Maelgoth

Flanking the main gates on the north side of the city, these small forts have thick 30ft-high walls with thin 60ft-high towers on each corner each housing either a ballista or catapult . A heavy iron gate on their inner sides, and a 15ft deep ditch surround the wall of each.

Within each set of walls is a small castle and multiple other buildings serving as store-houses and barracks capable of supporting a population of roughly 250 soldiers and servants, with food stores able to support its population for a siege of up to three months. Each of these buildings stands apart above ground but is connected underground by an expansive network of tunnels and dungeons the size of each fort. A single long passage also connects the dungeons on the two forts allowing for secret movement between them.

It is claimed by many that the dungeons beneath the forts – despite regular use – are haunted by many spirits of soldiers, civilians and prisoners who have died below. Dragonarmy occupiers are quickly finding this to be the case with many servants and Draconians racing out of the dungeons having seen and been frightened by an apparition.

Practically a small fortress in its own right, the huge double-gates can open a gap 40ft-wide, though each has a built-in hatch large enough for a single horse and rider to pass that is used more often to allow people in and out of the city. With the gate is a short tunnel that can be blocked with three thick iron portcullises, with slots and grooves above, besides and below this passage allowing for all manger of defensive weapons to be used against invaders. The gate is flanked by twin blockhouses 80ft high that are

Except for brief periods of inactivity and evacuation for times of war, the waterfront has always been the centre of commerce in Maelgoth. Sitting outside of the walls between the city and the river, this district has a large number of ramshackle warehouses, fish canneries and smokehouses plying their trade from the river itself, as well as a healthy supply of cheap taverns, gambling dens and flophouses. These are all arranged along the river-bank itself, and in some places juts out onto three massive stone-brick piers.

Sitting at the heart of the city is a broad plaza that has traditionally been one of the more active food markets in all of Solamnia. Farmers and fishermen from across the region have brought their goods to this bustling market, though attendance has been significantly down since the arrival of the Dragonarmies.

Dominating the plaza by taking up its entire southern side, the Lord Mayor’s Palace is a grand example of classical Solamnian architecture with soaring towers and strong battlements designed both for defensive superiority and to create an imposing image on those who enter the square from the north.

Until recently Lord Mayor Fanthalas Karango would come out of his palace overlooking the market and tour the plaza with a group of guards on a daily basis, taking the opportunity to meet and speak with the people, but the mayor was deposed and the Dragonarmy Governor seems to have no interest in continuing this policy. It is believed that the Lord Mayor remains in the dungeons beneath the palace, as he has not been seen since the occupation began.

Though the knighthood has always eschewed the use of magic and at times been wary of= mages being involved in any manner of Solamnian life, Maelgoth has allowed the south-west corner of their city to be a home and hub for magical activity. Though it doesn’t have the prestige of the Tower at Wayreth, this city quarter contains many small schools and laboratories where research and learning takes place, as well as multiple homes for mages and shops where they can buy alchemical materials. Mages of all robes have been allowed to continue their practice under Dragonarmy occupation, though white-robes now often feel harassed and intimidated by new armed patrols that come through the quarter, whilst black-robes delight in newfound power and liberty to practice whatever kinds of magic they wish n public. As a result many white- robes have chosen to leave Maelgoth and returned to the Tower at Wayreth, with only a few stubbornly staying behind to protect their personal interests in the city. The two most famous life-long resident mages in the district are up-and-coming casters named Zandar and Hennihoya. It is often believed that they will soon become the most powerful mages in Maelgoth and are in line to take over the respective schools and adjoining shops where each works, though much of their advancement is motivated by a bitter rivalry based on envy and suspicion. Despite the colours of their robes, both are thought of publicly as quite spiteful and selfish.

Being an old city, Maelgoth boasts nine temples dedicated to all three pantheons – Good, Neutral and even Evil. The builders of the city respected that balance was necessary between the pantheons, though the Knights of Solamnia for obvious reasons always avoided the temples to Evil gods. All of these temples fell into disuse and disrepair during the Age of Despair, but now the Dragonarmies have begun renovating and reinvigorating the Evil god temples, and plan new festivals to mark the completion of this work. The temples in Maelgoth include:

Good
Temple of Paladine
Temple of Mishakal
Temple of Kiri-Jolith
Temple of Branchala

Neutral
Temple of Gilean
Temple of Reorx
Temple of Lunitari

Evil
Temple of Takhisis
Temple of Sargonnas