Entymology

The Spirit River was originally named for the mournfulness it left upon many people who underestimated its deadly currents.  People who did not give it proper caution were swept away or beneath the waters, never to be seen again.

As time progressed, and more care was given, it became a more culturally powerful symbol.  The Spirit River took on a new meaning as the spirit of the people who grew in the presence of its bountiful gifts.

Geography

The Spirit River is the longest river in Draconis.  It originates in the Great Boundary mountains, and runs all the way through Daltain, where it pours into the south sea.  Along the way, it borders cities, and helps to separate the countries of Daltain and Warus.  It is its fiercest south of Atalatha and just to the west of Viscosa, but the two cities have found ways to harness it and have subjected it to human influence along the way.

Crossings

Since growing warier of the dangers of the river, the races of Raleigh have expressed increasing ingenuity regarding its crossing.

Just south of Atalatha, a monumental viaduct called the Lucerion Bridge was constructed in conjunction with Maximus Xanders and Duinador Proudfoot.  It was originally planned to function as a barracks as well, but Maximus instead wanted to focus on a special type of artillery on the bridge’s high parapets.

Far to the south, Viscosa utilizes ferries to transport people from one side of the raging rapids to the other.  On the western banks of the river, the city is even further colonizing.

History

Early History

The Spirit River made early human pilgrimage from western Draconis very difficult.  People were able to venture far to the north or south to circumvent the wild currents, but it would take many days to make the journey.  Instead, pilgrims would take their chances and tempt fate, opting to ford the river or even swim across.  More often than not, the body of water was deceptively dangerous, and swallowed family members away from each other.

In time, many of the populace decided to settle near the river because of the way it aided in irrigation.  The basins nearby proved to be excellent farm ground, and many small towns and hamlets began to spring up beside it.

Colonization and Culture

At several places along the Spirit River’s flow, massive cities have grown.  Viscosa, the capital of Raleigh, spread wide across the plains east of the river, and the walled portion of the city sits upon a hill that overlooks the waterway.  It happens to be one of very few rivers on mainland Draconis that a large ship can travel upon, and sailors often spend time at one of the many taverns of Viscosa.

Much further north, the city of Atalatha was settled around the river.  They artificially forked much of the river, causing it to flow through the city in a much more reserved manner.  They use this channel for irrigation, sewer control and also for funeral services for some of the higher class and more important citizens.

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We begin with Robert Altbauer’s rendition of Draconis, the central continent of Tellest.  I wanted to present a version of the known written universe in a way that was similar to maps that Tolkien or Salvatore have shown, and Robert did a phenomenal job helping me to convey the continent that was in my mind.

We shrunk it down a bit here on the site, but if you click on the image, it’ll take you to imgur, where the map can be zoomed much further for extra details!

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General Information

Westwick is located within a large clearing of the Spirit Woods, about eighty miles east of the SpiritRiver.  There is a large lake several miles east of the town.  A road off the small western bridge connects Westwick with Atalatha, and a southern road leads to the far of town of Rattan.

Westwick has fewer than 1,000 citizens, and the town keeps supporting itself through farming and fishing.

The town has virtually no defense, save for a few amateur guards which patrol the town’s busier areas.  Some rumors have swirled about a hidden sect of thieves which guard the town as well.

History

Westwick is the newest town of Raleigh.  It was established on the 1^st of Sunspire, 974 by Wispus van Tretten.  Wispus and a collection of citizens from Viscosa removed themselves from the capital, feeling that politics and the urban lifestyle were too complicated.  They trekked north to Atalatha, but felt that it, too, was far too busy a city to inhabit.  Wispus led his companions to the Spirit Woods east of the city of Atalatha, and, once deep inside, decided on a spot to settle.

The town is named after an old friend of Wispus’, Erman Westwick, who once told him that Viscosa was the beginning, and would become the end, of Raleigh.  Erman was imprisoned within the capital, and died while incarcerated.  His death became the catalyst for the future citizens of Westwick’s exodus.

Government

Westwick was founded on the belief that no law was better than too many of them.  The town does not pay traditional taxes to Viscosa, Wispus having struck a deal with Victor Raleigh to supply some other service, which is unknown except to those two parties.

The town itself can be said to be run as a true democracy.  All the decisions made are made by the entirety of the citizens.  Though the major decisions are played out like this, many of the mundane decisions have fallen upon Wispus, who the people turn to for guidance.

Places of Interest

Taverns

There is only one tavern in Westwick, and it is unnamed.  It is a particularly quiet establishment, and rarely sees violence or drama.  It is a small place, but is able to provide for thirsty men who have finished laboring for the day, or are taking a break from their taxing work.

The Town Hall

Westwick’s town hall is the biggest building that can be seen upon entering the village.  It dwarfs the size of all the homes and meager shops, but this is because it functions as many things.

The town has no inn, so if travelers need to stay anywhere, space has been set aside within the town hall.  It is a common sleeping place, so if other travelers happen to arrive at the same time, they must all share the same large room.  There is no private caretaker, and all the money earned in this manner goes directly to the town.

Temples are also absent from Westwick, but small images have been carved out in the likenesses of several of the gods in a small chamber within the town hall.  Worship is not performed on a specifically designated day or time, as it is considered personal to the citizens, and there simply is not enough room to accommodate them all during one day.

