Moonwatch Citadel

Ruler:‍ ‍High Lord and Voice of Reason of Moonwatch, Eleventh to sit upon the Throne of Weighted Justice, Elandor Aetherian of Waeldstone, the Determined and Merciful.

Population: Small City, 8149 Citizens.

Exports: Stone, Ore, Gold, Silver, Precious Gems, Mountain Flora, and some fishing.

Defenses: Towering Stone Walls, Built into the mountain itself, tiered city levels, numerous gates, fog off Lake Llyntarh, the Knights of the Righteous Blade, the Silver Vigil.

Bio: Erupting from the mountains, shines the very heart of Waeldstone. Built from slabs of pristine white stone, Moonwatch scales up the cliffs to form the tallest city in all of Avalayle. The majestic city is not only an architectural marvel, but an impenetrable fortress. Dozens of towering, circular walls encompass the many platforms cut into the mountainside. From a distance, the brilliance and beauty of Moonwatch shine out like a beacon, dramatically contrasting with the dark mountain looming behind it.

At its base, fields of flowing farmland give way to Lake Llyntarth, where its sandy shores are met by calm waters and tall flowering reeds. A modest dock attached to the city extends off its first wall, allowing for the occasional transport, and travel of fishermen. Most days the lowest portion of Moonwatch it’s not visible, as the low rolling fog wafts off the lake, and coats the surrounding land in a blanket of gray.

The main gate to Moonwatch is heavily guarded, its imposing iron frame is polished with a dazzling shine, masking the many wicked spikes. Archers stand on the high walls above, ensuring their arrows are ever vigilant. Within, the city welcomes you to a breathtaking site. Vast rows of autumnal trees dapple the light, and frame the cobblestoned streets that lead to a bustling marketplace. Fiery scarlet and warm golden leaves dance on the breeze and roll through the lanes, where travelers from all across Waeldstone set up shop; trade their wares, and barter for business that will last them the rest of the season. Scattered throughout are modest homes, and local businesses who are happy to help those just visiting.

Beyond, a large ramp made of polished stone ascends to the city's second level. Another gate ensures continued protection, and gives way to a waning market, and ample rows of housing. Dozens of distinct neighborhoods provide a quaint flair, breaking up the skyline in a multitude of shapes and colors. Cozy taverns leave their windows open, and the smell of baked goods, roasting meat, and crackling fires entices passersby to enjoy a meal, or stay the night. Talented buskers roam the thoroughfares, performing for coin and the love of art, while the patrols of guards roam the surrounding walls to ensure everyone’s safety.

A number of branching paths and ramps lead to various neighborhoods and landmarks, while another gate leads to a third higher tier, where Moonwatch Citadel crowns the city. True to his generous legacy, High Lord Elandor leaves the gate to his bastion open at all times. The marvelous castle glistens in the light, brighter than any jem found on the coast. Grand archways, elegant towers, and emblazoned golden finishes leave you with no doubts about the citadel's opulence. A stunning garden courtyard leads to the main doors, which are flanked by a dozen knights at all times.

Throughout the castle yard, dozens of slender spires rise where flocks of owls roost, and soar about. These aviaries are used to deliver messages across the city and domain each day, and are tended to by talented handlers dressed in house colors. Additional housing, barracks, and a cathedral line the walls, comfortably filling the space.

In Moonwatch, even with its gleaming white walls, and array of mountainous defenses, there is no street that light doesn't grace. Beauty and peace have made themselves at home here, their auras coating the land with dignity and goodness. Though each have their burdens, the residents of Moonwatch embody the Aetherian Creed, and strive to make their city a better place each day.


Founding and History: 320 years ago, Wilmot Aetherian completed the construction on Moonwatch Citadel with the help of his neighbors and supporters. With it, the region swore fealty to him, cementing his power. From that day on, the majestic white-stone fortress becomes the permanent seat of House Aetherian and a symbol of their enduring strength and patience.

