City of Telflemm

Alternative names: “City of Twilight”

Societal information

Races: Humans (subraces) 83%, Halfling 6%, Tielfling 3%, Half-elf 3%, Half-orc 2%, Gnome 2%, Other 1%
Population: 114,700
Import(s): Gold, horses, trade goods
Export(s): Food, gnome goods, iron, Kara-Turan goods
Government type: Mayor backed by Thay
Ruler: Lord Mayor Aberian Arvanxi
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Telflamm lies as the last vestige of the old order, where the reluctant nobility sulked away after the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune subjugated the region under its new, diabolical rule. Like the fading warmth of twilight, Telflamm remains but a specter of its former glory, its’ ancient and eclectic architecture dominated by a crumbling northern quarter filled with an unseen menaces and its nights haunted by a twilight plague of deadly shadows.

History

Telflamm is usually considered to be the biggest and most important city in Thesk, however, Telflamm is actually an independent city-state but wields so much power and influence over the country that it might as well be the capital. Situated at the start of the incredibly profitable Golden Way trading route, Telflamm quickly became the biggest trading station in the region, with most trade concerning the produce of Kara-Tur which is widely in demand all over Faerûn.

Telflamm was officially founded in 926 DR by Windyn Balindre, who moved his base of operations from Impiltur to this newly-built settlement. The location was said to be the rumored birthplace and home of the god Aroden. In 1177 DR Princess Delile Balindre declared Telflamm (and thus all of Thesk) independent from Impiltur.

Born from the violence of a brutal criminal war that nearly tore Telflamm apart in 1038, the Council of Thieves became an increasingly destructive presence in Telflamm as the years melted into decades. By 1221, the council practically ruled Telflamm from behind the scenes, and the city’s citizens lived in constant fear of accidentally incurring the Council’s wrath. The then ruler of Thesk, Queen Delile Balindre, publicly executed the leaders of the Council of Thieves, and the queen announced that the Council was no more.

The Pathfinder Lodge was built in Telflamm sometime before 1351 DR. In 1351 DR, one of the first Thayan Enclaves was established in Telflamm.

In 1357, King Gaspodar prepared for the prophesied manifestation of Aroden. In 1358 DR, the Time of Troubles struck Thesk and their patron deity Aroden died. A decade long bloody civil war swept over the nation, and turmoil and strife plunged the city into despair.

Seeing opportunity in a weakened Thesk, the Sharkjaw pirates descend on Telflamm in 1364 DR and make it their home port until driven out.

In 1368 DR, a Thayan army under the command of Zulkir Nevron Thrune took control of Telflamm in the name of House Thrune. The Hellknight Order of the Rack, took over Citadel Rivad in 1370 DR. Telflamm became the "City of Twilight." People no longer venture out at night due to creatures that stalk the streets. Some streets are kept lit, but only main thouroughfares in the wealthy parts of town.

It is now 1461 DR. The remains of the Thesk nobility huddle in Telflamm, as the city itself crumbles under the weight of mismanagement, crime, and a mysterious plague of creatures that hunt the streets at night.

Government

The offices of the Lord Mayor and those of the patriarchs of the local noble houses form the legitimate government of Telflamm, though the city is thoroughly militarized and much power lies in the hands of various branches of the soldiery. Behind this facade though, money is the real power in mercantile Telflamm.

The Lord Mayor's Office

The Lord Mayor controls both the dottari and the city's taxation system. The present mayor is Aberian Arvanxi, appointed to his role by Zulkir Nevron in 1441 DR. (Unsubstantiated rumor has it that he played a part in the sudden and surprising demise of his predecessor, Arthan Challas.)

Arvanxi has a great love for Thayan opera, and has contributed heavily to local opera houses and entertainment halls, auspiciously for "the betterment of public diversions to raise the hearts and minds of all Telflammar." On the whole Arvanxi is seen as spiteful and incompetent, but, because he isn't meddling, he has decent local support for his office.

The Mayor resides in a manor known as Aberian's Folly, a sprawling, lavish estate made famous by the rumor that an imprisoned devil is used to provide the energy needed to run the manor.

Nobility

The Old Nobility is the group of Thesk nobles who existed prior to the ascendancy of the House Thrune, and the New Nobility that came after. The Old Nobility are densest in Telflamm, an aristocratic preserve, and still maintain large holdings of land and wealth in the city. These families either haven't proven themselves with House Thrune, or haven't tried at all to impress the new rulers of the country. Many of the Old Nobility were disposed of by House Thrune - their titles worthless, family fortune confiscated, and names smeared, left with nothing but wounded pride and desire for revenge. Of the fifty noble families in Telflamm that existed prior to 1358 DR, a third were destroyed in the decade that followed, and twenty more relocated to other cities in Thesk.

