Rines

Rines

Allegiance
Island Realm	Beluaterra (rogue)
Statistics
Type Weather Economy Population Gold Food	City East Islands Manufacturing, Trade 73

Prominent Family Homes

Blint

Tenle

City of Moonlight

Nestled between the sapphire waters of the Sea of Four Cities and the wooded hills of the Athol Margos Peninsula sits the largest city in all of Beluaterra... Rines: the sprawling City of Moonlight; eighth-largest settlement in the world. Bustling streets and quiet urban estates are surrounded by strong walls and high watchtowers resplendent moon-white stone. A deep-water port harbors everything from tiny fishing skiffs to great merchant galleys, unloading their cargo to be shipped by flat-bottomed barges through the city's man-made waterways. Though bustling, the streets of Rines are rarely clogged. The many bridges overlapping the waters provide an excellent convenience to pedestrian and commercial through-traffic.. At the center of it all stands the Basilica of Rines, a shimmering beacon of hope in a world that knows too much of darkness.

When Riombara fell during the Sixth Daimonic Invasion, Rines was ravished and its many thousands of citizens were either killed or driven off, leaving the City of Moonlight as little more than necropolis home to more dead than living. Now as day turns to night, watchtower flames roar to life to ring the great city in light once again, a comforting sight to any weary traveler looking for a place to lay their head.

Visitors often notice the people of Rines possess a special resilience and determination to carve out their place in the world.

Crown Jewel of the South

The large citadel of Rines is a bustling coastal trading center, attracting merchants and artisans from across the world and providing shelter under its powerful towers to become one of the top five largest cities in the world. Southern waters and temperatures make for balmy days and temperate nights.

The center of the ages-old and now deceased Rines Republic, the city of Rines has afterwards been usually under control of Riombara. During the height of the Second Great War the city was lost to anarchy and mayhem after being targeted as the potential Blood Cultist colony. In the winter of the year 2009 the sunbathed flags of the Riombaran nobles entered the city again and took Rines under their wings.

After the fall of Riombara at the outset of the Sixth Daimonic invasion in 2016, permanent control of Rines eventually passed from the Republic of Fronen to theocratic realm of Sacred Obia'Syela in 2017.

Distinctive Features

Being one of the largest cities on the planet does have one distinct disadvantage: It takes quite a while to travel from the outskirts like the docks or Obeah's Gate to the Holy Basilica of Rines. The Sixth Invasion had taken a cataclysmic toll upon the city. By all accounts, it had been a total necropolis before the Heralds had arrived. Now, even at night, the Basilica dominates the city skyline, towering above even the temple at other grand buildings, a great pillar of ivory spires from which radiates the City of Moonlight. The Basilica is a grand palace, the administrative and cultural center of the city. Constructed with solid granite blocks and sheathed in fine marble quarried from nearby foothills set the aesthetic from which the rest of the expansive city drew inspiration. Designed to engender awe, the Basilica was conceived and built during the earliest days of civilization on Beluaterra, it's architects designed the soaring castle to be larger than life. Everything from the doorways to he windows to the halls were scaled up as though meant for the titans of a forgotten age. Thankfully, however, the designers stopped themselves before making stairs too big to be easily traversed. What it has in grandeur, it lacks in defenses as one of the few "castles" in the world to lack a siege-worthy wall, relying instead and entirely upon the defenses of the city itself.

The Solarium was the architectural marvel of the Basilica of Rines. Placed at the pinnacle of the large central tower, the Solarium was the highest room in southern Beluaterra and accessible only by a long, winding flight of stone steps that eventually reached a trap door that opened into the floor of the Solarium itself. Upon emerging, most visitors first notice the Solarium's ceiling and learn how this room got its name; for the ceiling and walls were a latticework of bronze-plated supports and pains of clear glass forming a dome over a room abou the size of a dining hall and ringed by a circular balcony that afforded a better view of Rines to those that were brave enough to walk it. Outside, the night was alight with stars and the rising crescent moon, if not for the lanterns that had been lit for the summit, visitors to the Solarium might get the impression that they were walking among those celestial bodies.

And then there is Obeah's Glare. First commissioned and financed by Vahanian Blint, Grand Templar of Sacred Obia'Syela and Steward of Rines, the Glare is a complex series of mechanisms and mirrors independent of one another simultaneously connected in purpose: an awe-inspiringly brutal method of execution by sunlight for the enemies of the Faithful.