  • 300 years ago: The people of Waeldstone begin making regular pilgrimages to each of the Sibling God temples, ensuring they offer up some of their yearly harvest and success. This tradition comes to be known as “The Offerings March”, and is still practiced to this day.

  • 256 years ago: Moonwatch’s masons improved their techniques and quarries, becoming the finest masons along the coast. Through them, Waeldstone experiences an economic boom.

  • 250 years ago: Grandin the Mighty arrives in Moonwatch and establishes the Silver Vigil, swearing fealty to House Aetherian for offering him redemption. 

  • 195 years ago: The First Avalayle Grand is held, bringing a wealth of riches, travelers, and trade to the domain.

  • 124 years ago: Moonwatch thrived as they expanded their mines, increasing their resources and bartering power throughout the cost.

  • 40 years ago: High Lord Elandor Aetherian joins Cade Cafferen in war against the Night Terror. The people of Moonwatch work tirelessly to aid the war effort.

  • 20 years ago: The Bex appears within Lake Llyntarth. Several hunting parties set out to kill it, and none return.

  • 12 years ago: The people of Moonwatch assisted in the construction of the Iron Bulwark, completing the monumental task in record time.

Local Laws: Enforced by the Knights of the Righteous Blade

  • The Aviaries are to be entered and maintained only by the Handlers. Interference with the owls is considered interfering with the Knights of the Righteous Blade.

  • The docks remain closed on days the fog is too thick, or the Bex is sited.

  • Aspiring Oathlings may seek training from Sir Righteous in the Sanctuary, so long as they do not interfere with dubbed knights.

Famous For: The design of the city itself, their impressive aviaries, the Silver Light, and their connection to the Avalayle Grand.

Economy: As the heart of Waeldstone, Moonwatch has a thriving economy. Numerous trade routes deliver regular goods to them, and their vaults ensure they have ample supplies in times of drought. Additionally, they boast the largest mines and quarries in the domain.

Nearby Landscape: Steep mountains and jagged cliffs behind them, numerous caves, lake Llyntarth to the east, and abundant lush fields to the south.

Local Landmarks

Notable Characters

Nobles

Elandor Aetherian: High Lord and Voice of Reason of Moonwatch, Eleventh to sit upon the Throne of Weighted Justice, Elandor Aetherian of Waeldstone, the Determined and Merciful.

Lendsley Aetherian (Bishop): High Lady of Moonwatch, Lendsley Aetherian of Waeldstone, the Humble.

Robyn Aetherian: Oathsworn of Waeldstone, Sir Robyn Aetherian of Moonwatch, the Towering.

Rykeworth Aetherian: Oathsworn of Waeldstone, Sir Rykeworth Aetherian of Moonwatch, the Proud.

Commoners

Peenar Limpy

Jae’Jae Malcas

Moonwatch Citadel: This vast fortress of pure white stone is adorned in golden filigree and flair. The bastion seems to drink in the light around it, reflecting it back into the world with splendor. Grand archways, elegant towers, and stained glass windows complete the picturesque, fairy-tale like facade. A stunning courtyard of pale gravel, autumnal trees, hedges and gardens surround a bubbling marble fountain. Dozens of Knights of the Righteous Blade patrol the yard, roaming between the slender spires that house Lord Aetheiran’s aviaries. Almost hidden by the majesty of all of this, rest the barracks, servant housing, stables, and workshops required to run such an estate.

Tower Nightfall: Rising from the back end of the castle, this spire overlooks not only all of the citadel, but Moonwatch itself. Its observatory overlook extends out onto the cliffs, creating a tiered balcony that runs for miles along the mountain. At its center, hangs the city's beacon, the auspicious Silver Light, its massive chains churn with the incandescent radiance of molten gold. When lit, all of Moonwatch bathes in its splendor.

