construction is made of a powerful ebon stone which is supposed to protect it from damage.  The building serves as both a clock to the people of Atalatha, and as a home to the city’s greatest wizard.

Every day at noon, four dark crystal orbs at the peak of the tower fill up with fire, and as the day progresses, they begin to diminish.  Every three hours, one of the orbs extinguishes, until midnight, when all four are dark once again.

The Coliseum

Atalatha is the first Raleighn town to have a professional arena for fighting.  Allan Mayheyre commissioned its creation since before Atalatha was even conceived, but with Eltan Mane’s blessing, allowed its construction to commence within the city.  It started fairly small, made entirely of wood, but as time progressed, the coliseum, like the city, expanded.  The wood gave way to chiseled marble and granite, and a layer of sand was spread about the ground to help clean blood.

The coliseum was conceived as a means to practice skills, pitting great warriors against each other with non-lethal weaponry.  After the first death within the arena, however, the rules were changed to allow weapons that could cause harm or death.  There are no rules within the coliseum, unless agreed upon by all parties before battle commences.

About thirty thousand people can be held within the coliseum of Atalatha.

The Cathedral

Though the people of Atalatha are a polytheistic people who believe in the gods who have been seen, one man within the city has had visions of one all powerful God.  Richard Lener, one of the Knights of Virtue personally requested to build a temple to the One that he worships.  Eltan Mane allowed him to build the cathedral.  Although the building had been created, its pews stay relatively empty, mostly out of fear of repercussions from Tellest’s gods.

The Cathedral sits on the opposite side of the road from the Museum of Wonders, and is also adjacent to the Great Library.

The Great Library

Richard Lener is also the curator of the Great Library of Atalatha.  Much larger than any human collection, the Great Library is two stories tall and encompasses several thousand square feet of the northern edge of the city.  It is one of the northernmost buildings in Atalatha, and sits beside the Museum of Wonders and the Cathedral.

The roof of the library is made of compressed glass, which lets natural light into the building.  The center of the library is laden with benches and tables for studies and entertainment, while the exterior rooms are where all the books are located.

Some people claim that the library is haunted, declaring that they hear screams coming from beneath the place.

The Museum of Wonders

The Museum of Wonders is run by Maximus Xanders, and is a collection of both Tellest’s history, and a compilation of inventions, many made by Xanders himself.  While more of the building is dedicated to history, Maximus is steadily making his way towards filling up the museum with his inventions.

The Museum of Wonders looks like a temple, even featuring the likeness of Mathias upon the anterior entrance.  It is located across from the Cathedral, and adjacent to the Great Library.

Carriage Garages

Atalatha was the first city within Raleigh to offer up parking arrangements for people traveling into the city.  Before Atalatha, any walled cities usually only had arrangements outside of the city for stabling.  Two carriage garages are located within Atalatha, one near each of the exit gates of the city.  The southern garage is notably bigger, since more of the commuting merchants and visitors to the city come from Viscosa, to the south.  Both garages are two stories high.

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