Estates

Grand Temple of the Veiled Goddess

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair on behalf of the Heralds of Obeah. The Grand Temple is the largest religious building in southern Beluaterra and serves as the new spiritual cradle of the Heralds of Obeah. It's foundations, like all estates commissioned in the time of Sacred Obia'Syela, is built upon the torn ruins of Riombran and older buildings, roots that pierce deep into the coastal bedrock. The edifice includes reclaimed materials from the original, first temple to Obeah which had stood in Keffa prior to being torn down by the Netherworld's daimons.

Keffa Memorial

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair to commemorate the Great Pilgrimage during which the people of Sacred Obia'Syela fled the daimonic slaughter of their original home, Keffa, to Rines.

Offices of the Inquisition

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair to house and administer the operations of the Inquisition Guild

Port of Four Cities

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair to refurnish the original docks which had fallen into disrepair and disuse after the fall of Riombara.

Prophet's Landing

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair in the Marketplace square where she first set foot in Rines, arriving like a thunderbolt via a teleportation scroll.

Runes of Riombara

The name is the only clue we have as to who might have built this district of Rine and when.

Sacred Obian Academy of Rines

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair, the tower-hall of SOAR became the number one seat of learning for the noble arts, sciences, and magics in all of Beluaterra.

Seacliff Lighthouse Tavern

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair to provide the Templars, Inquisitors, and Heralds of Rines with a place to relax. The Lighthouse is only technically within the city limits of Rines as the building itself is located atop a sea-facing cliff just outside of the city walls. This was meant to keep certain activities from within the holy limits fo the city walls. Unfortunately, many an inebriated drunkard has fallen to their deaths. Nevertheless, the Lighthouse has proven immensely popular.

Templar Nexus

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair at the request and utilizing the architectural designs of Grand Templar Vahanian Blint, Steward of Rines. Serves as the administrative center of the Templars Guild .

The Great Moongate

Commissioned by Duchess Rania Eastersand JeVondair, the Great Moongate incorporates pieces of actual rubble from the original Gate of Obeah monument in Keffa that was torn down by Overlord Jomorosh and his gibbering hoard of daimons.

The Holy Basilica of Rines

The original palace of Rines has been claimed and repurposed many times. The Basilica sits at the city center, features the Solarium at its crown, and serves as the administrative heart of Rines.

The Oracle lived and dwelt in the highest levels of the Basilica when she was not preaching in the Grand Temple. Traditionally, those that sought her out whether by invitation or decree would have to climb thousands of steps that wound around the Basillica's central spire. In the days of Riombara, this Great Staircase was an engineering marvel in and of itself, boasting the most steps of any building on any continent. Upon entering the Basilica form either the East or West main entrances, one would see the great flights of stairs flanking the interior foyer almost immediately, which then curled up the Basilica Walls to the next flight and repeated concentrically all the way to the royal apartments. The palace, a rather austere place under the Oracle's rule, was exceptional here. Tapestries lined the walls between windows and paintings depicting storied events like Obia'Syela/ The Founding and others. Every canonized sermon was represented. relics carried from Keffa were interred here like treasures in a museum. For Obians, the Grand Staircase was designed to force all comers to consider the grand history forming in the Sacred Realm. The long journey (for journey it surely was) was itself envisioned as a path through life as a member of the Faith towards the Veiled Goddess, with the Oracle herself at the end. Some poets described the ascension as representing the struggle through life, under Her Eye, with Obeah herself waiting at the end, beyond the veil, to greet you. The Physical exhaustion was meant to encourage petitioners to overcome and forget their physical discomforts in favor of contemplating their spiritual goals and well-being.
Stheno, in the interest of timeliness, opted to skip all of that.
Rather than take the Grand Staircases, Stheno lead the pair deeper into the Basilica itself. Past the rooms where nobles and visitors usually roamed and into the backworld of servants and Basilica Staff. Servants, the Oracle believed, should not be constrained in the performance of their duties, particularly when doing so would leave many resident nobles and guests with slow service. The palace itself is massive structure that required a complex system of internal architecture to support its mountainous weight. The original architects were far-sighted enough to rig systems of pulleys and platforms in central shafts within the support structure to allow for relatively swift travel to any level of the Basilica. Servants used these to transport food, furniture, and other difficult items with haste, taking pride in the fact that the Oracle allowed only this privilege to them only, even over Templars and Inquisitors. Critics called it favoritism, which it wasn't technically, because thanks to it the Palace staf were motivated, happy, and loyal; giving them a sense of solidarity that the Oracle herself, Obeha's own representative, supported them so directly. Competition among commoners to serve in the Palace was higher now than it had ever been under any previous ruler.