Moonwatch Cathedral: This beautifully sculpted cathedral elegantly captures the grace of the Gods. Dark stone veined with gold and silver form the walls, and a red marbled dome crowns the rooftop. Stained glass windows depict each of the Sibling Gods, their eyes glowing pearlescent from the candlelight within. Inside, the space is simple. A polished floor holds rows of pews, long carpets, and an altar to each of the Sibling Gods, where busts capture their likeness, carved masterfully in stone. Incense burns from censors around the edges of the cathedral, filling the space with a sweet, yet earthy aroma.

The Catacombs: Beneath the Citadel, blocked by ancient oak doors carved with the looming faces of Aetherian Ancestors, resides the House’s catacombs. A wide set of stone stairs descends through a veil of darkness, before emptying into a shadowed chamber. Red wax pools in golden pedestals depicting the Aetherian owl, as tall, thin candles burn low, and fill the space with a smokey haze. Large decorative tombs and sarcophagi span the floor, and hold the remains of the Aetherian dead. On the walls beside them hang faded tapestries depicting the likeness of the buried. Valets in hooded black robes maintain the space, ensuring the dead’s respite is never disturbed. 


Dontar’s Respite (Orchard): Located on the second tier of Moonwatch, this sprawling orchard doubles as a popular park for the residents of the city. Orderly rows of trees shade numerous benches, gazebos and private respites, leaving the trails blanketed in their leaves. Gentle light filters onto the path, illuminating the cobblestone walkways. At the center of the orchard stands a towering statue of Dontar’s likeness, his proud visage casts an approving gaze across the orchard. His hand extends, pointing toward the Citadel he helped construct.


Baelor’s Vault (Shelter): On the western end of the third tier, a massive stone gate stands ready to offer refuge. Leading directly into the mountain, a sprawling tunnel network opens into an impressive shelter, filled with beds, numerous hearths, and months of rations. In the city's history, Baelor’s Vault has never been used, and once sealed, can only be opened from the inside.


The Deep Quarries and Mines: Broad openings cut into the mountainside across all tiers in Moonwatch. These tunnels lead to dozens of mines and quarries, where the sound of labor echoes throughout the day.


Sacred Path to Silver Vigil Tower: Beyond the furthest gate of Moonwatch Citadel, leads a winding path through the mountains. The journey takes the better part of the day, climbing in elevation as it overlooks numerous cliffs and carves deeper into the mountainside. The path is well groomed, and lined with towering trees whose branches intertwine to form a grand canopy above the trail. Sporadically affixed to the trunk of trees, silver scones hold small torches that glow with soft moonlight. The glistening light wafts across the path ensuring it’s always illuminated. Sprawling flora and misshapen stone dot the trail before ending at the base of the Silver Steps, a set of five hundred steps, ascending to the Silver Vigil Tower.


Silver Vigil Tower: This pristine white spire rises from a jagged overhang on the highest peak in the mountains. It climbs over a hundred feet, before ending in three spikes that curl inward. Tall, arching windows and balconies cover the tower’s facade, along with silver accents, and hanging lanterns, whose subtle haze enshrouds the tower in an eerie glow. Within this pulsing light, grotesque and disfigured gargoyles appear to writhe. Their shadowed figures shift and roil, eroding in a morbid dance that passes through every stage of mortal life. From its lofty position, all who approach the tower are stricken with a sense of inferiority. Its icy light casts long shadows of those who approach, which seem to sprint back toward the trail from whence they came.  

Righteous Blade Sanctuary: Nestled within the Citadel proper, the Righteous Blade Sanctuary is tucked away within a sprawling mountain cavern. Glistening sunbeams rain down through pockets in the ceiling, casting a warm glow on the golden soil within. Fields of luminous flowers sweep across the ground, blooming in an array of warm colors. Beyond them, a bubbling brook runs along the cavern wall, before uniting with a cascading waterfall that retreats unseen deeper into the mountain. The peaceful sounds of rushing water provide a meditative backdrop within the oasis, while specks of scintillating light dance on the breeze. Beside the waterfall, surrounded by a garden of vibrant roses, sits a modest cottage. A thin plume of smoke rises from the chimney, wafting up and out of the cavern.

