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ALMAS, CITY OF LIBERTY
"Almas was founded on high-minded ideals of a democratic republic, but time and war has worn down the honed edge of that ideal into little more than a bludgeon."—Knight-General Reginald Cormoth, Eagle Knight
AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
"Automata changed everything in Almas. The lumber mills were slowly converted to clockwork factories, smoke belching out of them day and night. When the lightning rail came we knew it was the end of an era. The Almas I knew as a child was crushed to death in iron gears."—Smithtown Laborer
The Embassy District
"With Cheliax at our west, every country in the Inner Sea's got somebody in our court. Embassy District's packed to the rafters with spies and courtiers. Don't trust anyone."—Docent Prentias of Almas University
AT A GLANCE
The Embassy District contains dedicated political embassies of Taldor, Isger, Druma, Kyonin, Razmiran, Lastwall, and Nirmathas. The palatial High Embassy contains offices and spaces for diplomatic envoys and smaller nations to lend delegates to represent foreign interest in Almas.
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Residential space in the district tends to be the most cosmopolitan in Almas, with foreign travelers carving up small neighborhoods among the hustle and bustle of busy Almasian life. This Embassy District is largely upper class and well patrolled by the city watch.
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Population: 25,000
Watch Response Time: 2d4+4 minutes
AVENUE OF THE GODS
The Avenue of the Gods is a quarter-mile stretch of road cutting east to west through the northern side of the Embassy District. Lining the street on both sides are twenty foot tall marble statues of Abdar, Calistria, Cayden Cailean, Desna, Erastil, Gorum, Gozreh, Iomedae, Irori, Nethys, Pharasma, Sarenrae and Shelyn. Shrines and smaller statues of other more minor gods of good and neutral alignment can be found interspersed between the oldest and largest of the statuary.
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Pilgrims from all across Andoran flock to the Avenue of the Gods to pay honor to the gods created here. Their statues were constructed over the centuries since Andoran was liberated from Cheliax, the newest of which is seventy-eight years old.
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Churches, chapels and cathedrals line this long street, along with upscale residences and privately owned complexes dedicated to housing traveling members of the different faiths welcomed openly in Almas; all such property is church-owned.
AT A GLANCE
Flooded with a sea of people, the marketplace of Almas is a far cry from the clean and organized bazaar of generations past. Row after row of crowded tents and stalls choke the streets at its center to a point where no carriage or horse traffic can be accommodated. Thousands of day-to-day vendors from both local and foreign destinations come to peddle their wares, many traveling back and forth between Razmiran and Andoran along the Silver Line on a monthly basis.
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A cornucopia of smells pervades the market district, from the scents of spiced food of ethnic origin to the stink of boiled leather coming from tanneries, to the acrid sting of sea air when the breeze blows in off of the sea. A myriad of languages fill this cosmopolitan district, and major trade organizations have their centers of operation here in this district ranging from single room brick buildings serving as makeshift offices to grand manors of mighty conglomerates like the Aspis Consortium.
City watch patrol the street of the district with a keen eye for illegal goods, especially illegal slave trade which has been attempting to gain a foothold in Almas' black market for decades on.
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Population: 37,500
Watch Response Time: 1d6+8 minutes
LIGHTNING RAIL ROUTE
LIGHTNING RAIL STATION
Constructed in 4727 in a conjoined effort between the countries of Andoran, Druma, and Razmiran, the Lightning Rail represents an unusual alliance of nations. A sign of peace brokered between the theocratic dictatorship of Razmiran and the democratic nation of Andoran was unprecedented. The Lightning Rail was built over a period of five years, countless hours of manual and magical labor, and millions of gold spent between the three nations.
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The rail stop in Almas, the southern terminus of the line, is an elegantly appointed brick building that resembles more a cathedral to industry than a place of transit. Marble floors, glass chandeliers lit by gas lanterns and high, ornate arches coupled with stained glass windows give the station a feeling of opulence, even for the common man who can afford passage on the railway.
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The Lightning Rail leaves twice per week from Almas along its route for all points north. On days when the train is in town, the station buzzes with activity of travelers coming and going, cargo being loaded and unloaded and the industrial chorus of progress' drum beating towards the future.
