Solanthus
Solanthus is one of the major cities and former capital of Solamnia, located in the Heartlund province, which it is the capital of, founded in about 1817 PC, and was considered to be at the center of Solamnia. Solanthus has been a stronghold for the Knights of Solamnia for many years, losing it only twice, once to the dragonarmies and another to the Knights of Neraka during the War of Souls. Two castles flanked the city, Castle Crownguard to the south, and Castle Solanius to the west. During Ankhar's War, the city was able to hold of the half-giant's hordes to allow for Emperor Jaymes Markham to free them. Most people think the city is named after Vinas Solamnus, but it was really named while he was still a young boy. People from Solanthus are called Solanthian.
The city's major exports are cattle and grain, and the lands around it to the Vingaard River are some of the most fertile soil in all of Krynn. The city is surrounded by first an old decrepit wall surrounds a ten foot deep moat, then a massive outer curtain wall that is thirty feet thick at the base, and is made of stone packed with sand and reinforced with steel. There are also many archer slits and murder holes in the walls, while three drawbridges span the moat. A gatehouse, each of which is a castle itself, guards each of these drawbridges.
The east road ran directly beneath the parapets of the city wall for a quarter of a mile before reaching the vallenwood gates of the East Gate (which were built during the Age of Dreams), while two more gates are located in the South and West with none out the North. Thorn trees form another natural barrier inside the walls, while spikes are concealed in the ground. Most of the buildings inside the city walls are all made of stone to stop the spread of fire, along with many water wells set up to control fires.
Several inns are located near the three gates leading into the city, and there are many hills located in the southern portion of the city where paved streets can be found climbing steeply up them. Besides all the streets being paved, they are constantly kept clean and well maintained. Many statues of famous figures and public fountains can be found along these streets. The city has long been a center for Solamnic culture, art, and education. It has many great towers, spires, and castles, all of which tower over the walls and can be seen from a great distance. There are also extensive tunnels under the city that were carved by dwarves. Many smugglers and thieves use these tunnels, but the guards and the Lord Mayor know of most of the shafts. There are a few that remain unknown even to them.
The Solanthus Business District was located southeast of the Cleft Spires and contains many of the businesses of Solanthus including Seraphema's Silver Emporium and Etha Tower.
The Castle Hill District of Solanthus was located north of the Cleft Spires, and was home to the majority of the knightly castles in the city. One such home was Castle uth Ferron.
The Solanthus Merchant District was located on the entire western side of Solanthus. Many businesses were located here including Blue Arms and Armor and Broken Wheel Supplies. The Temple of Shinare and the Merchants' Guild are both located in this district.
The Residential Area of Solanthus takes up the entire eastern portion, and the central western part of the city. The buildings are almost all made of stone with dark timbers for support. They almost all share a common wall, and are tightly packed together. All the streets are well-maintained and clean.
The Solanthus Temple Row was located south of the Cleft Spires in Solanthus, and was home to the majority of the shrines and temples for the city. The huge Temple of Mishakal was located there, but the Temple of Shinare and Temple of Holy Knights are the two not located there.
The Blue Arms and Armor was a shop located in the Merchant District of Solanthus that sold weapons and armor. The shop can be found along the wall between the South Gate and West Gate.
The Boisterous Bull was a decent inn located in the Solamnic city of Solanthus. More information is unknown at this time.
Broken Wheel Supplies was a shop located in the Merchant District of Solanthus that sold supplies to travelers. The shop can be found in the central part of the district, towards the northwest corner and south of the Residential District.
Castle uth Ferron was located in the southwestern part of the Castle Hill District of Solanthus. This was the family home of the uth Ferron family.
The Cleft Spires are two great pillars of natural rock that are each fifty feet high and one hundred feet in width, and rise above the walls, towers, and anything else in the city of Solanthus. The two halves of the pillar bend away from each other, one over the Solanthus Grand Market in the west, and one to the east. The sun channels through the gap during the equinoxes, and its rumored that anything done in that sunbeam caught the attention of the gods. One spire is more to the north than the other, and this northern spire is where the nobles have a vault and bury their dead. A rumor among Solamnic maidens was that if they were able to carve their beloved's initials in the stone that they would fall in love with her. A pure spring bubbles at the foot of the Cleft Spires.
