Xedras was the capital of the Xedran Reefs, an ixitxachitl nation beneath the Sea of Fallen Stars, and the holiest of its Six Holy Cities.[2][3]
Geography[]
Xedras was located in the western shallows of Serôs, 200 feet (61 meters) beneath the waves of the Inner Sea and approximately 40 miles (64,000 meters) southeast of the coastal surface city of Telpir.[2]
Description[]
The city was hidden beneath the ruins of another, a forgotten city of the Aryselmalyr Empire that was identifiable by only a lone tower made of coral and piles of rubble. Unlike other cities of the Xedran Reefs, which were built as spread-out warrens of tunnels and subcaverns, over two-thirds of Xedras was housed in one huge central cavern that measured 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Like other 'chitl cities, it had a central entrance, exiting at the tower, that was purposely designed to be noticeable so that invaders could be lured into its trap-riddled passages. There was a distance of roughly 500 feet (150 meters) between the cavern's ceiling and this surface entrance. The site also had seven hidden entrances scattered about the surface ruins.[4]
Much of the city within the cavern consisted of the repurposed ruins of a kuo-toan city, which fell long before the ixitxachitls settled there, while other parts were constructed from pieces of masonry and stonework taken from the Aryselmalyr ruins above. A central temple dedicated to the kuo-toan god Blibdoolpoolp once stood in the cavern, but the ixitxachitls tore it down along with an immense statue of the goddess, breaking it into pieces that they used to build slave huts on the city's outskirts.[4]
Like other cities of the Xedran Reefs, Xedras had a great central temple dedicated to their patron god, Ilxendren, around from which the rest of the city grew outward, with the city spanning a 1 mile (1,600 meters) radius out from this central temple, though unlike those other cities it also had two minor temples. Other characteristics common to Xedran cities included an outbuilding near the central temple where the ruler's personal slaves were held, two military garrisons for the military, and at least four public shrines to Ilxendren on the city's outskirts.[4]
Government[]
Xedras had a theocratic government, centered around the patron god of the ixitxachitls, Ilxendren.[1][2][3] It was the seat of power for the Vitanar, a title given to the head ruler of the Xedran Reefs.[1][3] The Vitanar was considered by his subjects to be a manifestation of Ilxendren[1] and because of this perceived divinity his laws and commands were never questioned by the populace.[1][4]
Inhabitants[]
In addition to ixitxachitl, the city of Xedras was home to a large population of enslaved koalinths, locathahs, and merrow.[5]
History[]
Following the Twelfth Serôs War, Xedras kept the neighboring city of Thuridru in check, preventing its outcast merfolk and vengeful ruler Sharna from causing problems for wider Serôs.[2] They hoped to one day conquer it,[5][6] retaking the 'chitl land that was stolen by the Kataar clan of merfolk.[2]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Queen of the Depths
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 162–163. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 163. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 162. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.