Penthe

The Angel Blessed City of Glory

Penthe (pronounced pen-thay), is a city built to honor the Zolaen Gods. A home so beautiful, it has garnered the endorsement of Iyowne, a powerful angel. Founded in the mid First Age by a group of devout warrior monks called The Undari, Penthe is now a beautiful city located on the slopes of the Se’dir River Valley. It is the westmost city in all The Three Corners.

A powerful pump constructed using Imbuement Perpetuum moves water up from the Se’dir River to the city’s highest point, where it then flows back down through constructed canals and waterfalls all throughout the area. This infrastructure gives much utility to the population of the city and their day to day operations. Of these operations, the most notable is The First Bastion, a wing of the Observum where warriors of Laenwalde are trained to defend their kingdom, and uphold the will of the Zolaen Gods.

# Overview

Aspect	Description
Main Opportunity	The city is a valiant, holy, and beautiful place. Its churches and The First Bastion provide for all who are in need. The most skilled fighters of Laenwalde’s army are trained within the city. For those who are in the city’s favor it is one of the safest places within Zol.
Main Challenge	The city worships the Zolaen Gods to a degree that is borderline fanatical, this stems from the city’s history and its association with The First Bastion. In its current society these shared beliefs create a community for those who hold them, but drives away anything else. Non-believers, sinners, or those who do not devote themselves well enough are shunned as outsiders. Myth and rumor paints a darker image where these outsiders are not only shunned, but culled. However there is little proof of this, and would depend heavily on the religious-political state of the city’s leadership.
Climate	Temperate/Dry
Cuisine	Cultivated Fruits, Farmed Goods, Flatbread and rice based meals
Export	Military Training
Size	Medium
Outer Villages	Some
City Leader	High Lord Draezus Wolf
Primary Language(s)	Common
Majority Racial Group(s)	None
Majority Religion(s)	Zolaen-Centric

# Major Features

Feature	Description
Distinguishing Features	River valley, Inner-city canals and waterfalls
Architecture	Very tall buildings, Archways, Banners, Stained-glass windows
Color(s)	Purple, Grey, and Blue
Symbolism	A vertical, point-down sword with an overarching curve from the far left of the hilt that goes up over the pommel and ends at the far right of the hilt. Forming the shape of a doorway with the curve and guard combined.
Defenses	The First Bastion, high walls, many patrols, heavy wall mounted artillery, airship fleet

# People Groups

Group	Type	Description
Commoners	Social Class	The working class of the city. The city has the one of the lowest percentages of uncared for citizens in all of Zol due to the resources provided by the churches and The First Bastion
Nobility	Social Class	The cities upper-crust. Most of which sponsor the churches and The First Bastion by means of economic resources, or other types of power.
The Misfortuned	Social Class	The lowest economic level of the city. Not quite beggars as those without are generally taken care of by the church, save for those deeply shunned.
The Shunned	Non Zolaen-Centric/Secular Group	Citizens who do not fit the ideals of the church. Members of society who are outcast by others for things like differing beliefs, partial devotion, or sins. Those who are shunned by the masses are rarely welcomed back into their previous circles. Even those close to one who has been deemed an outsider will be treated differently.
Slaves	Social Class	Those charged with significant crimes who are forced to work and serve in recompense.
The Devout	Religious (Zolaen-Centric) Group	Citizens who follow the Zolaen-Centric beliefs of the church very closely, or at least appear to from the outside view. This group makes up the vast majority of the population.
Clergy	Religious group	Those who make a career of performing work for the church, or the more clerical aspects of The First Bastion
The First Bastion	Military/Religious Guild	A devout, Zolaen-Centric group of trained warriors who fight under the banner of Laenwalde as the kingdom’s most skilled warriors. Helmed by Blade Lord Kive Bidell. The institution’s aim is to train powerful warriors and clerics to defend and uphold the kingdom and the will of the Zolaen Gods. The guild exists as a branch of the Observum under the umbrella of The University.

# Goods and Services

Name	Type	Description
Cliffkeep	Keep	The city’s keep, located on a large rock outcropping on the valley’s southern slope.
Penthe Station	Train Station	The city’s train station
Penthe Convergence	Teleportation Circle	The city’s main teleportation circle, located on the grounds of Cliffkeep
Bastion Convergence	Teleportation Circle	The First Bastion’s teleportation circle
Highsquare	Market	The city’s nicest market for the wealthiest individuals. Located next to Cliff keep at the city’s highest peak upon its horn-shaped outcropping. It is also the location of the pump which sends water flowing down all through out the city
The Ivy Markets	Market	The city’s more common markets. The various markets, divided by good sold are located within Ivy Gate
Iyowne’s Pressing	Tavern	A tavern frequented by the nobility of the city. Said to be located nearest to the visitation point of the angel Iyowne
Khalborit’s Alehouse	Tavern	An Alehouse popular with Devout commoners of the city. Located within Smokepole
Cottonheath Inn	Tavern	A small and dingy inn, frequented by the shunned member’s of the city’s society. Music and conversation does not frequent this place like the other taverns of the city. Located at the rivers edge in Cottonheath.
The First Bastion	Guild	A valiant structure of golden, swirling adornment detailing and white stone. Located at the center of Victory. A branch of The Observum.

# Authority

The city is under rule of High Lord Draezus Wolf and his council. The city is known for respecting the crown of Laenwalde so truly and honorably, there are rhymes and jokes written about it.

Second to the High Lord, is Blade Lord Kive Bidell. The Blade Lord is leader of The First Bastion. The Blade Lord responds only to the command of High Lords and the King himself.

Beyond that, rank within the church is just as seriously as government rank. If a priest were to command something of you, it would be the same as if an officer were to. However you would have no legal precedent to follow it, just a serious societal one.

# Laws

The city subscribes to the Laenwalde Laws.

# Modern Importance

In modern day, much of The University’s operations concerning the Observum occur within the city. The First Bastion focuses much of its resources on training adept fighters to venture out into Laenwalde and the world beyond to act on behalf of the King and the Zolaen Gods.

# Historical Importance

When the city was originally founded by The Undari, it was a place where martial skill was of great cultural importance. This ideal has transformed over time along with teaching of Zolaen-Centric beliefs to form a very devout people.

So devout, it garnered the attention of Iyowne, a powerful angel of The Watcher. In the late First Age, the angel visited the city during sunset. He spoke well of the peoples devotion, and told them their city exemplified the ideals The Watcher aimed to instill all across Zol. Those who witnessed Iyowne were granted high station within the church.

While some doubt the event ever taking place, its effect in the city’s culture has remained strong event to modern day. The people of Penthe conserve old beliefs in an aim to stay true in the eyes of the Gods.

# Other Things of Note

The people of the city depend very little upon Apparatum and other magical objects. This is due to a widely held belief that those sorts of proclivities are not needed when one is cared for by the gods. Many generations ago they were outlawed, but convenience and abundance has eroded away those principals. Now most commoners will use them when necessary, and nobility tend to employ whatever they deem fit. The secondary effect to this is it is difficult to purchase things of this nature in the city. One is better of catching a train to Ryze.