Serraine
| Status | Free City |
| Government | Democracy (of a sort) |
| Location | Various, about 1.5 miles up |
| Area | 0.3 Square Miles or ~200 Acres |
| Geography | City on a flying island |
| Population | ~2,000 Sky-Gnomes ~400 Vanara |
| Urbanisation | 100% |
| Languages
Skycommon |
95% |
| Exports | Gnomish mechanisms, cut gems, magical training, knowledge |
| Imports | Food, leather, cloth, ore, uncut gems |
Overview
Behold the marvellous city of Serraine. If it is splendour you seek, look to the gleaming timbers, shining metals, and shimmering marbles of the Flying City. Serraine, wonder of the age! - Serraine Traveller’s Guidebook
A gnomish city build atop a floating island, the Flying City Serraine is outfitted with techno-magical devices that allow it to move around freely, and hover over places of interest. The city frequents areas where it has cultivated commercial agreements but occasionally heads further afield in search of new trade partners. The city imports raw materials and large amounts of food, and sells complex gnomish mechanisms and some of the finest cut gems and jewellery anywhere on Alusia. It also boasts a prestigious library, and a number of entertainments for visitors.
Despite its size, and the moderate height at which it floats, the city is virtually impossible to spot from the ground as its supporting island usually surrounded by cloud banks and the the underside is enchanted with magics similar to illusory terrain.
History
Details of Serraine's earliest history are not well known, or perhaps not shared outside of a select group.
What is known, is that the oldest parts of the city date back over 1,200 years and are not originally from Alusia. The floating island to which the city is affixed is Alusian, suggesting that the earliest incarnation of the city was entirely artificial in structure.
The first reliable account of Serraine in Alusian airspace comes from Alfheim and dates its first contact with the elves back nearly 800 years.
Serraine is known to have traded with the Old Western Kingdom but stopped visiting the region circa 500 WK as the political situation destabilized. For the last 300 years the city has treated Alfheim as its westernmost stop and traded extensively in central and central-south Alusia.
The city returned to the West in 790 WK where its military was employed by a group of druids in a violent clash with the Vicomte de Vole. In the aftermath of the Vicomte's death Serraine was pronounced unwelcome in Bowcourt, an edict that still stands.
Places of Interest
- Customs
- Maybe not a place of great interested but the first place most of you will see as when your arrives and need to get a Visitor pass.
- Information Centre
- Want to find something special on Serraine? Need to get in contact with a Master Artisan? Whether you are seeking training, trade, or tchotchkes the knowledgeable gnomes at the Information Centre can steer you right.
- Skychair network
- The fastest and funnest way to get around Serraine. Go up the elevator at one of the Skychair stops and wait for the next carriage to come swinging by. Pay your penny and go anywhere in the city, or just watch the sights and come all the way back to where you left. Please hold on tightly at all times and keep all limbs you care about inside the carriage.
Merchantile Areas
- Merchants Row
- Goods to fit any budget and souvenirs to meet all tastes. Pre-made goods, generally on the less expensive end (for Serraine).
- Gemeye Market
- Higher-end off-the-peg items, also used as the trade outlet for some of the master crafters so some custom work can be ordered. Bring a comfortably large purse and be prepared for high prices.
- Artisan's Quarter
- Many master artisans work in the area and live over their workshops. This is the place to come if you are looking for bespoke items and the prices reflect the skills of the masters.
Living Areas
These areas comprise the living quarters of most Serraine residents. While there are walkways through most of these areas not all will be welcoming to tourists.
- Skyhold Estates
- Housing for Serraine's wealthiest citizens, some holdings even boast small gardens. A few very specialized artisans live and have workshops here.
- Gnome Quarter / Artisan's Quarter
- Both of these areas are populated by Sky-Gnomes and although the Artisan's Quarter has more workshops and the Gnome Quarter fewer there is little else to differentiate the two.
- Suncrest Spires
- Tall buildings, many with doorways above ground level. The Spires are home to the city's Pegataur population and are difficult to navigate without wings.
- Emberhold
- Crowded lower-end housing for less wealthy "working class" gnomes along with some humans, harpies, and ogres.
- Shadow Reach
- The closest the city comes to slums. If you are down-and-out in Serraine this is where you end up. Up to six stories of Shadow Reach buildings are underground. The city's gremlin population lives here.
- Cloudhaven
- Home to the Vanyarami and a few elves.
- Riddles End
- Secluded and fortified home of the handful of Sphinxes that make Serriane their home. Visitors are warned not to enter this area without invitation.