– Adventurer Stheno leads Margravine Maura Arnickles Renodin to the Oracle

The Solarium

The Solarium was the architectural marvel of the Basilica of Rines. Placed at the pinnacle of the large central tower, the Solarium was the highest room in southern Beluaterra. The room was only accessible by a long, wide, winding flight of steps that eventually reached a trap door, now open. Upon emerging, most visitors first notice the Solarium's ceiling and learn how this room got its name. It's ceiling and walls were a latticework of bronze-plated supports and pains of clear glass forming a dome over a room about the size of a dining hall and ringed by a circular balcony that afforded a better view of Rines to those that were brave enough to walk it. A low, comfortable couch sat atop a thick blue carpet set along the western edge sat facing the wooded hills of Athol Margos, poised to welcome the moonrise. Vases and hangings filled with exotic plants were spaced regularly throughout. Arcane symbols had been painted in intricate golden patterns across the stone floor. A circular table of hasty but solid construct had been arranged in the center. Outside, the night was alight with stars and the rising crescent moon, if not for the lanterns that had been lit for the summit, visitors to the Solarium might get the impression that they were walking among those celestial bodies. Whereas in the daytime, curtains of sheer white linen hung from the supports like banners, billowing with the slightest breeze, protecting occupants from the blazing sunlight.
Since the Heralds had reclaimed Rines, some changes to the Solarium had been made. The stonework had been cleaned and scrubbed, the bronze supports had be polished to a shine. An impressive altar to the Veiled Goddess rested against the Easternmost wall to greet the sun. A circular table of hasty but solid construct had been arranged in the center. The trapdoor entrance was in the southern-most part of the room.

–

Obeah's Glare

Darkness Purged in Pure Light

Obeah's Glare was first commissioned and financed by Vahanian Blint, Grand Templar of Sacred Obia'Syela and Steward of Rines. The Glare is a complex series of mechanisms and mirrors independent of one another simultaneously connected in purpose. It's purpose is two fold.
1) Firstly it's designed as a brutal method of execution for the enemies of the Faithful. Once sentenced to death by The Glare the convicted is shuttered away in the Black Cells of Rines. The deepest and darkest part of the Dungeons. The convicted is sequestered in the Black Cells for a minimum of 3 days and up to a fortnight. The convicted is chained inside the Black Cell and hooded. The hood is removed once a day for water and bread. On the day of execution the convicted is hooded and shrouded in fine Black Velvet. To prevent any Light from touching the skin of the Convicted. They are taken to the center-most point of the city where a raised dais has been constructed and a concave mirror has been elevated. They are strapped into a harness that holds them at the midpoint of the Concave mirror. When ready the Grand Inquisitor may issue the order and across the city, starting at the top of the Basilica and spanning to the outermost walls, strategically placed mirrors are shifted into alignment focusing the suns rays onto the raised dais. When the execution is to begin, the attending executioner will pull a lever on the dais that will do three things.

It will shift the concave mirror - which has the convicted harnessed into it - into position

It will remove the Black Velvet robes and hood from the convicted

It will remove the Black Velvet curtain that shielded the concave mirror from the other mirrors throughout the city.

All of these occurring simultaneously will allow the focused power of the suns rays to be directed into the light depraved body of the convicted resulting the convicted going blind almost immediately, as well as essentially cooking them to death. Death by the Glare can last up to 10-15 minutes in extreme cases, but most are dead within a matter of minutes. It is designed to be exceptionally excruciating and leave nothing behind but a burnt husk of the convicted. Maimed beyond recognition of identification. - Symbollic of their memory to the faithful. "For He who abandons Obeah abandons the light, and He who abandons the light shall be bathed in it's brilliance until darkness no longer remains."
2) The Secondary purpose of the system of mirrors and mechanisms is to allow Light to be provided to any section of the city at any time of the day as if it were high noon and the sun shone it's brightest. Symbolic of the fact that even though we may not feel it, and may not see it. Obeah's light touches us all.
Items of Note:

The Mirrors of the Glare must only be operated by the Lens masons or under their direct supervision. Violation of this is subject to criminal punishment - sentencing depending

on the severity of the offense.

