Nyremi is the capital city of the principality of the same name. It covers the slopes of Mount Hyros, a small inactive volcano on the shores of Lake Hyros. The volcano is roughly three miles across, and towers about 1500 feet over the surrounding countryside. The city actually covers most of the mountainside, making for an unusual city layout – the main roads run loops around the slopes, gently curving up and down at moderate angles suitable for wheeled traffic, while minor streets tend to radiate out in roughly straight lines from these broad avenues. Minor streets tend to have a sharp incline, between 25*-40*, as do the many small ditches and culverts that serve as the city’s sewer and drainage system. Unlike many Keller Cities, Nyremi is not walled. There are guard towers at the major entrances to the city, each garrisoned by a large force of soldiers, but the city relies heavily on its army rather than fortifications. In addition to the guard towers, there is a small castle on the eastern slope of the mountain which houses the bulk of the mercenaries that make up much of Nyremi’s standing army. This keeps them away from the wealthy residents where they might offend the powerful, while placing them in a commanding position over the slums and main roads.
Nyremi has a relatively simple pattern to its residences. The flat regions surrounding the city are either farm fields or slums. The slums occupy the areas closest to the mountainside. Like most slums, they are crowded and dirty, and are inhabited by the poorest laborers, farmhands, dockworkers, and the indigent. The slums are rarely patrolled and can be quite dangerous at night. The only bright note is that the Prince Despot makes a daily allotment of free bread available to the poor, maintaining their fickle allegiance to his harsh rule. The lower slopes are home to the lower class residents of the city, mostly semi-skilled laborers, low-level merchants and shop employees, and the numerous workers of the artisan and trade districts. These neighborhoods are crowded, but not usually as dangerous and dirty as the slums. The homes tend to be in better repair, and there are working sewers of sorts. Most homes have small basements or are even constructed partially underground.
The higher slopes of the mountain hold the homes of the middle and upper classes of Nyremi; wizards, merchants, business owners, skilled craftsmen, minor nobles, and other sorts of people. Middle class residents have small houses or apartments over specialty stores, while the wealthy actually maintain various villas, manors, or small compounds. The upper class districts also host a variety of cultural centers – temples, theaters, a museum and art gallery, and various other such highlights. There is even a small college of thaumatology, the School of Ascendance, run by Komusta-worshipping mages. The middle and upper class neighborhoods are the first ones to directly benefit from higher mana levels – the main streets and many of the smaller ones are lit by “Continual Light” spells which are maintained and recast by the “Lamplighter’s Guild”, the only ones permitted to perform this task. The well-lit streets make this area much safer, and result in Mount Hyros having a very distinctive look when viewed from a distance. At this level, the various culverts of the city are continually filled by water flowing from magical springs – at this level they are drinkable, but lower down the mountain the water is quite dirty. Again, this system is maintained by the “Waterbearer’s Guild”. Large stone statues can be found scattered around the neighborhoods of the middle and upper class areas – locals tend to shun these statues, as they are actually dormant stone golems, maintaining a silent vigil over the city. These statues have not moved in living memory. A few are overgrown with weeds and vines, while others are draped with garlands and given small offerings by the superstitious.
At the very top of the mountain is the “Palace Rim”, site of the Nyremi Palace and various ministry offices. The palace is built adjacent to a small lake in the caldera, which has clear blue water and very high mana. This lake is surrounded by various governmental and military offices, and is a popular place to visit for those allowed access to it. The lake is surrounded by a score of large stone statues, the dormant stone golems of Nyremi. Unlike the ones in the neighborhoods down slope from here, these golems are well-maintained; they are awakened once a year and paraded through town as a display of power.