Public Forum: Located in the heart of the second tier, this open air forum is built on a circular, white marble floor, and surrounded by twelve pale, spiraling pillars. The pillars double as a sundial and are used to determine meeting times, and length of discussion for debate.

The Ancestral Hearth: Hidden deep within the earth, House Aetherian keeps an ancient furnace stoked at all times, said to be guarded by their ancestors. The blazing coals are contained by stone, masterfully worked to appear as a shrieking owl, its eyes red hot like the fires within. Above a single vent in the ceiling ensures a perfectly placed beam of light illuminates the forge, and all work done around it. Strange blue ore is mined from the walls here, and when fed to the forge, the flames burn white hot. When worked to steel, the finished product carries a blue tint, a defining trait of Aetherian weaponry.

House of Merit Sponsored Training Yards: Found on the first tier near the ramp to the second, this stretch of land is covered in colorful tents, sprawling booths, and one large inn. Named the Dotted Line, the inn serves as the only permanent structure within the yard, standing proudly as the one true landmark among the ever shifting haze of traffic. Here, a cacophony erupts, as members of the House of Merit recruit and educate those who pass by. Their zeal for new business casts them like sharks among minnows, swallowing the common rabble into the gaping maw of commerce. With a rabid enthusiasm to prove themselves, journeymen hock samples of their craft, bartering for new orders, while attempting to earn fresh clientele. Within the inn, Masters host workshops, and wine and dine their wealthiest patrons.

Docks: Extending out the lakeside gate, a meager port lines the outer wall, forming a bustling district of fisherman, sailors, and colorful sails. Tattered banners sway in the breeze, mounted along the wall, marking the various sections of the dock for ease of travel. Bobbing in the waters, hundreds of privately owned boats sit tied along the pier. In between them, a handful of buildings offer supplies, trade and housing, while the largest structure houses a contingent of Knights of the Righteous Blade. Most days the low rolling fog of the Llyn’tarth coats the dock in a veneer of white, so thick that you can’t see the planks beneath you. Still, brave fishermen chart the waters to ply their trade and make a living, ever vigilant of the Bex lurking below.

Low Market: Orderly rows of towering sculpted pillars, wide clean streets, quaint homes, and small parks roam across the yard here. In between them all, a tightly knit maze of ever shifting stalls, kiosks, caravans, and buskers form a cacophony of trade. Fighting for territory among the crowded space, the tents are pitched side by side. and layered over and under each other, becoming a colorful tapestry of diverse stalls and wares. Standing tall among them, residential storefronts proudly keep their doors open year round or rent their space to high bidders seasonally. The owners of these establishments are often seen smirking at those below them, flaunting their success. Yet, the true appeal of the low market is in its ever changing vendors. Traders from all across the coast flock here, eager to secure the most lucrative spots. What sells here one day, is often gone the next, creating a dynamic ebb and flow of trade as people race between stalls, shout out their winnings, and stress the importance of buying now. Wide cobblestone streets weave intersections between the permanent shops, and are divided by waist high retaining walls, interspersed with vibrant gardens to easily separate and direct the flow of traffic. Numerous trees provide shade from the midday sun, and standing torches are lit at dusk by the Knights of the Righteous Blade, to ensure peace is maintained. No matter the time of day, the low market is as beautiful as it is bustling.

High Market: Tucked into a pristine courtyard on the second tier, the High Market belongs to the permanent residents of Moonwatch and the Masters of the House of Merit, who provide the finest selections their craft has to offer. By day, a ten foot high polished silver gate stands open, its golden filigree gleaming in the light. Beyond it, rows of manicured hedges line red brick streets, and separate a dazzling array of opulent villas onto privately guarded land. Throughout the idyllic square, bubbling marble fountains boast exquisite statues, and domed gazebos offer private respites to those in need of romantic rendezvous. At night, strings of hanging lanterns weave intimate light above the streets. When the work day ends, folks dressed in their finest strut their success across the courtyard. Laughter and jubilation rings from the impressive manor houses, each competing to make their neighbors jealous. In all of Waeldstone, there is no finer shopping experience, nor any as expensive.

