Alda-Chur

Alda-Chur is the main city of the Far Place. Another settlement in the area is Glasswall.

This map and description of Alda-Chur is from 1612 and also predates the Issaries production: Dragon Pass: A Gazetteer of Kerofinela and does not totally agree with it.

Alda-Chur is surrounded by a ditch and rampart on which stands a wall made of white glass. Another name for the river is the Engoli.

1.       Great Hall: this is a large stone building with a slate roof. It contains the prince’s residence and administration.

2.       Yelmalio Temple. Has a dome covered in gold leaf. It is a small temple used by the Prince and his relatives.

3.       Prince’s Gate. A high stone gate made of large irregular blocks. A guard of the prince’s troops maintain watch. There are usually 30 troops stationed here. A steep ramp leads down from the gate into the city.

4.       Barracks: Prince’s Guard.  There are 100 troops stationed here.

5.       Stables. The prince has 40 horses.

6.       Store.

7.       Gate Tower. This high tower is built on the slope of the fort and has its foot by the Tarsh Gate. 25 troops have their barracks here.

8.       Old Keep. The officers of the guard and the NCOs have rooms here. At its base it is of smooth dressed ashlar blocks. Above is rough modern stonework.

9.       High Tower. This is the highest point of the city. It has a garrison of 40 troops.

10.   Sundome Temple. The temple stands in its own court at the corners of which are squire towers topped with gold domes. The court is entered through a gatehouse of white plastered brick decorated with blue glazed tiles depicting scenes from Yelmalio’s mythology. The temple is made of white stone and is entered by a wide ramp leading to guided doors. There are also two side ramps which lead to the roof on which stands the large gilded dome. The court in front of the temple contains a number of alters. Inside is a large chryselephantine image of the god in the central hall under the dome. Side chambers contain administrative offices and some residential areas as does the basement.

11.   The market square is floored with gravel. Around the edge are shops and workshops all under a red-tiled portico. This is a modern structure in Lunar style. In the centre is a ornate fountain with statues of lions. It is fed by a narrow aqueduct which enters from the wall of the market and leads from a spring 400 metres away.

12.   River Gate. A stone bridge leads over the river. The river is swift and rocky but not deep. The gate has two small stone watchtowers manned by the Prince’s Guard. Two large stone hawks decorate the entrance.

13.   Tarsh Gate. The road to Tarsh is blocked by two large wood and bronze gates. The bronze bands are decorated with battle scenes. A second large tower known as the Tarsh Tower stands on the city side of the gate. It contains barracks for 25 of the Prince’s troops.

14.   Stadium: the stadium is of concrete faced with brick and stone with a wooden superstructure. Races, horse races and religious occasions are held here as are any Yelmalio duels.

15.   Theatre: a modern building with stone footings and brick and concrete superstructure in the Lunar style.

16.   Humakt shrine. An old wooden building with a wood-tiled roof. This building is also used as a hiring hall for mercenaries.

17.   Etyries Mission and trade hall. Modern brick and tile building. It contains a small shrine and a larger market hall and offices.

18.   Celestial temple with shrines to Dendara, Lodril, Urvairinus and Yelm. This is a new building of imported white stone in the Dara Happan style. Recently constructed it has a relief showing the Prince on the front. The roof is accessed by two ramps running along the front of the building and is topped with a small ziggurat topped with the Yelm shrine.

19.   Chalana Arroy Hospital. This is an old wooden building but with a newer tiled roof.

20.   Lightbringers Temple. This building has stone foundations and a wooden upper structure and roof. It contains shrines to all the Lightbringers except Orlanth (which has been removed). It is in some disrepair and largely disused.

21.   Earth temple. This is an ancient building made of large undressed stones. It contains shrines to the earth goddesses with ancient stone idols which resemble pillars.

22.   Apple Grove. Here a small grove of apple trees surrounds a triangular pool. It is maintained by the Earth Temple.

23.   Seven Mothers Mission and hostel. A modern plastered brick building with a tiled roof. Contains the mission church, a hostel including wine shop, hospital and poorhouse.

24.   Lunar Temple. This contains the shrines of Yanafal Tarnils, Hwariin Dalthippa, Hon-eel and Sedenya and holds the regimental standards of the troops from the fort.

25.   Lunar Fort. The fort has stone walls guarded by towers topped with red tiled roofs. It contains the Prefects House and barracks. The fort also contains a large granary, bath and workshops for equipment manufacture. Water is provided by a narrow stone aqueduct from a spring 500 metres away.

26.   New town. These are modern houses in the Pelorian style. They are owned by local priests and officials.

27.   The Ruins. This is an area of ancient rubble and broken down walls. In some areas the ruins have been roofed over or huts built of rubble. These house the poorest people of the city. The city cemetery is opposite but is now disused containing only ancient tombs. The modern cemeteries are outside the walls on along the main roads.

28.   New Row. This is a new building with a covered red-tiled portico supported by a row of pillars and with a pavement raised from the road. Immediately behind the portico are shops and workshops with living areas in the blocks behind.

29.   Market Inn. This is a large wood and brick building with a slate roof. It is of moderate comfort and the food is reasonable but it has plenty of space and is full on market days.

30.   Silver and Gold Inn. An upmarket structure with good food. Good imported wine.

31.   River Inn. The roughest inn in the city.

32.   Black Bear Inn. A comfortable building with wholesome food. Good local beer.

33.   Golden Statue Inn. A reasonable inn which is popular with pilgrims.

34.   Uleria Temple. Identified by the traditional sign of the red lantern.

35.   Annex to the Uleria Temple. This can be booked for private ceremonies.

36.   Scimitar Club. This is a popular bar for Lunar soldiers who can be found here when off duty. It is solidly built and quite rough and ready.

37.   Town Fields. These fields are owned or rented by townspeople and are mostly given over to vegetable gardens.

38.   Lunar Fields. These fields provide grazing for Lunar cavalry horses.

39.   Prince’s Fields. The prince’s grazing. This can be accessed from a steep ramp and gate leading to the Prince’s fort.

40.   Temple Court: paved with large stone slabs. In the centre is a statue of the prince.

41.   Along the main road statues stand on plinths each with an inscription celebrating a victory in the stadium in theatre.