General

Skalenvru is the largest city in the Kingdom of Skalenvru and its capital. It is one of the most important centres of trade and political power on the continent of Ikoval.

Description

Approaching from land, the city looks like any other. A fortified wall designates it perimeter and an inner wall separates the royal seat of power - the Palace of the Sun. There is no lint of the city's true size other than the small building in the middle, where a staircase and an elevator can be seen.

To see its true glory, one needs to approach from the sea. People sailing in are instantly greeted with the spectacular construction of this city. It is made up of 4 large caverns, stacked on top of each other, each with a side open towards the ocean. On top is the final layer which is the only part visible from the surface. The city is made up of these five layers, with the ones closest to the surface being more wealthy.

Nivo Nebe (Top Level)

The Nebe level is the only part of the city that is on the surface, which is where its name comes from ("Nebe" meaning "Sky" in the local language). Surrounded by tall walls, it houses the Military, Education and Religious buildings of the city. Few private citizens call this level their home, as the main residence is the Palace of the Sun, located past an inner wall, where the royal family and their guests live. Points of interest:

1. The Palace of the Sun - Large central palace with spectacular gardens, dedicated to the god Pelor. It is the home of the king.
2. Janske's Exotic Creatures - Mansion with multiple large yards and gardens, where a menagerie of exotic creature are kept, displayed and sold.
3. The Grand Library - A circular building where thousands of rare tomes are kept.
4. The Hall of Scholars - The premier educational institution of the city and a working temple to Ioun.
5. Sky Port - One of the few ports on the continent that accommodate Sky Ships.
6. Skalenfort - Headquarters of the guards within the city. Has a number of small fortifications and barracks within it.
7. Luna Light - Temple of Sehanine with a wooded front garden.
8. The House of Law - Judicial chambers of the city and a rare temple to the draconic god Bahamut.

Nivo Bogat (Second Level)

The Bogat layer is where the richest citizens of the city (excluding the royal family) live. The level is primarily made up of large manor houses with gardens many times the size of a house from the lower levels. The few business the make this level their home, are the type to cater to this upper-class society. Examples include the Skalenvru Bank, the Penance and Co. auction house and the HQ of Worldwares Shipping. The main drinking establishment is the large tavern in the middle called the Storm's Scion, where only the remarkably wealth travellers could afford to stay. Points of interest:

9. Penance and Co. - An office of the intercontinental auction house Penance and Co., where rare magical items are put up for sale.
10. Overlook Park - Large public park overlooking the side of the cliff.
11. Worldwares HQ - Head offices and warehouses of the Worldwares Shipping company.
12. Skalenvru Bank - Large stone building where the rich and wealthy of the city keep their money.
13. The Storm's Scion - An upscale tavern, where wealthy visitor to the city stay. It has various features of offer, such as confidential meeting rooms.

Nivo Pravya (Third Level)

The Pravya level is home to most of the craftsman guilds in the city. Housing here becomes more sparce, as the houses themselves grow larger. Most of them are for senior members of the guilds, or the families of well-off merchants. They are situated in a ring around the caverns edge and closer to the center in a concentric ring are the guild buildings themselves, also called "The Ring of Craft". In the centre of those stands the Crafter Collection, a market made up of the stalls of the finest guild artisans. It is much smaller than the Hunt in the Khora Level and offers a lower variety of wares, but their quality is noticeably improved. The main tavern on this level is the Broken Chain, owned by the Baron of the Deep. Points of interest:

14. The Ring of Craft - A local name of the guild buildings which form a ring around the central market.
15. The Broken Chain - A fancy tavern owned by the Baron of the Deep.
16. The Master Makers -
17. The Lost Copper
18. Crafter's Collection - Market where the elite members of the guilds present their creations.
19. Shrine of Creation - Small temple to the elven god Corellon.

Nivo Khora (Fourth Level)

The Khora level is a step up from the Dulbok level. It is also made up of housing, but the buildings here are more spacious, often having small gardens in the back. The main draw is The Hunt - the large market place where many of the city's traders show off their wares. The tavern of choice is the Drop, located at the edge of the layer. Points of interest:

20. The Drop - Tavern for working class people located at the edge of the cavern.
21. The Hunt - Largest market in the city, where all manner of mundane goods and wares can be found.
22. The Gangway -

Nivo Dulbok (Bottom Level)

The Dulbok level is the one closest to the sea and is the poorest part of the city. It is separated into two tiers, where a sheer line splits the cavern. It is mostly made up of tightly packed houses and is where many of those who work at the port reside. The Broken Pulley Tavern is the main gathering spot for people at the end of the workday. Almost nobody lives in the level by choice, as it gets the least amount of sunlight, but it is the cheapest accommodation available. Points of interest:

23. Raya's Hauling Co. -
24. Lift House - Offices overseeing new arrivals from the ports via the lift.
25. The Broken Pulley - Run-down tavern where the poorest of the city go to drink.

Society

Skalenvru is a large centre for trade and fishing. The fact that most of the city exists "underground", has left a lot of land on the surface level available for farming, which helps feed the inhabitants. It is also one of the large gathering points for craftsmen from across the continent with a whole layer being dedicated to them.

While as a city, Skalenvru is growing and thriving, this is not without its cost. The city is heavily segregated by the levels that make it up. People in the lower levels lead completely different lives from those above them and most are not even allowed to access the upper levels without explicit permission. This works to the benefit of the rich. There also appears to have been an agreement made by the establishment and a central figure in the cities underbelly - The Baron of the Deep. The exact specifics are unknown, but the general sentiment is that he will keep crime away from the top two levels and in exchange, the powers that be will turn a blind eye to some of his ventures.

The rigid level structure also applies to travellers, who are interviewed upon entering the city for the first time and assigned a Roaming Pass, which determines what parts of the city they can access. Each pass bears a mark, made up of an icon of the sun surrounded by a border. The colours of the sun and the border, designate the bearer's level of access.

Notable People

History

Current