Atur

Large City, Population: 12,600  

According to the Book:

  Also called the City of Night, Atur sits in the shadow of the Ashen Spires, near the great Karrn Falls that spill out of the mountains and flow into the Karrn River. The close peaks of the Ashen Spires, the constant mist rising off the swirling waters of the Karrn, and the oppressive brick buildings make for a place that has relatively short periods of direct daylight and consequently long nights. But the City of Night was named more for the fact that the place seems to come alive when darkness overtakes the land. With the city’s temple to the Blood of Vol (called the Crimson Monastery) and its massive Vaults of the Dead, where corpse collectors store the fodder for Karrnath’s undead armies, Atur has a defi nite connection to the twilight and midnight hours. A signifi cant portion of the population follows the teachings of the Blood of Vol and attends the daily rituals in the Crimson Monastery.   Otherwise, the City of Night has a rhythm and pulse that seems to increase when the sun goes down. Fest halls, taverns, theaters, and bordellos of all descriptions open their doors after dark and stay active until the sun struggles back up and over the mountains. For many visitors, the city seems to operate in a way opposite to the other metropolitan centers of the Five Nations. Everything appears quiet and deserted by day, but by night the various shops and businesses open to crowds of people.   King Kaius III maintains Nighthold, a retreat in Atur. He uses it when he wants to get away from the bustle of Korth, though he can hold court in the City of Night if circumstances warrant.