Skycrown

General Description:
Sitting atop a large mesa in the midst of the Green Peaks mountain range lies the
plutocracy of Skycrown. In ages past the Peaks were the sovereign territory of the
birdmen known as the Aarakockra. As imperial expansion swept the province,
enterprising merchants began trading with the Aarakockra for rights to mine the
precious gems and minerals found throughout the Green. Long term mining colonies
were established with permanent structures and settlements built to house the workers.
Eventually several of the mining guilds decided they should not have to pay for the
privilege of mining in what they considered to be their own rightful home now. The
guilds secretly armed themselves and hired mercenaries disguised as workers. They
surprised the Aarakockra on the evening of the Lunar festival slaughtering many of
them and seizing control of their egg clutches. Those who weren’t killed in the initial
massacre surrendered in order to preserve the clutches and were enslaved. Aarakockra
ready to reproduce are escorted to these secure clutches. Laying eggs or hiding them
outside of these is forbidden and punishable by death. The guilds have gone on to
become the ruling body of Skycrown and the town has continued to grow and prosper
now built on the backs of the Aarakockra.

Recent News:
Skycrown has maintained complete neutrality in the many conflicts that have taken
place in the Meridian for many decades. Their focus remains first and foremost on
making money and they have little interest in conflict which detracts from profits. As
such they don’t care to pick sides and will trade with anyone. Their precious gems and
slaves are highly sought after and remain the cornerstone of their economic power.
Imperial arenas in particular are fond of procuring Aarakockra for training as gladiators
for their ability to quite literally elevate the level of entertainment for the masses.

Significant Features:
Being built atop a mountain Skycrown is extremely difficult to reach. Reaching it or the
outlying mining outposts from the ground requires traversing many bridges and winding
staircases carved into the surrounding mountainsides. The outposts themselves are
connected to the Crown proper by the Skyway. This consists of a series of large trams
used for transporting people or goods across the chasm between the town and the
outposts. Beneath the mountaintop city the Aarakockra live as slaves in the numerous
dens and caves where they mine for precious stones. .

Vital Information:
● Population: Roughly 6,000
● Races: Over half of the populace are the native Aarakockra. The ruling mining
guilds are made up of various races but humans primarily hold sway. One of the
guilds consists entirely of gnomes who are master jewelers.
● Governance: A council made up of the senior leadership of the mining guilds
rules the town with an iron fist. When they are not oppressing the Aarakocra and
watching for any sign of dissent they are constantly trying to undermine one
another’s powerbases.
● Economy: The town’s roaring economy is fueled primarily by two items. Their
slave trade and the mining and refinement of precious jewels. Due to the remote
nature of the town and it’s inability to produce foodstuffs on its own the import of
food from the outside is booming business as well.
● Foreign Relations: Skycrown maintains complete neutrality in all outside affairs.
As such they have general good relations with all other major strongholds in the
province who come to them for trade. That said tensions have arisen due to the
fact that they court both imperial and local interests.
● Prominent Organizations:
○ Rarity Jewelers: A guild made up Gnomes who are the finest jewelers in
the province. They rely upon trade agreements with the other guilds in
town to procure the precious gems but their finished products are highly
sought all across the continent by anyone with enough money to pay.
○ Skycrown Mining Guild: The first and most prominent mining guild in
Skycrown, they lead the initial plan to take over the town. Their leaders
still wield the most influence over the territory.
○ Pickmen Miners: A mining guild whose membership skews more towards
dwarves or other hearty folk. They constantly via with Skycrown mining
guild over access to the richest areas of the mountain.
○ The Bloody Talon: A guild who rose to prominence after switching away
from mining and instead focusing on the training of Aarakocra as
gladiators to be sent to imperial arenas. Their fighters are still highly
sought by any towns under imperial control. They also control the largest
clutches of Aarakocra eggs in the town.