Imperial Ruins of the Ruined Forest

During the Algorand Empire, human settlements followed the coast with the hinterland mostly left to the elves in their lush forest. Imperial ruins therefore tend to be in the tidal and inundation zones and were flooded to depths of up to 500 feet. These floods did not proceed at a high speed so they did not level the towns and castles but the water did undermine and topple many structures and in places, constructions (especially in packed city streets) caused high flow rates that tended to knock many buildings. Eight hundred years later, most of the ruins consist of scattered upright walls except for the more stoutly built structures such as castles and citadels. Underground ruins are plentiful and generally in reasonable shape.

Highlights of Imperial Ruins

Hedeby Hedeby claimed a foundation date of 800, making it an ancient site. It was the regional capital during the Algorand Empire. The early Imperial citywalls had been maintained in far condition and still mostly stand at present but the town had sprawled far beyond the walls by the Cataclysm. Suburban ruins are in poor shape, mostly buried in tidal mud but the occasional cellar or well can trap the unwary. Within the city walls, notable ruins are the citadel fortress, largely leveled by with extensive dungeons, the temple district, and at the end of a long mole, the stump of the once great light house.
Gammelby Gammelby always played second-fiddle to Hedeby. In consequence, some of its wealthier citizens endowed the city with a range of public works far in excess of what is typical for a small provincial city, including a large public bath, three different triumphal arches, a large merchants hall and an academy. The larger public buildings retain standing walls to some height and the baths were so stoutly constructed that much of the archwork remains intact.
Welden and Vellinge Prosperous fishing villages during the empire but mostly made of wattle and daub. Little remains now except for some cellars and parts of stone piers.
Benlech This island ruin takes its name from the spirit Benlech, a famed healing spirit. Monumental galleries and hospitals were separated by well tended parks. Much of these grounds are still in good shape. Once the repository of vast offerings, the treasuries were looted hundreds of years ago, once people became convinced that Benlech the spirit was no more. Tales still tell of hidden treasure hordes, of course, and treasure seekers still visit the isle.
Farence Farence was once a retreat for Imperial wizards who wanted to get away from the academy near the capital to the northeast. A massive tower, once 200 feet tall lies mostly in ruins as do the lightly built guest houses. But the wizards on retreat still worked at their magical arts in the dungeons below and some of this magic may still lie within, awaiting the right adventurer to crack the seals.
Ladda and Elham Small towns upriver from the larger cities with Ladda somewhat better preserved than Elham. Both served the rural hinterland and neither had much in the way of durable construction that remains. The two towns look to travellers as hummocky earth with the occasional protruding column or cut stone.
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