Suhder

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Suhder, Throne of the Gods

The city of Suhder was founded during the first or second era, depending on the source, as a bastion for Pelor's Radiant on Vayan. It grew to what is now called the City of the Gods, a place where all those who dedicated themselves to the Gods of Light and Life gathered. Now, in the Fourth Era, it still stands proudly as a symbol of faith in the Gods, and a bastion that binds together the people of the Astran League. Suhder today is the center for business, politics, justice, faith, and education within the realm. It is often called the nexus of the modern world.

The city sits on the Inris Estuary where it has access to the Lunarest Basin and Inris river while looking out over fertile plains that stretch south towards the Inmer sea. Protected by massive, stone walls it is neigh impossible to conquer for any hostile force while access to the inside is well guarded through a number of gates and portcullis. Once inside the city is kept in order by the Ptarian Order who patrol each of its wards, fanning out from its central Astran Barracks. The farms to the south, and fleet of fishers that go out in the Lunarest Bay provide the city with most of its food, while to the east and west of the cities walls one will find the Unwalled communities bustling with life.

Government

Suhder is the capital of the Astran League and political center of the nation. The League is ruled by Archon Hrak and Inmer Assembly. The Archon, who took power during the Caste Uprising of 674PCA, is credited almost exclusively with overseeing Suhder's transition from a theocratic city state, to an autocratic empire, and then a unity state. While it was not him that disposed the theocratic Council of Faithful, it was during his rise to power many laws were rewritten and it is these laws that have modelled the political system we see today.

As the Inmer Assembly's responsibilities and power grew it created several bodies to which it delegated powers, all of which report to the Assembly and the Archon:

• The Omphalos Ministries who draft and propose new laws and are responsibly for collecting taxes.
• The Astran Emissaries are the chosen representatives hailing from different provinces and function as their ambassadors
• The Platinum Court who oversee the different courts and dispense justice.
• The Ptarian Order who keep order in the League's cities and borders. Rumors are that they serve as the eyes and ears of the Archon and swear only allegiance to him.

These four branches form the political backbone of the nation, while the Archon has been absent for most of the proceedings for a number of decades. In fact, while Archon Hrak still holds the power ascribed to him in the Astran Accords, it is said he has not used these powers in over a century. Many have suggested that the Archon is no longer fit to rule, on account of his old age, and some have even said that he has been long dead.

Suhder works closely with the four other major cities in the Astran League: Trepun and Bazit are large trading hubs on their own, Pinst is the industrial center of the League, and Rivemont has developed itself to be the center of Arcane and Technological development over the last decades.

Diplomatically the League finds itself in a trading alliance with the Brightreef Coalition to the south-west and the Mohnian Dominion to the North, while a strained and cold relation has been worsening for years with the Arcanists of the Spirelink Alliance to the South.

Society

Suhder's original inhabitants - the immortal followers of the gods - had always been outnumbered by the mortal ones. Now, in the Fourth Era, only the mortal races remain and Suhder has seen most of them. With its central role within and without the Astran League, nearly all races of Vayan pass through and take refuge within its walls. Humans, Elves, and Halflings are most broadly represented but they are by no means in the majority. Only the Dragonborn fulfil a special role within Suhderian society: Their ancestry is unmistakably bound to the Platinum Dragon, and most of them will end up serving one of the many order or sects dedicated to justice or protection.

The Castes

Suhder's system of social castes has been abolished for over two centuries as a result of the Caste Uprising, but its traces still linger and inform many traditions and design of parts of the city. The outer reaches of the Lesser Ward on the west side of the city originally grew as a place where those of the lowest caste the "casteless" could make a living and own a home, and many of those serving in politics and residing within the higher reaches of Suhderian society those who were of the highest castes, or their direct descendants.

