D&D: Exandria’s Spired City – Jrusar
High above dense jungle rise five rocky spires that make up the city of Jrusar, where Critical Role, Campaign 3 takes place right now.
Critical Role’s Campaign 3 and the upcoming Call of the Netherdeep adventure will collectively open the doors to the continent of Marquet, a vast continent full of lush jungle, arid desert, and above all else, adventure.
High above the dense jungle of the Oderan Wilds, nestled in the Serpentwind Peaks, rises the capital city of Jrusar. The city is spread out over five rocky spires, built vertically rather than horizontally. Each of these five spires serves a different function for the capital city, allowing it to remain a bustling hive of cosmopolitan activity. These spires are:
Aerie Spire
The Aerie Spire is the tallest spire, and it serves as a hub of both learning and trade. It is home to two famous universities, whose reputation travels far beyond the shores of Marquet. The first of these is the Starpoint Convervatory, the destination of both Imogen and Laudna, while the second is Ascension’s Rise.
The Aerie Spire is also home to a skyport where skyships dock and bring in goods from around the world.
Core Spire
The Core Spire is the largest spire–though it is not the tallest. It is home to a variety of peoples and places. Walking its twisting paths, you’ll find goliaths, elves, orcs, genasi, halflings, the birdlike eisfuura, the catlike katari, and even the lumbering pachydans.
The Chandei Quorum, the main governing body of the Oderan Wilds of Marquet, conducts its business out of the Chandei Chambers at the very top of the Core Spire, where they try to provide the city with justice and protection.
A number of Halls and Houses and public spaces exist here, as well as the infamous Spire by the Fire Inn–a towering, six-story tavern built into the rock on the edge of the spire.
Lantern Spire
This spire gets its namesake from the Prakash Pyre, which burns brightly atop it. It is one of the main residential areas of Jrusar, and many live within subterranean residential tunnels that honeycomb the interior of this spire.
The Small Spire
The smallest spire, which sits northwest of the Core Spire is the industrial heart of the city–and it’s where you’ll find one of the artistic hearts of the city: Stuvan’s Dreamscape Theatre.
The city of Jrusar is unique owing to its verticality. This means it doesn’t have conventional sewers or roads–instead the spires are connected by bridges and gondolas running along wires. And in place of a traditional sewage system are downward-draining holes that empty directly at the base of each spire.
So stay away from the spires’ bases.
Happy Adventuring!
