Kiyosima
Population: 85,200 (51% humans, 35% elves, 8% gnomes, 4% halflings, 2% other races)
Government: King Betrand Tremmald and Queen Leiastris Sulinya hold joint ruling over the Empire of the Sun in their separate seats of power in the Republic Diarchy of the Empire of the Sun. Lesser matters that regard the city specifically are often delegated to Representative Iaynore Suulmathin.
Defense: Taiyoken regularly patrol the streets of Kiyosima, however within the Shining District, there are many Sunstone gates that require the usage of basic Solarmancy, typically only given to Solshibos or higher political figures, and as such there are more Solshibos than Taiyoken within the Shining District.
Commerce: Almost all goods and services are readily available; including rare Sunstones if approved by the Empire. Many inns and taverns support travelers.
Organizations: Various artisan and shopkeep guilds along with coalitions of tavern-owners hold sway within Fairton Avenue, and a select few hold influence within the Horizon Ward.
Anyone can tell that Kiyosima is the capital of the Empire of the Sun due to several Sunblessed areas; cylinders of pure sunlight that rise beyond the clouds, making Kiyosima a conduit of the Sun’s glory. Cut beside a river, Kiyosima is surrounded by massive city walls, and just beyond them resides a flowing moat that encircles the entirety of the city; working almost as a path to get anywhere within the city for an evenly priced watercab. Kiyosima is considered to be one of the most magically inclined cities, as everywhere one looks, small feats of Solarmancy can be seen. Cobbled roads are lit by charged Sunstones that lie dormant during the day, the Sunblessed pillars often work as landmarks to find one’s way around the city, faint barriers of force lie in elegantly crafted torii which block areas with Solarmantic locks, and Solshibos can be seen patrolling the Shining District with lapels of Sunstones and faintly glowing weaponry.
A Focus on the Arcane
Much of Kiyosima’s focus is on scientific research of the arcane, specifically the usage of Solarmancy. Because of the culture surrounding Kiyosima and the Empire of the Sun, there are no large official temples set for Gods, and to be actively seen as a worshipper of a God often creates minor, silent judgement and tension as much of the city no longer relies on Gods in the slightest. The Golden Academy within the Shining District is a clear example of how focused the Empire of the Sun is on progressing their research into Solarmancy. Fitted with massive grounds for magical training and spell-testing, along with libraries and campuses for researchers and students, the Golden Academy is often seen as the pride of the Shining District beyond Taipono, the Palace of the Sun. It is a great honor to become admitted or researching within the Golden Academy, and there are always whispers of unrest within Fairton Avenue as the Horizon Ward is directly North of the Golden Academy, and as such, always closer to getting recommendations to those who are in Fairton Avenue.
Taiyō Unrest
Although much of Kiyosima is based around Elvish and Human relations, their districts are geographically separated, as much of the Elvish population lives within the Horizon Ward, directly north of the Golden Academy, and much of the Human population, who call themselves Taiyō, lives within Fairton Avenue, more separated from the Shining District with the Fairgrounds separating them further. Although the Shining District noble housing is relatively mixed and integrated, much of the common folk of Kiyosima still prefer to keep within those who they are similar to, and it has often become the subject of racial tension and Elvish bias in the location of the Horizon Ward. Although there have been attempts for further integration, not much has been done other than the development of the Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds is just beyond Taipono and the transitioning space from Fairton Avenue to the Shining District where events, fairs, holidays, and city meetings are hosted and attended by every Noble house; Elvish and Taiyō.
History
Kiyosima was established in 421 AR (Age of Reconstruction) roughly 4,000 years ago, founded on Heart’s Stone, a temple that was used to summon Corellon, the Archeart to destroy the Traveler, the mageslayer entity that had brought ruin to the Fae-Arnadien. The temple was a strong spiritual place, and the lands around it were blessed from Corellon’s steps when they did come to the material plane. Rumor has it that most bountiful fields of wheat are in the shape of Corellon’s feet if one were to look from above. Although the Heart’s Stone used to be the subject of lectures and important history of Kiyosima, this has changed since the development of Solarmancy, where historical religions become more an object of the unimportant past. However, because of this history with Corellon some Elvish figures, primarily the Faeserin, still believe that the land belongs to the elves because of it.
When Kiyosima was created, this Empire was designed to be a bridge for Elves and Humans alike. As such, Taipono and all the governmental buildings were built by two architects that worked together; the Human architect Laegreth Zundaffa and the Elvish architect Luqen Elmkind.
