Zel'ma

A “fortress” harbor town/city on the edge of the coast in Lysandria -- last bastion of the native Lysandrians (human) -- the city is a hive of wealth and activity. Mercenaries, laborers, tourists and traders alike flock to its harbour, as there are numerous ways to make a fortune within and beyond its walls. Sell-swords are in high demand to protect geological surveys, mining operations, and transportation networks, and of course, the city. Families of highly skilled craftsmen, jewelers and artisans comprise the middle-class of Zel’ma, having produced jewelry and ornaments of quality for generations by commission -- out of materials which can be purchased by the patron from the Rotwork Mining and Acquisition Co.

 

Foreign, unskilled laborers are drawn to the city in spite of the dangers by exceedingly high wages offered by the Rotwork Mining and Acquisition Co -- their duties include manually sundering ore from deep near the water table of the desert, and hauling the materials up to be  crushed into more manageable pieces. Established mines are equipped with blast furnaces for smelting, while some have more advanced methods of refining ore such as special alchemical acid baths. Skilled alchemists are in high demand for this reason.

Threats to commerce are numerous, although rarely felt upon the city directly. Pirates often attack merchants at sea, and nomadic tribes and cutthroats often raid shipments of food and supplies which are hauled to mining colonies. Occasionally, raiders will try their luck attacking shipments of refined minerals destined to the city itself, using cunning tactics to overpower shipment caravans, which are protected by skilled warriors and if the cargo is large enough, wizards.