The Lens masons are stationed to Mirrors in specific quadrants of the city intentionally. Assignments are handled by the office of the Oracle or whomever she appoints -

dereliction of this duty or tampering with assignments in any way is punishable by death. No Lens mason is to have access to all Mirrors of the Glare, this is to ensure it's secret of construction remains a mystery to those who would seek to sabotage this tribute to the Veiled Goddess.
Under Her Eye the faithful flourish, Under Her Glare, the faithless perish."

– Vahanian Blint, Grand Templar of Sacred Obia'Syela and Steward of Rines

Statues

Statue to The Army of Taselak in Templar Nexus

A Marble Statue of the Black Shield's soldiers to commemorate the victory of Taselak over War Island VI on April 6, 2017 by Shield King Alparslan Kalkandelen, Sword of Justice Zlatan Mersault, War Hammer Wulfric Rhicling ka Habb, and Harp of Abundance Ardisio Sarracenia.

Monuments

Infrastructure

A Paladin of Obeah stands guard in the Solarium at night

Population

46222/65400

Fortifications

Keep (3)

Recruitment Centers

Paladins of the Oracle
Spec. Inf. |Training 95 | Weapons 90 | Armor 85

Templar Wrathbows
Archers | Training 90 | Weapons 70 | Armor 75 | Range 4

Inquisitorial Dragoons
Cavalry | Training 55 | Weapons 55 | Armor 70 |

JeVondair Farseers
Special Forces (Archers) | Training 65 | Weapons 80 | Armor 55 | Range 5

Obian Crusaders
Cavalry | Training 45 | Weapons 65 | Armor 65

Civic Buildings

Houses of Healing

Banner Manufacture

2 Granary

Marketplace

Weapon/Armour Smith

Academy

Tournaments

The 1019 Tournament In Rines Celebrating the Oracle's 60th Birthday

Temporary Map


District Number	District Name	District Description
1	Lighthouse	Description
2	Northern Gate	Description
3	Moongate	Description
4	Name	Description
5	Name	Description
6	Southern Gate	Description
7	Docks	Description
8	Name	Description
9	Name	Description
10	Name	Description
11	Name	Description
12	Name	Description
13	Market Place	Description
14	Northern Noble Houses	Description
15	Southern Noble Houses	Description
16	Templar Nexus	Description
17	Temple	Description
18	Name	Description
19	Basilica	Description
20	Name	Description

Nestled between the sapphire waters of the Sea of Four Cities and the wooded hills of the Athol Margos Peninsula sits the largest city in all of Beluaterra and eighth in all the world...Rines: the City of Moonlight. Despite constant foot and agricultural traffic from the surrounding rural areas, the bricked, well-planned thoroughfares of Rines are rarely clogged. The white-walled city is an affluent coastal trading center thanks to its commercial dominance of the Sea of Four Cities, attracting merchants, artisans, and wealth of all kinds from across the settled world. A deep-water port harbors everything from tiny fishing skiffs to great merchant galleys, unloading their cargo to be shipped by flat-bottomed barges through the city's man-made waterways. Southern waters and temperatures make for balmy days and temperate nights.

The Basilica, the grand palace at the heart of Rines, has served as the administrative and cultural center of the city for every realm that has ever laid claim to the region. Constructed with solid granite blocks and sheathed in fine white marble quarried from nearby foothills, it set the graceful aesthetic from which the rest of the expansive city draws influence. Designed to inspire awe, the Basilica's original architects built the soaring castle to be larger than life; everything from the doors to the windows to the halls themselves were scaled up as though meant for the titans of a forgotten age. Thankfully, the designers stopped before making stairs too big to be easily traversed! Yet what it has in grandeur, it wants in defenses, being one of the few "castles" in the world to lack a siege-worthy wall, relying instead and entirely upon the defenses of the city itself.