Cerosfor
| settlement name | duchy | district/province | type | population | founding year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerosfor, City of the Ancients | Barban | Royal District of Kova | town | 65,000 | 4309 |
Cerosfor lies in the Barban Uplands, within the Forest of Kova, along the Royal Road between Harden and Esterkeep.
Known as the City of the Ancients, it is the site of the famous Battle of Saints (4310 AC), during which a huge army of monsters, led by a powerful wizard known only as Valdar, assaulted the settlement. The attackers were defeated by clerics of Razim. Every year, Cerosfor holds a great festival to commemorate the victory.
Cerosfor is also known as being the birthplace and hometown of Yaden Vane, the best swordsman in Kalderesh. This shy and soft-spoken weapons master, known for his love of learning, rarely appears in public, except for scheduled combats, demonstrations, and other competitive events. He does not train others, nor has apprentices. He lives with his family in the old part of the city.
Cerosfor has historically been a heavily fortified city, and the inner portion of the settlement still maintains this function. However, over time, an urban fringe developed around the older structures. The older part of town lies at the confluence of two rivers that flow in from the Uplands. A giant tree stands in the centre of town; it was said to have been ancient already when the first buildings in Cerosfor were erected.
The Marquis of Cerosfor, Marcus Cerolin, and his oldest son, Lord Warren Cerolin, live in the heavily fortified city. The Marquis is a Grand High Priest of Oohm, and is gifted with the power of foresight. Lord Warren is an accomplished War Mage.
The town council is managed by Lord Mayor Horus Townsend, a skilled dyer and capable leader. The Marquis of Cerosfor has a permanent seat on Council, but he rarely attends; from time to time, his son, Lord Warren Cerolin, takes the seat.
Commercial activity is focussed on glasswork, leatherwork, woodwork and lumber, and livestock. There is also quite some production and export of spellcasting components.
A strong military presence is centred around a splendid Razimite temple, located in a secondary compound set off from the old town centre. Since the Battle of Saints, the town has been a Razimite stronghold. There is a Grand Temple, run by Holiness Naethynel Beacher. His second in command is the fighter lord Gayel Hooke.
There are three Temples (to Oohm, Qidra, and D'Aad) and several fanes, one of which is dedicated to Sahir. The fane is supervised by Grand Sorceror Caertero Shell, and is associated with an arcane herbarium managed by the Grand Arcane Ximena Hunter.
Two Guilds of Kalderesh have their headquarters in Cerosfor. The Great Hall of the Guild of Bowyers & Fletchers, managed by Master Eliana Bowman, is located within the old city. In the new part is a modern-looking complex which is shared by two guilds: the Great Hall of the Guild of Furriers, administered by Jaecoby Lenderman, and the Small Hall of the Guild of Clothing & Accessories, under the auspices of Master Lincono Doons. Several other guilds have powerful representatives in the city, the most influential of which are Archmage Daevo Lander, senior advisor to the Guild of Architects & Engineers, and guild steward Genaesis Cash of the Guild of Music & Performers.
Sword Master Hanna Pan, a cavalier of the Illuminants of the Black Sigil, is resident in the city, as is the adventurer Arcane Alecks Hightower.