Lux Tenebris: Moontree - Part Two

Moontree covers about 45 square miles and has a population of approximately 20,460 permanent residents.  The population breaks down as follows: Humans 64% (13,094); Gnomes 11% (2,251); Elves 10% (2,046); Halflings 07% (1,432). The remaining population (1,637) consists of members of other races.

The city of Moontree was governed by the noble family of the same name for centuries. They were assisted by the Lord's Council, a group of individuals hand-picked by the Lord himself, as personal advisors, and the Chosen Council, which was comprised of individuals elected from the land-owning citizenry of the city.

After the death of the last Lord Moontree, the city was left without a formal ruler. The citizenry chose the paladin, Raul Sybrow, to rule them and his nomination was hastily approved by the surviving members of the Lord's Council and the Chosen Council.  Rumors persist of a surviving Moontree heir in Darkwater, a fact that various political factions have used to their advantage, to prevent Sybrow from being appointed the new Lord of Moontree.  Instead, at the suggestion of his wife, Lilah, Raul Sybrow has chosen to refer to himself as Steward of Moontree.  This has allowed him to get about the work of rebuilding and securing the city, while allowing the politicians to play their power-games behind the scenes.

The city of Moontree consists of fourteen distinct districts, as laid out on the map below.

A) Northlight.

The northernmost of the city's districts it saw little damage from the Draconic attack.  Its residents consider themselves blessed. Their detractors sneer and remark that there is little in Northlight that would attract anyone. The district is named after the centuries-old light house that stands on the cliffs overlooking Silver Moon Bay, warning ships of treacherous reefs and rocks.

B) Graelforge.

Originally called Grael's Forge, after a dwarf blacksmith that made the region his home, the area was once a center of industry and commerce. As time passed, though, the city's industries relocated and the neighborhood became largely residential, with little local industry or commerce of any importance. Grael's Forge has long since vanished, lost in a fire centuries ago, but dwarves visiting Moontree still journey to the site to offer small tributes to one of the finest blacksmiths the dwarven people ever produced.

C) Erishur.

Originally known as Ehrith Eshur, which loosely translates to 'Pale Houses', Erishur is the site of the Temple of Rovelek and Moontree's oldest and largest graveyard. The neighborhood is largely residential, and the few businesses that remain in the area are connected to either the funeral industry or the Temple of Rovelek. Unlike other cities, undead have never been a problem in Erishur's graveyards, thanks to the care and dillegence of the local populace.

D) Silver Hill.

A residential district that sprawls between Erishur and Renero, Silver Hill is the home to most of Moontree's wealthy merchants and traders. In addition to walled and guarded homes, Silver Hill is also the site of more upscale and discreet pleasure houses, taverns and gambling halls. During the Draconic Invasion, several homes in the region were burned, their owners slaughtered like sheep. As a result, the district has hired engineers to construct a protective wall around the neighborhood and hired additional watchmen to control access.  This has started to cause some friction with neighboring districts, as it has forced people to take longer routes to get to Erishur, Graelforge and Northlight.

E) Highgate.

Occupying the highest hills in the area, Highgate is the home to Moontree's surviving nobility. The area was the target of draconic raids during the Invasion, and many of Moontree's noble families were wiped out by the invaders.  The surviving nobles have banded together, adopting a near-siege mentality, rebuilding and reenforcing the walls and wards that surround the district. Although grateful for the Sybrows during the Invasion, many of the noble families are now wary of them. Many consider their legacies threatened by the loss of the Moontree family and have banded together to hire adventurers to travel to distant Darkwater and bring young Lavic Moontree home to assume his hereditary responsibilities. Or, possibly, formally pass on the title of Lord of Moontree to a worthy successor.

The Moontree estate is located in Highgate. It has been abandoned by all but a handful of faithful retainers, who steadfastly await word from the young lord. Gawkers are not welcome and trespassers can expect to receive a sound thrashing if caught.

