Tel Amnora

Founded in 70 AUC

Race	Population
Total	~40000
Elven	Majority
Half-elven	Minority
Humans	Minority
Smallfolk	Minority
Dragonborn	Enclave

Dominant culture: Maritime

Patron deity: Aegir

The alabaster spires of Tel Amnora can be seen from far away, a beacon of light on the fertile plains of Amnora. The city is located in and around a natural harbor, and its island city has many canals. Tel Amnora is a city of elven excess, where the ruling class live in luxury, carried around on palanquins, rowed in gondolas, or in quillstrider-drawn carriages, while the poor work themselves to the bones in furnaces or mills for enough silvers to feed themselves.

The population of Amnora is dominated by the working class who create fabulous wealth for the ruling families, be it through working the vineyards, artisanal crafting, or trading. There are only a few hundred members of the princely families, yet they own a vast majority of the resources. In Tel Amnora, around seven tenths of the population is elven, with only around a tenth each of half-elves and humans. Smallfolk, dwarves, and more exotic species make up the last tenth. The non-elven population is almost exclusively in the lower classes.

Locations

Amnoran architecture is tall and graceful, building vertically to use the available space to its fullest. Most buildings are made of white or light grey timber, often incorporating arches and domes that follow natural curves. Trees and greenery are everywhere in the city, often bound up on trellises. Marble statues, elaborate fountains, and stained glass windows are common embellishments, especially on Telacine.

Telacine, the City on the Water

The central part of Tel Amnora is the City on the Water, which sits at the center of the lagoon. A guarded causeway connects it to the mainland, where the city spreads out on the plain. Built on several low islands in a natural harbor, the City on the Water is a marvel of elvish construction. Each island is criss-crossed by canals and connected to others by bridges, blurring the original lines between them. Non-elves can only (legally) access the City on the Water by invitation from a Prince of Amnora.

Telacine is a maze of narrow streets, canals, and alleys between tall houses. Living here is the most important marker of status in the city - property is at least ten times more expensive here compared to the mainland. Many houses have a small dock that allows access directly from the canals, and larger houses may even have a boathouse for private gondolas.

Each of the princely houses have a manor house here. These elaborate compounds take up a majority of the available space. Most nobles rarely leave Telacine except on business. Only members of the noble families and members of their retinues are allowed to carry weapons on the islands. However, if you can carry yourself like a noble, the guards are unlikely to stop you if you have a rapier on your hip.

Arwen's Causeway

Connecting the City on the Water with the mainland, Arwen's Causeway consists of a series of low arch bridges. Gondolas can pass under the bridges, but masted watercraft cannot. The bridge is paved and wide enough for two-lane traffic, but can get very congested in the mornings and evenings, especially if a noble and their escort need to pass. At night, the lanterns hung along the railings are lit. Both ends have a gatehouse guarded by a mix of house retinue soldiers.

Ambar Araeril

On a separate island at the northern end of the City on the Water lies the Ambar Araeril (lit 'Golden-Flame Palace'). Its white spires tower over all other buildings of Tel Amnora. It is the seat of Amnoran politics, where the current High Prince holds court, issuing decrees and judges legal cases petitioned before them. The palace also holds banquet halls, several arcaded gardens, galleries, and more.

The palace is also the headquarters and barracks of the Prince-Guard, who are personally loyal to the office of the High Prince. The Prince-Guard are smaller than most house retinues, but are better trained.

Mausoleum of Arwen Araeril

Here, Arwen Araeril, the founder of Amnora and its first High Princess lies embalmed on an alabaster dais. All noble families also have a family burial vault here, where cremated ashes are interred.

Manor Houses

Each princely house has a stately manor where most of the family lives with a small army of servants.

Cael Fenalar
Cael Isneril
Cael Eriliex
Cael Aenidin
Sinsire , the grand houseboat of House Elentirel
Imon Silroth
Cael Adhonin

Telacine Market

The square where the causeway connects the islands with the mainland is the heart of commerce in Tel Amnora. A few artisans have shops in the area, but most sell their wares from carts or stands.

A large marble fountain is located at the center of the square, with magically propelled jets of water in geometric patterns.

