Salazsar

Salazsar

By mg

Ruler

Walled Families

Location

Izril

Inhabitants

Drakes, Gnolls

Affiliation

Drakes

Salazsar, also known as the City of Gems, is one of the six Walled Cities located in Izril.

Background

The newest of the Walled Cities, Salazsar was built twenty-one thousand years ago after the initial founding of the other Walled Cities and started out as a small mining town.

At some point, it went to war with the Plain's Eye Tribe. The fighting was so bitter, that after the war, all sides feared that Salazsar and Plain's Eye Tribe would violate any truths made. As such, a binding pact was made by the Archmage of Sinful Magics, the Guardian of the Vail, and Belavierr.

Coat of Arms for Salazsar in tower shield format, by Enyavar

Layout

Salazar is built into the side of a mountain, and grows larger as it mines further in. It is extremely vertical, with a multitude of towers supporting platforms and walkways. Higher levels in the towers indicate higher income or status.

Buildings

Public Buildings:

• The Drake’s Pearl - Brothel
• The Ancestor’s View - Restaurant
• Element of Brass - Concert Hall
• Museum of Rainbows - Gemstone Museum

Government

Wall Lords & Ladies

Salazsar is ruled by sixty or so Lords and Ladies of the Wall, plus the Last Defenders of the Wall, who are a political faction comprised of old Drakes that have left retirement.

Known Wall Lords:

• Brilm
• Eschowar Erchirite
• Helliten
• Hezzien Occum
• Ilvriss Gemscale
• Itreus Torimine
• Khaiss
• Mailgest
• Meiss
• Menoss
• Rellmel Emera
• Tasilt
• Zail Gemscale

Known Wall Ladies:

• Calistoca Occum
• Gisha Emera
• Grisa
• Helessia Gemscale
• Laudire
• Messele
• Navine Gemscale
• Rizzia
• Terith
• Tielma
• Zazse Erchirite

Military

Rather than maintain individual standing armies, the Walled Families pay into a fund called the Gem Regiments that trains and retains different elite military forces that can be hired by any Walled Family or recalled by Salazsar as necessary. The individual hiring specifies the desired regiment, the length of service, the desired number of forces, and the duties that will be carried out and receives a contract for that force. When they are deployed together, they can use a maneuver called the Scintillation Counter, in which different regiments are rotated in to counter an incoming magical element. Some known Gem Regiment forces are:

• Erchirite Spears
• Occum Swords
• Rubirel Guard
• Sacchite Maces
• Topaz Shields
• Viridian Axes

With their great wealth, Salazsar is also known for hiring mercenaries and other cities to fight for them.

The [Assassin] group Symphony originates from Salazsar.

Economy

Salazsar's wealth is mainly based on its mining, as the magical mountain the city is carved out of is rich in valuable ore and gems. The Wall Lords of Salazsar own and manage mining companies that lay claim to their own tunnels and shafts. Furthermore, many small businesses, smaller shops, and operations owe their allegiance to a particular Wall Lord or house.

There is a forced conscription service for prisoners, where they are sent to work in the mines. Some companies will rent prisoners instead of hiring [Miners].

Salazsar mints its own coins, and even produces the current highest-value coin still minted: The Salazsarian Goldstriker. As such, this coin is useful in diplomacy as well as commerce.

Culture

Tradition is highly emphasized in Salaszar, the only Walled City where Wall Families still rule with no higher power. As the wealthiest Walled City, the mountain of gems and precious metals is the greatest source of pride for Salaszar.

Gnolls are a minority population, with most of them in the working class. Prejudice is common, and though some Wall Lords and Ladies take pride in employing Gnolls to prove they are nondiscriminatory, there are few Gnolls in higher positions such as [Administrator]. There have been only eight Gnoll Wall Lords in the history of Salazsar, and the most recent case of a Gnoll marrying a Wall Lord from a decade ago was still a great source of controversy.

Salazsar has nursing homes for its retired citizens. It is one of two Walled Cities with formal institutions for caring for senior citizens, the other being Oteslia.

Trivia

• Salazsar is the "premier Walled City, the hub of Drake civilization and an icon of the continent", or so Ilvriss claims. Considering that he is one of its Lord of the Walls, it is very likely that he is simply biased.
• Salazsar may have been founded by the Dragonlord of Gems, Saracandre.
  • While not explicitly stated in the text, Saracandre was described to be the founder of a tiny Walled City, which fits the description of Salazsar at its inception.

Gallery

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  Salazsarball by Satchel the SandWing