Banak

Banak

Government
Democracy
Organizations
Bruised But Not Broken, Companions of Elric, Kasarian Embassy, Abjura Dolana, Tipatshimun, Buel Vitta Society
Temples
Heironeous, Istus, Pholtus, Ulaa
Merchant Houses
Abraxis Combine, House Ditta, Thal Lithel, Thal Sivale, Thûrash

The second largest city of the Godfall is well known for its tall walls and the huge 'sails' that are raised over the city at night to collect moisture.

This is the main trade hub for the country, caravans leave multiple times a week to go north to Fir Lanear, Otteun, Dolac, and Mifora. Warehouses have been dug out under the entire city to store all the commodities going in and out.

About half a day outside the city is a large settlement of Kenku; Fussuluant. This is the only Kenku community in existence as far as anyone knows.

Locations

Dubanôn

This magic college has roots going all the way back to Baltur. Unsurprisingly, a portion of its faculty and students are staunch Tipatshimun members. The college is housed in a very large, thick walled building on the Road of the Builders. It probably won't come as a shock to learn that the local lodge of Abjura Dolana is housed in a building across the street; they are keeping more than one wary eye peeled.

Flint Theater

This building with walls of unknapped flint is the largest theater in the city, built centuries ago by the Ebnum family. It is known for its spectacular productions with high-quality backgrounds and props, and many special effects. The current artistic director is Valo Prym.

Ganâd Salt Mines

About an hour out of town you can find the Ganâd complex; salt has been dug from the earth here for at least fifteen centuries and it is said that this is the largest underground structure in the world. These days no one is quite sure how deep and wide the mines run, walking through all of them would take years.

Jade Winehouse

Named for a tavern from the days of Baltur, this drinking establishment is actually less than a century old. It is, however, one of the most popular in town. They don't sell any wine but plenty of distilled spirits and have a full floor catering to all kinds of games. During evening hours they have various entertainers on stage, the quality is rather hit or miss, which has only served to increase its popularity.

Târlaz Place

This square at the center of the city is its pride of place; filled with magnificent statues that survived the Collapse or were in good enough state to be expertly repaired. Discussions on whether or not more contemporary statuary should be displayed here as well, has been raging for centuries.

Water Worx

Before the Collapse, Shathûr magic was used to bring water to the city, but when that stopped working other alternatives had to be found. At some depth below the city a well of clean water was found. A magnificent contraption of huge gears and bucket elevators was built to transport the water to the surface, but then it turned out the water source was the elemental plane of water. Creatures native to that plane started to appear and interfere with the supply. Ever since it has been necessary to send parties down below for repairs and/or to fight or bribe the mephits and other water elementals.

For this reason a new construction was started; huge sails are now raised over the city at night to capture moisture from the air and funnel it into large cisterns. It's not all that much but it's usually enough to tide the town over when the underground source has been sabotaged and needs to be taken care of.

Organizations

Bruised But Not Broken

Here one can find one of the main training camps. The barracks are all located in one large, fortress-like, compound inside the city called Tharkathol. Outside the city the organization has a large exercise field where they put the recruits through their paces.

Led by one of their most experienced officers; Quadok (Colonel) Gunnar Balmung. A hardy dwarf with a large scar that travels from his chin to the crown of his head. However, this is not his most defining feature according to most people. He has lost his right leg in the field and has replaced with a wooden one. This wooden leg however is a work of art. made from the wood of a Fir Lanear fir tree with the most delicately carved decorations and lacquered with a rare lacquer only found in the Reuel Woods that used to be sold by a nomadic tribe of halflings along the Gloamin River.

Personnel

Centak (Captain) Sointu Duldren; a dark skinned, blue eyed woman. She is one of the youngest centaks in the organizations and lives in town with her husband Kargrim, a porter. She is said to have a temper and be quite blunt.

Dectol (Sergeant) Inka Galgurn; an unassuming dwarven woman who always wears gloves, her hands and lower arms are completely burned. She is one of the most highly decorated members of the Bruised's special forces, her specialty is taking out spellcasters.

Companions of Elric

The Companions of Elric buildings take up an entire city quarter. This is because in Banak they are not only a support organization (with quite impressive storehouses) but they also run the major center of learning in town, Assuagion Academy, teaching both beginner courses and some quite esoteric subjects.

The leader of this branch is a dwarven woman by the name of Dorna Hukhol, one of the best fighters in town. The academy is run by chancellor Murth Zitak, a dwarf with a fondness for exotic spirits.

Kasarian Embassy

While relatively near to their homeland, this embassy is one of their largest, and after a slow century it has recently seen an influx of new personnel. They are known for not just paying for finds but actually organizing expeditions going after any rumors of Balturian artifacts.

The ambassador is a wily, old (though it's hard to tell) tiefling man named Zevus Kullg. His skin is the darkest of red with some flecks of a lighter hue. He has two large horns extending from his forehead, sweeping back and outwards over his head. It has long been whispered that he is an actual member of The Circle, though there are no hard facts to support this. A young tiefling woman, Uda Jyder, is the second in command. Her skin is a dark orange with black spots here and there, two small horns protrude from under her chin. Recently it has been rumored a new second in command has arrived at the embassy but they have not been seen.

Abjura Dolana

Things are tense as both camps for and against the organization are well supported but the current Burgomeister favors the abjurers.

The Banak lodge on the Road of the Builders is well staffed with around twenty wizards and plenty of apprentices. It is rumored they also have a number of spies in town, wizards who keep their actual profession and allegiance a secret.

