Bal' Aljani

"I stand awed by the Bal'Aljani's humility, deference, and desire for growth. I am disgusted by their brutal competitiveness and lack of compassion. And I am deeply saddened by their hatred, especially for themselves." - from the memoirs of Lewin Von Treet, Vault: the Land of Stuff and Things

City Description

Outcast from his home, beaten, bloody, and maligned by those who professed love for him, the Tiefling known as Nightloom once laid upon the dry, cracked dirt on which the city of Bal'Aljani would one day be built, and decided not to give up. He had spent his life hiding who he was from the world, and when the world responded exactly as his father always said it would, he escaped with his life, and barely that. For indeed the people of Jawhara have a storied history with devils and demons, and neither they nor their spawn were welcome in any of the three deserts in those days.

While the story of Nightloom is a long and fascinating one, for our purposes, all one must know is that the city of Bal'Aljani or "Reach for the Heavens" came about when he decided to rid himself of the sin that he believed accompanied him at his birth. To do so, he spent the remainder of his life attempting to reach the stars, where he knew the gods must surely dwell, in order to find forgiveness for who he was. And while he died long ago, having never achieved it, the people of Bal'Aljani continue the struggle to this day, building a tower to the heavens.

The city of Bal'Aljani is one massive tower, every year growing more and more towering, earning its namesake. The citizens of the city are in large part Tiefling and demonspawn, many of whom live in a constant state of self-dissatisfaction and shame. The building of the city into the sky, layer by layer, level by level, is not an expansion for the sake of glory or fortune; it is the dedicated service of religious absolution. Generations of individuals have given their lives to the vertical development of Bal'Aljani, and in so doing, have found something more than purpose. In the end, many hope they have found a way to make amends for their lineage. They hope to be forgiven for the sins of their parentage.

However, where there is shame and honest humility, there will always be those who will endeavor to benefit from it. Throughout its existence, Bal'Aljani has attracted families who seek the prestige of being literally above every other being on Vault. This has changed the once purely spiritual act of expansion into one of money, position, and blood, with the religious fervor as a coat of shiny paint to keep the zealots involved and happy. While the city towers ever higher, with the highest heights under constant construction and the lower levels being abandoned to populate the newly built additions, these families fight for construction rights, equipment, and new technologies in order to make their developments the most impressive. But fights are bad for business, and open warfare would be poorly received by those who are literally seeking salvation from sin. And so the families do not fight with armies. They fight each other with Shem-don.

The Shem-don are a class of warrior who specialize in combat amidst the swinging beams, floating stones, rippling tarps, and dangers of unfinished construction atop Bal'Aljani. Whenever a family has an issue in need of resolution, they send one of their Shem-don to battle to discern who has the favor of the divine in each dispute. The warriors climb to the the highest current part of Bal'Aljani, closest to the gods, and see who is cast down, away from their sight and back to the earth, from which sin originates. While any business or family may send a Shem-don to fight, the powerful families of Bal'Aljani keep a stable of the fiercest and most powerful warriors, and thus are often given favor by the gods, which suits both them and the faithful alike.

Tattoos are incredibly important to the people of Bal'Aljani. Tattoos tell the story of a person's life -- their struggles, their triumphs, and especially those things they have done to benefit the world. In this way, the Bal'Aljani people can reach their final resting place, either the stars above or the sands below, with a record of how they've overcome their nature to the betterment of all. Even those without devil or demonic heritage take part in the practice, and it is almost always clear to those who care when one is marking their bodies with a desire to show their humility, and when one does so to show their pride.

The Five Major Families of Bal'Aljani

Orimmir

The Orimmir family has built a reputation on the finest craftsmanship, the most prestigious facades, and ornate designs in all of Bal'Aljani. While every family strives for the prestige of building in the heights of the city, only the Orimmir dedicate their lives to its perfection. The Orimmir family is known to even spend resources on the city's lower levels to upkeep its beauty, especially where their own former tenements are concerned. And while such activities may sound philanthropic, the Orimmir are cutthroat in their acquisition of the best materials and artisans.

Dunjuun

Perhaps on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Orimmir, the Dunjuun family care little for building, and when they do engage in such activities, their constructions are fraught with mishap and malfunction. What the lack in building prowess, however, they make up for in brutality. They commonly manufacture controversy and conflict in an effort to force a reckoning between Shem-don of other families. The Dunjuun secret is that they pay for the very best Shem-don, and when they win their battles, they take whatever they want from the other families.