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Mercantile District
"The snow gets deeper and the rich get richer. That's just the way of things here. Everyone and everything is available for the right price and just as disposable."—Constable Delecroix, Eagle Knight
THE RAILYARD
Set on the banks of the Moulton river, the Railyard is a brick walled industrial complex maintained by a contingent of artificers from Razmiran and laborers from Almas. The purpose of the railyard is the maintenance of the Lightning Rail and its tracks. The primary offices of the Railyard are off-limits to non-employed personnel and is protected by iron-masked Razmiran enforcers that ensure the secrets of the Lightning Rail remain as such.
OFFICES OF THE ASPIS CONSORTIUM
Formerly the Ravenwood Estates, this stately manor overlooking where the Tamuth joins the Andoshan river has stood in Almas since long before Andoran's independence. The manor—seven floors tall and covering several acres of gated parkland resting on the western-most edge of Ravenwood Hill—is visible as a copper roofed, brick landmark from nearly all of the mercantile district. The grounds of the estate are well maintained and portions are open to the public, with business matters of the consortium handled behind closed doors in the sprawling estate.
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While the Aspis Consortium traffics in slavery outside of Andoran, they are under strict restraints on the types of business they are allowed to do within Andoran borders. However, with their exclusive trade routes into the Mana Wastes and access to the gunsmiths of Alkenstar, the government of Almas can little afford to be too strict in their dealings with the consortium. When the Consortium is caught in illegal activities the Andoran government often turns a blind eye or offers a wrist-slap of a fine in order to maintain their edge in the war with Cheliax.
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UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
"The Eagle Knights are all the remains of the old Andoran. But our unwavering devotion to democratic ideals is proving to be our downfall, and we Knights have few allies left at court."—Captain Talisa Gwynn, Eagle Knight
AT A GLANCE
Covering much of Almas' northern edge, the University District is home to major educational institutions known not only in Andoran but across Avistan for the quality of their services. The district is wealthy and well-maintained, proudly displaying banners of the nation and region alongside high flying flags of the Eagle Knights.
This district is home to the highest concentration of Eagle Knights in Almas and their distinct uniforms can be seen in almost any bustling street.
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Population: 43,000
Watch Response Time: 1d6+5 minutes
FIELD OF CONCORD
At the center of the University District lies the field of Concord, the nerve center of Almas. The Field is a broad, cobbled avenue lined with statues of the heroes of Andoran's revolution, plaques at the base of each outlining their achievements. Each of these statues stands guard at one of the entrances to a smaller gardened alcove, in which merchants set up stalls and display their wares during the monthly duty-free markets held here.
At the center of the Field is the Plaza of Revolution, dominated by an enormous white marble fountain. The addition of this plaza in 4715 served to connect the Golden Cathedral, Golden Aerie and the People's Council by a single open space. A pulpit and stage has been permanently erected here for members of the public to address the city in freely held open forums.
THE GOLDEN AERIE
The tallest structure in the district, the Golden Aerie is an enormous circular building from which rises a five-hundred foot tall whitewashed tower crowned with a copper dome and an enormous gold-plated statue of an eagle in flight. Balconies ring the tower and banners depicting the seals of Almas and Andoran as well as the Eagle Knights hang down its length.
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The entirety of the Aerie is surrounded by a fifteen foot high wall the bounds in the forested courtyards, parks and training grounds for the knights, encompassing three acres of land.
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This structure is the heart of the Eagle Knights of Andoran where members of all branches of the knights are trained. The Aerie serves as both a garrison and command outpost for the Eagle Knights and is the home of the Knight-General, commander of all Eagle Knights of Andoran.
Reginald Cormoth (LG, Venerable Male Human Paladin 13) is the current, standing Knight-General of Andoran.
THE GOLDEN CATHEDRAL
In ages past, the Golden Cathedral was the grand center of worship for Aroden from its time as a Taldan colony through Andoran's position as a holding of Cheliax. Following Aroden's death the cathedral lay abandoned for nearly seventy years. After the declaration of Andoran independence the structure was given new life.
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Now the Golden Cathedral stands as a great library and assembly hall where the people of Andoran enshrine the tenants of common rule and display the published writings of the greatest proponents of freedom.
PALACE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL
Dominating the western end of the Field of Concord stands a grand palace that serves as concourse for the People’s Council. The ground floor consists of a colossal amphitheater crammed with marble benches where the councilors assemble when called to deliberate on the laws and treaties of Andoran’s future.
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The remainder of the palace is divided into hundreds of
rooms that serve as personal chambers to various members of the council. Though the councilors remain citizens by law, many of them maintain a lifestyle that mirrors that of the former aristocracy.