The Spires are highly magnetic, and will attract any metal object that passes to close to it. The Spires became a symbol of the rebellion against the Dark Knights after the War of Souls. Those of the Solanthic Liberation Army would meet at the Spires to discuss some of their plans. During the occupation by the Dark Knights, they built a twenty-five foot tall double barricade, with five-foot thick walls around the Cleft Spires.
The shimmering Spires are also a source of light at night, that can be seen from a mile away. The rocks from the Spires, called light-gems, are used to light the city at night, and the Lord Mayor of Solanthus allows very few people to mine the rock. People usually would have had to have done something great for the mayor or city, otherwise the Spires are under constant guard.
It is unknown exactly how the spire was first formed, but prior to Solanthus being built it was simply a large spire in the middle of flat lands. One legend is that a wise man told a king that Paladine would send a sign as to where to build his new kingdom. During a storm, a lightning bolt hit the spire, and split it in two. The people followed their king to the spire, and took this as a sign from Paladine that this was where to build their new city. They built their village at the foot of the spire. Another legend is that the Cleft Spires was left for the humans by Dwarves as a gift.
Courageous Maiden Inn was located on the southern edge of the Castle Hill District and near the West Gate of Solanthus.
Dog and Duck Tavern was located on the western edge of the Castle Hill District in the northern part of Solanthus. It was a warm, cozy tavern that has a small stage for entertainment, a bar, and a kitchen. Druen uth Matarin, a former Knight of the Crown, owns the tavern.
This was always a popular meeting place for Knights of Solamnia, but when Mina's Dark Knights took over the city the tavern was closed up. This greatly anger Druen, and he allied with the Solanthic Liberation Army. He allowed for them to meet in his cellar, which was the place that the flames of rebellion began. Four months after the War of Souls and the occupation of Solanthus, the rebellion pushed out the Dark Knights.
After the city was free, no one would go to patronage the tavern. The Guildmasters who ran the city disapproved of Druen's politics. The tavern though, is very friendly towards any Solamnic Knight.
The East Gate was one of three entrances into the Solamnic city of Solanthus. The wide, smooth eastern road that runs into the city ran directly beneath the parapets of the city wall for a quarter of a mile before reaching the vallenwood gates, which were constructed during the Age of Dreams. The gatehouse was a castle itself, with several towers located at it. The road that leads from the gatehouse to the Cleft Spires is called The Grand March.
The Etha Tower was a large tower located in the Solanthus Business District of Solanthus.
Garnet Money Exchange was located at the East Gate of Solanthus. Here people can exchange their gems and gold for currency.
The Gleaming Gem was a decent inn located in the Solamnic city of Solanthus. More information is unknown at this time.
The Gnodwyn's Menagerie was located to the side of South Gate in Solanthus. Here citizens could come and see wild and exotic animals.
The Hall of Knights, which is also known by the names Hall of Liberty, Solanthus Great Hall, City Hall, and Lord Mayor's Home, was the oldest building in Solanthus, but many extra levels, wings, and other additions were added since it was first built. Once was a simple building, it became a complex of buildings that surrounded an inner courtyard and the original Hall. The building was located near Solanthus Temple Row and the South Gate, and could be easily found along one of the main roads.
The original hall was built thousands of years ago with the founding of the city. It was a granite building faced with marble, and Knights of Solamnia came here to be taught the art of warfare, the Measure, and the procedures and protocols to become community leaders. When the Solanthic Liberation Army liberated the city of the Dark Knights, they renamed the hall the Hall of Liberty. Its name was changed back to the Hall of Knights when the Knights came back in control of the city.
The Knight's Hall was located northeast of the Cleft Spires in Solanthus. More information is unknown at this time about it.
Mikku's Curiosities was a shop located in the Solanthus Business District of Solanthus, and it was located just south of the Cleft Spire.
The Noble Wench was an inn located in the southern part of Solanthus, just east of Solanthus Temple Row.
The Platinum Platter was an inn located in Solanthus, just south of the Castle Hill District and north of the Cleft Spire.### Seraphema's Silver Emporium
Seraphema's Silver Emporium was a jeweler located in the Solanthus Business District of Solanthus that was known through Solamnia and most of Ansalon for its jewelry. Seraphema, a dark elf, has created and sold jewelry that has graced kings, emperors, queens, and even the Dragon Highlord Ariakas. For a price, Seraphema would cast spells on the jewelry that would make it so they couldn't be stolen off the person. This was also a place for Mages to buy magical items.
