Overview
Xalatun is a Tenari city in central Thalcoris, built on a savannah near a river. Xalatun, Tequaltor, Chalxata, and Aurivallis are the old city-states that formed Thalcoris, and Xalatun answers to Emperor Tazarin.
Most fighting in the Tenari false war happens around Xalatun and its nearby essence towers. The fighting around Xalatun and its essence towers exposes the truth that the Tenari have been killing their own under Xoh'Metztli's control.
Geography
Xalatun lies west of Tequaltor, beyond jungle, golden savannah, river country, and outcroppings. Armies reach it by road, river, and savannah routes. The city has northern and western gates, streets, alleys, walls, and a nearby river that Razen later redirects closer to the damaged city.
Seven essence towers stand around Xalatun, including abandoned towers whose inner artifacts match designs used in essence towers elsewhere.
City Life During the Xolterra War
During the Tenari false war, Xalatun is heavily militarized. Mages practice in the streets, soldiers prepare armor and orders, civilians retreat indoors, and merchants close their stalls as armies gather near the walls. Razen commands forces around the city and gathers Thalcoris's strongest mages there.
Eira, Lythariel, and Kaelion uncover the Tenari false war separately. The killings feed Xoh'Metztli's bargain with Xol'Zahir through the essence towers, and Xoh'Metztli controls Tenari minds with resonance magic sung by Aurivallis priestesses.
Devastation and Recovery
The battlefield outside Xalatun erupts after Zayren and Razen attack Eira under the control. Lythariel retaliates with immense darkness magic, severs Zayren's arm, drives Razen back, collapses a nearby tower, and devastates the city and surrounding savannah.
After Cassian kills Meliora and destroys Xoh'Metztli's essence in Aurivallis, the control over the Tenari breaks. Tazarin, Amaril, Kaelion, Razen, Zayren, Splin, and the surviving mages and citizens spend two days stabilizing Xalatun by healing survivors, clearing rubble, rebuilding structures, moving supplies, carrying citizens to safer areas, and bringing water closer to the city.
Military Use After Liberation
Thalcoris continues to gather troops at Xalatun after liberation. Most Tenari forces are stationed there when the darkness returns, and Tazarin sends Astryx to Xalatun because Razen is gathering Thalcoris's best mages. A new road from Tequaltor to Xalatun is mostly finished during Thalcoris's later rebuilding.