The town hall also functions as a municipal building, serving as a courthouse and a prison, though the courtroom is also where meetings of all sorts are called.  The prison is a single cell, and is rarely used.

Finally, the town hall also provides education to the children of Westwick.  A small classroom sits just beyond the courtroom.

Manors

Wispus van Tretten has a mansion a couple miles to the east of the village.  The place is massive, and some people say that it is larger than the town itself.  The mansion looks over the lake east of town.  It is said that the manor is magical, though outsiders are not permitted inside to confirm those rumors.

The Thieves’ Guild

Although it cannot be said for certain, many stories have circulated from visitors of the town that a thieves’ guild lies somewhere in the town.  However, with such humble looking folk, it is not apparent just where they could be.  Some folk claim that the rumors have only surfaced because money has been lost within the town, but financial gain really means little to the self-sustaining people of Westwick, so the rumors are often discarded.

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General Information

Sentinel was created not to be a town, but as a border outpost adjacent to the SentinelPass on the northern border of Raleigh.  It was supposed to be only a place for soldiers, but after long months of defending the pass, many soldiers’ families took the trip north to Sentinel and settled there, waiting for their loved ones to return to them.

It is almost due north of Atalatha, though there are no roads to Sentinel yet.  A trek through the wilderness is required to reach the outpost.

The primary function of Sentinel is to defend Raleigh from Blacklehn.  As such, it did not have much merit for business.  However, after moving to the outpost, spouses and older children had to find some way to provide for their families, so some extra work was made close by.  Several farms have taken form nearby, and a mining operation has begun on the south end of the pass as well.

Sentinel is populated by 36,000 people, but this also includes the soldiers (some which are unaccounted for) who serve within the 10 mile pass.

Sentinel has a tall, broad gate that leads into SentinelPass.  It also has a long wooden barricade surrounding its remaining sides.

History

Sentinel, named after its proximity to the mountain pass it defends, was established on the 16^th of Nehr, 978, making it the youngest city within Raleigh (although it is theoretically only an outpost).  Prior to this most of the war between Raleigh and Blacklehn was done within the SentinelPass.  However, after Ippius began aiding Blacklehn, Raleigh was breached, and Blacklehn began attacking hamlets and villages within the country.  After Raleigh beat its enemies back, it founded Sentinel as a permanent base for the country’s northern defense.

In the beginning, Sentinel was only a barracks, and a meager one at that.  Over time, amenities were provided for the town, including a tavern and a small fighting arena.  Once families began moving in, tents sprawled upon the open field south of the pass.  Over time, families began to build homes there.  The southern wall was created to protect them from brigands within Raleigh, but also to limit movement of Blacklehn if they managed to pierce through Raleigh’s soldiers.

Government

Sentinel follows the rule of Viscosa, and every decision made by King Victor Raleigh is mandate.  However, if no outward determinations have been made, the rule falls to the acting general of the Raleighn army.  Currently, the general is Kain Lirça, a veteran fighter of the SentinelPass and a devout paladin.  Kain also relies on the guidance of Morgan Yardborough, who is also renowned for her service to the Raleighn military efforts within the SentinelPass.  While Kain basically handles the soldiers, Morgan governs the non-military citizens of Sentinel.

Places of Interest

Taverns

The Tempered Sword is a large tavern that provides for the soldiers and citizens of Sentinel.  The place is the second biggest building in town, only smaller than the barracks.  Several bars are in the place, and most of the money it takes in is quickly paid back out, primarily to import spirits and beer.

Inns

The Sentinel Inn is the common inn of the outpost.  It is meant to serve for the families of soldiers within the SentinelPass who cannot uproot their entire lives to live in Sentinel.  Prices are cheap, and the qualities of the rooms are adequate.  The Sentinel Inn is located just beside the entrance to the town.

The Golden Sun is reserved for the more stately visitors to the town, primarily diplomats and city leaders.  Usually there is no fee for those who are important enough to stay at the Golden Sun.  Money collected from the Sentinel Inn is used to cushion the Golden Sun for its wealthy visitors.  The Golden Sun faces the barracks on the opposite side of town.

Temples

Sentinel does not have a temple, but there is a fountain in the center of the town which has a four sided statue of the gods.  Mathias is upon the north side, Nerot is upon the south side, Ariyas is upon the west side, and Galvan is upon the east side.

Word has it that a good deal of thought has been put into rebuilding the effigies of the gods to all face north and stand higher, so that the soldiers within the pass can see their gods to pray to them.

The Barracks

The barracks at Sentinel are the biggest barracks in Raleigh, at some times housing 4,000 soldiers.  The building is immense, and has been expanded several times since the town was originally founded.  Outwardly, the barracks are impressive, however once someone ventures inside, they can really appreciate the size.  The barracks has stretched into the Great Boundary mountains, leaving plenty of room for the soldiers it houses.  The barracks are just to the southwest of the gate into the pass.

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General Information

Viscosa is the capital city of Raleigh, and is also it’s second largest.  The SpiritRiver runs beside the cliff that Viscosa sits upon, a dock leading straight to a road so that merchants can travel by river to the capital to sell their wares.  Neighboring towns to Viscosa are Atalatha to its north, Fostervilla to its northwest, Seramore to its south, Cranebridge to its southwest, and Rattan to its east.

