Falas

Falas is a city at the heart of the Falassian Empire. It is the empire's capital and largest city.

Description
Falas is the largest city in the Falassian Empire, as well as the whole of Lyvernus. It consists of several districts, called terraces, which are constructed above the city's ground level and connected by waterfall-powered elevators. However, the elevator to the Royal Terrace is powered by magic rather than water, conveying visitors more quickly and smoothly than the elevators to other terraces. These structures are surrounded by enormous stone walls, visible from a day's travel away. Within the walls, buildings are constructed from white stone, unlike the wood and plaster of many smaller settlements. While a fair number of Falas's residents are human, it is known for being especially welcoming of all races, including those who typically face prejudice for being seen as "evil," such as drow and tieflings. Falas is located inland, but is close to the Falas River, allowing merchants and goods to arrive by river barge. Falas also contains airship landings, which are uncommon or unheard of in many parts of Lyvernus. While much commerce exists within Falas, magical items are quite rare and typically sell at a markup, due to the city's distance from Atemcester. The city also contains academic instituions, such as a large library and St. Vashreen's Law Academy. Income inequality is quite stark in Falas, much to the regret of the previous emperor, Karseidon II. Falas has both a regular city guard, whose armor is adorned with the symbol of a dog, and the Drakeguard, who serve the emperor directly. The current ruler of Falas and the empire as a whole is Karseidon's daughter, Emperor Eurystheos XIV. She is a young ruler whose reign has been plagued with a variety of troubles, making her unpopular in other parts of the empire. Although the emperor is the highest authority in Falas (as well as the Falassian Empire), many important decisions and appointments are made by the Falassian Council, who are elected by the people.

Outside the Walls
Falas's walls are enormous, covered in intricate carvings depicting the history of Alethustria, such as the creation of the world by Alethus and Lyvernia leading the efforts to drive the chromatic dragons from the continent. The walls are surrounded by a sea of shacks and townhouses. Many of Falas's poor live here, outside the city proper, and the walls are surrounded by a perpetual bustle. Galnur's smithy is located in the outskirts, and an inn called the Outer Wall is built into the wall itself.

Central Terrace
The Central Terrace is on the ground level of Falas, making it easily accessible for visitors to the city. It contains elevators connecting it to all of the other major terraces. It also contains a bustling town square. Falas's library is located in the Central Terrace. It is a huge building, containing both fiction and nonfiction collections. It is mostly visited by scholars, although it is open to all.

Royal Terrace
The Royal Terrace is located in the southern part of Falas. It is also the highest terrace, as the airship landing can be viewed from above. The Royal Terrace contains many large buildings, but is mostly importantly. the location of the emperor's palace. The palace itself surrounded by 20-foot walls and made out of white brick that’s smoother and more refined than the stone used in most other Falassian buildings. Its windows are stained glass. The Royal Terrace and palace are opened on a regular basis so that commonfolk can seek audiences or air grievances to the emperor. The throne room is very long and is lined with more stained glass windows. The throne is golden and, on days when open court is held, flanked by Eurystheos's many dogs. The palace is the residence of the imperial family and under wards that prevent spells such as Scrying and Sending from penetrating its walls. West of the palaces is the Dragonslayers' Guild. While less grand, it also has stained glass windows, depicting famous dragonslayers in battle with each type of chromatic dragon. The building contains a request board with information on bounties on various dragons, a reception desk, and several tables where guild members gather and drink together. Guild members have cloaks with the emblem of a dragon crossed with a spear, representing the eternal strife between dragons and dragonslayers, and many are willing to offer advice to first-time dragonslayers.

High Terrace
The High Terrace is one of the smaller, residential terraces. However, it is the second tallest, under only the Royal Terrace. Many of the buildings are made of white stone, and at least some street corners are adorned with planters. It is where the wealthy of Falas, such as the Dartson family, reside. It is also the location of Falas's teleportation nexus and a number of fancy restaurants, such as the Brimstone Boutique.

Crafts Terrace
The Crafts Terrace is the western section of Falas. Many artisans create and sell their wares there. It is the location of the Ruby Eye, a jewelry store run by a red dragonborn named Voshriin.

