Aelcot

Also called the Floating City for it's unusual architecture, as the majority of the city is built on either boats or pylons sunk into the lake's floor. Although producing little material goods or wealth Aelcot is known for it's beautiful geography, deeply spiritual populace and a long history of civic and military service among it's populace. The administrative capital of its prefecture, Aelcot is the most advanced city in the northern sector of the Imperial Core.

History
Before the city was built, the area around Aelcot was sparsely populated, as it had was not strategically located nor contained much in the realm of natural resources. When the first Imperial Surveyors came across it, they only believed they would mark it's boundaries for the benefit of maps, but upon seeing the lake, the agents were struck by its beauty they wept at the sight of it. The first civilians to settle there were primarily pilgrims. Unfortunately, the lack of natural defenses and proximity to orcish migratory paths made the first settlements easy targets for raiding. In response, during times of raids, the populace would slip into the center of the lake and wait the orcs out. Realizing that a more permanent solution was in their hands, the settlements agreed to pool their resources and build a collection of boats and pylons in the center of the lake as real estate for the construction of a real city.

Current Politics
Currently Aelcot is being ruled (or occupied, as some have said) by Imperator Alion Sariande and his Glass and Steel Brotherhood.