The New Nobility gained power in Thesk by riding the coattails of Zulkir Nevron Thrune, and as such are densest in Thay. The most powerful New Nobility are the ones who directly aided the Zulkir during his march on Telflamm. Others have since joined them, gaining power through politicking, espionage, and assassination. It is rumored that some of these noble houses have holdings not just in Thay, but Hell itself, with titles in both realms. The lesser noble houses hold positions in the government bureaucracy and church.

Old Nobility

Telflamm has twelve major noble families and over twenty four minor ones.

House	Description	Beholden Families
Drovenge	An extremely wealthy family, who made its fortune by lending money and owning property. The Drovenges have managed to survive the death of Aroden and rise of House Thrune without significant loss of power, wealth, and respect. Patriarch is Vassindio Drovenge.	Imvius, Lorialn, Xerysis
Oberigo	Patriarch is Eirtein Oberigo.	Aulamaxa, Ghival
Salsifer		Chillarth, Rustachas
Grulios	Patriarch is Asad Grulios.	Mironeth, Ici
Arvanxi	Patriarch is Aberian Arvanxi.	Mhartis, Ciucci, Rasdovain
Julistarc	Patriarch is Ocatav Julistarc.	Seidraith, Cemaine
Dioso		Jhaltero, Ucarlaar
Tilernos	Patriarch is Kajen Tilernos.	Starnon, Estrovain
Phandros	Patriarch is Marcus Phandros.	Chard, Nolmon
Khollarix		Nymmis, Rufano
Rosala		Ulvauno, Atenaar
Mezinas	Patriarch is Bartolo Mezinas.	Vitaron, Missepe

The Dottari

What passes as law enforcement in the city of Telflamm is carried out officially by the city wardens known locally as the dottari. The dottari is split into four subdivisions:

Dottari (city wardens) - Durotas Saria Roccin, controls the common dottari who patrol the streets
Condottari (canal wardens) - Durotas Scasi Bolvona, controls the condottari who patrol the canals and waterways
Rundottari (ruin wardens) - Durotas Arik Tuornos, man the walls of Rego Cader and keep the threats out of the city
Regidottari (palace wardens) - Durotas Lhiana Strikis, patrol the Regicondan walls.

All of the dottari wear the mark of the city of Telflamm: Aroden's Eye. This mark is stenciled in black over red, and commonly placed on either a shield or tabard. Officers in the dottari wear the Eye on their sleeves, and the higher the mark moves up the sleeve, the more senior the officer.

Regardless of posting, all dottari patrol the city in squads of seven: six soldiers and one lieutenant. Five squads report into one captain, and there are three captains to each warden major. Each captain reports to a warden-major, of which there are two per city district. The warden majors, or duxotars, each report to one of the four durotasi, or "rank wardens". The four durotasi report directly to the "high warden", at present the nephew of the Mayor Aberian Arvanxi, a drunken lout named Ilthus Mhartis of House Mhartis. The high warden has a decidedly "hands off" approach to management, and as a result his durotasi handle his shirked responsibilities.

Ranking:

High Warden of the Dottari - Iltus Mhartis, the mayor's nephew
- Rank Warden (for each dottari subdivision) - Durotasi
  - Warden Majors (2 per city district) - Duxotar, controls 3 captains (108 total men)
    - Captain - controls 5 lieutenants (35 total men)
      - Lieutenant - controls a squad of 6 soldiers

Hellknights

As in most of Thay, Hellknights are a significant local force who crush any possible rebellion with ruthless enthusiasm. Citadel Rivad, a day's ride to the west of the city, was established in 1370 DR and houses a branch of the oldest of the Hellknight orders, the Order of the Rack. The Order of the Rack was founded in Thay in 1328 DR. Lictor Richemar Almansor is commander of Citadel Rivad and leader of the Order of the Rack Hellknights in Telflamm. This order also patrols the Phent Bridge over the Lesser Eth River. The Order of the Scourge also has some presence.

