Bolan

"'There is a reason Bolan is the only city in the wilderness of the Endless Wood. Its people's resilience, pragmatism and resourcefulness is such that Temperance itself is said to have carved this wooden city for them as a reward for their respect for their dominion and the balance of the land. The city is a collection of great trees and breathtaking vistas which only seem to further the legend of divine intervention it its creation.' - excerpt from The Hopag Traveller's Companion." The wooden city of Bolan is the capital of Arblon and the only settlement in the province. Bolan's "buildings" are in fact impossibly large hollowed-out trees. As such, areas are referred to by the trees they are made from. Bolanites pride themselves on their city's symbiotic relationship with nature. In the center of the city, two large oak trees house the Grand Temple to Temperance and the Tower of Evocation.

Due to this relationship, lawlessness and, rather surprisingly, lawfulness are both low as symbiosis with the environment is the only true 'law' truly enforced or indeed cared about by the people. This respect for nature and life does seem to minimise the amount of gratuitously harmful crimes within the city, though.

Given the nature of Bolan's location, its trade industry is integral to that of Aldorea as a whole at it is the primary source of wood, furs, leathers, and finely crafted hunting gear such as bows.

The Grand Temple
At the end of a grand walkway above the majority of the treetops and in the heart of Bolan lies the Grand Temple, the largest temple to Temperance in Aldorea. Located inside a behemoth ancient oak tree, the Grand Temple exists as a monument to the faith and gratitude of Bolanites to the great Arcanum who created their city. The Grand Temple also boasts one of the largest and most impressive collections of wood carvings in the world, and attracts many artisans and spritualists to view them.

The Crooked Trunk
The Crooked Trunk refers to the collection of taverns which sprawl out amongst the treetops of Bolan. The different taverns and bars are all connected with either rickety corridors or simple rope bridges and their sturdiness varies wildly depending on which one you happen to be in and how much you’ve had to drink.

The Ashes
The merchants and craftsmen of the city all do their business inside two large, hollow Ash trees in the eastern areas of the city. As such, the mercantile district of Bolan is often referred to simply as “The Ashes”. In the center of one is a large forge around which the city’s skilled craftsmen and smiths work and sell their wares. In the other lies the market and bazaar in which one can find both mundane items and the exotic as travelling merchants set up stalls alongside the locals.

The Tower of Evocation
One of the eight Towers of Magic in Aldorea, the Tower of Evocation is the twin oak of the Grand Temple and has been left sealed and untouched for centuries. Many adventurers have tried their luck, the few who have managed to enter have never returned.

Major Organisations

 * The Grand Council. Oversee the spiritual leadership and wellbeing of Bolan.
 * The Hunters. Ensure hunting is conducted in a renewable yet profitable way.
 * The Temple Guard. Peacekeepers of Bolan.
 * The Moss. An underground network of assessings who believe The Wood provides them with the names of those who must die in order to maintain a balance.

Key Individuals

 * The Grand Cleric. The elusive and rarely seen ruler of Bolan.
 * The Huntsman. The practical and direct leader of The Hunters.
 * Mother Aimee. Captain of the Temple Guard. A tall, matronly human woman who deeply cares for her city.
 * Brother Narder. Public-facing member of the Grand Council. An elderly human man who is tired and rather slow-speaking.
 * Healer Joyce. Grand Healer of the Temple. A short forest gnome woman who is chipper and sisterly.