WTFBT Expanded: Zilaidat

Zilaidat is a large city island in the northwest of Ihphy's Archipelago. In A Death at Dawn, Ser Bradberry notes that the island is named after Zilaidat, the deity of Ihphy, the goddess of the Sea. The High Mistresses govern Zilaidat.

Districts

There are sixteen districts: four central districts and three sub-districts in each main. Vermillion Valley is where most of the material goods are sold. Malachite Creek is an agricultural district. Platinum Quarters is the wealthiest district in Zilaidat, where the High Mistresses live. The Rogue District is the most populous and polluted in Zilaidat.  

Vermillion Valley

Vermillion Valley is also known as the Red District. Carmine Cascades, Amaranth Alley, and Mahogany Crafts are the districts inside Vermillion Valley. Carmine Cascades is the bazaar district for artisans. Tailors, rugmakers, jewelers, and merchants live in Carmine Cascades. There are also several hotels in Carmine Cascades. Blacksmiths have shops and live in Amaranth Valley. Mahogany Crafts is a district for woodcrafters.

Alizarin Port is the entrance to Zilaidat. The port is in the Carmine Cascades, so visitors can start shopping as they exit the ship.

Malachite Creek

Malachite Creek is also known as the Green District. Viridian Park, Sage Row, and Sanuvian Drylands are the districts inside Malachite Creek. Viridian Park is a public park commissioned by the High Mistresses. The park is known for its many massive fountains. Sage Row is the bazaar district where agriculture grown on the island is sold. Sanuva Drylands is the largest district in Malachite Creek. This district is owned by the Sanuvian people, who were the original people of the island. Sanuva Drylands used to be a barren wasteland during the Pollution Years, but it is now filled with farmland and a small fishing village. Sanuvians allow anyone to live and work on the land.

Platinum Quarters

Platinum Quarters is also known as the White District. Porcelain Hills, Shoppes at the Silk, and Silver Grounds are the districts inside Platinum Quarters. Porcelain Hills is where the High Mistresses live. The High Mistresses govern Zilaidat. Seven High Mistresses represent each district. Shoppes at the Silk are where the high-end hotels, restaurants, jewelers, and tailors are located. The Citadel of the Amazon, Shoal Temple, High Chapel of the Clouds, and Court of the High Mistresses are in Silver Grounds.

Rouge Area

The Rogue Area is also known as the Black District. Stygian Way, Smoke Stacks, and the Guilds are the districts inside Rogue Area. Stygian Way is where the low-end inns, taverns, and brothels are located. Stygian Way is known for its high crime rate. Smoke Stacks are known for the numerous smokestacks that pollute the area. These smokestacks power the entire city’s power. Zilaidat is the only area in Ihphy’s Archipelago that uses gases to make electricity. Since the smokestacks are in the Rogue Area, this district is the darkest area in the city. Platinum Quarters is the brightest area in the city. At the end of the Pollution Years, the High Mistresses voted on creating a barrier that stops the smoke from affecting the rest of the city. This has created a high death rate for the citizens who live in the Smoke Stacks. Numerous guilds are located in the Guilds sub-district. The Rogue Company is the largest guild in Zilaidat.  

Climate

Zilaidat’s climate is commonly dry. The last four moons of the year are the rain moons that usually bring a lush harvest for the Platinum Quarters and Malachite Creek. Acid rain falls weekly in the Rogue Area but does not affect the rest of the city.

People

The people of Zilaidat are a mix of natural-born Zilaidatians, the Sanuva, and immigrants from all over the world. The Sanuva are the only distinct ethnic group in Zilaidat.

Sanuva

The Sanuva were the first to inhabit the island, but they were initially from the Redgrass Region in Nempur. The Sanuva singularly worshipped Axone, which caused them to be discriminated against by the other ethnic groups in the Redgrass Region. Although the Sanuva now own the Sanuvian Drylands, a small population still lives throughout the island.

History

In 83 BI, Queen Ashae Sanu led her people to the deserted island of Zilaidat. The Sanuva people occupied the island for many centuries.

Around 329 EAE, an Arcan ship crashed in the Amethyst Sea near the island. The survivors swam to Zilaidat, and the Sanuva helped them build a new boat to return to Mystos. The Arcs returned in 331 with human slaves and forced the Sanuva to sign the Friendship of the Isle, an agreement that took half of the island from the Sanuva. The Arcs named their half of the isle Ormnaes, although the Sanuva people warned them that changing the name would anger Axone. In 340, the Arcs built the Wall of Separation, which is still up today, although crumbling.  

In 348 EAE, a disease spread through the island, wiping out the Arcan and non-Sanuvian human population. The disease was known as the Sanuvian Plague because the Sanuva people were unaffected. In 700, the Arcs returned to Zilaidat and decided to share the island with the Sanuva. The Sanuva agreed to be co-inhabitants in return for the Arcs teaching them the Arts. Instead, the Arcs taught the Sanuva people allure weaponsmith techniques.

In 705 EAE, the Arcs created the High Mistresses, a group of Valkyries, to rule Zilaidat for all. The High Mistress title was passed down to each elder High Mistress daughter once the girl reached eighteen. A High Mistress can adopt one as a protege if she doesn't have a daughter. There are seven High Mistresses: Maroon, Ochre, Saffron, Olive, Lapis, Cobalt, and Tyrian.

In 1000 EAE, Mistress Meira Olive adopted the first human as a protege to become a High Mistress. In 1020, Gwenerva Olive cemented her status as High Mistress, becoming the first human. Mistress Gwenerva was murdered by Arcs in 1037, causing humans to riot. With Ex-Mistress Meira’s help, the humans created the Fair Agreement, stating that humans have just as much of a right as Arcs to become High Mistresses. Susriel Olive became the second human High Mistress. House Olive is now known as the House of Humans.

While the Secession of Man was happening, the High Mistresses signed an updated Fair Agreement stating that Arcan ancestors could continue holding titles and that no one could dispose of the High Mistresses. House Saffron is the last of the Mistresses to have Arcan ancestry.

In 398 SM, Savant Heilo invented dim energy, a voltage created by burning fuel. The ability to control light indoors without fire was unheard of and became the main reason for its use. Being the first nation in the world to have dim energy, the High Mistresses held the invention in secrecy. By 403, Zilaidat had found itself in its Pollution Years. The Pollution Years lasted until 479 when the High Mistresses voted on creating a barrier in the Rouge Area that stopped the smoke from affecting the rest of the city.

Recent Events

A Death at Dawn

Ser Bradberry mentions Zilaidat in the last Gloriana Wayward chapter.