Valignus, the "Burning Dell", is a small valley southeast of Citadel Rivad where Lictor Richemar Almansor holds monthly book burnings known as "clarity pyres"

Ranks: Signifier is a spellcaster

Lictor - Leader of a Order
- Master of Blades - the order's field commander
- Paravicar - leader of the order's arcane/religious forces
  - Paralictor - officer
    - Arms-Maralictor - armory commander
    - Hellknight - rank and file
      - Armiger - in training

Individuals:

Lictor Richemar Alamansor - head of the Order of the Rack in Thesk, based out of Citadel Rivad
- - Paralictor Gonville Chard - ranking officer in Telflamm at Taranik House, cold gray eyes, elaborate armor.
    - Signifier Ara Verennie
    - Aritil Sevarn is the arms-maralictor (armory commander)
      - Signifier Armiger Shanwen - human armiger cleric who captured the heroes during a unsuccessful prisoner rescue.
  - Paralictor Chiwetel Khorelos - officer who arranged the heroes release in trade for eliminating the Bastards.
    - Kern - tiefling hellknight who works for Chiwetel.

Crime

Consorting with devils is legal, consorting with demons is punishable by death.

Inhabitants

Citizens of the mostly human city are known as Telflammar. Aside from humans, halflings are commonly residents of the city. Many half-elves live in Telflamm due to its reputation as a place where society's leftovers live, and tieflings take the brunt of society's scorn at mixed-race inhabitants.

Telflamm's sewers are known to harbor gelatinous "ooze bugs" known as torbles, which local wizards sometimes take as familiars.

Notable citizens of Telflamm include:

Aberian Arvanxi, mayor and patriarch of House Arvanxi.
Duxotar Iltus Mhartis, commander of Telflamm’s Dottari.
Lictor Richemar Almansor, commander of Citadel Rivad and leader of the Order of the Rack Hellknights.
General Vourne, commander of the Sea of Fallen Stars imperial Thayan fleets.

Telflamm Glossary

Adel: A small, personal barge
Haloran: A lantern-bearing staff
Pyrahje: Man-sized torches that light major areas of Telflamm by night
Parego: “Great region,” one of the three major districts of Westcrown
Rego: A region or neighborhood of Telflamm
Vaneo: A manor house
Vira: A estate

Religion

Although the Thesk nobility openly pays lip service to Asmodeus, Telflamm was once a center of worship to Aroden and the majority of current residents less openly follow deities common in other lands. Clerics of Iomedae have taken up Aroden's mantle and small temples to Erastil and Abadar can also be found. Although most faiths keep their worship hidden to avoid unwanted attention, the followers of Shelyn openly practice their ceremonies.

Economy

Trade is the most important aspect of life in Telflamm. They do not have to produce much themselves as almost all the collected wares traveling along the Golden Way come through its gates. Eastern silk, spices, smoke powder, Long Jing, and works of art go through Telflamm to reach the rest of Faerûn.

Because of its excellent location on the Sea of Fallen Stars Sea coast, Telflamm is an extremely active shipping port, receiving and shipping all sorts of goods and items for transport throughout Thesk via the Golden Way. The city is speckled with numerous warehouses and docks, and in the mornings Telflamm has the spirit of an active, mercantile city.

Geography

Telflamm is a major port city in western Thesk. The city itself consists of islands and canals amid the center of the River Flam. The Dhaenfens lay to the east of the city, beyond which lie the Forest of Lethyr. To the west, the river flows into the Easting Reach.

City districts of Telflamm

The Thesk city of Telflamm is divided into three greater regions, called Parego, which are, in turn, each sub-divided into any number of smaller regions, or Rego.

Parego Regicona

The Parego Regicona is the local name for the large island in the center of the city formed by two branches of the River Flam, namely the Westchannel and the Southrun. The island is divided by a number of canals and surrounded by an encircling wall with chained arches spanning the entrances to the internal canals. In times of war and civil disobedience chains can be hoisted between the arches to prevent access to the Regicona. Lifting bridges cross the canals at regular intervals which can be hoisted aloft to allow the passage of water craft through the city. The nobility of Telflamm have their manors on this island.

The Piers

A number of piers are set up in the river’s flow: Highpier, Midpier, Lowpier, and Eastpier. The docking islands bustle with activity as merchants and ferries ply their trades between Parego Regicona and the mainland.

Rego Corna

The Rego Corna, or "Crown Sector", was once the most important real estate in all Thesk as it holds the buildings of the former Royal Court of Thesk before the fall of Aroden and the rise of the House of Thrune. The Rego in made up of the three island of Impriax, Dlaratha and Siraon.

Impriax island holds:

Vaneo Drovenge, the manor house of the Drovenge family. This home's marble walls are scrubbed clean once a week by its slaves to stand out among many of the drab homes of Telflamm.
The Korradath, the former royal castle and its associated buildings. A massive fortified castle, it remains an impressive sight even though it has not seen any major upkeep since before the death of King Gaspodar. It is still used by Telflammar nobles for offices, temporary lodgings, or neutral meeting places for visitors to Telflamm that need to be impressed and protected from the rabble of the streets.

