Morindel

Overview

Morindel is an eastern Valrindor region and capital city. Under the Malverand Empire, it was one of the empire's province capitals and Eremion's domain as guardian of Morindel and Blackcrag. After its destruction, it was rebuilt as a city in a loose alliance of city-states.

Region and City

Morindel spans the region, its polity, and the capital city. Under the Malverand Empire, Morindel is Eremion's imperial region and the capital he governs from. After ancient Morindel's destruction and rebuilding, Morindel includes Magnus's walled city near the Morindel Sea and the city-state alliance under his regency.

Ancient Geography

Morindel developed east of Maraveth in essence-rich lands. The city had farmland, essence lights, weaponized skyships, constructs, checkpoints, and military facilities. Eremion's jurisdiction eventually included both Morindel and Blackcrag. Blackcrag flourished under Morindel officials. Morindel remained Eremion's administrative and military base.

Ancient Morindel stood east of Maraveth, with farmland and smaller buildings leading into a massive city center. Before its destruction, the city had no walls, tall gilded towers, glass skybridges, pristine white buildings, parks, waterways, essence lights, checkpoints, weaponized skyships, and military facilities. Eremion worked from a modest chamber near the top of one of the city's tallest towers, overlooking the streets and planned developments below.

Rule and Society

Eremion ran Morindel around efficiency: resource management, core production, skyship construction, military organization, and the placement of skilled mages. Morindel remained a populated city of civilians, merchants, officials, soldiers, mages, constructs, and skyship crews. During Eremion's late Malverand rule, checkpoint mages screened arrivals and sent capable mages to the military complex. Morindel checkpoint mages wore red robes with gold accents, and Eremion's military assets used red-and-gold colors.

Ancient History

During the Fall of Malverand, Morindel became a target of raids, feints, and direct attacks by Thalion's allies. Zero, Helena, Mia, Jarin, and allied patriarchs attacked the city in Jeremiah's colors, killing civilians in the central square and drawing Eremion toward Jazarel. Later, Zero trapped Eremion in a singularity. Kallion brought down a sun-like attack during the trap, destroying ancient Morindel, reshaping the region, and leaving Eremion reduced to his surviving heart.

The final detonation leveled the city and much of the surrounding region. The once-small Morindel Lake expanded into the Morindel Sea after a massive land bridge collapsed and ocean water flooded the area. Ancient Morindel lay partly beneath the waves afterward, with no surviving trace of the old city.

Later Morindel

Morindel was rebuilt after the destruction of the ancient city. The later Morindel City is the rebuilt regional capital near the Morindel Sea. Travelers from Blackcrag cross the sea by skyship, hide near the coast, and reach the city by road after a short walk.

The rebuilt city is encircled by a pristine white wall with guarded gates and mages stationed above them. Its buildings are mostly white, shorter than those in Omberion, and built with flat roofs and a plain, functional style. Its streets lead through quieter outer areas toward a governmental district with smooth stone roads, angular walls, sturdier buildings, and a meeting hall for delegates.

Landmarks

Morindel's central square holds a strange fountain where water emerges from a narrow hidden point as if from nowhere. Its water is faintly salty.

The Morindel vaults preserve ancient texts, artifacts, and the crystal heart that once belonged to Eremion. Morindel regards the heart as a dead artifact or unusually sturdy stone until Astrid senses essence in it during Blackcrag's diplomatic visit.

Later Government and Trade

In later Valrindor, Morindel operates as a city-state within a loose alliance. Magnus is Morindel's regent, receives Blackcrag's delegation, and agrees to a defensive alliance against Shroudvale. Garrik later visits Magnus in Morindel, Magnus visits Omberion, and the exchanges establish a formal trade route. During the diplomatic exchange, Magnus trades Eremion's heart and other vault items to Astrid.

After Eremion reforms in Blackcrag, contact with Morindel dwindles for a time as he consolidates control there. Eremion later speaks of ruling Morindel again and meets productively with Magnus. His control over Blackcrag grows during the same period. Magnus's regency lasts for decades and ends with his death of old age.

Secrets and Mysteries

Eremion's body was destroyed at ancient Morindel. His Malverand heart survived, later resurfaced in the Morindel vaults, passed from Magnus to Astrid, and became the means of Eremion's return.

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