Lady Lava, 7/11/06, Great Lakes News Post: ~. The City of the Spider .~

It takes many to erect a city and even more to create a community. The City of the Spider is definitely about community. All one has to do is look at the buildings within the city and the rooftops with spider logos to realize that. The buildings vary from community meeting spots to a public library. As of July 2006 the city registrars office shows these locations as part of the city.

The Imperial Palace of the Second Empire of Armageddon:
Located at: 6o 47'N 58o 59'E
The Imperial Palace is the oldest building of the
City of the Spider. It once served as the Headquarters
of the Noble House of Viaxus upon the Exodus of
Qu'ellar d'Viaxus from the old city of Avernia. The
Imperial Palace features a large meeting area,
decorated in Bloodwood furniture, with an elevated
platform containing the Throne of the Crown of the
Second Empire of Armageddon. At the time of this
writing, the Palace serves as the Home of her
Highness, Empress Velturasa Viaxus of the Second
Empire of Armageddon, Valsharess del lil Che'el d'Orbb
(Queen of the City of the Spider), and Ilharess del
lil Qu'ellar d'Viaxus (Matron Mother of the Noble Drow
House of Viaxus). The Throne Room is used for the
general administration meetings of the Second Empire
of Armageddon, as well for the Court to entertain
Guests of Honor. Visitors to the Imperial Palace have
included The Grimm Omen (Lead Artist for Ultima
Online), Ren the Conjuror of the Royal Knights of
Redemption, Members of the Magestic Oaks Auction
Staff, Members of the Spirits of Wisdom Auction House
Staff, and many more. The Imperial Palace hosts a
collection of Animal and Monster statues upon the
rooftop, and an office of the Chamberlain of the
Second Empire of Armageddon on the bottom level.

*Imperial Palace*

City Barracks of Che'el d'Orbb
Location: 6o 57'N 60o 2'E
The City Barracks is the supply and rest area of the
Imperial Garrison that protects the City of the
Spider. It is equipped with a Large Scale Arena, with
second floor complete viewing, and is used for
official tournaments as well as training, or the
settling of conflicts within the ranks of the Imperial
Forces. The 3rd level contains the Office of the
Dragonlord General, Supreme Commander of the Combined
Forces of the Second Empire of Armageddon, as well as
community production and storage facilities.

Office of the Yathtallar of Qu'ellar d'Viaxus
Location: 9o 4'N 60o 15'E
The Office of the Yathtallar is used for personal
guidance and torture by the Yathtallar of the Noble
House of Viaxus. A Yathtallar is a High Priestess to
the Spider Goddess, Lloth, and First Daughter to the
Matron Mother of a Drow Noble House. The Yathtallar is
responsible for the execution of the Matron's will
concerning House Business and affairs, all the while
biding her time to perform the ancient ritual of
assassination upon the Matron Mother, in order to take
her place and rule the Noble House, according to the
wishes of Lloth, the Spider Goddess of the Drow.

Hall of the Gurtha Fea
Location: 8o 6'N 62o 17'E
The Hall of the Gurtha Fea is an establishment owned
and operated by Femori, of the Temple of Mondain. As
the Temple of Mondain, and its followers, are
respected members of the Second Empire of Armageddon,
as well as Charter Members of the First Empire of
Armageddon, they maintain a presence in the Capital
City of the Second Empire of Armageddon. Not much is
publicly known of the Gurtha Fea, other than they are
fierce defenders of the Faith of Mondain, and may be
derived from the elven race. Femori is reported to be
the Leader of these Elite Guardians of the Temple of
Mondain.

Public Forge of the City of the Spider
Location: 4o 19'N 58o 30'E
The Public Forge of the City of the Spider is a
meeting center for crafters of the Second Empire of
Armageddon. The Forge also supplies repair deeds for
visitors to the City of the Spider when a crafter is
not availible. All of the crafters of the Noble House
of Viaxus are named, "the Drow Elves," for the benefit
of the exceptional mark that is laid upon their goods
(A Kryss of Exceptional Quality crafted by the Drow
Elves).