When Kiyosima was in the beginning stages of its growth, there were laws and policies that essentially enforced integration of both humans and elves to live together, most notably the Integration Proclamation. However this was received incredibly poorly as human and elvish lifestyles differed drastically, and many fights and riots broke out in protest of these rulings.
Eventually these rules and the Integration Proclamation were abolished in favor of less restrictive laws regarding living situations, and this caused the Elvish population to largely live separately from the Human population, who had begun to call themselves the Taiyō. Even after this, there was a minority of Elves and Humans who preferred to live integrated, and although it was technically legal to live within the Horizon ward with the Elves or within the Fairton Avenue with the Taiyō, it was often met with judgement and discomfort. In response to this, the 12th human monarch, King Gradold Luudzan, allowed for the purchasing and owning of floating property in 1,390 AR within the Golden Moat, creating the Watertop District; an amalgamate of a variety of gnomish, Taiyō, and Elvish cultures. Many of the floating homes within the Watertop District were built with a mix of Elvish elegance and Taiyō robustness, akin to how the city was initially designed to be.
However much of the culture of Kiyosima changed dramatically in 4,881 AR when Mydira Goldstamp discovered the secrets of Sunstones and pioneered the first Solarmancy spell. This caused a massive shift in culture, leading to an exaltation and leaning towards everything scientific and arcane. What was previously a part of the Shining District was completely changed to become the Golden Academy, where Solarmancy was being applied in every way any individual could think of. This sudden shift caused the Castative branch to nearly triple in power, heavily tipping the scales of power toward the Elvish side of the government.
This sudden change caused old bouts of mistrust and hostility to begin to boil over, and there was an active resurgence of the Faeserin and the Cruor Claws, both organizations extreme supremacists, who both became active and practically public in the streets of Kiyosima. This strong tipping of the balance towards the Castative branch in addition to the position of the Golden Academy being much closer to the Horizon Ward, outraged many Taiyō, and Kiyosima nearly fell into a civil war during 4,885 AR.
Despite this, King Naidor Golndurin, often referred to as the Gold Prince because of his apparent youth and charismatic nature, managed to quell much of the distrust and hostility by empowering the Taiyō side of the government through the colonization and establishment of alliances with Ketch and the Ballast, which had notoriously ignored the Empire’s advances prior to this, and by establishing the Fairgrounds.
The Fairgrounds destroyed the Heart’s Stone, and instead acted as a meeting point for all of the noble houses and peoples of Kiyosima, where all noble houses were required to be present during Kiyosima holidays; where Taiyō and Elvish history was celebrated. The destruction of the Heart’s Stone was something that everyone had expected, as clerical guilds lost popularity incredibly fast as Solarmancy was discovered, and it wasn’t long until all clerical guilds had lost governmental funding.
Furthermore, the recent ban of necromantic magic in 5,417 AR has completely dispelled the few clerical figures that were attempting to pick up the pieces of the defunded temples and clerical guilds, causing great unrest and hostility in those who have faith in the Gods because of the Empire’s apparent lack of faith. Many of these people believe that Kiyosima, and subsequently the Empire of the Sun, are a godless people and will eventually be damned, as Kiyosima was founded on the Heart’s Stone. These religious and clerical zealots call themselves the Cor Meum, and believe that they can bring Corellon back to the material plane and humble the world with his true power and presence.
Now the year is 5,421 AR, and the Empire has its 12th Elvish monarch and it’s 58th Taiyō monarch, and although tensions between Elves and the Taiyō are not as tense as the time during the discovery of Solarmancy, scientific and arcane research has become the object of fame and wealth, and because the emergence of Solids Elves that appear to have a natural inclination towards such arcane research, there are whispers of unrest within the Taiyō population that the Empire of the Sun will soon follow the footsteps of the Fae-Arnadien, just this time with a new coat of radiant-colored paint.
Fairton Avenue
“Walking through the Southern gate of Kiyosima, I wasn’t expecting cozy maple and cobblestone buildings hugging the corners of cobbled streets with arches and gateways fixed between their neighboring buildings all surrounded by a constant buzz of murmuring, shouting, talking, and general hustle and bustle. This place felt more alive than the dense jungles I had traversed! Many disregarded my presence, everybody was always going some place or doing something, and quite a few bumped into me or I had blocked their path; but it was always followed with a smile, nod, and a few words of polite greeting and apology. The people here are so polite, and everyone has something to do but they are helping each other do it! The baker knows the mason, the mason knows the fisher, the fisher knows the farmer, and they all are willing to connect and share messages and goods! I never knew people could be this cooperative, let alone friendly!”
