Aerandir Sīrfalas (The Veiled City of God)
Location: Atop Reyus Mountain in the mountain range that skirts the Northern coast of Valanthus.
Description: Aerandir Sīrfalas is remote and perhaps that is the reason behind its incredible longevity. High atop its mountain, Aerandir Sīrfalas has been spared from every major war since its conception before the Battle of the Apocalypse. Unlike the usual grace and beauty of Valanthan architecture, Aerandir Sīrfalas is simple. Its buildings are squat and flat, shielding its citizens from the eternal tunnel of gusting winds that race up the mountain's side and coil around its peak, gripping the village like a fist of air. Aerandir Sīrfalas's greatest population is that of a sect of monks who have dedicated their lives to the worship of Volkain. It is said that they built the Temple of Volkain in Junon, called down from their mountain home to perfect the wind spells that kept the unimaginable spire from toppling.
There is only one method of egress from the city, high in its fortified shell. A steep, rugged staircase suitable to a pony is carven into the mountainside at the mouth of the monastery, winding down round and round through ice and snow to the very base of the mountain and continuing on with its switch-backing rhythm to meet the greater roads that cross the Junon river. There is no gate blocking entrance to the Monastery as the monks believe that wind must be free to dance in the open halls of their temple and that Volkain's fury would surely strike down any enemy who would take the city.
Key Points: The Monastery of Aerandir Sīrfalas is the chief structure in the small city. It rises far above all of the others and is built into the side of the mountain itself, its broad arms joining with the city walls to become a part of its defense, geology and heritage alike. The monks of the monastery have cared for it and lived in its open, wind-swept halls for 1500 years, amassing knowledge all the while. For time untold the vaults of the Monastery have been filled with scrolls of power and knowledge conceived by the seekers of enlightenment. To some, these are of great value for powerful spells of Wind have been studied and carefully stored away. Many seek these spells but the Monks guard them almost covetously for they fear the damage their power could cause.
Districts and Divisions: There are no districts that divide Aerandir Sīrfalas. Perhaps the easiest way for one to find their way about the city is to look to the Monastery that rises up into the sky on the Northern slope facing the sea. One can always find their locale by which face of the monastery rises above them.
Population: Aerandir Sīrfalas is little more than a village, home to only a few hundred monks and a handful of citizens. Almost entirely Elven, the community is probably the smallest of the ancient cities on Valanthus.
History: As stated above, Aerandir Sirfalas is an old place. The Monastery has simply always been there, even in the long memories of the Elves who inhabit it. Only once has any major change occurred in the history of Aerandir and that was during the Battle of the Apocalypse when Rein foolishly tried to tear down the monastery. His soldiers never made it up the steps before the gale-winds of Volkain lashed out and crushed the force in a single swiping blow. Perhaps it was Volkain himself who intervened on the Monk's behalf but many put this gust up to the Abbot of the temple who was always well known for cleverly evading the difference between himself and the God he worshipped.
Otherwise the history of Aerandir is sparse. Knowledge and enlightenment are sought by those who live there and the community is entirely self-sufficient, declining trade with even nearby Juno.
Empire: Technically Aerandir Sirfalas is part of Elven Empire but it has always been its own entity and those few who even know of it rarely have cause to mention it. The sanctity of the Monastery has always been well protected by its remote ambiguity.
Army: The Monks themselves serve as the city militia should the need arise. To the inhabitant's knowledge, it never has.
