Capital: Caldera
Total Population: 7,830
Human Population: 7,055 (75% Ralani, 21% Eloysians, 3% Vilzari, 1% other)
Demi-human Population: 775 (55% dwarves, 25% halflings, 20% elves)
Humanoids: in rural areas only, mostly gnolls and tasloi.
Government: City-State
Current Ruler: Lord-Governor Severan Navalent
Coat of Arms: purple sun on sky-blue field
Exports: obsidian, malachite, fruit, textiles, diamonds
Caldera; also called "Nas'Krii" by the Eloysians and "Cauldron" by many of its local population, is a small and crowded city built around a dormant volcano. It is located in the Rockdale region of Azoria, in the foothills of the Hellfire Mountains.
This overly cramped city is built in a perfectly circular shape, surrounded by 30-foot walls of meticulously crafted gray stone, which are flecked with polished green malachite.
There are four gates and several watchtowers spaced along the walls, but within them, the population is crammed into six concentric "rings" of buildings.
Because of the permeating smell of sulphur from the massive, volcanic lake in its center, Caldera's wealthier residents tend to live on the highest level or "ring," whereas its poorest dwell on the lowest levels.
Almost all of Caldera's structures are constructed with either clay bricks or wood, but all have stone foundations. Because of the limited space to hold the city's nearly 8,000 residents, almost all its buildings are four stories tall.
Caldera's major exports come primarily from two sources: mines and plantations; both of which are based in the hills and fields surrounding the city. Obsidian, malachite, and diamonds are the primary products mined in the region. The local plantations usually produce fruit, cotton, sugarcane, and coffee.
All nearby mines and fields are owned by local nobility and their profits have made Caldera's aristocracy extremely wealthy. Many city residents are merchants, scholars, or workers in those mines and plantations in the outlying areas.
Water is never scarce in town, but it must be regularly purified. Much of the city's food supplies, however, must be imported, since local fishing and farming are insufficient to adequately feed its population.
Caldera's nearest neighbors are the Republic of Kendar, which is located northeast of the city, and the city of Sasserine, located to the west, on the Wild Coast of the Shining Sea. Caldera engages in much trade with both its neighbors, so the roads to Caldera are crowded with merchant caravans.
Despite its relatively small size, Caldera has four major temples. These are dedicated to Berevrom; God of Truth, Etahr; God of Strength, Ator; God of the Sun, and Nerydia; Goddess of Magic.
Prominent Citizens
Alaric Tercival, Andros Taskerhill, Annah Taskerhill, Arlin Maavu, Celeste, Cora Lathenmire, Criswell, Davked Splintershield, Embryl Alustani, Felian Shard, Gretchen Stokeworth, Ileova Taskerhill, Jenya Urikas, Keygan Ghelve, Kristof Melec, Loren Vanderboren, Ochio Vhalantru, Ophelia Knowlern, Rhianon Rhivaldi, Saracem, Severan Navalent, Shensen, Skylar Krewlis, Terseon Skellerang, Thirifane Rhivaldi, Tobias Vanderboren, Zachariah Azlaxin, Zenith Splintershield, and Zoren Azlaxin
Nearby Locations
Hollow-sky: (pop: 460) this village is the smallest of the four human settlements in the Rockdale region. The elven community of Starforest can be found near here.
Kingfisher Hollow: (pop: 2,500) this large, walled town is the third largest settlement in the region and the primary location of Caldera's plantations. The town is surrounded by vast fields of coffee, cotton, and sugarcane.
Lucky Monkey Inn: this popular roadside tavern and inn is located on the Rockdale Road, halfway between Sasserine and Caldera. It also houses a shrine to Ethenghar.
Redgorge: (pop: 1,200) located south of Caldera, this village was the first Ralani settlement in this region. On the borders of the village, a ruined line of fortifications known as the "Basalt Bastions" once protected the settlement, but their massive walls are now abandoned and covered with vines.
Sasserine: (pop: 22,326) a thriving seaport and the largest human settlement in the Rockdale region. The city is located two days west of Caldera via the Rockdale Road.
Local History
The modern day city of Caldera has a long and distinguished history; stretching back nearly 4,000 years ago. Long before the first Ralani colonist ever stepped foot on the Continent of Azoria, this dormant volcano was home an earlier civilization.
Colony of Sha'Dur
The first recorded settlement founded in this volcanic crater was called "Nas'Krii;" a colony of the ancient nation of Sha'Dur. 4,000 years ago, in the distant years of the Third Age, it is said that the Shadurians hired expert dwarven crafters to help build the malachite-flecked walls of Caldera, and within them, built a beautiful city of marble, brass, and polished stone. At the same time the meticulously crafted walls were being built, the dwarves also built a lair for themselves. Located directly under the city, it was called Jzadirune.
Shadurian society was extremely advanced, and the few surviving records from this era tell a story of a city filled with powerful magic, arts, and culture. As testament to their ingenuous building skills, several Shadurian-era structures in the city have survived to the present day, including City Hall, the Temple of Nerydia, and the circular stone walls.
Fall of Nas'Krii
The city of Nas'Krii prospered for many centuries under Shadurian rule, but in the year AR 237, Emperor Mazur the Destroyer conquered Sha'Dur, and ordered Nas'Krii destroyed. His soldiers captured the city, carried off its entire population as slaves, and then burned it to the ground, leaving only the malachite walls and a few stone structures intact. The Eloysians forbade anyone from entering the ruins and even posted guards to keep out scavengers and treasure-hunters. The reason Emperor Mazur ordered the destruction of the city remains a mystery.
Present-day Caldera is established
The ruins of Nas'krii did not remain vacant forever. Eventually, the Eloysian Empire collapsed, and the ruined city sat vacant and forgotten. Eventually, the ruins were discovered by a group of Ralani colonists, led by Surabar the Spellmason. This hardy group of adventurers are known today as "the Founders."
Surabar was originally part of a group of Ralani colonists who had sailed south from the kingdom of Ralas to flee the War of the Celadon that, at that time, was raging on the Continent of Corwyn.
Some of these colonists later settled in the neighboring village of Redgorge. When Redgorge was attacked by Nabthatoron and his hordes, the recently-founded settlement was badly damaged. By the year 565/6, Surabar and his colonists abandoned their new home and settled in the ruins of Caldera, after driving out the Gnoll and Tasloi tribes which were infesting them. Soon after, a new settlement was founded here, which Surabar aptly named: "Caldera."
The colonists then began rebuilding the ruined city, and it has grown from there until the present day. Over the last 700 years, Caldera has become a thriving Ralani city-state and one of the wealthiest trade centers in the Rockdale region. The legacy of those "Founders" is still seen today through their descendants; the "Five Families" of Caldera.
Map of the City