Because Viscosa sits mostly on a cliff, much of its population is considered rural, and spans the distance of several miles.  This has made it difficult for purchases to be made directly, but there has been a market installed at the bottom of the cliff outside of Viscosa proper.  Citizens of Viscosa sell directly to the market, and the salesmen there haggle for better prices whenever visitors or tourists arrive in the city.

Viscosa proper houses only about 24,000 people, but when extending the reach to the rural people of the capital, the number tops off well over 100,000.  Raleigh’s tax collectors have found it difficult to keep track of all the capitals inhabitants.

Viscosa proper is shielded on its west side by the sheer cliff wall beneath it, and by a tall set of ramparts on its eastern side where the cliff is lower.  The walls are stepped, to keep them in line with the cliff it sits upon.  At the highest points on the western side, two large expanses are built upon the walls to let two trios of catapults sit upon, able to fire some distance to the north, south, or west.  Viscosa proper has an elite set of guards, but several contingents of the Raleighn army also patrol rural Viscosa.

History

Viscosa was founded on the 8^th of Ari, 53.  Quintus Raleigh, the country’s first human ruler, and reason for its namesake, had a town built around the Cliff of Solis, thinking it would bring his people closer to the gods, and, in that regard, closer to their benevolence.

Viscosa means victory in the broken tongues of Tellest’s old languages.  Quintus Raleigh believed that establishing a single entity for people to create a community around would strengthen his people as a whole.  Together with his nomadic tribe, he and his brothers and sisters set to building their town, beginning in the summer of 52.  He and the other viscosans, as they came to be known, worked through the winter, finally completing the small village on the day of its inception.

Over time, the small village became a city, bustling with activity as more humans began flocking to the organized area where Viscosa has been built.  More buildings were constructed, and finally, the idea spread about the countryside, more small villages popping up.  They all looked to Viscosa for advice, diplomacy, and trade.  With that in mind, Viscosa became the capital of Raleigh it was destined to be, establishing Raleigh as a kingdom on the 22^nd of Luminary, 72.  A meager castle was built upon the Cliff of Solis, officially beginning the monarchy of Quintus Raleigh.

Several times after Viscosa’s creation, other humans tried to obtain political power in Raleigh, but so loved was the Raleigh line that none had ever come close to usurping the rulers.  Viscosa was always the forefront and the symbol of the people of the country, and was constantly growing in size and quality.

After more than nine hundred years of cataclysmic ups and downs, Viscosa is still recognized as the capital of Raleigh, a shining example of what can be done when people come together towards a common goal.

Government

Despite the fact that Viscosa was not formally considered the capital of Raleigh until Luminary, 72, its leaders had been considered rulers since Quintus Raleigh was nominated to lead the city on the 30^th of Sunspire, 53.

Though Quintus started off just leading a small group of once-nomadic humans to a life of cooperation and stability, he paved the way for his ancestors to rule all of Raleigh.  Some had even thought that through his endeavors, all of Draconis might one day be united.

Though Raleigh is ruled under a monarchy, a complimentary assembly also assists the king in his decisions.  Also, while the king oversees all of Raleigh, he also looks directly over his city as well.

The current ruler of Viscosa, and Raleigh, is King Victor Raleigh, the 24^th King of the country.

Places of Interest

Taverns

The Shattered Steel Tavern is often frequented by Raleigh’s soldiers.  Many of the soldiers who drink at the Shattered Steel Tavern are known by name, and it is known that new recruits are given a rigorous drinking test at the tavern to really be sure they are soldier material.  The tavern can be found just south, and on the same street as the barracks of Viscosa within Viscosa proper.

The Bloated Nymph is a river sailor’s refuge, located just off the eastern bank of the SpiritRiver.  It is much too shady to be considered suitable as an inn, but rooms are available, as well as hirable company.  Fights break out regularly at the Bloated Nymph, and it is not unheard of for someone to lose their life during an every day conversation there.

If a member of the populous wants something a little more upscale without having to travel into the walled portion of the city, they can visit Caymus’ Chilled Glass, just east of Viscosa proper.  Caymus is renowned for providing excellent service to any and all of his clientele, no matter how rich nor poor, no matter their race or creed.  Business has been so good for Caymus, he had to expand and add a second floor to his establishment.

Inns

The Flaming Pitch is a laborer’s inn outside of the walled portion of Viscosa.  On the opposite side of the road of Caymus’ Chilled Glass, the Flaming Pitch is open to everyone, but provides a fair discount for local laborers.  Just like Caymus’, the Flaming Pitch has survived and thrived through the generosity it provides towards its customers.

The Stately Lady is an inn that can only be found within Viscosa proper.  It is known for its exceptionally high prices, though that pays for a bit of luxury that is supposedly only rivaled by that of Viscosa castle.  The Stately Lady is located just on inside of the walled area of the city, across from the Bath House.

Temples

All of the temples to the gods are located outside of Viscosa proper.  This both limits necessity of the lower class to pay the toll to enter the walled section of the city, and encourages the ruler to tend to his people outside of his walls.

