Erendor

Art by nextmars

Erendor is a coastal kingdom in the eastern crescent of Isandor. It is one of the five kingdoms of the Vestian Empire, and the southernmost seat of sun elf power in the Crescents. The kingdom is bordered by vast dunes to the east and the open sea to the west. Its population is predominantly sun elf, with a minority of human settlers, catfolk merchants, desert tribal peoples, and halflings.

Erendor is a young kingdom. It was carved from orcish territory by Hestia and Arilos Dawnwalker and has existed for only a few generations. Despite its youth, it has grown into one of the most prosperous and technologically advanced cities in the Crescents, earning its motto: Jewel of the South.

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The City

Erendor is built upon a rocky coastal cliff rising steeply from the sea. Its port sits at the base of the cliff, where a long stone pier capped with a carved dragon figurehead serves as the permanent berth for the Vestian Navy's flagship. Merchant vessels from across the Crescents and beyond crowd the surrounding docks. The port is one of the busiest in the Vestian Empire.

Following the discovery of the nearby Ruins of Anatheum, Erendor integrated recovered technology into its infrastructure. The city has electric lighting, pressurized fresh water systems, and heated buildings; luxuries rare elsewhere in the Crescents. It is caught in the midst of a renaissance period, blending the remnants of a frontier war settlement with the ambitions of a rising civilization.

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Remnants of the Frontier

Erendor was built on contested ground. Before the sun elves conquered Isandor, the region was orcish territory. Barracks, fortified watchtowers, and war infrastructure from that era still stand throughout the city and its outskirts. Ballistae and trebuchets remain mounted on the city walls, maintained and operational. The military culture of a former frontier has never fully left Erendor. Its standing army is one of the largest in the Empire relative to its civilian population.

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Culture

Erendor's court culture is indulgent and entertainment-driven. The noble houses that surround the royal court are fond of gambling, drinking, music, dancing, and the arts. Clubs, parlors, and performance halls are plentiful. The city's wealth and relative youth give it an atmosphere of ambition and excess: a place where fortunes are made and reputations are built quickly.

Erendor follows Verunism. The sun temple at the city's summit is a major site of pilgrimage for Verunists in Isandor. Casimir's status as a holy monarch reinforces the deep connection between the crown and the faith.

Leadership

Erendor is ruled by King Casimir Dawnwalker, son of Hestia and Arilos Dawnwalker. Casimir distinguished himself during the Verunist Crusade and returned home a celebrated hero. His subsequent ascension to the throne following his parents' divorce was broadly welcomed by Erendor's noble court.

Casimir rules through law, diplomacy, and invention. He is a trained martial warrior and a gifted scientist, known to take personal interest in the technological development of his city. His court refers to him as the Holy King. He is regarded as a just and fair ruler, beloved by his dukes and duchesses.

Trade

Erendor's port is a hub for sea trade. It has strong connections with Revalis, Vestia, Thrain, and ports beyond the Crescents. Kandarith, the independent catfolk city to the east, is Erendor's closest and most active trade partner. Catfolk merchants are a regular presence in Erendor's markets, bringing exotic goods, artifacts, and desert wares from the interior of Isandor.