ALMAS UNIVERSITY
This ancient ivy-strewn structure has stood since the days of old Cheliax and has served the same function for just as long. Students and dons of the university decked in their flowing black robes have filled the halls of the university for nearly five-hundred years. Classes at the university run half the year, allowing students to return home during the summer months, with classes re-starting shortly after the fall harvest.
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An entrance fee of 25 gold is charged to all students at admission and a semester of attendance costs an additional 50 gold. For impoverished students that are Andoran citizens, financial aid is offered in exchange for military service.
THEATER DISTRICT
"People like to criticize the arts, they say there's no time for a good story or a laugh when the world's freezing over. I say that's when you need a laugh the most."—Nadira Basu-Sani, Musician
AT A GLANCE
Settled in the western heart of Almas, the Theater District is a wealthy and clean region of an otherwise industrially clogged city. The structures here are among some of the oldest in the city outside of the Embassy and University districts. The tall, stone structures represent architectural styles more in line with the Azlanti-themed flair of old Almas. Tall spires, cathedralesque structures, and majestic statues make for breathtaking and resplendent scenery.
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Venues ranging in size from small playhouses to grand theaters built like cathedrals serve the artists that congregate in this district. Shops that cater to writers, artists and actors are abundant here, as are the tradesmen that run them. Textiles of many varieties can be found here, as well as the services of aspiring actors and performers of all varieties.
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Population: 5,400
Watch Response Time: 1d4+8 minutes
THE VISCOUNT THEATER
Situated just a few blocks from the Avenue of the Gods, the Viscount Theater is a modest size playhouse that once served as a temple of the goddess Shelyn. When the boundaries of the Embassy District shifted a decade and a half ago a new (and larger) temple dedicated to Shelyn was constructed further north the original property was sold to the city. The old temple was purchased from the city in 4733 and converted into a theater.
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The Viscount holds a mixture of dramatic plays, opera, and musicals with high attendance among middle-class citizenry of Almas. While the Viscount is not the most prestigious theater in Almas, it is a fashionable up-and-coming business that has made itself stand out with engaging performances by talented multi-cultural casts. The Viscount's next original performance, Princess Snow and the Seven Keys of Ruin, has yet to debut.
PATHFINDER LODGE
When the original Pathfinder lodge in the University District was burned to the ground in 4721 by Chelish terrorists, the Society was quick to adopt a new footholdin Almas. The new lodge was born of an unfinished museum, purchased from the city, that was intended to be build thirty-six years ago by an aspiring Osirionologist. When his funding dried up, the nearly completed building lay abandoned for decades. The Pathfinder Society completed the construction and converted the building to suit their purposes.
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This lodge is one of the largest in Avistan, featuring a collection of rare and exotic art and artifacts from around Golarion. The squat building of marble and granite is capped with a copper dome inscribed to resemble the inside of a wayfinder when viewed from above. The lodge's collection of exotic plants in the foyer is overshadowed by the skeleton of an ancient wyvern that was unearthed by Pathfinder explorers in the Mwangi two decades ago.
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The lodge is run by Andomar Estrel (NG, Male Half-Elf Wizard 6), who also holds a seat on the People's Council. Andomar has focused this lodge's efforts in training new Pathfinders and instating annual major expeditions to the far northern reaches of Avistan to unearth the ancient past of the continent. The Almas lodge is seen as a companion to the Grand Lodge in Absalom and many students transfer freely between the two locations to expand their studies.
WESTWATCH GARRISON
The newest of the watch garrisons of Almas, Westwatch was constructed six years ago to alleviate some of the strain that was being put on Northwatch as the city continued its expansion. Home to 750 members of the Almas city watch, Westwatch's jurisdiction covers the entirety of the Embassy District and the Theater District, servicing over 30,000 citizens.
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Westwatch Garrison is a square fortress with a single central prison tower, surrounded by a thirty-five foot tall stone wall cornered with four circular towers. The sole entrance to the garrison's grounds is a twenty foot high iron gate that leads in to the commons where one of two gallows still operating in Almas are erected.
Marshal Obran Forenta (LE Female Human Fighter 7) commands the Westwatch.
SMITHTOWN
"People used to say the blood of Almas was water and wood, but these days its oil and steel. If Almas has a heart, it beats in the iron breast of Smithtown."—Kisaf Golren, Priest of Erastil
AT A GLANCE
The most industrialized and congested district of Almas is the ever-expanding Smithtown. Originally home to a small dwarven neighborhood, smithies and lumber mills the district saw a dramatic expansion between 4714 to 4730. The entire district is now home to hundreds of mills, factories and fabrication shops where instruments of war and peace alike are forged and shipped across the Inner Sea.