The Busty Seadog: This moist, sopping wet wooden tavern appears to be sinking into lake Llyntarth deeper by the hour. The dilapidated shack leans at such an angle, patrons must contort their body just to get through the front door. A large wooden sign depicting a voluptuous mermaid with a dog's face hangs over the extended roof, and is painted in gaudy, bright colors. Yet even with all its faults, locals treasure the old watering hole and its unique style of service. It's rare for a night to pass where a fight doesn’t break out amongst the ruffians. Here the drink is cheap, the meals are barely edible, and the rooms are as leaky as the boat’s outside.

Plimpy’s: This charming multistoried inn sits snugly between dozens of kiosks and tents in the Low Market. A short stairwell leads to a large fenced off porch, where cheerful folk enjoy a respite and meal. A gilded sign hangs above the door, hosting only an embroidered letter “P”. A handful of small windows allow for minimal light, but give the illusion of class. Inside a well worn eatery provides familiar comforts to its regular patrons. Faded rugs cover the floor, and all manners of mismatched, secondhand furniture crowd the space. Locals know well that Establishment owner Peenar Limpy regularly trades meals and residency for anything he can add to the inn's growing hodgepodge ascetic. The rooms here are equally crowded but comfortable, though they allow ample noise from the market.

The Dotted Line: This impressive building is one of the finest in all of Moonwatch’s lowest tier. Nestled within the bustling House of Merit Sponsored Training Yard, this three story inn boasts the newest architectural designs, wood working techniques and painting styles along the coast. Instead of looking out of place however, it attracts attention. Colorful windowboxes bloom with all manner of flowers, ivy creeps down red brick walls, and coned roofs spiral like drills toward the heavens. A large deck extends from the second floor offering a covered eatery and stage for musicians, while the huge, wall-to-wall windows of the first floor give an impressive look at the winding bar, ample selection and dozens of meetings taking place.

The Blue Lion: This rustic longhouse serves as the primary tavern of Moonwatch’s second tier. The Blue Lion sits on a hill that overlooks the city's walls entirely, offering incredible views of the mountain behind them, and the whole of Waeldstone below. Vibrant banners depicting a blue lion in rampart sway in the breeze, flanking the door of the tavern. Inside, the windows push out to open, transforming into awnings over the tables that provide shade from the midday sun. A cool air wafts through at all times, rustling the flora neatly tucked in the rafters above. With all the windows open, the space feels like a massive gazebo. Intimate light from candles keeps the atmosphere calm, and gentle music plays from the staff's resident minstrels.

The Rose and Lily: This prestigious inn looks more like a castle than a tavern. With stone walls, high arching windows gilded in gold, and crenelated towers, guests of the Rose and Lily are treated like nobility. A flourishing courtyard garden with numerous rose-covered terraces leads to a quaint bridge crossing over a bubbling brook. Beyond, the bright red door of the tavern awaits. Golden knockers shaped like a rose and its thorns summon the staff, who lead guests over polished dark wood floors and immaculate rugs. The tables are spaced apart so that each section feels private, surrounded by its own botanical garden. While the eatery and patio rest on the first floor, the “u” shaped bar resides on the second. A dazzling ceiling of mirror shards, glassware and dark tapestries make you feel like you’re dining in the cosmos itself. In the rooms above, guests experience all the finery life has to offer, with private baths, the finest sheets, and servants to take care of your every whim. 

Olivia Aetherian: Oathsworn of Waeldstone, Dame Olivia Aetherian of Moonwatch, the Golden.

Jaslin Aetherian (Strockey): Oathsworn of Waeldstone, Jaslin Aetherian of Moonwatch, Master Alchemist, the Jovial.

Sir Righteous

Most Vigilant Rivea Tulare, Silver Sorceress

Vigilant Derrock Harper, Silver Sorcerer

Vigilant Avery Hungrath, Silver Sorcereress