The Solanthus Barracks were located at each of Solanthus's three gates, on the other side of the moat. At each of these barracks were guard posts where the guards would impose taxes on Merchants, and monitor those who enter the city. These guards were typically trained by the Guildmasters to have a keen eye for expensive wares coming into the city. They also would keep the Kender out of the city, and make sure they do daily removals of them from the city.
Solanthus Grand Market was located due west of the Cleft Spires in Solanthus. All of the stalls and stores were grouped in tight squares by cramped streets, by the goods and wares they were selling. A person could find wares being sold here from all over Ansalon. The Guildmasters keep control over what was sold at the market by taxing everything at the gate as it enters the city.
The South Gate was one of three entrances into the Solamnic city of Solanthus. The wide, smooth southern road ran into the vallenwood gates, which were constructed during the Age of Dreams. The gatehouse was a castle itself, with several towers located at it.
Striketrue Academy was a training academy located in the eastern part of Solanthus, just east of the Cleft Spire.
The Temple of Kiri-Jolith was located in Solanthus Temple Row of Solanthus. It was made of white marble, and even though it was older, it was connected to the Temple of Paladine. At the connection was a courtyard with a rose garden in it.
The Temple of Light, or as the locals call it the Temple of the Mystics, was an offshoot of the Citadel of Light in Solanthus. The temple was founded when Starmaster Mikelis returned to the city of his birth having completed his training at the Citadel. He founded the temple in order to train more Mystics in Solamnia.
The Temple of Mishakal, also known as the Tower of the Blue Flame, was a huge temple dedicated to the goddess Mishakal, located in Solanthus Temple Row of Solanthus. The temple was beautiful and graceful building of elven design that was tall and slender with graceful curves and sweeping archways is a classic example of the church's old designs. The temple got its name Tower of the Blue Flame for the eternal blue flame burning at the very top of the tower. This flame was lit following the liberation of Solanthus in the War of the Lance. The flame continues to burn to this day. The temple is now being led by Sharia Silverwind.
The Temple of Paladine was located in Solanthus Temple Row of Solanthus. It was made of white marble, had four white columns, and it was connected to the Temple of Kiri-Jolith even though it was built after the other temple. At the connection was a courtyard with a rose garden in it.
The Temple of Shinare was a temple dedicated to the goddess Shinare in the Solanthus Merchant District of Solanthus. The temple was built simply of gray stone with heavy steel doors. On the doors was a Griffon's wing, which was one of the symbols of the goddess. During the Fifth Age, while the gods were away, the building was an accounting house, but with the return of the gods the priests have expanded their duties. The priests kept the Guildmasters in check, ensuring that they didn't fall prey to corruption and arrogance. The priests had always been given a great deal of respect, even by Knights of Solamnia, in a city that so valued trade. Shinare's Scales are housed in the temple.
The Temple of Three Holy Knights, also known as the Temple of Holy Knights, was a grand temple dedicated to the worship of Paladine, Kiri-Jolith, and Habbakuk on the grounds of the Knight's Hall in Solanthus. The temple was built sometime prior to the Cataclysm, but following the destruction of Krynn, it fell into a state of disrepair with the loss of the gods. It would be restored to its former glory once Solanthus was liberated during the War of the Lance.
The University of Solanthus is a place of higher learning in Solanthus. It was once headed up by Starmaster Mikelis as rector, but after he left to learn at the Citadel of Light a new rector was placed in charge.
The uth Wathor Warehouses were two large warehouses located in the northern part of the Solanthus Residential Area in Solanthus. Here the uth Wathor Family would deal in exotic fabrics and spices.
The West Gate was one of three entrances into the Solamnic city of Solanthus. The wide, smooth southern road ran into the vallenwood gates, which were constructed during the Age of Dreams. The gatehouse was a castle itself, with several towers located at it. During Ankhar's War, this gate was destroyed by the Elemental King. By 429 AC, the gate was fixed entirely and was taller and thicker than what it had been before.
The Grand March is the road that leads from the East Gate to the Cleft Spires in Solanthus.
The Mercenaries Guild was located just inside of the Solanthus|West Gate of Solanthus, and it was where people looking for mercenaries to hire would go.
The Merchants' Guild was located in the eastern part of the Merchant District of Solanthus, and it was what the merchant citizens of Solanthus would join.