– Journal entry #33 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
Fairton Avenue is located on the Southern side of Kiyosima and is where the majority of the human population of Kiyosima, the Taiyō, reside. Its buildings are largely made with utility and coziness in mind, and as such, are made with a variety of stones, thatches, and woods; creating a mosaic of uniquely built and structured houses, taverns, guildhouses, and shops. On the East and West sides of Fairton Avenue is where one would find the majority of Taiyō housing. Although there is some semblance of separation between the neighborhoods in these locations, it is often very hard to tell as the buildings are packed together tightly, and the people are usually as close to their neighbors as much as the buildings are packed together.
Many of the families of the Taiyō have been here for generations, and tend to be incredibly friendly to outsiders and travelers that come through Kiyosima, which tends to be more frequent as the thoroughfare that leads to the South gate is often filled with caravans carrying imports from Bhureaht or the Finelía Forest. Although many of the families believe that all sentient races are equal, many still harbor mistrust and faint hostility towards the Elves within the Horizon Ward, believing that they have too many privileges from the government.
Although very busy and filled with people, Fairton Avenue does see quite a bit of Taiyoken presence, as there are always patrols down the various alleys and roads of Fairton Avenue, ready to break up fights and clear roadways for carriages that may be coming through the South gate. However Kiyosima is a big city, and the Taiyoken can never truly be everywhere at once.
Thoroughfare
In the center of Fairton Avenue is the Thoroughfare, a loud, busy intersection that is filled to the brim with shouting vendors, bargainers, and sellers that leads directly to the Fairgounds. The side buildings on the Thoroughfare are a hot commodity, as they are in constant view of anyone who comes through the Thoroughfare for their daily produce, or better yet, for adventures making their way with fresh coin. However, unless a family has owned one of these buildings for generations, the majority of vendors and sellers set up shop in the Thoroughfare itself, every day a flea market filled with fresh goods and new services for sale.
Downtown
On the sides of the Thoroughfare is what is colloquially referred to as Downtown, where one can find quieter taverns and shops, as well as a variety of artisan guilds, reformatted townhouses, and the occasional brothel. Although Downtown is not nearly as destitute as the Watertop District, there is considerably less coin flowing through Downtown in comparison to the shops and vendors in the Thoroughfare.
The Slab
As one gets closer to the Eastern Watertop District, and near the edges of Eastern Downtown is where one can find the Slab. The Slab is a guard and jailhouse, and it is where minor criminals are put to jail, if they are not sentenced to High Prison in the Shining District. Although it’s technical name was the Fair Guardhouse, the name never truly caught on as everybody colloquially referred to it as the Slab, due to its incredibly drab stonework with a simple, flat roof. As such, even guards and nobles refer to it as the Slab.
The Faircourt
As one gets closer to the Western Watertop District in Downtown, one can find the Faircourt, one of the very few governmental buildings within Fairton Avenue. In this courthouse, local legal matters, rulings, and trials are held primarily by Lawbearer Dazmet Fosred, who originates from a long line of Lawbearers that prefer to stick to the Faircourt as opposed to The Royal Court within the Shining District.
The Horizon Ward
“I’m not sure what I was expecting after stepping off the watercab into the Horizon Ward, but it certainly wasn’t what I saw. I could practically hear my own heartbeat and ringing in my ears, the place was so quiet. As I walked the spacious and neatly organized roads I scarcely saw more than a handful of Elvish figures that only regarded me with curt and dry responses. Whereas the Taiyō seemed to take and borrow from every neighbor, I could tell that this was not the case here. If I had a piece of chalk I could draw the lines of where a neighborhood started and ended. Just as I entered I found a variety of homes that were built out of several trees grown together, the foliage and leaves still growing but woven into windows and walls, and separated by this wide street were ashlar granite walls, behind them grandiose homes with slanted roofs that had cyan tiles with mahogany between gneiss pillars. These neighborhoods were beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but it felt almost empty; like everyone was somewhere else.”
– Journal entry #35 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
The Horizon Ward is directly North of the Golden Academy and subsequently the Shining District, and houses nearly all of the different Elvish populations of Kiyosima. Although High Elves take the majority of the population, there are also communities of Soldis Elves, Wood Elves, and even a few Eladrin. Each neighborhood in the Horizon Ward is distinctly separated so that Wood Elves all live together, Soldis Elves all live together, and so on; and as such the aesthetic and the feel of each neighborhood drastically changes from street to street. Wood Elvish neighborhoods tend to be more rustic, dotted with natural lawns, trees, and ferns whereas Soldis Elvish neighborhoods tend to be more spacious and allow for multiple areas where natural light is abundant.