Siraon island holds:

Vira Oberigo, the walled estate of the Oberigo family
The Dorjanala, a secondary palace for the Thesk royal family prior to Aroden's death. It is now maintained as a shrine to Iomedae, the inheritor.
Sostarlannex, a square with grime-covered, carved friezes showcasing Thesk military strength by the artist Sostarl created two centuries ago. The style is carried over into parks and buildings throughout Telflamm.

Dlaratha island holds:

Vira Julistarc, the Julistarc family compound is an estate of multiple buildings under one massive roof of stone shingles and crystalline skylights.

Rego Laina

Rego Laina, or "Blade Sector", is compromised of the islands of Islatra and Triam. Laina is named for the armories and smithies located here.

Triam island holds:

Vira Grulios, the home of the Grulios family. Its red-capped towers loom over the wall on the western side of the island.
Vaneo Dioso, the grandest building on this island is the home to House Dioso.
Staviancara, the oldest, occupied building in Telflamm; its walls gained the carved and plastered facade of a Sembian military tent. It is the home of the regidottari's commander.

Islatra is occupied by:

Vira Salisfer, the black-shingled and barbican-defended estate of the Salisfer family.
Trivardum, a large, slate-shingled building that once served as the heart of power for Telflamm before the arrival of House Thrune. It once served as the headquartes for Houses Oberigo, Drovenge, and Julistarc while their estates were being constructed. It contains merchants' shops on its ground floor.
- Tricalista Inn, operates on the second floor of the Trivardum, for those with coin to stay.
- Vors Kyniar, the third floor and the roof gardens of the Trivardum are home to the Cormyrean ambassador.

Rego Aerum

Rego Aerum, or "Treasure Sector", is made up of the Siar, Ghiam, and Karhal islands. This is the home of merchants with rare and high end items.

Miratanza, also known as the Floating Market. It is the only area open to transactions and commerce on Telflamm Island or the Parego Regicona. It allows servants from the noble homes to shop for goods for their masters without visiting the mainland. Floating platforms are anchored in place allowing permanent merchant stalls as well as merchants selling directly from their watercraft. The condottari keep all transactions and business within the Miratanza, taking a commission on all goods sold inside the four red-and-black marble arches that vault over the canals leading to it.
Nightshade Theater, the latest of Mayor Arvanxi’s attempts to “bring culture to Telflamm,” is an exercise in excess. The iron and stone cathedral has been under renovation for some time to turn it into a theater.
Southernmost island was made into a park at the south end of Karhal in 4040 AR..

Parego Dospera

The Parego Dospera, or "Despair's Alter", is the ruined northern section of the city that has fallen into ruin. It was once known as Rego Plea, once home to servants, lesser trades, and house slaves.

Cader Boneyard, hasn’t seen a lot of use in the last 100 years, although it was once one of Telflamm’s largest cemeteries.

Rego Cader

Rego Cader, or "Dead Sector", contains the ruins of smithies, inns, taverns and squat buildings inhabited by barbaric humans, dens of thieves, and monster lairs.

The Dusk Market, a semi-secret market for contraband items that moves around the abandoned viras, temples, and theaters of Rego Cader. The market sells all things illegal such as drugs, exotic poisons, strange creatures, kidnapped slaves, and many other diresputable items that cater to the vice-ridden.
Ramble Gardens, untended gardens of abandoned viras grew wild in Rego Cader creating areas of thick foliage.
Sunset Gate, once one of Telflamm’s primary entrances, but now little more than a ruin.
Old Temple of Erastil, a abandoned temple of Erastil, that served as the Bastards of Erebus lair entrance.
Vira Khollarix, is the overgrown estate for the Khollarix family.

Rego Crua

Rego Crua, or "Blood Sector", is home to the slave markets and other undesirable industries (slaughterhouses, tanneries, etc.). It also houses the most destitute inhabitants of Westcrown in its slums. The further south you venture, the nicer the homes become. Crua is walled off from the ruins of Cader by a wall broken only by the Obrigan Gate. Buildings of note in Rego Crua are:

The Pleatra, a massive slave market
Thayan Enclave, a magic emporium run by House Thrune
Obrigan Gate this heavily reinforced northern gate stands more than three stories tall and twice as deep as the walls it pierces between Rego Crua and the abandoned portions of Telflamm. It's complex gates only allow one person to pass through at a time. Access is restricted to prisoners being exiled and dottari.
Jacovo's Stables, the Scion Gorvio's uncle owns the stables. The Scions borrowed horses from on the ill-fated attempt to rescue Arael from the Hellknight's.
Bruised Eel Tavern, the Scion Yakopulio works as a bartender at this tavern.

