Skypass
Districts
The city consists of seven districts, each dedicated to a single god; Chauntea, Eldath, Kelemvor, Mystra, Sune, Tempus and Waukeen. The districts embody the beliefs of their religion, and each have their own guard. For more information, see each individual district along with the Law and Order section below.
Hierarchal
The city revolves around hierarchy, with several ranks that any person can climb throughout their life. The apparent thing is that the short-lived races of this city are very rarely able to make it high enough in standing. On that note, the races that are the majority are Aarakocra, Air Genasi, and High Elves. Most Aarakocra are blue collar workers, or maybe average merchants. Air Genasi tend to be successful business owners, but some do climb the ranks to political positions. High Elves do as they please, some climb the ladder, whereas others are content with running high-end boutiques or establishments.
The city follows a rigid hierarchy-based government, which in general looks like:
At the top, Kielre rules all. He has a senate of 6 senators, most of which are high elves due to their extended lifespan. Lower levels contain increasing amounts of the other two races.
The senators in turn are in charge of governing their own area of expertise. While the senator of Defense and Justice have more direct control over the military leaders, the others also have a say in the matter.
In the military, there are 3 branches; the aerial squadron, which relies on griffons and other flying modes of transportation, the ground squadron, where most of the military force resides, and the spell squadron, which employs the spellcasters and healers of the military. Each of these squadrons answer to their respective leaders.
Below that there are the district magistrates, which are usually left to their own devices. The military rarely gets involved in their issues, but sometimes the senators override legislation or put them in motion in certain districts. Each magistrate manages their own district, and their own temples as well. They are not usually the high priest or priestess, but deal with the day-to-day issues of their respective temple.
Below them are the common people, which includes merchants. The residents of the Spire are better regarded compared to those of Skypass, which visit the temples on a daily basis.
Racial Divide
While the divide is clear in terms of which races can get to which ranks, this divide also extends to minority races. Longer-lived races tend to be better received throughout the city, whereas shorter lived races are shown less deference in areas where elves and genasi are in the majority. Compared to the Spire, Skypass is a bit more tame in such regards.
Skimmer Yards
There are 4 skimmer yards, where people can buy, commission, sell, or leave their skimmers. Buying a skimmer costs as much as commissioning one, the advantage of which is it does not require time to get one. Commissioning one allows full customization of the skimmer, but takes a week for a Small skimmer, two for a Medium skimmer, and three for a Large skimmer. If a character sells a skimmer, the highest they can get is half of its total cost, minus wear and tear.
Leaving your skimmer costs 1 gold per day.
When the players reach a Skimmer Yard for the first time, read:
Temples
The city was built around these 7 temples, each of which is in the shape of a pyramid, with a domed glass top that lets in light into their main chamber. There used to be roads that connected all of them directly, but they fell to ruin after the priests of Mystra (who are also skilled in the arcane), offered another alternative (see District of Mystra).
Whenever the characters see a temple for the first time, read:
Locations in the City
After the characters reach a Skimmer Yard, leave their skimmer and approach the city, read:
Taking note of the direction from the yardmaster, you head down a worn path that goes past the crest of a dune, wondering where the fuck you are going. Once you reach its top, you see the city. Nestled into a gargantuan oasis basin, you see a sprawling city encircling the water, with a small island of buildings nestled in the middle. Bridges lead to it but seem to be broken, yet you see people and beasts of burden walking across them as if they were intact.
As you start walking down a large staircase leading into the basin, you see the city is bustling with activity despite the early morning. Carts being pulled by mules and camels abound, but what stands out to you the most is the completely different mix of races. Aarakocra are by far the most present, with a few handfuls of Air Genasi, and very few High Elves. You do see other races but they seem to be rather scarce.
You see a very young high elf jump up from sitting on a barrel and make his way quickly to you.
District of Chauntea
Being by far the district with the most vegetation, the District of Chauntea is a sight to behold. In the middle of such a harsh desert, the worshippers of Chauntea have secured the future of the city. All trees within the district bear fruit or serve some similar purpose, and anyone but a follower that picks a fruit is committing a crime. They have also populated the central lake with schools of fish, and have a few farms located near the city in similar basins around the Cuore Oasis.
Temple of Chauntea
One of the few places in the city that does not care at all about your race, due to the doctrines of Chauntea, it welcomes all irrespective of gender or race. The levels of the pyramid are covered in gardens, and the priests of Chauntea tend to be female due to the church's preoccupation with femininity. The priests and priestesses of Chauntea tend to wear simplistic clothes, such as brown robes or cloaks. The higher ranking followers tend to favor white or sun-colored ceremonial robes trimmed in deep forest green.
The church of Chauntea uses defined ranks to structure their religion; Close One, Watchful Brother/Sister of the Earth, Trueseed, Harvestmaster/Harvestmistress, High Harvestmaster/Harvestmistress , Onum. The magistrate does not hold a true position in the church itself, but would fall just under the High Havestmaster/Harvestmistress.
Onum. Male Firbolg (archdruid), goes by Onum because people call him that.