The Temple of Mathias is located at the center of the unfortified section of town.  The temple is monumental, and has four entrances to the building.  The congregation all look toward the center of the building, where a huge effigy of the king of the gods was erected hundreds of years before.  The temple had actually been built around the statue of the deity, yet the figure has never been moved.  A large glass skylight still allows the sun to shine on Mathias.  Many priests labor for the people of Viscosa, and many annexed living areas have been built into the temple for the priests to sleep within, as well as a large dining hall and a small library.

Because Viscosa is among several of the northernmost cities of Raleigh, the Temple of Nerot was initially built on the south side of town.  Though Raleigh finds itself allied with the only country to its south, Daltain, the temple has never been relocated, only adding to its eminence.  Soldiers from the Raleighn army go there to pray to survive the oncoming battles, or to die a glorious death.

The Temple of Ariyas is the newest of the temples of Viscosa, having only been constructed recently.  With so many people populating the area, it is not difficult for a partner to be found.  The temple is where people can go to give thanks, or if they are unable to find love, ask for their blessings.  The Temple of Ariyas was built on the northern side of the city, in perfect symmetry with the Temple of Nerot.

The Temple of Animus is located on the far eastern side of the city, far from the wall.  It is distant from the rest of Viscosa because it is close to mortuaries and the cemetery, distant to keep plague away from the populous if possible.  The cemetery was kept far from the SpiritRiver to protect it from water damage.  People come to the Temple of Animus to mourn the dead, or to pray for good health.  Farmers, both professional and hobbyists, also come to the temple to help their crops or gardens.

On the other side of the city, beneath the palace and the Cliff of Solis, the Temple of Hudorian was built, overlooking the SpiritRiver.  The farmers of Viscosa often visit the temple, offering up their respects and tithes for a bountiful rainy season to help them irrigate their crops.  Hudorian is also worshipped so that the SpiritRiver does not rage too fiercely, endangering the nearby residents.

Manors

Cedwick Manor belongs to Arnthal Cedwick, the head priest of the Temple of Mathias.  Arnthal is known throughout Viscosa and much of Raleigh for several of the miracles he has performed upon the citizens of the city.  He has given vision to the blind, voice to the mute, and hearing to the deaf.  Several claims have even been made to his ability to resurrect the dead.  Cedwick Manor is located upon a hill to the northeast of the temple where his services are greatly renowned.

Renzeya Manor is owned by Cedric Renzeya, who was the captain of Viscosa’s guards earlier in his life.  During an attack on the city by a well organized band of brigands, Cedric saved King Victor’s life.  He was rewarded substantially, and purchased a lot of land just outside the gates of Viscosa proper.  Word has it he runs a reputable adventurer’s guild out of his domicile, which lies just outside of the gates of Viscosa proper along the north side of the road.

The Cayman Estate is a popular location for would-be and has-been sailors and river merchants to visit that stands just off the waterfront of the SpiritRiver.  Terrence Cayman occupies the house, which had belonged to his father, Hartigan Cayman, a reputable merchant who made a fortune traveling the world.  The belongings within the house have become invaluable since Hartigan’s disappearance at sea.  Terrence makes his own fortune, treating the home like a shrine, and charging people to view its belongings.

Viscosa Proper

Because of assassination attempts on the several of the Raleighn Kings of the past, a large wall was constructed that runs to the rear of the Cliff of Solis.  The wall also extends several dozen feet past the bottom of the gently sloping cliff, into the plains beside it.

Many of the buildings within Viscosa proper are also seen as privileges to the upper class.  The people of Viscosa have to pay a toll to enter the walled portion of the city (but not to exit it).  The exceptions to these are members of the council and their family, including the king and his family.  Soldiers are also among those who do not have to pay to enter Viscosa proper, as their barracks are within the walls.

Raleigh Castle

RaleighCastle has been expanding for centuries.  At first, RaleighCastle was a merely a one room fortress, which had been constructed upon the flat area atop the Cliff of Solis.  But over the years, the structure has grown in every dimension, nearly hugging the back edge of the cliff.  It has been widened and heightened, and even its depth has been amended, a large basement floor for supplies and personal space for the King and his family to find leisure and pray built along the years.

There are also rumors about secret tunnels having been constructed into the cliff of Solis by a laborer named Fentimus Arcturo following the death of the fifteenth ruler of Raleigh, Magnus Lorenthal, who had murdered the previous ruler, Bidouin Raleigh.  There is no substantial evidence to prove the claims of the tunnels however.

The Theatre

The theatre is one of Viscosa’s more popular attractions, but is more upscale than most people can afford.  As such, it is considered more widely for the royalty, members of council, and exceedingly wealthy members of Viscosa.  Well known bards and thespians lend their talents to the theatre, which is located north of the Temple of Mathias.

The theatre is known for its dramatic interpretations of historical events, such as the Demon War involving Romus Youngblood and the fallen angel, Semia’Laz.  This view is made in stark contrast to the humor in which many other performance groups portray the same events.

The theatre provides shows on a monthly, sometimes bimonthly basis (depending on the material).

The Circus

The circus is the average civilian’s response to the theatre.  With cheap tickets and several weekly shows, the entertainment venue is said to perform as well as, if not better than the theatre on the opposite side of town.  It also boasts arena style seating, allowing many more people to witness the spectacle of acrobatics, storytelling and magic within the center of place.