Market Terrace
The Market Terrace is located in the eastern part of Falas. Many shops, including a tailor called the Stitch in Time, an apothecary, and an alchemical supply store, are located here. It is presumably also the location of Whisper's Wondrous Wares, a general store that sells rations at a markup, and the Royal Armory, a smithy selling high-quality mundane weapons and a few older pieces with magical properties. Some of these weapons date to era of Lyvernia, making them unaffordable to the average patron. The airship docks are also located on the eastern side of the Market Terrace. Service is provided to the whole continent of Lyvernus, although travelers seeking an unusual destination may need to charter a flight. If one wants to disembark in a place where the airship cannot land, the services of a mage with Featherfall are offered for a fee.

Holy Terrace
The Holy Terrace is the northern section of Falas and contains cathedrals dedicated to all of Alethustria's major deities, as well as smaller temples dedicated to many of the lesser deities. The Cathedral of Alethus is the largest of these cathedrals and is located in the center of the district. This cathedral has stained glass windows and is constructed of white cobblestone, like many of the other buildings in Falas. While fancier than many other temples of Alethus, it is not extravagant, having been built for worship rather than to show off the wealth of the worshippers. Proportionally, there are fewer clerics and paladins trained at the Cathedral of Alethus than there are at many temples.

History
Modern Falas seems to have been established about 600 years ago, as its first emperor was Lyvernia, the hero who led the effort to drive the chromatic dragons from Lyvernus. Lyvernia seems to have been mainly responsible for rallying the human forces, implying that Falas began as a primarily human settlement. She made allies with the dwarves of the Exeter and the elves (including drow) of Malino'dan as well. The Dragonslayers' Guild was established as a result of the city's historical relationship with dragonkind. Around the year 100, the dwarves driven from Earthbreaker Hall by a drow invasion made their way south to Falas, where they found refuge and established themselves.

Whether as a result of Lyvernia's leadership in the effort against the dragons or some other happenstance, all of the known Abyssal Crests were gathered in Falas for some time, held by the imperial family. In more recent times, the Falassian council has made several pushes to expand the Empire from their seat in Falas. Around 568, Chancellor Horus Fornathrius pushed for the annexation of Quadroad from the Western Elfgroves in order to better control the roads for trade purposes. The resulting battle ended in Falassian victory, making the reputation of Diol Wyrmspine who was later appointed as captain of the Drakeguard. Later on, Falassian forces fended off an attempt by Villane to expand their territory toward Falas. As a result, Villane was forced to become a vassal state of the Empire and the council installed a new duke, Errol Mountainfall, who would normalize trade relations between the two countries. The then-emperor, Karseidon II, opposed these attempts at expansion, as well as the installation of a dictator in Villane. He ended the Duchy of Villane's status as a vassal state and vetoed further efforts by Fornathrius to bring Cemouth and Northrune into the Empire. In 588, Karseidon II returned the Abyssal Crests to the groups that originally created them, as a safety precaution. While the nature of the Crests wasn't known to most of the recipients, the return of the items fostered good relations between Falas and some potential allies. However, soon after the Crests were dispersed, Karseidon was assassinated, apparently by a Pale Cloak assassin known as the Pale Rose. The details of his death were withheld from the general public, and the Drakeguard investigation, led by Diol Wyrmspine, turned up little evidence. The Imperial Mageguard at the time, Damien Wright, left Falas in disgrace as a result of their failure to protect the emperor. Karseidon's teenage daughter, Eurystheos XIV, succeeded him. She was initially a weak ruler, allowing Fornathrius and the council's Minister of War, Keld Norre to resume their expansionist agenda by annexing Blackpool via a war with Seaton. However, Eurystheos continued her father's non-expansionist policies and began to veto the council's efforts. As her reign continued, troubles began to plague the Falassian Empire, such as the return of chromatic dragons to Lyvernus and the re-emergence of a cult worshiping Alzrius.

Known Residents

 * Damien Wright
 * Darion
 * Diol Wyrmspine
 * Donatello (formerly)
 * Eurystheos XIV
 * Feldin Cobblecat
 * Festus (formerly, deceased)
 * Galnur Fluxtwist
 * Glasny Whitehall (formerly)
 * Grinlief Dartson (formerly)
 * Horus Fornathrius
 * Jorlief Dartson
 * Kain Thessos
 * Karrl
 * Karseidon II (deceased)
 * Keld Norre
 * Kima (currently elsewhere)
 * Lothain
 * Lyvernia (deceased)
 * Mistell the Magnificent
 * Saissa
 * Sindra
 * Stevonicus
 * Urli Earthbreaker XII (deceased)
 * Urli Earthbreaker XIII (deceased)
 * Urli Earthbreaker XIV
 * Vel
 * Voshriin
 * Whisper
 * Yawain