Parego Spera

Parego Spera, or “Hope’s Altar”, is the still prosperous section of the city where trade trumps politics. The four sub-sectors that make up Spera are Scripa, Pena, Sacero, and Shou. This thriving, bustling commerce district is filled with scribes, printers, money lenders, blacksmiths, tanneries, and the like.

Canaroden, the longest canal in the city dates back to the days of Aroden. The canal separates the Dospera from the Spera and is a much-visited spot by tourists because of a quite unique feature: running along the northern wall carved impressions of the twelve guises that Aroden used to walk Faerun: beggar, thief, fisherman, hunter, shepherd, farmer, soldier, merchant, tailor, craftsman, artist, and scholar.
- Pegasi Bridges, the last two of the eight Pegasi bridges built during Aroden's time. They connect the Dospera from the Spera.
Visio's Tavern, named for the shou family that once ran the establishment. Visio’s was a place where merchant guards went to relax, gripe about their employers, and look for more work. Several months ago, however, the Visio patriarch passed away, and the surviving family moved out of Telflamm to go live with kin in distant Kara-Tur. The tavern stood empty until the Scions recently purchased the tavern. It was kept closed for secret meetings until the Hellknight’s raided the tavern in a failed attempt to capture the Scions.
The Drunken Bishop, a tavern and often too public meeting place of many Scions. Vrok rents a room upstairs and regularly receives mail from (the barkeep). In addition, Isa is employed as a cook here.
Limehouse Theater, a small theater owned by Robahl Nonon. The Limehouse serves more as a headquarters and a place for dress rehearsals than an actual venue.

Rego Scripa

Rego Scripa or "Scribe Sector" is populated with cartographers, trade warehouses, and ship-related businesses.

Taranik House, the city garrison of the Order of the Rack Hellknights, housed in the ex-scriptorium, is located close to the junction of Rego Scripa, Rego Pena, and Rego Sacero. A single-story stone building, Taranik House is nonetheless intimidating in its squat and imposing presence - part castle, part bunker, part icon of the Order of the Rack. A pair of Hellknights stands guard before the building's front gates..

Rego Pena

Rego Pena or "Coin Sector" houses the more lucrative trade businesses and the homes of lower nobles and wealthy merchants.

Delvehaven, its gates permanently barred, the abandoned walled vira housed the local Pathfinder Lodge until it was also abandoned 33 years ago.
Rolan the Tinker, a brilliant but eccentric dwarven inventor who creates clockwork toys

Rego Sacero

Rego Sacero or "Priest Sector" used to house more shrines and temples than five other Thesk cities combined. It used to contain land established as Aroden's personal garden until a land grab ensued after his death.

Sanqatada Cinqarda, the six-story cathedral of the founders predates all memory. The white marble building remains unstained despite defacings and chimney soot. Two-story columns depict the founders who served Aroden.
Vaneo Arvanxi, the Lord Mayor's manor, often called Aberian's Folly due to the current mayor, Aberian Arvanxi, and the wild sums he spends on expanding the house.
Aroden's Rise, a large, man-built double plateau that extends 200 feet above the rest of the surrounding city. The lower plateau remains as a trading area for ecclisastical supplies, religious icons, and goods made in the temples. The upper plateau contains abandoned temples to Aroden.
Uralt's Walk, a set of steps built for pilgrims visiting the Arodennama.
The Arodennama, a 90 foot statue of Aroden standing atop Aroden's Rise predates all other structures in Telflamm.
Qatada Nessudidia, the largest temple to Asmodeus in Telflamm, a four-story cathedral that is the tallest building east of the Arodennama. Its crystalling skylight glows red at all times.
The Imperial Marina, Thay confiscated these docks and land from House Roalmo establishing an thayan troop presence in Telflamm.
Old Shrine of Aroden, secret hideout of the Scions
Vira Ciucci, the two-story manor for the Ciucci family.
Gargling Gargoyle, on the docks along northeastern Rego Sacero, an upscale old tavern, well loved by Telflamm's nobility
Xiang Temple, home to an order of monks dedicated to mastering fighting with both weapons and their hands.

Rego Shou

Rego Shou, or "Shou Town', is decidedly more eastern in nature. The architecture is distinctly Kara-Turan, the businesses are mostly Kara-Turan restaurants and inns, and the people are mostly Shou. Few major merchants operate here and most residents are poor but honest. The only exception is the yakuza of the Nine Golden Swords.

Attachment	Action	Size	Date	Who	Comment
telflammPlayer.jpg	manage	1418.2 K	2011-07-27 - 19:04	JosiahKnight

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