The circus is about the same distance away from the Temple of Mathias as the theatre, but in the opposite direction.  It is played out beneath an oversized, ensorcelled canvas tent, which is held up by nothing else besides magic.

Much of Viscosa’s society is rewarded by the circus’ presence as well; it provides many needed jobs to the populace.

The Whisper Tree

After nearly two hundred years of peace in Raleigh after Viscosa was established, the country was besieged by a legion of trolls.  Nasir Raleigh, the country’s eighth ruler, organized a military force capable of driving the terrible beasts out of the country, pressing many of them into the ocean.  In doing so, humans became the most celebrated race in the country for a time.  Many gifts were bestowed upon Viscosa, mostly conceived as treasure or valued art.  The elves, however, donated a giant Lynwood tree, the species which is said to sound as if it is whispering when the wind blows through its leaves.  The Whisper Tree is located southwest of the Temple of Mathias, and its branches provide shade for a diameter of several hundred yards. 

The Bath House

The Bath House is another iconic display of what the wealthy can afford and the average citizen cannot.  Located just north of the Stately Lady, on the opposite side of the road, the Bath House provides an unprecedented experience to those who enter it.

The members of the Bath House are often faced with an almost ritualistic, artistic cleansing, which consists of incensed waters and fountains, magical sands, and aromatic oils which are massaged into the skin.  The occurrence is said to be healing and invigorating, leading to a longer, more satisfying life.

The Counting Quarry

Because Raleigh’s government relies heavily on the financial well being of its capital, the need for banks and tax collectors arose steadily with the increase of settled populous.  The Counting Quarry is an organized area northwest of the Temple of Mathias that houses several banks and tax collectors that Viscosa relies on to expand financially.

The area where the Counting Quarry is located is also the same place that Raleigh’s first bank was conceived.

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General Information

Fostervilla is the third largest city of Raleigh, and is located just to the east of the Dragon’s Bane mountain range which functions as the country’s western border.  A vast desert extends to the city’s east and south, while the mountains protect it upon its west and northwest.  Fostervilla is considered one end of the country of Raleigh.  Sentinel is far to its east north east, Atalatha lies to its east, and Viscosa is southeast of Fostervilla.

Despite the barren environment surrounding Fostervilla, the town is fairly self-sustained.  An immense oasis lies south of the city, attracting tourism and helping to irrigate the nearby farms that provide for the 33,000 inhabitants in and around the walls of Fostervilla.  Tourism is also high because of scholars and historians seeking to find the remains of the great dragon Batrura, who was rumored to have been sealed away somewhere in the Dragon’s Bane range.  The populace of the city is able to make money based on this tourism, and their trades in spices, jewelry, and weapons are known to be some of the highest quality throughout Raleigh.

Fostervilla, the City of Orphans, is also known as the WalledCity.  It is segmented off at several places, guards specifically stationed within certain zones.  Walls do not exist upon its west side, where the mountains themselves function as a blockade.

History

Fostervilla is known to many as the City of Orphans.  When it was first founded, a great fever rolled through its people, claiming many lives, and leaving its children outnumbering their elders by far.  Though Fostervilla is a fairly old city, having been founded on the 21^st of Nehr, 487, it had taken a great time to mature, all the descendents of the first inhabitants learning crafts at a very introverted pace.

The fever that had claimed the lives of Fostervilla’s adults resurfaced several times throughout history, and it was not until the research of Merrick Wheeler passed that the city was able to successfully combat it.  Wheeler suggested that walls would keep the plague away, claiming that foul winds were what brought death upon the adults.  On the 23^rd of Sunspire, 581, the exterior wall of Fostervilla was completed, and the amount of illnesses cited dropped drastically.  Wheeler was praised unanimously for the success, and was elevated into a position of leadership, becoming the city’s first sultan, the people claiming that he heard the whispers of the gods, and used that knowledge to save them.

As time went by, later leaders segmented the town with more walls, which helped to deter crime, and further isolate sickness whenever it would break out.  The walls were eventually built taller, as more people settled within the city, but it was decided that, to deter unnecessary ailments, windows would not be permitted to face the city walls, and thereby the outside world, on the outermost domiciles.

Because it was widely believed that the wind carried evil spirits upon it, for a long time, no building within Fostervilla exceeded one story, not even the palace.  With that in mind, many of the buildings that needed to expand were built down, into the earth.  This included Fostervilla’s temples, which were dug several dozen feet deep.

Fostervilla is a primarily human city, but dwarves have lived there at the inns for brief periods of time when excavating needed to be done.

Government

After Merrick Wheeler successfully became the first sultan of Fostervilla, most of the succeeding sultans followed in his footsteps.  Any time a great event helped to transform Fostervilla into a better place than it had been, the men who came up with the idea are thrust into the forefront of the people’s hearts and minds.  When the current sultan is ready to retire, a popular vote is made by the people for his successor.

Each segmented section of the city is specifically governed by a zone officer, and each of these officers represents the people of their section at a small weekly gathering at Fostervilla’s palace.  In this regard, all sectors of the city are supposed to be accounted for equally.