A Silken Touch

This tailor's shop caters to all tastes and is considered one of the best in the city. The display windows towards the market square are filled magically suspended garments, as if worn by invisible mannequins. Their flagship location is split over two floors, with the upper floor for gentlemen, and the bottom floor for ladies. Attendants take measurements for custom orders, provide suggestions, and fetch garments and fabric samples from behind the counters.

The Scent of Victory

This perfume shop smells heavily of roses, musk, sandalwood, and honey. Arriving unscented to a party would be a major breach of etiquette. It is not a very large shop, but they have dozens of different scents, soaps, and kinds of incense to choose from, or you could commission a custom one.

Virie nan Amnora

(high elf, 144, NG): Purveyor of the shop. She learned her craft as an alchemist in the retinue of House Aenidin.

All That Glitters

The most distinguished jeweler in the city. The storefront on the bottom floor holds several runeglass-paned display cabinets with gem-encrusted pieces of gold, platinum, or mithril. The second floor houses a workshop where half a dozen jewelers work hard to keep up with the never-ending demand for elaborate pieces. On the top floor, the owner of the store has a small apartment and a vault for the precious raw materials.

Nairath Arelifin

(high elf, LG, 172): Owner of the store. He is a devout follower of Freya, and has a small shrine to her in his apartments.

Arfina nan Amnora

(high elf, NG, 39): A young apprentice jeweler, who has a sharp eye for matching accessories with clothes.

Master Melasar's Forge

The loud clanging of hammers can be heard outside the workshop, and the heat of the forge keeps it well above room temperature. The workshop is divided in two rooms, a showroom where finished pieces are sold, and a forge where the master smith and his apprentices work to make some of the sharpest weapons money can buy.

Iondan Melasar

(high elf, master bladesmith, TN, 201): One of the best bladesmiths in the Estian Sea, although he would never admit it himself. Driven by an almost obsessive need for perfection in his craft, Iondan has made elfblades for most of the princely houses.

Amphitheater of Herminia Casta

An open-air amphitheater in the Teccan style, where performances of music, dance, theater, and poetry are performed almost every night. During inclement weather, large cloth covers can be extended over the amphitheater. The amphitheater was built by Teccan masons as a gift from its eponymous empress, as a token of imperial favor.

It also houses a temple to Balder and a bardic college, specializing in dance. It is not uncommon for the students here to earn income on the side teaching dance to nobles. The headmistress of the college is Galwen Elentirel. Her students are often hired to play music at or perform intricately choreographed numbers at Amnoran feasts.

Aelith nan Amnorae

(high elf cleric, CG, 121): Priestess at the temple of Balder.

The Silver Harp

Aristocratic inn

The most expensive and upscale tavern on Telacine. A small army of waitstaff cater to the guests, providing luxurious food and drink for parties both small and large. The waitstaff all wear a distinctive silver harp pin in their black velvet hats. The Harp also has a rooftop garden bar that has hosted many lavish feasts.

Cristopher nan Amnora

(half-elf, 67, LN): Head chef and owner of the Harp. He is a gourmet of the highest order, always seeking new ingredients. He has a penchant for exotic animal parts, and often has well-paying contracts for adventurers to fetch wyvern eggs, giant shark roe, fresh rawsley, or some other hard-to-acquire delicacy.

Pools of Pleasure

Wealthy inn

This spa is devoted to relaxation and recuperation. There are several heated pools, as well as mud baths, private saunas, and massage rooms. The attendants all wear loose-fitting black silk robes and translucent veils. It is a popular hangout for nobles on days after major feasts, as they offer several magical tonics and pick-me-ups in their bar.

Tindolanthe

This academy is primarily a magic school, where gifted children from across the city are trained in the arcane arts by House Silroth. Many students here go on to work for House Silroth, either in their retinue or in their scriptoria. The school also teaches other children, almost exclusively noble scions, in more general classes, where they receive an education worthy of their station.

For a fee, the academy also allows visitors to access their library, which holds many tomes and scrolls.

Arcanum Totalum

The glowing entrance to this permanent Magnificent Mansion is located on a small but beautifully gardened park close to Imon Silroth. Inside lies one of the greatest magical shops in the Estian Sea, where you can buy anything a wizard desires: spellbooks, quills, inks, rare scrolls, spell foci and components, magical trinkets, dragonchess sets, robes, and more.

