- Classification: Small City
- Population: ~8,600
- Wealth: High
- Major Industry: Silk, Clothing/Fashion, Wood Products
- Specialty Goods: Magic, Fine Wines, Elfweave
- Populace Average Alignment: Neutral
- Leader Alignment: Neutral
- Government and Leadership: Feudal Monarchy, Duchess Trillia Sin’dev’lia
| Human: 29% | Half-Elf: 13% | Elf: 52% |
| Dwarf: <1% | Gnome: 2% | Halfling: 2% |
| Half-Orc: <1% | Other: 1% |
History: Niondel began as a simple elven farming village settled by the Arbolorian elves from the north, around EH 500 (making it one of the oldest communities in the region). It remained a solely Elven city until it accepted refugees fleeing the armies of the Three. The city was spared destruction due to its isolated location deep within the Dyninn, and the magicks of the Elven Spellweavers.
City Lore: Niondel is famed for its industry of fashion and clothing, producing some of the most sought after linens, silks, wools, and cotton clothing lines. The city itself, though ruled ostensibly by Duchess Sin’dev’lia, is in reality controlled by the moguls of fashion, the Elven Silk Lords. They maintain an oligopoly on the silk trade.
The city itself is divided into an upper and lower city. The upper city literally soars above the ground-dwelling non-elves in majestic spires, tree-bough houses, and suspended domiciles. The ground-dwelling population has to make due with crude, serviceable housing. Amongst the ground-dwellers entertainment devolves to mostly low-brow shows, plays, and antics. Amidst the sky-mansions, the cultural pastimes are operas, symphonies, and first-rate troubadours the world over.
Cuisine in Niondel is elven fare, mostly. Tubers and root vegetables make for a hearty stew amongst the ground-dwellers, while the sky-mansions host elaborate meals of fowl and pheasant. Fine wines abound in the city, with many prestigious wineries just outside the city.Niondel is a city divided, demographically. The elven population holds 90% of the wealth in the city, with the non-elves (colloquially known as ground-dwellers) perform the brute labor. As such, crime is rampant in the lower city, and practically non-existent in the upper portion. The Night Elves operate as the thieves’ guild in the lower city.
The Guildtowers of Nin (Enchantment), Des (Illusion), and Vas (Alteration) have towers in the city. Only Sunia, Solos, and Tethos have temples here, though a shrine devoted to Nox is not far outside the city limits. The Sword and Shield has a guildhall in the lower city.
Landmarks/Places of Interest:
- The Sunrise Platform is a tall tower above the forest’s canopy, where petitioners go to greet the sun, or watch the spectacular sunsets over the Dyninn.
- Graul’s Grotto is a den of inequity in the lower city where almost anything can be bought or sold.