The Divine & Arcane

The Divine and the Gods have always been at the heart of Suhder, both literally and metaphorically. With the city build as a Bastion for Pelor's Radiant where the Omphalos now resides and mortals having lived alongside the Divine before the Fourth era the city is intrinsically linked with the Gods they revere. The people of Suhder, and the League at large, have revered the Gods that created Vayan and have been better for it.

The Arcane, while never outlawed as such, has always been seen as a practice of the occult and perverted - despite the knowledge and abilities being gifted to mortals by the Knowing Matron Oghma and Giving Mistress Mystra. The veil between the Prime Material and other Planes has been badly understood by most folk, and has seemingly been steadily growing thinner ever since the Crepuscular Annihilation and the Exodus. It is no wonder then, that many folks have blamed the somewhat frequent incursions of extra planner beings on Arcanists that dabble with these arcane rituals and magics. Decades conspiracies about Spirelink agents infiltrating into Astran society, actors of the arcane causing droughts or floods, or supposed arcane rituals causing incursions of anything from demons and devils to Fey have not helped matters. The opening of the Silver Spire academy in Suhder was even met with a small riot outside the Lyceum gates.

The Astran League

The Astran League is unitary state under the rule of Archon Hrak and the Inmer Assembly founded with the signing of the Astran Accord of 722PCA. Though the Suhderian Empire had conquered much of the lands belonging to the Pinst Coalition and Quon Dynasty the accord stipulated the formation of a single union lead by members of all former states. Initially met by protest from the Suhderian elite, Archon Hrak expressed his intentions of ruling the new League for the benefit of all its citizens, new and old, in hopes of establishing a powerful block that could withstand challenges from both within and without, including a body of governance that could stand up to a potential future tyrant.

The creation of the Inmer Assembly saw the formation of a council of advisors from different walks of life; generals, priests, members of nobility, merchants, and other figures of social importance. These Assembly members would go on to advise Archon Hrak in the early decades of the League, while gradually expanding their responsibilities as the Archon grew more absent from political business.

The League is the largest state on both the continent of Vashora and on the western hemisphere, and holds great influence in political, economical, and military matters.

The Wards

Suhder is divided in several districts called wards, each of which is characterized by its own activities and inhabitants - though all wards contain houses, inns, guard stations, and other basic amenities. Most wards inside the city walls are also connected through the Inris Canalways above ground and sewer systems below ground.

The Omphalos serves as the center for politics and high society. This where one finds the Archon's Reach, the Assembly ministries, and the Platinum Court: the highest court in the Astran League. Homes of the Suhderian elite are mostly found here, along with their offices and some of the most exclusive stores and establishments. With access to this ward being tightly regulated to politicians, the elite and their servants, and a lucky (or rich) few, it has earned a reputation in unrivaled opulence and exclusivity with rumors of lavish parties often finding their way to other wards.

The Suhder Port is built on and around the estuary where the Inris river connects to the Lunarest Basin. Dozens, if not hundreds, of ships make dock here at any given time. The port is regulated by Dock Wardens, who allocate space for the different merchants, shipping companies, and fleets of fishers that call this port their home. From here smaller vessels ferry goods all around Suhder through the complex system of canalways that sprawl in an ever growing network through the city. if you're looking for a day's work you're sure to find something here, but you'll have to be a savvy negotiator to get a good price for your time.

The Temple Ward houses all of the major temples of deities worshipped in Suhder and the wider Astran League. Most recognizable is the Cathedral to the Dawnfather Pelor, with its gold-plated roofing visible from almost everywhere in the city. One can also find the temple of the Nightmother, and smaller shrines of worship to the Shepard of Seasons, Giving Mistress, and the Knowing Matron. The catacombs of the Mothtender is where the recently departed come to rest - if they can afford it. Tenders of the Flame guide them down into the complex and expansive network of the catacombs, where one could easily be lost without a Tender.