Although the Horizon Ward primarily contains living spaces for Elvish figures, in each neighborhood one can find a tavern, a general store, and one other artisan guild that is more specific to that culture. Many of the families that are within the Horizon Ward tend to only go to their neighborhood store, tavern, or blacksmith if they can; and it is considered rude to visit another neighborhood’s locales unless their neighborhood does not provide those services. This can be seen with the Wood Elvish neighborhood’s Madaran Tree, a massive tree that has been fashioned through arcane and druidic means to house the Sleepy Sap; a quaint bed and breakfast at the trunk of the Madarn, Lightfleet’s Saw; an artisan guild of woodcarvers and wandmakers, and Amber’s Vault; a store run by the same generation of Wood Elves that have basic supplies and more uncommon supplies that would be more valuable by Wood Elves.
Since the Horizon Ward is typically a rather quiet locale, there are notable fewer Taiyoken, and as one gets closer to the Golden Academy and the Shining District, there are notably more Taiyoken and even may be accompanied by the occasional Solshibo that have wandered out of the Shining District for one reason or another.
The Golden Street
The most Southern region of the Horizon Ward is the Golden Street, a space where one can find the majority of the denizens of the Horizon Ward during the day. As many of the Elves and Taiyō wish to eventually move into the Golden Academy and find their way in their ranks, the Horizon Ward took advantage of their proximity to the Golden Academy to create the Golden Road, a series of bars, theatres, and other locales that tired students, scientists, and teachers often visit during their time at the Golden Academy when they are not researching or teaching.
The Watertop District
“I had originally thought that the moat was primarily used for transportation from one end of the city to another, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the moat contained a small vibrant part of the city community as well! If there was any place for an outsider to dine locally, the watertop district was certainly it. Just from a quick jaunt I found myself bombarded with the lovely scents of fried rice, sizzling yakitori with a handful of Tanryst chili peppers roasting on top, and warm pupusas topped with melting cheese. I could very well find myself roaming these floating houses and drifting taverns all night long, as it seems this is truly the most integrated part of the city! It seemed my awestruck eyes were perhaps a little too shiny, as I did find myself being offered something called Syphisalts more than once before their seller dipped between corners and faded from sight. I know not of this substance, but I think it’s safe to assume that it is hardly legal.
Similar to Fairton Avenue, each raft had all of its buildings connected, made entirely of cheap driftwood with a variety of arches and connecting structures crafted with Elvish elegance, along with stout and strong Dwarvish bases that lifted the buildings, and ingenious Gnomish mechanisms which dotted the sides containing various pulleys and platforms that can take one to any level of the complex amalgamate of buildings on just one raft. I felt like every foot of space was used in some capacity; and if I looked hard enough I could find another dive-bar nestled between two doorways, boiling ramen with bloodhawk eggs and Empire tamales twenty percent cheaper than the guys downstairs! My people prided themselves for making such advancements in technology and magic; but we really could’ve taken notes from the Watertop District!”
– Journal entry #34 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
Surrounding the entirety of the Kiyosima just beyond the city walls is the Golden Moat, a moat that has been redirected from the Heart’s River to the West to be in constant flow around the city for protection, plumbing, and other uses. Up until 1,390 AR it was illegal to have any buildings along the moat but that changed with the human King Gradold Luudzan, in which he had established it legal to make floating homes and establishments on the moat. This created the Watertop District, where gnomes, halfings, dwarves, half-elves, and other races that didn’t quite fit into the Horizon Ward or Fairton Avenue flocked to. Many Taiyō and Elves that wanted to live integrated but were not part of any of the royal families have taken refuge within the Watertop District as well, and as such, the Watertop District has truly become a melting pot filled with culturally diverse food, taverns, and housing.
One can find partially submerged housing that Groustaoir or Water Genasi have taken a liking to, precarious nest-like buildings that few Aaracokran or Air genasi have resided in, or stout Dwarvish buildings with elvish elegance and human robustness built into the designs. The Watertop District is one the most accepting places to all manner of people, no matter their background or cultural styles.
Due to the mix of Elves and the few lineages that prefer to be more night-dwelling or lack the need to fully sleep, the Watertop District never truly sleeps as well, as there are always places with lanterns lit and welcoming in all manner of folk. That being said, the Watertop District is largely the most impoverished and destitute in comparison to the other districts within Kiyosima. Without clear cut boundaries nor neighborhoods, it is always incredibly difficult for taxes to be collected from the driftwood houses and properties; most of which have been abandoned and retaken multiple times over several centuries so the true owner is never understood. As such, there are a number of unsavory folk that take refuge in the chaos and ever-moving Watertop District so that they can evade the law.
