Cabilis
Cabilis (sometimes called New Sebilis) is the new heart of the Iksar Empire. The Iksar recaptured the city from the Sarnak long ago and have since made it their new home. There is an ongoing effort to tame the surrounding areas to ensure the safety of the city.
If you are interested in raising faction in this city, as a non-Iksar, see this forum thread (it will not be easy).
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Appearance
Cabilis is still in a state of growth. It is a large walled community located near the center of Kunark. Last of the Iksar cities, only the lost capital of Sebilis rivals its size. The Iksar constantly work to build this city to reflect their lost glory. Because of the boggy nature of the land it is being built on, some sections of the city require more work than others, as the ground is treacherous and foundations become weakened by settling. The building materials are clay, stone and wood. Some adobe work exists, but much of the city stands on a complex balance of stonework and carpentry. Some parts of the city still show elements of the town it was built upon. Because they are still building, there are still Iksar who live in tents. The city has four great entrances, opening on four distinct regions: The Lake of Ill Omen, Warslik's Woods, The Swamp of No Hope, and The Field of Bone. The pathways in Cabilis can be mazy and difficult to navigate, and the canal system that runs throughout Cabilis means that one must cross many bridges, most makeshift, to get anywhere.
History
Cabilis was once simply a town of little regard in the Iksar Empire. The reason it is now the center of Iksar civilization is directly related to the fall of their empire. When Emperor Ganak and Jaled-Dar clashed above the Field of Bone, it left both dead. This ended the war between the Iksar and the Ring of Scale. Unfortunately, the Dragons had one last act of violence to unleash. They destroyed the imperial palace and all of Ganak's hatchlings, leaving the Iksar without an heir to the throne.
In the absence of an emperor, the Emerald Circle was formed. Five nobles set together to rebuild what had been lost in the war. However, their ambitions divided the empire, each noble leading a separate faction. The Iksar Empire was divided by tribe for the first time since Emperor Venril Sathir united them. Soon after, the tribes began to fight amongst themselves again. The Ring of Scale had a hand in this, working covertly to increase tensions between the Iksar tribes.
Finally, weakened by infighting, the Iksar Empire fell asunder. Slave revolts, attacks by goblins and giants, and finally an asssault by Trakanon himself and his allies reduced the Iksar cities to ash and rubble. Free of Iksar rule, the other races of Kunark began to struggle for dominance.
Since the fall of the empire, the Iksar have been building the city of Cabilis from the town it once was into the capital it is today. Other cities have either been overrun by powerful enemies, or are too far gone to rebuild. The Iksar have worked hard, under their new emperor, and are quickly working to repair what past mistakes have torn apart.
In fact, many Iksar have taken to calling Cabilis "New Sebilis", though either name is acceptable and understood.
Surrounding Areas
The Iksar have, for centuries now, focused internally on rebuilding their culture and society, to be stronger and to be able to face the outside world again. That time has come, and the Iksar are now pushing back into the lands where they once ruled supreme. There are four areas immediately surrounding the city that are of intense interest to the Iksar. First is the Field of Bone, a barren area that contains the ancient remains of Kurn's Tower and Kaesora. The Iksar are focusing many of their broodlings in this area in order to tame it. The Swamp of No Hope is an area that the Iksar currently are letting run wild, despite maintaining a small outpost to protect their walls. Warsliks Wood is similar, as the Iksar have met much resistance from both the goblins and the forest giants within during their attempts to control the area. There is also a strong outcast presense there. The Lake of Ill Omen, however, is another area that the Iksar are very focused on regaining control over. A new enemy, the sarnak, have established a fortress within this region and are expanding their range slowly, coming into conflict with the residents of Cabilis and also the goblins of the region.
To the south of the city lies Firiona Vie, the forest that held the elven outpost named after their queen. This is an area of intense interest, as there are rumors filtering into Cabilis that the elves have returned, and have brought with them many other softflesh beings that had never been seen before...
Traveling To and From Cabilis
Cabilis can be reached from four separate directions. To the northeast lies the Field of Bone. South of that lies the Swamp of No Hope. East Cabilis holds the gates to these regions.
To the northwest lies Warsliks Woods. South of that is the Lake of Ill Omen. The entrances to these areas lie within West Cabilis under jurisdiction of the infamous Tower of Death.
Local Color
Places
Cabilis is divided into two segments. East Cabilis is the cultural center of the town. Within East Cabilis lie the guild halls for all but the necromancers. It is also where the military leaders of the Iksar reside. The Haggle Baron also works out of this region, in control of all the merchants in this area.
West Cabilis is an entirely different world. The most prominent feature of West Cabilis is the Tower of Death, the stronghold of the necromancers of the Iksar people. All other Iksar fear the necromancers and leave them alone, an arrangement that the necromancers are very happy with. Within their tower they perform experiments and strengthen their Art and, through that, all Iksar. Merchants in this area owe fealty to the Tower and not to the Haggle Baron, so it is possible to find items here that the Haggle Baron doesn't believe in.
In each of the surrounding areas, there are small outposts. These exist in the ruins of ancient bazaars of the Iksar, now all but destroyed. These areas are patrolled by the Crusaders and Troopers of the city, and provide some degree of safety and law in these wild lands.
People
The Iksar, although united in a common cause, show their history in their leaders. All of the leaders of the various guilds are powerful personalities, and constantly struggle between themselves for dominance in the city. The Warlord of the Warrior Guild provides Troopers for the city guard, and has developed a loose and uncertain alliance with the leaders of the Tower of Death, whose silent presence provides him with more power. The Lords of Pain and their Crusaders of Greenmist provide the other arm to the defense of the city, and are allied to the Scaled Mystics through their religion.
In the center of all this, Grand Master Glox sits, quietly, looking within. His silence unnerves the other leaders, but they all realize that, when he awakens, him and his Swifttails will likely lead their kind to retake their ancient empire.
