Arx Vesuna

The Savage Lands are known for unforgiving terrains and blood-baking temperatures, but tucked within the northern canyons is a pocket of reprieve in the form of a Lake Che'Huatl and its surrounding shores. But Che'Huatl lies at the base of the deepest of the canyons, and to reach it, one must pass through the Naga guarded gates of Arx Vesuna.

Carved from the very cliffs into which it is built, the fortress is a breathtaking testament to the skill and sheer will of the Empire. The one road leading to the stronghold is wide and paved with a unique variant of cement mixed from the dirt of the desert. It leads directly into the enormous arched gateway which guards the entrance into the canyon. The arch forms the mouth of a tunnel which empties into the main thoroughfare uniting the northern and southern canyon roads.

Directly opposite this thoroughfare is the main face of the fort, which is fully encircled by carved sandstone walls. The second inner gate is guarded on either side by towers. Due to its location at ground level, it is the easiest and broadest point of entry into the fortress. The second and third gates are elevated above the northern and southern roads as they branch from the main thoroughfare. Each opens at the end of a bridge connecting the fort to the canyon walls. The excavated chambers across the bridges act as auxiliary space for the fort and as housing for soldiers’ families and others who prefer not to live directly on the edge of the lake below. Once inside the gate, newcomers are shocked to discover a veritable paradise. The air is no longer dry, and greenery creeps up and along the heights. Taking either the southern, left or the northern, right roads will lead one down into the city nestled into the canyon’s bedrock.

Arx Vesuna is commanded by the Naga, who likewise make up the largest portion of its forces. As the dominant power in the lake valley, it was only fitting that they were granted command after Illian forces had successfully conquered the area and began construction. It is their duty to maintain order among the various peoples who now call the canyon home, at task which is frequently challenging due to the inevitably meddlesome interference of the capricious Efreet who feel that Che'Huatl canyon is as much theirs as the rest of the Savage Land deserts. But the majority of inhabitants, who do not see Arx Vesuna as an affront to the Efreet tribes, are grateful for the protection and order the stronghold offers.