The magical goods sold here are made by House Silroth, and their violet banners adorn the walls inside. Security here is tight, with conjured elementals ready to intervene at first sight of trouble, and several defensive enchantments laid over the space.

In a sideroom, the Tel Amnora Dragonchess Club has a room dedicated to playing. The room has a small bar and several plushy chairs where competitors can play. The dragonchess club is helmed by Halath Silroth, who is a very good player himself (+10). He enjoys teaching the game to younger elves, providing stipends and scholarships to those who show an aptitude for it.

Hall of Remembrance

This museum to Amnoran culture and heritage has many treasures, most of them donated by princely houses to highlight their ancestors' deeds. The museum also has a gallery of contemporary art where they sometimes host feasts. The curator for the Hall of Remembrance is Maegor Isneril.

Glowoak Park

his city oasis is dedicated to Skadi, and its serence silence is a welcome change from much of the rest of the city. The park is centered on a nascent glowoak tree, a marvel of botanical mastery from the gardeners of House Eriliex. A small runestone shrine to the Landmother sits beneath the glowoak, which exudes a soft orange light during the night.

Hall of Trade

If you want to buy two bottles of wine, you go to the market. If you want to buy a thousand bottles, you go to the Hall of Trade, where commerce on a much larger scale is conducted.

Highspire Highrollers

Located in a narrow tower on the eastern end of the inner city, the Highspire Highrollers are an invitation-only gambling club where huge sums of money are staked on games of chance and betting on the quillstrider races. To get an invitation, one would have to demonstrate your aptitude for gaming and the depth of your pockets.

The primary game played here is rheasure, or luckwheel, but there is usually a table of gnome fold or elevens being played as well.

Coxswain's Club

The premiere rowing club in Tel Amnora. Rowing is a popular sport, especially among the nobility and upper classes. The most common boat used are narrow four-man sweeping shells. Many Amnoran organizations field a rowing team, including most noble houses. The most prestigious race is two laps around Telacine, and takes place each year on the summer solstice. The last race was won by House Fenalar, with House Elentirel less than a boat length behind at the goal line.

Monuments
Artisans
- Barber
- Leatherworker
- Swordsmith
Cat cafe or cat-themed pet shop
Embassies of Iacaris and the League?

The City on the Land

The outer city of Tel Amnora spreads out from where the causeway connects to the mainland. Here, industry is plentiful, with many runeglass furnaces, weaveries, and markets providing employment opportunities. The houses here are lower and wider, as space is far less of a premium.

Saint Rheawyn Memorial Hospital

A hospital run by the Pilgrim Knights, built on land donated by House Adhonin, and named for the Adhonin ancestor. The Charitors here provide food and healing to anyone in need. A company of Spears are also stationed here, who are technically mercenaries of the House Adhonin retinue.

The hospital grounds also holds a small chapel to Saint Rheawyn, who the Pilgrim's teach was actually an early preacher of Freya's truths. The chapel is centered on a twenty-foot statue of Saint Rheawyn meditating in Charitor dress.

Silversands Resort

Wealthy inn

One of the few locations outside of the City on the Water that is somewhat often frequented by the city's wealthier patrons. This all-inclusive luxury beach hotel cater to most, but especially families seeking a vacation with a mix of urban excitement and sandy relaxation.

Crossroads Market

The Crossroads Market is located where two major thoroghfares of Tel Amnora meet. It is centered on the Crossroads Market, an anthill of vendors, merchants, hawkers, and tradesfolk from dawn til dusk. It is a large paved square, lined with artisan workshops. At the center of the market square stands a 200-feet tall obelisk of white stone.

The Two Unicorns Inn

Comfortable inn

The Two Unicorns Inn is located along one of the busiest roads in Tel Amnora. It is a large inn and tavern that caters to a wide clientele, on account of their low prices - it isn't fancy, but it'll get you drunk!

There is usually plenty of gambling going on in the back rooms of the Unicorns, and the staff is known to look the other way when contraband is traded or unfavorable loans are bargained.

Allfather's Spring

Centered on a natural spring, this temple to Odin stands on a small hill, surrounded by greenery. Several walking paths cut through the park, providing an overlook of the surrounding city.

