From the high mountains down to the cliffs by the ocean, the district of Litux is one filled with mystery and legend. The towns of Kalyp and Snuk are busy ports, receiving and transporting ore from the mountains and goods from elsewhere. Fields along the shore are productive, and mines high in the mountains produce wealth for this land.
Towns and Cities
"Litux" Litux is the seat of Litux District.
The city of Litux is dominated by a place where none go, the Stone of Brinduil. It is said that a young girl saw visions of a great wall of water long ago and that she tried to convince her family that they must seek higher ground to survive. None believed her, until a series of “miracles“ brought about by her hand (the sun disappeared as she spoke, a rain fell from a cloudless sky, and several other smaller happenings) convinced the people. Those who believed stored food and clothing, then climbed to this highland area on the day that Brinduil spoke of. They watched in awe and horror as the town of Litux was swept away by a giant wave. In her honor, exactly one year after the disaster, the citizens replaced the food and clothing they had stored on the high area and then closed it as holy ground, where none may go.
There is a strong military presence in the walled city of Litux, with barracks for the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, and the Crimson Legion. Prisoners of the Imperial Army are sometimes brought to the Penal Camp in Litux, where they work off their sentence at hard labor, usually carting ore and working in the foundry.
For the most part, the citizens of Litux are pragmatic and hard working, with agricultural areas to the north, a booming dock and seafaring district along the river, and several trade companies working to distribute goods. Most of the buildings in Litux are made of stone and wood.
"Kalyp" -Kalyp, high in the mountains, is a mining town, with a sturdy, gruff populace. The mines here produce from what is called locally the “blue ore” or Vrol's Breath, which contains a mixture of copper, gold and silver ores (as well as some lead). In pockets, there are rich accumulations of turquoise and gemstones. Most of the ore mined here is smelted, then collected for the long journey to Litux. Many buildings here are constructed in part with blocks of dark basalt from a lava flow north of Kalyp that is locally called Vrol’s Steps.
The Temple of Vrol is constructed of dark basalt from Vrol's Steps. Miners make frequent visits to the temple to ask the blessings of the god on their endeavors, as well as to bring riches in donation. Rich chunks of the blue ore, called locally Vrol’s Breath, are often left in the temple. Like the temple in Snuk, this one has many pigeon holes along the side walls, which contain the donations from many miners, past and present.
The IAF outpost in Kalyp is notable because men are often sent here for training in cold weather and high altitude warfare. The Kalyp outpost is the home of the famous IAF Ski Patrol.
"Snuk" -Deep in the mountains, but fairly close to Kyronn, the miners of Snuk choose to send their ore and smelted metals down a steep and treacherous track to the water, where they are shipped to Adokon, rather than carry them through the longer, yet easier route to Litux. Perhaps for this reason, the people of Snuk consider themselves less a part of the Litux Province, and more simple members of the Empire. The easier route also passes near the ruins of Yertai, which is avoided if at all possible. It is rumored that spirits haunt the ruins there, drinking the blood of innocent travelers, just as the ancestors drank the blood of sacrificial victims. The folk here are hardy and strong. They are stubborn in their opinions. Buildings in Snuk are made of stone.
The Temple of Vrol in Snuk is an important center of community activity. Miners make regular donations of unusual ingots or gems that they find, so that Vrol will continue to bless their endeavors. The temple itself is constructed of sturdy granite, with low roof and simple columns. A rather plain altar area is outshone by the many offerings that are placed in pigeon holes along the walls of the temple.
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