Xelas

Xelas
Capital	Xelas (city)
Ruler	Anlabban Speaker for the Roots Kubileya Speaker for the Trunk Dahan Speaker for the Leaves Binusilan
Government	Democracy
Demonym	Xelan
Adjective	Xelan
Languages	Aserdian, Common, Arboreal
Religions	Various deities and pantheons

Xelas
Nation	Xelas
Demonym	Xelan
Adjective	Xelan
Population	~24,000
Demographics	Various ancestries

Xelas (pronounced ZEH-las) is a city-state in Brightmarch. In his grove in the center of the city, the impossibly old arboreal Anlabban guards a strange anomaly, ever watchful for any invaders from beyond. The city of Xelas has slowly grown around the arboreal, a beautiful yet militaristic community focused on aiding Anlabban in his vigil.

Geography, flora, and fauna

Xelas is located within the Shaushkan Forest, between the two main tributaries of the Mezulla River. Aside from the city and its immediate surroundings, the nearby tropical forests and grasslands are relatively sparsely inhabited. The region receives a large amount of annual rainfall, and is generally warm year-round.

The city encircles Anlabban's Grove, an area of the forest protected by Xelas' resident arboreal. The trees of the grove, most thousands of years old, are carefully tended to by Anlabban. The broken, decaying ruins of an Tempest Hall lie scattered throughout the grove, largely buried and out of sight. A strange anomaly called the Emptiness, a roiling black void in reality, sits directly in the center of the grove.

History

Sometime around Y2000^*, the arboreal Anlabban discovered the Emptiness within the Shaushkan Forest. Though for millennia he attempted to drive away those that would settle nearby, eventually a small community began to grow up around him, maintaining a healthy distance from the anomaly he guarded. By Y8100^* this village had grown into a town and then into a city, recognizably turning into the city of Xelas.

Demographics

Xelas is quite a cosmopolitan city, home to people of all manner of ancestries and backgrounds. The city's population includes those with ancestors from Brightmarch, the Laqto Jungle, Hinthial, and even farther afield who found themselves drawn together over the centuries. Humans, elves, half-elves, catfolk, kobolds, gnomes, leshies, and anadi are all particularly represented amongst the Xelas' inhabitants.

Culture

Religion

The religion of Xelas is eclectic, a mix of many pantheons and deities brought to the city by the peoples' disparate origins. The common and elven pantheons are worshiped especially widely, but they are joined by deities who have most of their followers in such faraway places as Khapesh, Hellea, and Kea Racha. The veneration of deities who emphasize protection and defense is especially emphasized in Xelas. Andoletta, Kazutal, Arqueros, and Adanye are widely followed, as are Shei, the Black Butterfly, and others. There are a great many temples in Xelas - most are open-air, located in pavilions and the like and nestled into the city's many parks.

Languages

Most inhabitants of Xelas speak Aserdian as a first language. The use of Common is widespread as well, but to a lesser degree. Elven is understood by many, though other racial tongues usually only see use within their respective populations. Arboreal is used within Xelas as an administrative and ceremonial language, but is not well-known to most people of the city.

Architecture and urbanization

Xelas is a well-planned city. Anlabban's Grove lies in the center of the city, a circle of woodlands about half a mile in diameter. Multiple concentric thoroughfares encircle the grove, connected by spoke-like streets that run from the grove outwards. The oldest buildings in the city, and most important locations like temples, guard posts, and administrative centers, are found along the inner circle. Public parks and common areas occupy a significant proportion of the city. Many parks are left semi-wild, only minimally tended.

The majority of structures within Xelas are almost entirely wood in construction, held together by well-fitted joints and clever joiners. Under their elegantly curved roofs, these buildings tend to be very open. Living spaces often feature large windows, open plans, easy access to the outside. Almost all homes, and most other buildings as well, are surrounded by extensive green space, including both gardens and plants grown purely for decorative purposes. The scent of the innumerable flowers in these gardens fills the streets of Xelas. Some Xelans even allow the exteriors of their homes to be intentionally overrun with vines, both to keep the structure cool and for aesthetics.

Magic

The city has a disproportionate number of divine casters, associated with the city's many temples, but mages of all types can be found in Xelas.

Government

Though many in the city see Anlabban as the city's moral and spiritual guide, he is not, and would not wish to be, their leader. Xelas is a democracy, with positions elected on a five-year basis by the city's adult population. The city's government is run collectively by the three Speakers, who are each responsible for an important part of life in Xelas.

• The Speaker for the Roots is given the task of protecting the city and aiding Anlabban in whatever way is required. The Speaker for the Roots organizes, trains, and directs the Rootguard, Xelas' military. Together, the Speaker and the Rootguard help Anlabban ensure the grove in the middle of the city remains as well watched and protected as possible.
• The Speaker for the Leaves manages the city's cultural affairs. This can include everything from organizing public events to increasing ties with important religious institutions. In general, the Speaker for the Leaves is responsible for the happiness of those that live within Xelas.
• The Speaker for the Trunk is responsible for Xelas' diplomatic concerns. Among other tasks, they manage relations with merchant caravans, nearby cities, and nomadic groups.

Leadership positions beneath the Speakers are elected as well. The Speakers consult each other regularly - though they each have their specific areas of concern, they regularly meet to discuss concerns and receive input from the others.

Economy

Xelas regularly trades with the various settlements and nomadic peoples that live nearby. The city is something of a local trade center, though nowhere near as large as Yarma to the northeast. Xelas does not posses significant natural resources, nor does it have particularly well-developed industry. Instead, the people of the city largely trade agricultural surplus.