What to see: Eretald

Some of the top touristic highlights of Eretald:

Iliu ruins, Boḣtundu, Kebri: According to the iliu, the first iliu woman, Alāna, was born in Fugaaźi, the Deep Lake nestled in the mountains of western Kebri. The iliu had a settlement on the shores of the lake well into historical times; the nearby city Boḣtundu means “iliu-town”. There are living iliu cities, of course; but it would be a bold traveler indeed who visited them merely for touristic reasons. There is no such problem with the ruins at Boḣtundu. They are well-preserved, in stone and coral, a very striking combination of massiveness (the iliu are larger than men and build accordingly) and delicacy. The ruins extend into the water, a reminder that the iliu are equally at home on land and underwater.

Seminary of the Gods, Lake Como, Svetla: This lake has been holy for five thousand years, to Meťaiun, then Arániceri, then Caďinorians, and each culture has left evidence of its devotion; the lake is ringed with temples, monasteries, mansions of pious nobles, hermits’ huts, inns, and bathhouses— for it is a blessing to bathe in the sacred waters. The seminary (Soa Cletana Aďië) is the oldest in Eretald, dating from before the Munkhâshi conquest, though the major structures date to imperial times. It extends down an entire hillside, comprising shrines and temples, gardens and cloisters, burial grounds and dormitories. If you bring a camera you will be snapping shots continuously; it’s just that picturesque.

Corona Inn, Verduria city, Verduria: The Corona, named for its street in the Išira district, was little regarded until its purchase by Abend Monteneon in 3466. Within a few years it had become the premier meeting place in Verduria, equally favored by the hip, the important, and the shady. A mighty commercial enterprise announced at the Hall of the Sea Traders often originates in a meeting at the Corona; the same can be said of many a robbery, parliamentary maneuver, or treasure-seeking expedition (and some activities that can be fairly described by all three labels). Abend expanded the inn twice by buying adjacent properties. Since 3477 it has been run by his former assistant, Frédrot Sevney, and is sometimes called Fred’s Bar.

Temple of Enäron and Išira, Žésifo, Ctésifon: Žésifo, the first and capital city of Caďinas, has many ancient buildings and ruins worth seeing; but one of the grandest is this temple, built around 1800 at the height of the Empire. It consists of four main structures: the enormous circular Temple of Enäron, the largest dome in ancient architecture without internal supports; the residence of the Patriarch of Žésifo, the highest official in Caďinorian paganism; the Temple of Išira, and an attached seminary. Imagine buildings as large and grandiose as the Roman Pantheon or the Athenian Parthenon— but still in use two thousand years later, still filled with the smells of blood and burnt animal flesh, still bustling with worshippers, students still reading the great pagan writers and speaking Caďinor among themselves.

Erruk, Verduria province, Verduria: Surely the visitor should seek out experiences not available at home; well, where on Earth could be found a massive dungeon complex, abandoned— perhaps— by wizards, inhabited by dangerous creatures found nowhere else, guardian of treasures and secrets lost for two milennia? Erruk was built by the great emperor Ervëa, but fell into ruin during the Dark Years. There are many tales of what may be found in its deep and dark rooms and caverns— extended after the fall of the castle itself by busy hands, picks, and claws— but few reliable ones; who boasts of his winnings in Erruk, the saying goes, is a liar or a fool. Best of all, it’s only 100 km from Verduria city.

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