Huntsman's Hallow

This large circus is dedicated to Uller the Huntsman. It is an arena, primarily for quillstrider racing, which is the most popular sport in Tel Amnora. On large race days, the stands are packed to the brim with both nobles and lowborn alike.

Multiple types of races take place here: gallops with a single rider per quillstrider, chariot races with up to four quillstriders per chariot, and a combination of jousting and racing where each rider is equipped with a padded lance and is allowed to knock other contestants off their mounts. Occasionally, other events are held here, such as archery competitions, gladiator fights, or public executions.

Chisel of Heimdall

This temple to Heimdall also houses workshops for artisans of many types. Aside from the worship spaces and artisan workshop, the Chisel houses a large workshop dedicated to the art of sculpture. Here, masters teach students how to extract forms from wood, stone, and clay. Their work can be found all over Tel Amnora, and beyond.

Goldwing Row

An enclave of golden dragonborn, who have migrated from the Maere Arel.

Goldenscales

A busy pawn shop, where the poor inhabitants of the city can sell their belongings. The pawn shop usually has plenty of cheap jewelry, and occasionally some magic items pass through here.

Thuzel-fe'al

(gold dragonborn, 59, LN): Owner of the pawnshop, whose name translates to Goldscales. He is knowledgable about precious metals and stones.

Harbor District

The harbor of Tel Amnora is one of the busiest parts of the city. While gondolas and smaller boats can make landfall all around the basin, only the northern coast is deep enough for larger ships. Basic supplies, building materials, and luxury goods are all shipped through here, and carted to large warehouses. All princely houses have businesses and interests here, but House Elentirel dominates the maritime industries and controls the harbor master's office.

The harbor is usually awash in activity, with much goods being brought to Telacine by barges to avoid the congested causeway. Sleek gondolas are also paddled along the canals to take passengers to where they need to go.

Harbor master's office

Temple of Aegir

A marble temple extends far into the water, with pools of seawater flanking the statue of Aegir in the main chamber, holding a trident aloft and crowned with a coral crown. The office of High Priest in this temple has always been held by a member of House Adhonin.

The Beacons

The narrow inlet to the Tel Amnora's natural harbor is flanked by two large fortified lighthouses, known as the Beacons. The guiding light of the beacons guide ships past the treacherous waters outside Tel Amnora and into the lagoon. The beacons also house the control mechanism for a great chain that can be raised in the straight to stop all traffic.

Gondolier's Boathouse

Most gondolas that ferry people and goods throughout the Amnoran lagoon are stored and maintained here. There are independent gondoliers too, but this company is by far the largest one. The gondoliers gather here when not out on the water, trading gossip and taking cover from the elements. Being a gondolier requires customer service, upper body strength, and seamanship. While it is hard work, it is far better paid than factory work.

The gondolas are slender boats with raised stems and sterns, and a platform for the gondolier. Most gondolas can take two passengers. For a gondola ride between the mainland to Telacine, you would expect to pay about 1gp.

Sailor's Respite

Poor inn

Noisy, smelly, and generally uncouth is how most would describe the Sailor's Respite. Its dark and musty common room is filled with long tables and benches. There are a few rooms for rent on the top floor. These are mostly used by patrons who seek temporary quarters in order to avail themselves of hired company, several of whom can usually be found soliciting in the common room.

The cellar, reachable through a hidden staircase, holds a fighting ring. Bareknuckle boxing is the most common, but brawlers are sometimes given quarterstaves or even daggers.

Phoenixfire Commune

A commune of the Path, centered on a small farm. About thirty people live here. There are several other communes in the Amnoran countryside, and they usually gather here for a symposium a few times per year.

Feno Aerilsir

(fire elf, TN, 207): Warrior of the Phoenix monk who has been known to take on apprentices that he finds worthy. Nowadays, he mostly uses his fire powers to help in the kitchens, but he was a mighty warrior in his heyday.

Industry

Runeglass Furnaces

Silk Mills

Wagons of raw silk pupae from farms on the Amnoran plains are shipped here, and are boiled and washed before being spun to thread and woven into silk cloth. The spinning in particular requires specialized facilities and is quite labor-intensive. The silk comes out a dull ecru color, but most is then carted to the Rainbow Dyeworks for further processing.