Editing CordwoodEschaton (section)

=Eschaton=

'''Population:''' Approximately 150,000.

'''Government:''' The Triumverate, a three-person council, rules Eschaton. Each triumvir has control of a Shard, a distinct district which comprises one quarter of the city-state. They collectively control the Core, the central district of Eschaton. The Triumverate theoretically shares power with the Syndicate, a subcommittee of thirteen officials elected by the major guilds and merchant houses of Eschaton, but in practice the Syndicate is only a puppet organization. 

'''Defense:''' The primary defense force of Eschaton is the Capistrates, a hooded company of militia who serve the Triumverate. They function as the police of Eschaton but are notoriously brutal and corrupt. They are protected from their numerous enemies by oaths of secrecy and the demonic masks they wear under their hoods. Each Shard has several Capistrate precincts, but the quality and number of officers varies wildly from one to another. Each triumvir has their own company of Janissaries, also, but these elite mercenaries answer only to their one master and serve mainly as bodyguards and special agents. Some guilds and merchant houses have mercenary hirelings as well, but these hirelings are not particularly known for their loyalty or expertise. 

'''Inns and Taverns:''' Eschaton has a number of notable resthouses, each reflecting the character and subculture of its particular Shard. The Rusty Canakin in the Rookery is a shabby but large flophouse used by numerous transients and refugees. Jack Ketch's in the Cromlech is a well-appointed but fairly cold and grim inn that looks over a drop into the Big Empty. The Shattered Swords in the Fastness is a somewhat rough and tumble bar, but features good service and an excellent selection of drinks. The Vanner Hawk of the Core is probably the finest of several inns in the central district, being home to many friends and relations of the Syndicate.

'''Supplies:''' The major marketplace in Eschaton is the Guildhall, located near the exit from the Fastness in the Core. It is home to several stalls and shops owned and operated by the assorted guilds and houses of the city and is a miniature storehouse of artifacts from around the fading world. As a central center of commerce, it is constantly packed with an assortment of refugees, beggars, merchants, mercenaries, nobles, courtesans, and entertainers. The Rookery is home to a number of shadier marketplaces, including the Flea Market, a rooftop bazaar that specializes in slaves and blacklisted items. 

'''Temples:''' The only legal temples in Eschaton are those praising the Triumverate (known as hiakals), but the abundant refugee population and state of affairs has resulted in a large number of secret temples hidden in basements, back alleys, and old crypts. These concealed shrines pay homage to a wide variety of deities and spirits, but the most common ones are those dedicated to the Cabiri, the dead gods who disappeared over a century ago.