#caldr

Name: Zercé

Titles: The Hearthmother, Flamestoker, The Stonemaiden, The Fire’s Kiss, Lifeshaper, The Life Soul

Zercé is one of the older gods of the Verdulan pantheon, rivaled only be Vemor and Diphycys. It was the Hearthmother who first gave life to the mortal races  of Seaheim, molding them from divine clay and giving them the fire of life. Of all her children, the Dwarves revere her the most, and it shows in the massive monuments that have been built to her. The most well known is The Damastane in Caldr, which is a massive temple complex built deep below the city. 

A beautiful marvel of black iron and obsidian, the brightly lit halls smell of burning cherry logs (the cherry tree is sacred to her followers) and the sweat of rough labor. In Here, artists and other craftspeople put themselves to the test, working away at megaheated forges and blistering workshops. In the cellars of the building, monks brew the famous Maiden’s Hand Ale, known for it’s strong proofing and refreshing cherry taste. Even lower, pyromancers undergo stressful training involving developing a tolerance to burns and scalding. Once that is done, they must forge a monument to Zercé that suitably impresses the Goldcloak (a name for a higher ranking member of The Circle of Flame, usually one who trains new recruits.) Once that is done, they may read the Tome of St.Ignis, a martyr of the church with many titanic legends.

The other famous monument is located on Mount Dunteran, just above the Dwarvish citadel of Deepwatch. Known as The Maiden’s Cairn, a loving image of  Zercé and her demigod children (Angus, Ronas, and Fyron) can be seen carved into the very mountain with massive attention to detail. It is said that once could count the individual stone hairs carved into the Maiden, or her individual eyelashes. This was a great feat of engineering by the Dwarvish Lord Kinnick Gemblood.

The surface town before you get into Caldr is known as The Shade Market. An aptly named open air bazaar sprawls forth with inns on every street as well. A patchwork quilt blocks out the elements, made of handworked quilting by the local Halflings, who only live in The Market. Each of these masterfully done patches shows aheroic or famous feat or achievement the weaver has witnessed. 

Anything can be bought in this wondrous place. Traders travel from around the world to set up space here, and there is a large community of traders who all know each other here. The Trader’s Union rules The Shade Market, and represents it in matters concerning Caldr as a city state. At any one time, there are three leaders of the Trader’s Union, and they have the final say on matters concerning the Market.

The most popular inn for adventurers is The Mourning Star, owned by a retired adventurer named Halya Vandervauss. Here, most adventurers can be assured that they won’t be harmed in their sleep or stolen from, courtesy of The Sunrise Company agents who often stay there.

Caldr is a city located in the west-central plains of Verdula. Located between the Bitter Sea and Lake Seesk, it it a travel hub for those looking to go to Mistheim, Vys, or Vars. 

Caldr was bult on a rich deposit of metal and minerals. This attracted the Dwarves, who now make up the the second largest group of the city. Many smiths and artisans are attracted to Caldr as well. Most parts of the city are built into the mine, with the richest parts located closest to the surface. Gigantic contraptions power elevators to the bottom, though one could always take the scenic route through the caverns if they wanted. 

Speaking of caverns, the famous treasure rich caverns are infested with monsters that prey on treasure hunters. That being said, fortune favors the bold. 

The larger economy of Caldr includes three work villages on the surface around the central city. These cities are known as Brightsteel, Hearthhome, and Braddisfort. Brightsteel is by far the most economically profitable, as it is a whaling village and dock near the Bitter Sea. Hearthhome provides a vast amount of farmland to the city, as does Braddisfrot. Braddisfort is a fishing village on the shore of Lake Seesk.