ANDOR

[bcxanth]

ANDOR

 

Caemlyn

 

The capital city of Andor sprawls across a collection of low hills. Beginning at the heavily populated Low Camelyn the city follows the natural shape of the hill cluster; spirals upward toward the highest and centre-most point. Upon this lone hill sits the Palace of Andor: the Lion Throne.

 

The Royal Palace interior is adorned with tapestires [advanced by two seasons] and reliefs. Its library is unremarkable. The map room is the second largest room in the palace; a tile map of Caemlyn has been skilly inlaid upon its floor. Time is of the essence within the Royal Palace of Andor: why else would it contain a dozen working clocks?

 

The Andoran Palace is built from white stone; decorated with delicate traceries, golden domes and pale spires. It contains courtyards and gardens. Gilded and guarded gates bar entrance to the palace interior from the Queen's plaza. There are several other, less public, entrances, including the southern stable gate.

 

From here the city becomes a maze of streets, monuments, parks, mosaics: such undeniable craftsmanship that not only does it honour the memories of those Ogier who created it, but the resulting beauty matches that of even Tar Valon. The Inner City: built shortly after the breaking. The streets of the inner city follow the natural contours of the land: twist and wind toward the palace. The intention behind their design was that beautiful works of art could be seen from any location.

 

The portion of Camelyn expanding beyond the inner city wall is called New City. Some of its buildings are six stories high and it's streets run in many different directions, although all of its main boulevards direct traffic toward the three Inner City gates. The inner city gates [Mondel, Origan] are twenty foot archways supported by immense and towered stone walls that corral the Inner City. The stone wall is white; streaked with silver. Purple and gold towers and domes can be seen above it. New City holds more inns and markets than any other part of Caemlyn.

 

The outer wall of Caemlyn is fifty feet high and made of white stone flected with silver and grey. Towers have been strategically positioned around its circumference and it's various entrences are well guarded. Beyond the city wall lies Low Caemlyn.

 

The Whitebridge gate heads west to Four Kings Road

The Braem wood gate(L) leads through Braem Wood to Tar Valon

The Far Madding Gate goes south to Far Madding.

The Sunrise gate leads east to the Ernin Road and Aringall.

(L)The Inner City comprises chiefly the estates of some powerful noble houses. Many of these houses are direct descendants of Hawkings Empire. General Souran Maravaile and Ishara the first queen of Andor laid claim to Caemlyn various other magistrates and influential families moved in. None of these houses maintained the martial strength of General Souran, but united against him the casualties on both sides would be catastrophic. A truce was formed. Queen Ishara and her house would rule, and the other houses would not only gain statis, prestige and wealth, but they would also act as a commity to keep the Queen's reign in check.

Many of the powerful houses were born from merchants and commoners. Considered arrivistes by the older noble houses their wealth makes them no less powerful. The estates in the inner city are mostly original works, but various noble houses out of poor taste had themselves mansion built in where there was room. The other houses settled for less prestiguous quarters in the New City. None of them live within Low Caemlyn. Beyond the Noble Houses the Inner City is used for very little other than scenic routes to the palace.

The Sunrise Gate and Whitebridge gate open to a flood of markets, merchants, inns and other services. These are the gates most often used by foreign merchants and nobles creating constant stream of customers for any goods or services lucky enough to be in their way. Many blacksmiths and farriers ply their trades, as well as vendors.

The Southern end of Caemlyn is what in any other city would be deemed "seedy." The lack of poverty and stern belief in appearances have led even the "thriftier" section of the city to remain presentable. South Caemlyn operates many low budget warehouses. Merchants come in droves to store their goods in these economical constructs, as well as other -- less reputable -- entrepreneurs. South Caemlyn is well known as cheap way to dispense of coin, whether your vice be dreams, drink, gambling or women. Some vendors in this area are whispered to sell "less-than-legally-acquired"goods but nothing substantial has ever come to light.

North Caemlyn is the Inner City of New City. Here foreign Nobles and Merchants come for the town houses, and inns and relatively "upper class" entertainment. Cock fights rage in North Caemlyn and it is in this section of the city that one would find the play house. The vendors here pride themselves on their "quality" of Goods, and while the majority of tradesmen via for supermacy of the East and West Gates, many of the truly skilled craftsman can be found here.

North Caemlyn is the training ground for the Queen's Guard and soldiers in the Andoran Armies. Many drills and formations are practiced in the large boulevard and courtyards. Education facilities for officers, combat training facilities for Queen's Guard and soldiers are also in North Caemlyn. As well as the Academy of the Rose.

Low Caemlyn resides just outside the city wall. Less than a district and more than a shanty town it consists of heavily populated clusters of homes, several not-quite inns and a loose smattering of low profile vendors. Commoners from surroundings live here, and peasants arriving too late to enter the city until the next day are also victim to its hospitality. There is a large fair ground nearby where travelling performers ... perform. Not part of Low Caemlyn per se, there are also various large city cemetaries in the nearby area.(L)

 

 

 

Features of Caemlyn

 

The Academy of the Rose

The Royal Palace

The Ball and Hoop -- Caemlyn inn.

The Crown and Lion -- Caemlyn inn.

The Crown of Roses -- finest New City inn. Three storied white stone building. The common room is panelled with dark wood. It is a favourite with nobles who have no mansion or house of there own within the city.

Culain's Hound -- New City inn. Three storied stone building with a red tiled roof.

Hoop and Arrow -- New City inn.

The Queen's Blessing -- Caemlyn inn. A broad stone building with a panelled common room and two hearths. The sign on the door shows a man kneeling before a woman with red-gold hair holding a crown.

The Red Bull -- New City inn.

The Silver Swan -- New City inn.

 

 

 

Other Andoran cities and villages.

 

Arien

Aringall

Baerlon

Breen's Spring

Bury Hill

Carysford

Cullen's Crossing

Damelien

Deven Ride

Forel Market

Four Kings

Harlon bridge

Jornhill

Kore Springs

Market Sheran

New Braem

Taren Ferry

Watch Hill.

White Bridge

Emond's Field.