Most locals can spot Ashlain by the crystalline tower that sits in the center of the township. This tower serves both as the administrative and military center as well as the primary bastion of defense during times of war. No invading force has ever successfully defeated the tower's defenses in its 63 year history. The tower, which is also known as 'ice fang' by locals was built about 63 years ago to duplicate the seat of administration in Ashlain's sister city Sylacauga, which was a northern coastal city. Sylacauga oddly enough is now better known as the dark city because it was one of several towns that fell victim to the disaster at Buckminster which left a wide area corrupted to this day.
The primary exports for Ashlain are citadel steel, rochan crystal and rama diamonds/wood. it is known that Ashlain is the only continental supplier of these three products as it's weather us just right to grow rama oaks, and it's numerous surface mines regularly churn up large amounts of high-grade steel and raw rochan crystals after torrential flooding that occur about twelve times yearly. There has been an unconfirmed rumor of a spot within the delta that churns up high-grade metals such as platinum, but no verification of this has ever been made. Local lore holds that for every diamond, piece of iron or, crystal that is removed from the earth something must be given in return; so it is not uncommon to find the town's miners dumping what they think to be equivalent exchange in lower-grade materials in the delta in the hopes of a better harvest.
At the current time The Ashlain township's standing defense force consists of at best a few hundred militia out of a population of about eight hundred, one would assume that this would not be enough but as more then one invading force has found, Ashlain is hard to attack due to the fact the actual terrain is largely interconnected islands on the Sanseveria delta with 'Ice Fang' sitting on one of the largest islands. This bridged approach makes it easy for the locals to destroy bridges to prevent enemy passage. The tower allows for immense observation purposes.
Using magic in ashlain isn't as easy as it would be in most places because your character has to attune to the ebb and flow of the energies within the lands of the township. Not to say you cant cast or use magic in general but it comes with some penalties if you dont spend a day or two attuning. Before you ask me oocly on furc, you only have to attune once then your set.
Non-attunement Penalties
+2 preps to all non-attack spells
+3 preps to all attack spells
- any energy storage or transver device item or object that would provide a single prep is rendered inert and refuses to respond.
- Attempts to draw in a type of energy from outside of ashlain's boundaries only works 50% of the time.
Terrain Details
Ashlain is an uniquely difficult place to surprise attack in fact it's a complete pain in the behind to attack in force...the town is sptread out across dozens of river-delta islands that have been each reinforced with wood and stone work, the tower happens to be on the largest island which at it's heart is a upheavial of bedrock, the islands are inter connected by bridges some being a sort of pontoon/canoe type while others are permanent stone work structures. Ultimately the land has no elemental dominance since there is equal proportions of all four elements, making it a nice neutral ground for pitched magical battles...
The gleaming crystalline tower is a thing of absolute beauty, however much like a rose this structure certainly has its thorns. While no one has actually ever see these vaunted defenses, the govnerment has sworn they are present, perhaps some day they will be more apparent but for now, the exactlingly maintained gardens and remarkable Tower are enough to distract many.
Land Area
20 Square Miles, 19.6 sq Miles developed or turned to gardens.
Building Elevation
15 stories (above ground, 225 feet /675 meters)
13 Stories (below ground, 195 feet/585 meters)
Protection
The Average wall thickness is 4.5 feet, with 3 layers; the outermost layer itself is pure seamless Rochan Crystal that is 3 feet thick. The inner 1.5 feet is a combination of Citadel steel and Bathra stones to make an interlocking inner shell that actually allows the tower to sway slightly with wind and be resistant to all but the worst earth quakes. The only down side to this construction style is the difficulty of repairs.
Movement
Hydraulic Lift (a less heavy version of the one in the armory (recent retrofit) and stairs.
In-Game Dimensions
The tower itself and the grounds occupies the whole map. 200x208