Places of Interest

Taverns

The Desert Tear is a terrific venue which was erected in the southwestern political zone of the city, hugging the center of the zone’s south wall.  Its reach is wide, and there are actually two bars within the building, one at its east and west sides.  The center of the Desert Tear is reserved for the entertainment that performs within.  Often times it is a musician, or gathering of several players, but occasionally a skit has been known to play out there.  The Desert Tear is a popular spot that the sultans have enjoyed, and a special area has been constructed in the rear of the building in case they visit.

The Dragonscorn Pub is a well known tavern that also makes a good deal of coin based on its secondary function.  Because of the popularity of visitors to Fostervilla due to the Dragon’s Bane mountain range, the Dragonscorn’s owner, Bacchus Hemet, has started safety tours to the mountains at a discount to any patrons who open their purse to the tavern.  The Dragonscorn can be found within the southeastern entry zone of the city, and is one of the first buildings that can be seen upon the west side when visiting Fostervilla.

For people who are a little more pressed for money, and are willing to take on all manners of risks, the Sandy Omen stands stoically beside the road just southeast of the city.  It is one of the only buildings which brave the terrible sandstorms that incessantly pelt the nearby city.  The Sandy Omen is kept afloat by many unsavory people, who block the windows and doors of the establishment with sturdy wood and available furniture.

Inns

Fostervilla has many inns, as it is a prime location for tourism, thanks in no small part to the adjacent Dragon’s Bane mountain range, as well as the nearby oasis, which is said to have magical healing properties.

For many of the visitors to the city, the Crimson Star is an ample choice.  There are plenty of rooms, and they are all a fair price, but the Crimson Star sits differently than any other building in the city, and it is thought that they are the worse for it.  The inn is three stories tall, and though there are strong windows upon its third floor, it has been said that several times the glass has shattered, and the tenants within have become sick and perished.  Furthermore, rumors abound that those who died because of the deathwinds haunt the third floor of the place.  The Crimson Star is in the central zone of Fostervilla, the rear of the building hugging the Dragon’s Bane mountain range.

The SecondPalace lies on the opposite side of the political zone from the desert tear, and is quite popular among those with much coin to spend.  The rooms are large, and the windows are fitted with tempered glass so that the occasional sandstorms that break their way into the city can not shatter through and deliver the sickness.  There also are few vacancies, as the inn is only one story high.

If a room must be found, and can barely be afforded, there is a nameless inn within the poor sector at the north side of town.  The populace calls it the Black Worm   The place is mostly situated underground, and has the most vacancies throughout the city, and also happens to be the cheapest.  The inn is mostly utilized by laborers who mine in the Dragon’s Bane mountains.  It is called the Black worm because death is often brewing beneath the street level building.  The basement floors are not walled off, and instead are merely carved earth, only held up by sturdy crossbeams.  Many of the laborers do not have the ability to safely combat the deathwinds, and succumb to fever or plague once they return to the Black Worm.

Temples

The Temple of Animus hugs the western side of the city, specifically the Dragon’s BaneMountains in the political zone, though originally, it was not even above ground.  The temple was built entirely underground, its subterranean congregation first used in an effort to plead for an end to the relentless deathwinds.  As the walls were built up around the city, the temple too grew in magnitude.  It now sits two stories high, though the basement floor was converted to slope downward and allow for stadium style seating so that more people could comfortably give their thanks to the god of life.

The Temple of Galvan is in the north section of the city, in the zone just below the poor zone called the laborers zone.  Many of the people within the laborers zone find themselves either working within the Dragon’s Bane Mine, or utilize the materials found there for crafting the exquisite weapons and goods that Fostervilla produces.  The temple of Galvan is partially underground and partially above ground.  The congregation takes place above ground while worship and tithing generally takes place beneath.

The Temple of Cebrum lies northeast outside of town, and is the only self sustaining temple at Fostervilla.  Its acolytes must travel through the short span of desert on foot or by horse, and pray that the deathwinds do not rise up while they are on their way to or from the place.  The temple was erected to beg mercy upon the lord of death, hoping that the deathwinds would cease their battering upon the city.  It also faces Fostervilla’s cemetery, and the Tomb of Fleeting Souls that is hidden within the great desert.

The Temple of Hudorian is another temple outside of the walled city of Fostervilla; however it is unique in that one can actually travel to it without ever leaving the walls.  A subterranean span was built directly south through the political zone of the city which leads to the temple, which is partially underground, and partially above ground.  The temple was built facing the great oasis, giving thanks to the water god for blessing the people with it.  There are no windows, but are two grand doors that block the deathwinds fairly well, keeping the priests and parishioners there safe in the event that a sandstorm rises up.

Manors

Wheeler Manor lies within the political zone just south of the walled complex of the palace of Fostervilla.  The building is two stories tall, and was originally the home of the first sultan before the people of the city decided to build the palace which Merrick Wheeler would govern from.  Now, Wheeler Manor is the home passed down through the generations of Merrick’s family, should they not aspire to be somehow involved in government.

The Del Reyes Estate lies upon the opposite side of the road as the Wheeler Manor.  Before its renovation, the building has been a modest home, but when the wealthy Cho Del Reyes took office as Sultan Solomon’s vizier, he purchased the lot and saw to its plentiful improvements.  The Del Reyes estate boasts a garden behind the building, which houses Cho’s scrying pool which he uses to best aid his ruler.

