The Dark Palace

[Thoracis]

Valshath d’ Isto - The Dark Palace. There were few buildings in Ettermire; few buildings in all of Althanas, really, that could stand up to the architectural and engineering genius that served as the very heart of Alerar. Floor upon floor of black marble extended above the Industrial Mecca of Althanas, a shadow upon shadows in the darkest city in the land. Black smoke poured from various workshops inside the Palace, a never ending reminder of the work that was being done, forever adding to the rancid smog that stayed afloat far above the city. It was a common quip among Aleranians to say that Ettermire was brighter at night then during the day, the lights and fires of the industry giving the city a brighter glow then the small amount of sun that could penetrate the smog during the day. The immediate area surrounding the Palace was kept fairly clean, but the further away you traveled the worse the pollution became, streets and buildings alike covered in the soot and ash of a steam powered city. Yes indeed, Valshath d’ Isto was the jewel of Ettermire; the twisted, dark, black onyx of Althanas.