F) Renero.

The district's name translates as "New Town" and it was the site of the first expansion of the Old City, centuries ago. As such, Renero has a rather bloody history, considering the annexation of the land led to the Gnomeblood Wars and the Devastation of Redethal.

In recent times, Renero was the site of Moontree's Artists Quarter, but today it is best known for its pleasure houses, taverns, inns, gambling halls and theaters.

At the heart of the district, tucked away in a quiet, shady courtyard, is a monument to the original gnome tribes that called Renero home. Locals leave small gifts at the monument, hoping to appease any restless spirits that still linger in the area.

G) The Old City.

The Old City was the site of the original colony, established by human refugees fleeing V'resh centuries ago. There's nothing left of the original city now. It was completely destroyed by the Devastation of Redethal. When the city began to rebuild, entirely new streets were laid out and the residents made a conscious effort to purge the Old City from their memories.

Today, the Old City is one of the most densely populated regions of Moontree. It is the site of the city's government. The Chosen Council meets in the Great Hall of the Lord's Palace, which, despite the name, is not a residence but the home of the city's beaurocracy. The surviving members of the old Lord's Council meet in a private home near Harrier's Square, the largest public square in the city. The Old City is also the site of many temples, most prominantly the Temple of Abasha.

H) Harborgate.

For a long time, Harborgate was a part of the Old City. However, about two hundred years ago, the areas residents petitioned for recognition as a seperate district and their request was granted. Harborgate is the site of Moontree's docks, harborworks and related industries. It is also a residential neighborhood, home to families of dockworkers, fishermen, sailors, etc. Although the area is considered a 'working man's neighborhood' it also has a strong spiritual side. Shrines to Arymat, Halab and Solat can be found all along the docks and it is the only district in the city to formally support a hospital and hospice run by the clergy of Anola and Halab.

I) Redsnake.

This twisting serpentine district was known for its blood-red walls that acted as a defense for the Old City during the Gnomeblood Wars. After the wars, the area become known predominantly as a haven for criminals and underworld commerce.  The fortress known as the Arsenal was abandoned by the city and left to rot, becoming an eyesore and a source of deep disdain among Redsnake's residents.

In recent centuries, Redsnake's reputation had improved. The effects of gentrification had transformed broad swathes of the district, but it was still considered a social hurdle in Moontree if one lived in Redsnake.

When the Draconic Legions stormed the city, Redsnake saw the bloodiest of the fighting. It was in this district that Lord Moontree led the city's defenders to fight a holding action against the dragonborn. The legions gave no mercy, but neither did the folk of the city and the streets and gutters of Redsnake ran crimson with gore and blood. Most of the city's militia fell at Redsnake and the district was put to the torch.

Today, Redsnake has bounced back from its burning. The sounds of new construction echo through the streets at all hours of the day, and many displaced persons have found new homes in the shadow of the Arsenal. The old fortress itself is seeing new life, as it is being torn down and rebuilt, to become another part of Moontree's more layered, comprehensive defenses.

However, not everything is well in Redsnake. Undead have started to become a problem in the district and there is a strict sundown to sunrise curfew in effect.  Restless spirits prowl the dark streets and, more often than not, people who wander outside are not seen alive again. The city is working with various temples to address the situation, but clerical resources are stretched thin at the moment, leaving the folk of Redsnake to cower indoors and fear the night.

J) Merrol.

This sprawling district was the industrial heart of Moontree. It not only housed the majority of the city's industrial facilities, but it was the site of the major guildhalls as well as a prominant Temple of Neka. The Draconic Legions consigned most of the district to fire, although they were careful not to threaten the Temple of Neka.

The city made the restoration of Merrol a priority and a great deal of money and resources were invested to restore the city's industries. This allowed Moontree to begin processing raw materials that sped the repair of most of the other districts.