Jarvis Teutoa, the captain of the guards at Fostervilla, has an estate within the central zone of the city.  A talented swordsman from Rattan, Jarvis relocated to Fostervilla seeking the promise of more wealth with which to provide for his family.  He used his acquired capital to establish a large home within the city, which he shares with several of the guards he trains and employs.

Vincent Yamil owns a large building in the laborers zone of Fostervilla, just north of the central zone, which overlooks the streets.  Yamil manor is larger than even the palace of Fostervilla, the extent of many decades, perhaps centuries, of financial endeavors.  No one can say how Vincent or his predecessors managed to fall upon so much money, as no one can say for sure what Vincent’s occupation actually is.

The Palace

The Palace of Fostervilla inhabits its own zone within the city, just north of the political zone.  While all of the other zones have no wall upon its western side, if adjacent to the mountains, the palace zone does, for the protection of the leader of the city and his council.  The palace itself is large and attractive, spacious on the inside, and catered to by many laborers.  The exterior of the place almost seems to glow, as it has exquisite marble pillars that accentuate a garden that extends on its southeast side.  Grand tapestries hang on the exteriors of the pillars, on the southwest and northeast sides of the garden.  A large pool and fountain was constructed at the center of the garden.

The current inhabitant of the Palace of Fostervilla is Sultan Solomon Denaar, who lives within with his son Samir and his daughter Iris.

The Dragon’s Bane Mine

Southwest of the great oasis that is south of Fostervilla, there is a deep artificial cavity within the Dragon’s Bane Mountains, which is quarried by the civilians of the city, and occasionally by dwarven archeologists, geologists and excavators who come to the site.  Especially ambitious people of excessive wealth hire teams of laborers to try and find the remains of Batrura, the great black dragon who terrorized the continent some time before.

The dwarves who constantly work the Dragon’s Bane Mine claim to find rare and expensive metals within its deepest veins.  These include titanium and mythril.

The Oasis

The oasis, south of Fostervilla, sometimes referred to as Deepwater Oasis, is a prime attraction for visitors to the city.  The oasis, which sinks sharply towards its center, is said to have healing properties.  Studies persist there for all manners of nature-based spell casters, including shamans and geomancers, though druids are known for being the most in depth in their research.

The oasis is quite wide, its diameter measuring nearly one thousand feet across.  Boats are forbidden on the surface, and as such, no one has ever been able to gauge its depth.

The Bazaar

While most other cities have shops and stores sprawled out sporadically over the extent of their reach, Fostervilla has an entire walled zone dedicated to shopping.  The bazaar was created to help cull the effects of the deathwinds, the idea being that anyone incapacitated by fever would be festering within their own zone, as the effects of the fever are brought on nearly instantaneously.

All manners of merchandise are sold in the bazaar, from food to weaponry to luxuries.

The only entrance to the bazaar lies between the central zone and the political zone.

The Dragonscorn Mountain Tour

Bacchus Hemet is a successful bard who has made good choices with his finances.  First, he bought up a plot within the entry zone of Fostervilla, and built the Dragonscorn Pub there.  After raking in more money than his performing ever did alone, he stepped forward for another entrepreneurial feat.  Bacchus, together with a dwarf and gnome duo from Daltain, named Grommit Deepglass and Phineas Many-Favors, respectively, came up with the idea for a covered wagon that is surrounded by mythril on all sides, and reaches out far enough to cover a set of horses, or other driving animals.  The horses within press forward on a track, which propels a set of four wheels.  Bacchus and his companions used the idea to safely transport tourists from Fostervilla to the Dragon’s Bane Mine and Mountains in complete safety.  The design of the vehicle prevents the deathwinds from penetrating to the inhabitants inside. 

One drawback is the great cost at which the vehicles are made.  After several years of touring, Bacchus only has two of the carriages, and he is thought to be perhaps the richest man in all of Fostervilla.  Another disadvantage is the speed at which the vehicles travel.  It takes much longer to arrive at a destination through Bacchus’ tour than it does by unburdened horseback.

Bacchus calls his vehicles Mythril Tents.

The Cemetery and the Tomb of Fleeting Souls

To Fostervilla’s northeast, a sprawling cemetery pierces the wide expanse of sandy desert.  It is rumored that because of the sheer number of deaths Fostervilla has toiled with over time, the cemetery is haunted, though it is also whispered that the city has its own share of ghosts.  The rumors persist, perhaps in part because of the history of the crypt within the center of the graveyard, aptly named the Tomb of Fleeting Souls.  Supposedly, the voices of those who have passed onto the next world can be heard uttered from beyond the stone hall leading to the tomb, but once a living person steps foot into the crypt, the voices dissipate.

The Subterranea

Because of the deathwinds and sandstorms that Fostervilla has had to endure, a great number of underground facilities had to be built.  Over time, many of these tunnels have collapsed under their own weight or have been closed off, but there are supposedly several areas throughout the town where one can access the catacombs underneath the city, arriving safely somewhere far off from where they started.  This theory has been both supported and debunked by the city’s sewer system, which allegedly utilizes many of the subterranea’s original tunnels.

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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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Entymology

Raleigh is named after a human leader, Quintus Raleigh.  Every one of Raleigh’s human leaders since then, except for one, has been of the Raleigh bloodline.