Elyth Rheloph, an older human man with very bushy brows from Mifora has been the Magister here for over a decade, which is longer than postings normally last. There are no fewer than three Sentinels. Bhaeryta Bersk, an Otteun woman of surprising delicacy and with an interest in cults. A fair half-elf woman of unknown origin; Sirane Loriamanthor. And Idrin the Imbar, a dwarven man with great sense of humor but a terrible laugh.

Tipatshimun

Many members are faculty and students at Dubanôn, the magic college, this includes the rector, Granus Felâg (male dwarf). Another prominent member is the self-styled 'archmage' Cyrag Zirak (male dwarf) who had his own tower built in town and guest lectures at the college from time to time.

Buel Vitta Society

While the local food is nothing to write home about, the best chefs can create masterpieces even with very limited resources. And Otteun is not too far away, so quite some good food gets imported for those with the means to afford it. The chapter is mostly known for its master sculptors, their pieces have been sold as far away as Haza. Meetings are usually held at Lordraerra House, the city's most exclusive inn.

Temples

Heironeous

The Cathedral of Bravery is a tall stone structure, with long vertical stained glass windows depicting scenes of Heironeous triumphant over his enemies. The building is rectangular, with a cylindrical structure near the back, the roof is slanted with blue tiles. The interior is a long corridor with a blue rug, lined with statues of Heironeous fighting foes. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling. At the end of the corridor is a large circular chancel. The chancel has rows of wooden benches with a middle aisle that leads to a central dais. Several steps lead up to the dais where a beautiful engraved altar rests.

The senior cleric at the cathedral is Knight Champion Chethri the Bulwark, a dwarven woman of singular resolve. A number of the priests here are also in the employ of Bruised But Not Broken.

Based here is Knight Valiant Conur Khourram, a half-orc paladin and self-declared Ishmêk super fan.

Istus

A recent addition to the city, the Temple of Kismet was founded by dwarven triplet sisters on the ground floor of their jewelry business; Always in a Gem. The goddess quickly gained in popularity and the entire lower floor is now dedicated to her, stairs have been built outside the building to the new entrance of the store.

The sisters told everyone who would listen that the Lady of Fate had come to them and encouraged all to worship her and live by her tenets; accepting that which can't be changed but improving what can be.The message resonated and soon the Agate sisters (Grymna, Ramilda, and Varuna) had a real following. Now Istus worship is spreading through the entire country. Though the sisters claim all three of them are of equal rank in this new church, Ramilda Agate is seen by most as the leader of the congregation.

Pholtus

The House of Light is a single story structure built of white stone bricks. The entrance is flanked by two white statues of regal dwarven knights wearing full platemail. The large double doors lead to a meticulous chancel with rows of stone pews. Evenly placed column line the walls, with candelabra's placed in-between each. A large white stone altar stands near the back wall. White banners with gold trim on the sides hang from the ceiling and feature Pholtus' symbol.

Bishop Assessor Immar Chessar, a dwarven male, described behind his back as having an enormous stick up his backside, leads the congregation. In charge of the Order of Saint Rabban, who are also housed here, is High-Inquisitor Morias Hawkwinter, a paladin with a death-wish but a terrible sense of direction.

Ulaa

The Fane of the Workers is housed in one of the warehouses under the city. A soft blue light radiates from the ceiling of the large hall and beautifully crafted columns and stone statues fill the halls. The temple is open all hours, every day of the year, services are not scheduled but there are always priests on hand when worshipers congregate.

Just last year a new Forewoman was appointed; a half-orc woman by the name of Neske Sormuzhik now leads this temple. Though there was some grumbling at the start, she quickly showed to be the best leader that anyone can remember.

Merchant Houses

Abraxis Combine

They have the largest presence of all the merchant organizations in this city, not even Thûrash employs as many people here. Their offices can be found in an old, converted mansion on Ducal Way.

They are lead by a former Ott logistics colonel by the name of Tharra Daumfrost. She is well known for the many lovers she goes through.

House Ditta

Even this far south they have a sizeable presence, having bought Nâlagabil Consignments some time past. Their office can be found on Forgraic Avenue.

It is run by a red-headed man originally from Dolac; Huld Brendis. He has an interest in ancient tools and is known around town as a card shark.

Thal Lithel

They don't have much of a presence here but a half-elven factor by the name of Lythis Alenuath who is seemingly always in a hurry, runs their business from a small office he rents inside Thovir Auction House.

Thal Sivale

They have a large presence here including a number of vast warehouses and an expediting office under the city.

In charge is an entrancing half-elf by the name of Lysa Bothaeal, a daughter of one of the matriarchs of Maern Halueve. She lives in, and runs her business from, Halueve House, one of the few wooden buildings in the city; a beautiful, expansive manor.

Thûrash

The largest office in the organization, it has a large collection of interconnected warehouses under the city with the administration building sitting in the middle of them, like a spider in a web.

A dwarven woman named Ritva Ruvon is the general manager though she answers to a board of directors.

They organize the Banak Open.

Notable People

• Jessra Throndor (dwarven burgomeister)
• Hallasa Thar (dwarven captain of the citizens brigade)
• Cyrag Zirak (dwarven wizard, 'archmage', lives in a tower near the east wall)
• Ambrul Othul (dwarven sage, nature)
• Sirane Eyriendor (half-elf sage, Baltur)
• Thirig Barzuk (dwarven playwright)