*rachel of CFC, Kuan Ti and Lady Lava reading in the Hall of Matrons*

Hall of Matrons
Location: 4o 8'N 57o 9'E
The Hall of Matrons contains a Rune Library on the
first floor that is a rival of all rune libraries in
the multi-verse. Containing over 500 Runebooks, the
Hall of Travel is the best place for anyone seeking a
particular creature, attempting to train a skill that
requires travel, or tourists seeking to view the realm
of Har'dro Great Lakes (The Shard of Great Lakes).
The second level of the Hall of Matrons, the Hall of
Knowledge, contains selected works of players from
Great Lakes, stored for eternal benefit of those that
come to view them. The Hall of Knowledge also boasts a
complete collection of Britannian Books, as well as a
complete collection of some of the most rare texts of
the world.
The third level, the actual Hall of Matrons, contains
statues (in the form of vendors) of previous Matron
Mothers that have ruled the House of Viaxus. A short
description of their reign as Ilharess is presented in
front of them, and they are dressed appropriately to
the style of their time of rule. A collection of
recruitment books for different Guilds and
Organizations within the Second Empire of Armageddon,
as well as contact information for those groups can
also be found here.

City Crypts of Che'el d'Orbb
Location: 6o 15'N 56o 23'E
The City Crypts is operated by the caretaker, Virk'xik
Viaxus. The dead are commonly tossed into the crypts,
in whatever form they were killed. As the Spider
Goddess Lloth preaches that the ultimate weakness of
the Drow is Death, and that those who are dead are of
no use to her Will or the Living, the remains of the
deceased are treated with similar respect. Being
useless in death, very little effort is given to the
disposal of the remains, serving both as a punishment
to the deceased for their failure to live, and as a
warning to the living that failure in life will result
in such careless discretion of one's afterlife.

The Temple of Lloth
Location: 7o 34'N 56o 19'E
The Temple of Lloth is home to the Worship of the
Spider Goddess, and savior of the Drow Elves. When the
world was young, the Drow lived in the Swamps of the
World, until a coalition of Forest Elves, Humans, and
tiny peoples combined to wipe out the Drow Elves from
the face of the world. Being incredibly outnumbered,
the Drow inflicted as many casualties upon the
uncivilized tribes of the Evil Coalition, before
having to flee into the caves and dungeons of the
Underdark. Upon reaching the deepest creavices of the
Underdark, the Drow Elves forsook their original Gods
and Goddesses, who had failed them on the surface, and
were brought into the protection of Lloth, the Spider
Queen. Lloth teaches that Females are Superior to
Males, in all aspects. It is for this reason that Drow
Males are not permitted to serve in a capacity of
Priest to the Spider Goddess, as this privledge of
service is reserved only for the Females. Lloth taught
the Drow survival in the Underdark, darkening their
skin and improving their sight. Through the Magical
Ores in the Caves, constantly radiating the beings of
the dungeons. almost all Drow possess some Magical
ability of at least Adept level. Lloth teaches a
theory of purity of the Drow Elves, and Accelerated
Natural Selection. For this reason, Leadership is
often determined by who can keep the position before
being assassinated by their subordinates. Lloth
preaches Civil Obediance as well, in that All Out War
between the Drow is uncivilized, and Criminal. Only by
creating a plan of murder, successfully executing a
plan of murder, and not being caught for said
execution, can a Drow be rewarded in Life by the
promotion of their Station.
The Temple contains two elevated platforms for the
visitations of Matron Mothers, and Bench Seating for
all others. An Ancient Suit of Shadow Iron Platemail,
created by Mondain's Power, and the only one of its
kind, decorates tha Temple, along with 8 Braziers,
symbolizing the 8 Legs of the Spider.
Beneath the Temple is the Shrines to the Gargoyle
Virtues of Passion ad Control. The Gargoyles believe
that the enshrined spirits of Minax and Mondain
represent some benefit, in the form of the Passion of
Minax and the Control of Mondain. The Control of
Mondain benefits a soul by excercising control over
one's body, and control over the direction of one's
life. The Drow have extended the study of this virtue
in the excersise of Control of those around them, from
the Britannian High Council to the Clans of Tokuno.
Minax represents passion, in Art and the study of
Life. The Drow have extended this representation to
the Passion of Self Satisfaction, either through the
consumation of excessive alcoholic beverages, or the
satisfying revenge through the torture of one who may
have, or may one day, wrong you or your family line.