The Astran Barracks contains many of the barracks and instructional facilities for both the standing military of the Astran League and Ptarian Order. Prospective new soldiers are trained at the Halls of Discipline, commonly referred to as the Grinder, while recruits for the Ptarian Order are put through rigorous training at the Bastion. The Steel Vanguard is also stationed here in between their expeditions and often call their barracks the Cosmic Retreat. While every district has their own, smaller jails, Suhder's largest prison - The Hoard - is found here.

The Lyceum is the foremost place for education one can find within all the League. With several highly praised colleges and universities housed in magnificent halls of study and wisdom, knowledge is never far away - for those who can afford it. Artistic or intellectual enrichment is readily available in the Lyceum, and even the Arcane can now be studied in the recently established, though highly controversial, Silver Spire Academy.

The Lunaria Promenade is, by many accounts, one big marketplace. Right in the middle of Suhder with broad access to all its water ways this district finds all its stalls, tents, and shops easily supplied with both wares and customers from the city and beyond. If something is for sale, you're sure to find it here; from food and drink, to magically enchanted objects, and any service one may think of. One of the wards biggest attractions is no doubt the Radion - a massive arena where the masses are entertained with shows ranging from theater to gladiatorial combat. Once a year, the Steel Vanguard uses the Radion to recruit "Arwyn's Chosen" in a week long tournament they call the Cosmic Cleansing.

The Hub is the largest residential ward within Suhder's walls, a living place for most of the city's middle class - including merchants, traveling traders, ship captains, and guild apprentices. The Ward is a patchwork of thousands of personal homes, tenements, and guildhalls of all shapes and sizes, mixed with a smattering of different inns and taverns in every nook and cranny. Several neighborhoods are clustered together and bound by tightly set streets, occasionally broken up by park greens or the Inris Canalways that connect the ward with the Lunaria Promenade and Suhder Port.

The Ratways is the sewer system that runs below all of inner Suhder and even parts of the Lissar and Outer wards. Though this is not a ward like the others it's outer reaches are still guarded by the Ptarian Order. The Ratways, unsurprisingly, see use by many lawless types and organizations that would rather hide their activities. The sprawling nature and lack of law bringers has made the Ratways into a natural fit for many seedy and shady types. It is well known that several criminal organizations use the tunnels to move about the city unseen, and even have their bases and safehouses in some of the many corners hidden in the shadows, fake walls, or well camouflaged doors where the patrols of the Ptarian order would never find them. Rumors have it that if you manage to find one of the Stalkir's hideouts they will accept you into their ranks.

Lissar Ward is the larger of the two unwalled districts. Officially given Ward status only a few decade ago the Lissar ward was originally a gathering place for the growing Casteless population who were not allowed to own property within the city walls. Now it is a vibrant, largely self-sustaining town of its own, complete with its own Lissar Militia that guard the streets. Despite having long outgrown its status of a slum, crime still runs parts of Lissar and it is often advised to stay indoors at night unless you know where you're going.

The Outer West is, as the name suggests, on the west side of Suhder. Originally a gathering place for traders not allowed into the city, the ward has grown into a community of its own. With an easy-to-access, lively marketplace and a large assortment of craftspeople around the Outer West serves many who either prefer to stay outside of the city, or cannot find a place to live or sell their wares within its walls. A must visit to all that come through is the Driver's Tavern, where song and drink fill its interior with ambiance every night. Recently the ward has also seen a number of the Suhder upper class move in to build massive, lavish mansion where the land is relatively cheap - much to the chagrin of its inhabitants - but, despite this recent influx of the wealthy and influential the Outer West also still serves as a hub for those looking to move their illicit goods in and out of the city's well guarded gates.

The Southern Farms is not officially considered a ward, but rather a large collection of farms that dot the land reaching down from Suhder's Midsun gate. Travel along the Inris will take one by a good amount of this farmland, that stretches for many kilometers. These farms are Suhder's foremost source of food.

Landmarks

The Radion

Archon's Reach

Eldath Grove is a park in the middle of Suhder reaching all the way from where the Inris crosses the center of the Lunari Promenade to the walls that separate the ward from the Omphalos.

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