Geography and Environment

Raleigh is bordered by mountains on its north and west sides, the ocean on its south side, and a swamp on its southeast.  It also shares borders with Daltain on its southeast and both Cracius and Warus on its east.

Due to its geographical variety, Raleigh is exposed to most climate types.  The mountains at its north border, called the Great Boundary, often see their fair share of snow, while the same range has a volcano upon it called MountScourge.  A desert exists near its western border of mountains.  A large amount of rivers and forests also speckle the countryside.

The ecology is also very diverse.  Although not much of the animal or plant life found in Raleigh is unique, it is plentiful.

Races

Raleigh is home to several races.  Draconis in general is the habitat for nearly every humanoid race on Tellest, and Raleigh has the most diverse groups of people.

Raleigh’s most populated race is humans.  After the sundering, humans began emerging from the mountainous regions around Raleigh’s border.  As time moved on, and race relations extended to the dwarves, most humans moved away from the mountains, preferring to settle near the ocean, around rivers, or in the valleys of Raleigh.

Most human settlements remain solely for humans.  There is no integration, yet there is no segregation.  Occasionally, individuals or families of another race can be found among the bigger cities, but this is no different for human establishments as it is for the other races.

Dwarves and elves are equivalent to the next most populous race within Raleigh.  Dwarves are known to inhabit many of the mountainous areas, while Elves can be found in some of the heavily wooded regions.

Orcs, gnomes and minotaurs are also known to inhabit various places in Raleigh, but on a much lesser scale than the three prime races.  There are also small tribes of other races that can be found as well.

History

Early History

Raleigh is often considered the center of humanity.  After the sundering of Tellest, where great storms shattered land masses and drenched the planet in water, humans exited the mountains around the country.  These humans were known as the most hospitable, and quickly made friendly advances towards the neighboring races.

Draconis itself is a continent that is very populous with human kind, especially in the countries of Gandarst, Blacklehn, and Raleigh.  But while humans within Gandarst and Blacklehn originated with nomadic cultures, Raleigh quickly developed into a hub of consistent community, and was able to develop technologically, politically and agriculturally at a much quicker pace than the other two countries.

Much of Raleigh’s camaraderie can be attributed to the leadership of Quintus Raleigh, the human leader who originally banded the country together.  He ruled the country from a small city called Viscosa, which went on to grow and become Raleigh’s capitol.  He also was responsible for the commissioning of roads (however primitive they were at the time), and lines of communication between the far reaches of the distant cities.

Notable Successors

Nasir Raleigh, the eighth ruler of Raleigh, was the first of the human leaders of Raleigh to deal with a major war on the soil of his country.  Trollkind invaded Raleigh, with the intent on slaughtering all humans and taking their cities as their own.  Nasir managed to not only successfully defend many of his country’s establishments, but also pressed the majority of the trolls into the ocean along its south border, though some did escape into the swamp bordering the country’s southeast.

Ramelan Raleigh, the country’s eleventh ruler, was not attributed any grand changes for his nation, though while in service, the land was run with clever leadership, leaving most of the populous content.  Ramelan is most well remembered by his strange shift of personality towards the end of his years of service.  He began witnessing strange occurrences in dreams, and was not hesitant to speak of them.  Foremost, he predicted the appearance of the fallen angel, Semia’Laz, at that point still many years from manifestation.  His political support wavered, no one willing to believe the king, who was assumed to have gone mad.  With many of his people, council, and even close family no longer trusting in his opinions, he took a handful of believers, and disappeared one day, never to be seen again.

Laertes Raleigh, Ramelan’s direct descendant, and twelfth ruler of Raleigh, eventually had to deal with his father’s premonitions.  Sure enough, Semia’Laz appeared on Tellest during Laertes’ years of service.  Laertes led several terribly outmatched battles against the immortal fallen angel, and the demon armies Semia’Laz commanded.  Eventually, it was Laertes decision to abandon Raleigh, and he, together with the other races represented by the Golden Council (which included dwarves, elves, orcs, gnomes, kobolds and minotaurs), began an exodus to the mountains to flee underground.  After Semia’Laz was slain, Laertes brought his people out of hiding, and worked to rebuild Raleigh.

The fifteenth ruler of Raleigh was also the only ruler not of Raleigh’s bloodline.  Magnus Lorethal was the counselor of the fourteenth ruler, Bidouin Raleigh.  When Bidouin was murdered, he had no male heir.  The rest of the council thought that Magnus was as good a choice as any to lead the nation.

Zenda Raleigh was the sixteenth ruler of Raleigh, and was Bidouin’s daughter.  She suspected that Magnus had murdered her father, and, six years after her father’s death, proved that Magnus was responsible.  Her courage, determination and intelligence proved her worth to Raleigh’s council, and they appointed her the first female ruler of the country.

Samson Raleigh, the eighteenth ruler of Raleigh, was King during the Plague of Fire, when demons once again terrified the planet.  Supposedly, the demons believed that Samson had the gauntlets Azaros and Vialoth, and attacked Viscosa to acquire them.  He stayed within his city, defending it with his life, while he sent his wife, and his daughter, Carensa, his eventual successor, away from the ensuing battle.

The current ruler of Raleigh is Victor Raleigh, son of Gregory.  He has been in service to the nation for nineteen years, and political opinion of him is beginning to falter.

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