Emon

Emon is the capital city of the Republic of Tal'Dorei, and the largest city on the continent.

City Description

 * &rarr; This section describes the state of Emon before the Chroma Conclave attacked in . For the time of Thordak's rule, see Occupation of Emon.

Emon is the capital of Tal'Dorei and was also the home of the emperor Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei III, as well as Vox Machina. The city proper is surrounded by a thick wall, although Gilmore mentioned to Vax'ildan that there were rumors of expanding the city in. The city within the walls is split into districts; immediately outside the walls are slums and farms.

Abdar's Promenade
This district is located on the east side of the city, with a small portion of it extending beyond the city walls. The Promenade was home to many businessmen and traders. Gilmore's Glorious Goods is located within this district.

Cloudtop District
Shown to be within the center of the city, this district was surrounded by a secondary 100-foot wall for the protection of Emon's elite, including the sovereign's palace and the homes of lords and ladies, like Lady Allura's Ivory Tower. The district is home to the Citrine Garrison, the military hub of Emon, where General Krieg was stationed. Situated along the wall was the first-of-its-kind Skyport for skyships.

Central District
This largest of districts stretches west and southwest from the Cloudtop District to the Port of Emon, the Cemetery District, and the Lower Slums. It appeared that a smaller wall cuts through the district.

Temple District
Found on the northern side of the city, this area acts as a religious center. The largest cathedrals in the district were those of Erathis and Bahamut, though there were smaller temples to The Matron of Ravens, Pelor, Kord, and Melora, and places to worship Ioun, Avandra, and Corellon.

Erudite Quarter
Located on the southeast side of the city, it appears to have a small wall that branches off and reconnects to the main wall that surrounds the entire district. The Alabaster Lyceum dominates this continental center of academies of higher education.

Military District
Found on the north side of the city, this section of the city is built around its barracks and training grounds. Both the various military regiments and the Arms of Emon were usually trained here, though the regimental soldiers are usually stationed primarily at Fort Daxio. The Arms of Emon, however, are more of a force of gendarmes that is permanently stationed in the capital, serving as both a local garrison to guard its walls and as a sort of local police force.

This section of the city also includes a well-guarded prison called the Black Bastille; Jarett Howarth alluded to it as the specific place where criminals are sent for buying suude. After Thordak attacked, the prison was emptied of its most dangerous denizens.

Port of Emon
The port is toward the southwest part of the city, with a small wall running down its southern side.

Graveyard District / Cemetery District
Found to the west of the Central District. This area of the city deals with the dead and has a network of catacombs called the Undervaults. The Diamond Nest Tavern is in this district.

A network of tunnels exists under the city. The Clasp, a thieves' guild, has a subterranean base beneath the city. They use the tunnels to covertly get around, and know of several hidden entrances up to the surface.

At least a part of the city is built on top of the ruins of an old, forgotten civilization.

Outside the Walls

 * Upper Slums: As large as a third of the city within the walls, the Upper Slums extend from the northwest edge of the city. They are not well protected by the Arms of Emon, but they are gentrifying.
 * Lower Slums: Also outside the city walls, located to the south. Greyskull Keep is located on a hill to the south of the Lower Slums.
 * Shoreline Farms: Located outside the city adjacent to the Upper Slums, the shoreline farms grow fruits and the few vegetables that tolerate saltwater-soaked soil.

Demographics
As the capital city of Tal'Dorei, Emon is also the most populous at 287,550 citizens as of 812 PD. The population is mostly human (68%) with a significant minority of dwarves (7%) and elves (6%). Other races make up the remainder (19%) so that nearly every race is represented in the city in some way.

Notable Locations

 * Palace of the Sovereign: The Sovereign's home and meeting place for the Council.
 * Gilmore's Glorious Goods: General store owned by Gilmore.
 * Greyskull Keep: Vox Machina's home.
 * Ivory Tower: Lady Allura's home.
 * The Skyport: Airship transportation site.
 * The Alabaster Lyceum: Research facility for magical and religious artifacts.
 * Temple of Sarenrae: Religious temple where Pike was resurrected after falling to a glabrezu and Vax was cleansed after being bit by vampire Sylas Briarwood.

Before the Stream
At some point, the party fell through an ancient cistern that led to an intricate cavern system. They traveled through trying to find a way out when they uncovered the ruins of an old civilization. There they encountered a hag who made a deal with the group; in exchange for showing them the way out and giving Tiberius the Mending Wheel, she would take a part of Tiberius's luck.

Later on, Vox Machina freed Sovereign Uriel and his family from demonic possession and halted an uprising of demons. For their deeds, they were given a hero's celebration, and over the course of six months Greyskull Keep was built in their honor.

Occupation of Emon
During the gathering Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei III held when he announced his abdication, four ancient dragons, calling themselves the Chroma Conclave, attacked the city of Emon.

After a brief search for Gilmore, Vox Machina fled to Greyskull Keep and sheltered the refugees outside their gates. Lady Allura found them there, alerted of trouble when her connection to the teleportation sigils in her tower and in the Lyceum was suddenly severed.

When Vox Machina emerged from their keep to search the city for survivors, they found buildings charred and smoldering, people who had been running for the city gates were frozen in their tracks, literally. Many who had survived were looting the city for tribute to Thordak.

They found a hidden door to the cellar of Gilmore's Glorious Goods, where they found Gilmore at death's door, several of his employees, and the Empress Salda Tal'Dorei and her children. Gilmore had heroically rescued the empress and her children but, when he went back to get Uriel, found him dead. Arbiter Brom Goldhand also did not make it, but Seeker Assum Emring and Guardian Tofor Brotoras were alive and helping the survivors.

Thordak's Lair
As Thordak sat in the center of Emon, it began to change due to his presence. Volcanic activity began occurring below the city, causing lava to seep out of the ground and the skies to fill with smoke.

Between Campaign One and Exandria Unlimited
A vast stretch of land, extending from the eastern outskirts of Emon through outer farmland and a small forest that was once called Shivergreen Grove, continued to suffer from Thordak's elemental corruption for decades after his fall: trees continued to burn endlessly, and elemental monsters spawned from the ash. This area was called the Scar of the Cinder King, and thousands of families were displaced from it. A contingent of the Fire Ashari, operating out of the makeshift Flamereach Outpost since shortly after Thordak's fall in 811 PD, had only been mostly successful at healing the land as of 842 PD.