High Harvestmistress. Female High Elf named Felosia Mella Galanodel (archpriest).
Harvestmaster. Male Hill Dwarf named Orsik Lightborn (archpriest).
Other. Lower ranks use the abbott, druid, priest statblocks that isn't as restricted by race.
The Galleon
One of the two taverns in the district, The Galleon's primary patrons are sailors and blue collar workers. It sits surrounded by water, the tavern itself is a circular building with pivoting windows on all sides. The sleeping quarters are an oddly shaped building just south of the tavern.
Staff. The Galleon is owned by Squall, an Air Genasi Male with a crescent scar on his left cheek and a debonair personality (confident, stylish, and charming). The two main bartenders are Gust, a young Air Genasi Male (Squall's son), and Ikki, an Aarakocra Female.
Sluice Pier
The Sluice Pier is the primary way of entry by sea, as the other pier only has a bit of traffic from the river stemming from the Sabbia Mountains.
When the water is high, the ships can actually dock on the pier and be dragged out of the water to ease the unloading of goods. This also allows them to avoid the jagged rapids leading into the pier.
Staff. The piermaster is an Air Genasi Male called Draft who is in charge of a dozen Aarakocra crewmen.
The Sphinx
The second tavern in the district, The Sphinx serves principally white collar patrons, nobles, well-off merchants, and other wealthy people. Like it's sister tavern, it also sits surrounded by water, but the interior faces westwards. That facade of the building resembles the face of a sphinx from the outside and the inside mimics the interior of a sphinx's mouth. The rooms are actually small villas near the water.
Staff. The Sphinx is owned by X, a High Elf Female that judges people principally by their ability to spend and their appearance. The two main bartenders are Y, a WHATEVER, and Z, a WHATEVER. It also has a rotation of entertainers; dancers, bards, and others.
District of Eldath
Temple of Eldath
The temple of Eldath is like the other ones structurally, except the dome was taken out completely to let the air in, and trees have been planted inside. The interior is reminiscent of a grove.
Clergy of senior years, many accomplishments, or higher rank are styled "Exalted," and traveling Freewalkers rank between full priests and senior priests. From the ranks of the Exalted come the leaders of temples to Eldath, most of whom preside over forest communities with open-air sacred places of worship known as fastnesses. As the leader of a fastness, they are entitled use the title Keeper of the Fastness.
Keeper of the Fastness. Male Tortle Gura, very easy going and slow.
Exalted. There are 3 main ones that reside in the temple; an Air Genasi Male named Puff, a Aarakocra Female named Aur, and a High Elf Female named Venefiq Eryn Melidon.
District of Kelemvor
Temple of Kelemvor
The faith of Kelemvor does not practice the use of giving titles to priests. The title Brother or Sister is used for all priests. The color of the scales on Kelemvor's symbol helps to identify rank, golden for high-ranking, silver for full priests, and iron for lower clergy.
Golden.
Catacombs
Staff.
District of Mystra
Due to growing concerns of security of their arcane knowledge, the priests of Mystra sequestered themselves on their island, and destroyed the bridges that led to their island. Instead, translucent bridges now appear when the sun shines upon the ruins of the bridge, but ultimately the priests have total control over them.
Temple of Mystra
The priests of Mystra are known as Servants of Mystery. Higher level priests, both those with title and lands and legendary adventuring priests, are called Ladies or Lords of Mystery. Titles within the faith vary from temple to temple and follow no standard form across the whole of the church, though most temples are rigidly self-consistent. Staff.
District of Sune
Temple of Sune
The Sunite church's organization is loose and informal. Thus there are no set title given to the priests of the faith, other than the titles Brother and Sister. Instead some priests create their own titles.
- Followers of Sune are known as Sunites
- Sune's highest priest are somtimes known as the Heart Warder
Staff.
District of Tempus
The district of Tempus is home to games of various types. While not a god of games and sport himself, as there is no war, his worshippers use them as means for training and entertainment.
Temple of Tempus
The temple of Tempus is rather bland, and doubles as the location where adventuring jobs are offered in the city. The faith is very rank-based, as most military are. The followers of Tempus are often part of the military themselves, and their district has been placed at the main ground entrance to the city due to their strength.
Lady of the Field. Female High Elf named Naivara Sai Siandon.
Swordmaster/Swordmistress.
Ball Field
District of Waukeen
The district of Waukeen has very little vegetation, and a vast majority of merchants reside here. Its shops don't often get any rare stock, as that gets bought off by merchants in the Spire before they have a chance to.
Temple of Waukeen
This temple has the same structure as all the other temples, except it has been decorated with golden statues and other adornments. Inside, the dome has been plated with gold and silver, with large windows that lights up the whole main area due to the multitude of reflective surfaces within it.
Novices are known as Telchar among Waukeenar. In ascending order, the ranks a priest may rise through after she or he is confirmed are: Coin, Abreeant, Counter, Trabbar, Investor, Halanthi, Lender, Syndo, Manycoins, Grand Trabbar, Spender, Grand Syndar, Overgold (a general term for high clergy), and Holycoin.
Staff.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9254