The Spider's Venom Tavern and Inn
Location: 6o 52'N 55o 20'E
The Spider's Venom Tavern and Inn is the second best
place of the City to contemplate the Gargoyle
Principle of Passion. Drink flows freely, and the
Bartender is reported to be in league with no one to
take your station by poisoning your beverages. The
Tavern is on the second floor, with stairs leading
down to an extensive Wine and Rare Alcoholic Beverage
Cellar, and stairs leading up to the Rooms for
overnight visitors. The Inn rooms are divided
according to station, with Royal Accomodations at the
end of the Hall, and a Broom Closet with a Bed near
the beginning. The Tavern is owned and operated by
Ithar'zah Viaxus, Weaponsmaster of the Noble House of
Viaxus.

The School of Necromancy
Location: 6o 57'N 54o 25'E
The School of Necromancy within the City of the Spider
is a learning institution for all Imperial Citizens.
The School specializes in advanced combat training for
Necromancers and Shadow Knights, as well as programs
and course studies for Imperial History, Sosarian
History, Rules of Engagement for the Art of War, the
Arts of Diplomacy, and much, much more. The
Headmaster, John Genesis, also assisted by his staff
of Imperial Appointed Professors, make sure that all
students of this institution become the most skilled
at their craft, or die and become learning subjects
for the next batch. John Genesis is reported to be the
best alchemist in the Realm, and will also sell
poisons of all kinds to help fund his insitution.

The Velg'larnen Guild
Location: 6o 52'N 52o 6'E
The Velg'larnen Guild Hall is owned and operated by
the Qu'el'Velguk of the Noble House of Viaxus,
Rhyl'drin Viaxus. The Guild is rumored to be one of
the best Intelligence Services within the Multi-verses
of all Multi-verses, with unconfirmed infultrations of
Feluccan Brigand Guilds, Malas and Trammel Merchant
Co-operatives, and anyone that presents some form of
interaction to the Second Empire of Armageddon. The
Files of the Velg'larnen are said to span back more
than a decade, to the original home of the Drow,
Neverwinter Nights.

Palace of the Governor
Location: 9o 25'N 53o 38N
The Governor of this Region, Zynith Viaxus, maintains
a well furnished, yet functional, Home within the
City. The Governor is responsible for general
maintainence of the Ordinances that Govern the City,
as well as defense of the City in raids by the
Brigand-like surface dwellers.

A brief city history by Velturus Viaxus.~

Che'el d'Orbb, (The City of the Spider) is the Drow Translation for the Phrase, "City of the Spider." The City of the Spider
is the Crown City of the Second Empire of Armageddon,
and home to many diverse Imperial Citizens.

The City of the Spider began with the Imperial Palace,
in October of 2004. The Imperial Palace then served as
the Headquarters of Operation for the Noble House of
Viaxus (Qu'ellar d'Viaxus - QdV), and was transplanted
from the old Feluccan City of Avernia, which was the
previous home of the Noble House of Viaxus. The entire
City of Avernia had been successfully transplanted by
November of 2005, comprising 6 Buildings. The City now
comprises 12 Buildings, with all the Amenities of
Civilized Life.~