Saldon is a small terraced mountain island that lies within the Eavon Ocean. The island is surrounded by a deadly, jagged reef of cliffs called the Daemon Chain, which must be traversed by a skilled navigator before the port can be entered. The main passage through the Daemon Chain is guarded, and huge chains can be dragged across the passage to prevent ships from entering in times of strife.
Saldon was founded in BD 144 by refugees from the Candor-Grandoyne War, and was accepted into the Dominions in DR 53. The name "of the Bells" is derived from the island-wide belltowers, which ring regularly throughout the day and give Saldon its time-keeping system.
Saldon was once a mining town where deposits of magic-resistant avertiis stone were found. The mines were tapped out by DR 230, and its cliffs are still riddled with unmapped tunnels and caverns. Despite the loss of mining income, Saldon's economy remained strong, as its beautiful location and convenient intercontinental port made it an attractive place for merchants and aristocrats seeking a vacation area. Its government is strongly centered around the aristocracy and the merchant class.
Saldon's terraces are, top to bottom: terCaraciel, Icanicas, Chela'an, d'Avenent, Lucerne, Haute and Base Hesiarchs, and Haute and Base Orphiel.
Saldon's Carillon University is also well-known, and a large part of the population consists of students and professors. The island has a very literate population capable of supporting several printing houses, including the island's news rag, The Saldon Herald.
Saldon is also famed for its glasswork. The sands are shipped in from Bahr al'Raml and mixed with deposits left in the mines. A popular belief is that Saldonian glassware will shatter if it touches poison. This is also why glass is used almost without exception in Saldon for drinking vessels; Saldon's assassin's guild is infamous throughout the Cognoterre.
Finally, Saldon's complete lack of marketplace regulation has made it a center of trade for items illegal in various other realms. Although Saldon has been ruled by a Lord for many years (see the List of Lords), it has been a long-established tradition for the ruler of the island to avoid making any permanent laws, rather issuing temporary decrees when needed. (See Saldon's Laws and Ringrules) Although there is a city guard, called the Swords, they are not as involved in day-to-day affairs as the guard in other cities.
Saldon mints its own currency, but its merchants are willing to accept most other standard forms of currency at a fair exchange rate based on metal, weight, and purity. The currency consists of 10 copper aes to the asimi, ten silver asimi to the orichalk, two electrum orichalk to the chrisos, and five golden chrisos to the platinum radiant.
Saldon is built on seven terraces that rise up the mountain's height. Each terrace is connected to the others by one or more large stairways constructed of pale phraetes. Buildings in Saldon are somewhat low, whitewashed and peak-roofed, tiled in bright ceramic, metal or glass. (See Saldon's architecture). All of the streets are cobbled, and each building owner is responsible for the maintenance of the street in front of his or her establishment. Thus, each building owner also has the right to tile that part of the street as s/he likes. This means that the streets of Saldon are a brilliant cacophany of color and style. The "noble" terrace, Icanicas, was tiled completely in glassteel. These tiles reverted to normal after the Theophany, and the Saldonian government has hired a number of mages to painstakingly restore it before too many of the tiles are destroyed.
Two palaces exist on Saldon. The palace on the summit of the mountain, on terCaraciel - the "Manse" - is currently owned by a private individual, and visitors are not allowed. Built entirely of the rare, light-drinking, magic-repelling black avertiis, it was finally abandoned when Magus Lafcadio carved the second palace inside the topmost cliff in DR 27. The second palace, or "New Palace," is mostly inside the top cliffs from terCaraciel to Icanicas, and extends into exterior buildings along Icanicas.
Summer lasts from Summer's Eve to mid-Harvest with temperatures from 70 to 90 degrees. A "sorceror's summer" lasts until Wraithwalk. Fall lasts from Fall's Eve to mid-Sunwane, with temperatures from 50-70 degrees. Winter lasts from Winter's Eve to the end of Shadowing, with temperatures from 20-45 degrees. Spring lasts from the Feast of Fools until mid-Stirth, with temperatures similar to those of fall. Breezes are strongest from Harvest to Sunwane. Morning and evening fogs are not uncommon. The storm season occurs from Stormbirth to Dawnstalk, with rain and hail, sometimes sleet
but never snow. (See calendar and holidays)
Saldon's major exports are its brightly painted ceramics, its glassware, marine-based poisons, and two drugs—a thick and creamy hallucinogen called stavin oil and a crystalline barbituate called lethe. Saldon must import most of its raw materials and food. The only reason it manages to support itself is because of its open, twenty-five-hour marketplace. No material good is illegal on Saldon, and pirates, smugglers, slavers and other underhanded dealers can trade openly here. Moreover, merchants can sell goods legal in one realm to other merchants in whose realms the same goods are illegal without fear of reprise. Finally, because Saldon's beauty and lawlessness tends to attract wealthy ex-mercenaries, it is also a prime trading spot for objects of rare beauty and enchantment.
The Mercantile, an alliance of merchant houses, runs the marketplace and takes about 20% of all money made there from various forms of taxes, fees, and rents. Of this profit, the Saldonian government takes about half. The city and Mercantile are careful to keep the markets safe and free from swindlers and cheats. To set up a stall in the markets, one need only register with the Mercantile and pay a starting fee of 10 chrisos, which is good for two months to a year, depending on the goods to be sold.
The price of food, drink and lodging is high in Saldon. Outside of the heavily guarded markets, theft is common. Saldonian natives enjoy pitting their wits against those of foreigners, and may mercilessly swindle or cheat a naive foreigner out of all of his or her wealth.
Saldonians bring to their food the same subtlety they bring to other aspects of their life. They particularly enjoy using wine and herbs in their cuisine. Seafood forms the staple of the Saldonian diet, but other meats such as minimal lamb, al-mi'raj, and chicken are eaten, as well. Saldonians do not care much for the stronger flavors of beef, ham, or venison.
"Saldonian style" indicates the use of a delicate sauce made of light white wine and a variety of savoury herbs. Baked fish, squid, and mussels are often made in the Saldonian style. When lamb or chicken are cooked by Saldonians, it is usually marinated, grilled or braised, and served on skewers with sliced vegetables. Some Saldonians eat their fish raw, often with a thin, sweet sauce poured over it. Fishing is an important part of Saldon's culture, and there is a smaller dock where local fishers keep their boats.