Kellees

Champion to the commoner and little folk, the Kellees focus their constructions on public works. Affordable housing, parks, bathhouses, museums and more. Unfortunately, the "more" in that scenario are brothels, gambling dens, and hazenfayde parlors. If there is a vice to be served, the Kellees serve it, even to the extend of less savory activities than even those listed. They have no moral qualms with leading people into destitution through a variety of means, but consider their efforts in serving the public in other ways as recompense.

Fallah

The Fallah family were the first family of Bal'Aljani to become ridiculously wealthy, and they never let loose their grip on that prestige. Their unseemly wealth is lavishly brandished at every opportunity, whether it's blatantly paying off political rivals or throwing parties that cost more for a night than many make in their lifetime. This opulence is a part of who they are, and their perspective on wealth is that those without it may as well not be alive. Thus, they care little for anyone who cannot support themselves, and have been known to be violent towards the poor.

Venatora

An old family who tracks their bloodlines back to Nightloom himself, the Venatora are the only major family of Bal'Aljani who still honors and holds dear the tradition of reaching for the stars and finding absolution there. As a part of their desire to honor tradition, they take the Shem-don very seriously. They are one of the few families who can stand up to the Dunjuun, but not because the recruit and pay well, but rather because they have attracted the zealots and true-believers, many of whom are as lethal as they are devout and mystical.

City Landmarks

The Roydion - one of the premier Shem-dom training facilities in Bal'Aljani, the Roydion is renown across Jawhara is the only place one can learn the "shift-touch" martial arts form, a form specially designed for the heights of the city.

Foundation Keepers - known locally as "Foundies" this citizen-run organization prides itself on helping to maintain and continue to build the lower sections of Bal'Aljani which have been abandoned by the major families. They also work against the influence of up-and-coming families who would seek to control what the others have built.

Twisted Horn Syndicate - the closest thing Bal'Aljani has to a governing body is the Syndicate which inspects and approves all new constructions. The fact that they cannot be bought off or bribed is borderline miraculous, as it ensures the city is kept safe as it grows.

Villains Elecarriages - similar to the lifts used in Sophivitas, the tungsteel built Elecarriages move people effortlessly up and down the city, negating the need for steps. There are more than enough to go around, and calling for one is as simple as ringing a bell and waiting. Villains, the woman who invented them, is still around, constantly trying to find her next big creation.

Loam Tavern - a known haunt of Shem-don of the highest caliber, one is just as likely to get into a fightfight at Loams as they are to enjoy a quiet drink. Many steer clear, but there are few places as exciting, or as violent, in the city.

The Scaffold Market - in order to meet the people where they are and cater to the wealthiest in the city, a constantly moving marketplace is built upon the scaffolding of recently created construction. Sellers are adept at navigating the difficult terrain, and zipping around across lines build among the heights to get people what they need.

The Chasm Spectre - in one of the many voids within the city, places where construction fell apart or was abandoned, leaving behind an empty section for hundreds of feet, there lives a spectral entity no one has ever identified. It float in the air, a beautiful and intricate pattern of lights and sigils, and doesn't seem to do anyone any harm.

Nightloom's Shame - beneath Bal'Aljani is the very place Nightloom was said to have made the decision to live. Many of the penitent and zealous make pilgrimages to this place beneath the city, and most see it as a holy place, if not a reminder of why they all bear their natural sins.

People of Note

Master Rajav - (she/her) Tiefling: the current headmaste of the Roydion, Rajav is a retired Shem-don and was never defeated during her day. She now teaches and has brought up many of the most renowned warriors in Bal'Aljani.

Villains - (she/her) Demon: having escapes from the Abyss, Villains has had a difficult time findin her place in the world. In Bal'Aljani she is accepted as a genius due to her works in magically manipulating tungsteel.

Quindell - (he/him) Tiefling: the current champion of the Dunjuun, Quindell is a brutal warrior who has changed the landscape of Shem-don by allowing no submissions and throwing his opponents from the heights of Bal'Aljani in full view of its citizens, where others may do so privately. Quindell believes his might is a sign that he will someday touch the gods.

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