However, even though Merrol is thriving, large parts of the district remain charred ashes. Scavengers poke through the rubble looking for anything of value and many individuals who lost their livelihoods now survive by digging through Merrol's rubble and selling what they find in the markets.

K) Medorrna.

Medorrna was a largely residential district, where many of Merrol's laborers and craftsmen called home. The district was populated predominantly by gnomes, who fled south to Krake when the city's walls were breached. When the residents of Medorrna returned, they found their homes reduced to ash and rubble. Some left, but many remained and began the lengthy process of rebuilding.

Medorrna has a bit of a repuation among certain circles within the city. Rumors persist of secret tunnels built beneath the neighborhood that lead to hidden caches of treasure.  Most folk dismiss these stories as whimsical fantasies, but quite a few people have descended upon Medornna hunting for its fabled treasures.

L) Lederra's Rest.

Lederra's Rest was the newest district added to the city before the Draconic Invasion. Originally a farming community, Lederra's Rest was absorbed into Moontree at the request of its residents. Thinly populated by local standards, Lederra's Rest is known for its farms and dairies.  The area is also known for its graveyard, now the second-biggest in Moontree.  In fact, the original farming community was named after the first person to be interred in the local graveyard, a young gnome woman named Lederra.

Many of the local farms were raided by the Draconic Legions, but there was remarkably little loss of life among the locals. Most took shelter in the forests, south of the city, or fled to Krake. They returned to find most of their livestock dead or stolen, but their homes mostly intact.

M) Banestone.

This district is named after the prison standing at its heart. Banestone was designed by dwarven engineers. They claimed that the site of the prison was cursed and ill-fated, referring to it as Errenor in their native tongue, and refusing to physically build the prison. They even returned half their commission to the city, just to illustrate how strongly they felt about the matter.

Whether Banestone is cursed or not, it certainly has a reputation. The suicide rate among prisoners and wardens is unusually high. The land surrounding the prison is used as a burial ground, and unmarked stone obelisks denote the presence of each prisoner's grave. At night, locals whisper that the tethered spirits of dead prisoners can be seen, writhing above their gravestones.

Besides the prison, Banestone is largely residential with a smattering of local commercial businesses. Most households in the district have at least one person working at the prison, or connected to it in some way.

When the Draconic Legions invaded Moontree, they seemed to avoid Banestone. Perhaps it was dumb luck or perhaps the place's reputation preceeded it. In either event, even though they did not attempt to take the prison, the district was badly damaged when the Legions set fire to the city. Banestone itself, however, was unaffected.

N) Celnimeir.

Moontree's easternmost district, it's name meant 'Welcoming' and it was the first sight that land-bound travelers got of the city proper. As such, Moontree made an effort to put its best foot forward. The district was largely commercial, offering services and goods that would be of interest to weary travelers. Some of the finest guesthouses, inns and taverns were found in Celnimier and the city watch kept a strong presence in its streets.

Celnimeir received the brunt of the first attack from the Draconic Legions. They easily overcame the district's antiquated defenses and used it as a springboard to attack other parts of the city. Most of Celnimeir's population was killed. Some were initially spared, used as slave-labor by the invaders, only to be executed later.  Only a handful managed to escape, and most of the district's survivors lost at least one person to the invaders.

Today, most of Celnimeir remains a burnt wasteland. The protective wall has been rebuilt, mostly with materials salvaged from the district itself, as a stopgap until more secure defenses can be constructed. Most of the mercenary companies that Moontree has hired make their headquarters and barracks in Celnimeir and there is a strong city militia present as well. As a result, the tone of the neighborhood has changed quite a bit.

There has been some reconstruction of businesses and homes within the district, but not to the extent that other sections of Moontree have seen. Also, a thriving black market has sprung up in Celnimeir providing illicit drugs and services, mostly to the mercenaries.  The city watch and militia are aware of this and are keeping a close eye upon the situation. Rumors persist that the Black Glove, a notorious criminal organization, has established itself in the district.