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Smithtown is a dirty, polluted and poor district. Residents of Smithtown are typically poor laborers who live in multi-story, cramped dwellings owned by the trade businesses that run the mills and factories. Entire families crowd into small one or two room residences stacked side-by-side down narrow and winding streets. Smoke billows from the chimneys of factories and forges and a sooty mix of ash and water line the gutters.
Few things are actually available for purchase in Smithtown as most businesses migrated to the Mercantile District or other neighborhoods and districts of Almas. Most of the industry produced in this district is shipped elsewhere in Almas or the Inner Sea for sale.
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Population: 86,000
Watch Response Time: 2d12+12 minutes
THE CLOCKWORKS
Several acres of hilltop land are surrounded by tall brick walls crowned with iron spikes. The few gated entrances of this walled compound reveal little save for the silhouettes of warehouses and factories off-limits to the general public. Above all of the other buildings in the Clockworks, the seven-hundred foot high Libertine Clocktower dominates the view and can be seen from the opposite side of Almas.
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The Clockworks is a privately owned neighborhood serving as residence and offices for the representatives of Alkenstar that have come to reside in Almas. Forsaking residences in the Embassy District, the natives of the Mana Wastes that have come to live and work in Almas prefer to be close to the factories and forges that produce their clockwork and gunpowder creations.
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The presence of clockwork automatons within the walled compound is known, though few are ever seen clearly. Most that patrol the grounds are known only by the sound of clicking gears and clanking metal from the other side of the wall. Within the compound, they are ever-present sentries ensuring that the secrets of Alkenstar remain controlled and that unwelcomed visitors are kept out.
UPPER AERIES
"All the old money stays roosting on the hilltops like proud birds and the shit, as they say, keeps on rolling downhill..."—Balgus Geller, Railworker
AT A GLANCE
As Almas expanded over the last thirty years the High Aeries were born out of that expansionist drive. Studded with brand new constructions of red brick and mortared stone, the High Aeries cater to the wealthy and well-to-do of Almas. Streets here are maintained by automaton snow movers and High Aeries residents have access to the best cuts of firewood and alchemical supplies to help stave off the ever-encroaching cold.
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Population: 55,000
Watch Response Time: 1d6+4 minutes
EASTWATCH
The High Aeries are overseen by Eastwatch, one of the oldest and largest garrisons in the city. Eastwatch was once a remote fortification that sat outside the east gate of Almas, but as the city grew and the old wooden palisades were torn down, Eastwatch became the heart of security within the newly expanded city-limits.
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Eastwatch is commanded by Marshal Hrist Redrane (CG Male Human Fighter 6) who is constantly butting heads with the other watch marshals due to his unorthodox methods of running the garrison and his unwillingness to participate in unethical practices many other watch garrisons do.
LOWER AERIES
"...and when the shit rolls downhill, it winds up in the Lower Aeries. That's just the way life is."—Balgus Geller, Railworker
AT A GLANCE
Like the High Aeries, the Lower Aeries were born of Almas' expansion. But where the High Aeries are all new construction built on new land, the Lower Aeries are what was left behind in the rush for expansion. Many of the buildings here are centuries old and in dire need of repairs. With six years of increasing snowfall, this has led to numerous building collapses and fires that ravaged the district. With so much of Andoran's wealth going to the war effort in Cheliax there is little left to help the lower and middle-class citizens who live here, forcing them to make ends meet on their own.
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Population: 78,300
Watch Response Time: 2d10+10 minutes
SOUTHWATCH
The Southwatch Garrison is a slouching, old fortification that was constructed nearly three thousand years ago by the Fourth Army of Exploration when this region was settled by Taldor. While little of the original construction remains, what does is crumbling and in disrepair. The dungeons of Southwatch consistently flood during fits of warm weather when the snow melts and the garrison has seen dozens of prisoners either drown in their cells or freeze to death.
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Southwatch is commanded by Marshal Danis Charthagnion (NE Male Human Fighter 8) a disgraced Chelish noble who fled Egorian nine years ago and sold Chelish military secrets to the Andoran government. It is suspected that he received the position as Southwatch's marshal thanks to his contribution to the war effort.