City of Melek

Melek is the northernmost city of Nydissia, the Equatorial Empire of the south. The City of Shackles is ruled over by Imperator Setirus, newly appointed after his predecessor’s unexpected death twelve months ago.

The streets of Melek are stone paved, marked with drains, and often accompanied by footpaths. Buildings are predominately stone or brick, decorated with arches, pillars, statues and obelisks. The larger villas display icons of the golden eye, the formal sigil of the Lucentum. Temperatures are hot and humid, with cooling breezes blowing in at night from the northern fens. Sanitation is relatively good, and even the lowliest citizens have access to the public baths.

Melek has served as the Empire’s northernmost city for sixty years, positioned on a high escarpment overlooking the Trackless Moors. The Lucentum’s attempt to establish the frontier town of Kadimos further north ended in ruin, razed by waves of skorn, barbarian and Argosan forces from Crow’s Keep. Over the last twenty years, an informal truce with the Midlanders has allowed both cities to trade, but recent skirmishes have everyone on edge.

Melek is famous for her vast slave pens, the Lucentum’s secular ways, and the magic hunting Ordo Malefactos. The Ogorien fighting pits, and the gladiators they produce, are also well known throughout the region.