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The North Bank

The North Bank refers to the neighborhoods of Chardon on the north side of the Chasa River
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The dominant geographic feature on the North Bank is Mount Nera, a long extinct volcano, with a conic summit peak of basalt and obsidian, rumored to be deeply magical. While the bulk of the mountain itself rises some distance from the river, a sharp spur runs north-south between the summit and the river, dividing the North Bank.

To the west (downriver) of the spur, the land slopes steeply down to a flat lowlands along the Chasa. Historically much of this area was dominated by paper mills, with several mill streams and canals cut to redirect water from the Chasa. In the present day, this industrial infrastructure has largely been repurposed for chalyte refining, though the area is still known as Ragwater Basin, though this is often shortened to just the Basin. The largest canal, the Mill Channel, now carries riverboats of raw chalyte ore from Voltara directly to the refineries for processing.

During the Great War and the Blood Years, the North Wall (Chardon) was built, running along the height of the Mount Nera spur, then cutting in two broad switchbacks west and turning in a broad sweep to encompass most of the lowlands, excluding the industrial Ragwater Basin. The Mill Channel runs through the middle of the walled area, exiting the walls to the west via a river gate.

Originally this area was devoted largely to military use. In the current day, the westernmost section of the walled area, near the river gate and towards the Chasa, is referred to as the Chalyte Levels and is a notable slum, with old barracks repurposed as low-quality housing for workers in the refineries. The slums that spill out of the walls, merging with the dirtiest parts of the Basin, are called the Riverside Quarter or just Riverside.

The central part of the walled area, known as the Bastion Quarter, and centered around the Merchant’s Gate, is richer, dotted with inns and taverns catering to the trade that enters the city from north road. Here the land begins to slope upwards along the spur of Mount Nera. As the land slopes upward, the Bastion Quarter transitions to the area known as the Summit Quarter, where respectable houses dot the streets and artisans make a living above the stink of the lowlands along the riverbank.

East (upriver) of the fortifications along the height of land of the Mount Nera spur, the land is hillier and dryer, and this region, known as the Nera Domains, is dotted with elaborate manors of the rich and prosperous.

Two major bridges cross the Chasa, connecting the North Bank to the bulk of the city to the south.
- The farthest downriver, connecting the Bastion Quarter to the Precinct VII, is the River Bridge, a massive arching bridge, with an enchanted mechanism allowing the middle section to be be raised for tall-masted ships to pass under, and wide enough for four wagons to cross abreast.
- Upriver from the River Bridge is the Chardon Bridge, marking the height of navigation on the Chasa, and connecting the Summit Quarter to Precinct VI.

These bridge crossings are supplemented by numerous ferries that dot the shores of the Chasa.