Furthermore, because of the requirement of Watercabs to get to most of the Watertop District housing and neighborhoods, and the fact that they are in a constant state of flow and movement, makes it less than ideal for a Taiyoken to do their rounds within the Watertop District. To add more to this conundrum, many Watercabs are bribed to take their time when taking Taiyoken to certain locations in the Watertop District so certain groups can clean up and scatter before inspections take place. Although the Watertop District is filled with cross-cultural diversity and a wide variety of peoples; its unique location proves to be immensely beneficial to those who wish to partake in less than legal activities. Although the Tribunal’s presence is not as strong as it was before Solarmancy was discovered, they still fester within the shadows and can most easily be contacted through finding the right people in the Watertop District.
The Golden Academy
“Well I found where everybody was, or at least wanted to be. I didn’t want to test my luck, but just looking through the gates sitting with a drink in the Golden Grin on the Golden Road at the Golden Academy, I had a feeling of what everyone wanted in this city. Everyone had a sparkle in the eye when looking over at that campus, and why wouldn’t they? The buildings were elegant, with intricate filigree that sparkled like the Sun with those Sunstones they speak of embedded into torii that project fields of force to stop underclassmen students from entering research halls. The stark white and gold uniforms made them look like they were royalty and they walked around like everyone knew them and respected them. And it seems everyone does! I’m sure they’ve all seen these drills a thousand times, but watching these Elvish students, these incredibly youthful but talented kids, draw raw sunlight from their Sunstone pendants and shape it into whips, bolts, and blasts that leave radiant singes on wooden dummies with projected illusions atop their husk? I can’t help but understand these citizens in the Horizon Ward. Who wouldn’t want to sit amongst their rank, slinging the sun like it’s nothing? They even revere the few human and gnomish students as well! But alas, although a nice sentiment, it reminds of our follies as men, and I surely hope they won’t repeat history like my people had done so long ago.”
– Journal entry #36 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
The shining jewel of Kiyosima is the Golden Academy, which sits outside of the Shining District with four Sunblessed pillars at each corner of the campus; creating brilliant beacons that stretch to the sky to remind the people of the wonders of Solarmancy. The Golden Academy is the place where Solarmancy research is composed. Comprised of lecture halls, training grounds, and scientific studies; nearly every building has a glass or crystal ceiling so sunlight can always filter into the building to further bolster Solarmantic spells.
To be enrolled in the Golden Academy, as an Empire student, scientist, spellscribe, or even better, a training Solshibo, is one of the greatest honors within the Empire. Not only does it ensure a literal bright future, it generates respect and wealth as anyone with anything to do with Solarmancy is always offered a place within the Empire of Sun’s rank.
Although 64% of the researchers, spellscribes, students, and teachers within the Golden Academy are some form of royalty, anyone can technically join the Golden Academy; however the entry process is incredibly rigorous and intensely competitive. Individuals have to score incredibly high marks in mental faculties, have personal recommendations, and the system highly favors those who can actively practice arcane magics; even though the Golden Academy also teaches such magic. Additionally, loyalty to the Empire must be incredibly strong, as Solarmancy by in large is restricted to only those within the Golden Academy and it is illegal to produce or replicate Solarmancy spell scrolls of a higher lever; which can be punished by decades in prison or even high treason to those who have attempted to sell or recreate high level Solarmancy spell scrolls.
Although patrol is high within the Golden Academy, all of the buildings within the Golden Academy are akin to the Shining District in that the majority of them are not locked in the traditional sense, but instead all require some manner of Solarmancy to be casted for entry. All of the doorways and torii gates are subtly enchanted to only open when ornamental Sunstones are charged with Solarmancy, some gates and doors requiring higher tiered Sunstones to be opened for head researchers or Solûns.
The Shining District
“I never thought I’d have to break my promise so soon, but I had to see what all the buzz was about in the Shining District and the Solshibos and Taiyōken made it very clear that if I had did not have a tie to one of the royal families, I was not getting inside! The city was grandiose, but the Shining District was even more so; marble roads, mahogany and granite buildings with Sunstone detailing and filigree with beautiful tapestries of amber and gold! This had to have been the ideal, what the city was meant to look like. The whole housing district was all completely integrated; Taiyō and Elvish families living next to each other with buildings of slanted and tiled roofs with royal crimsons, robust pillars of polished and carved slate, and raised pavilions and gardens with decorative gateways that showcased a combination of the two architectural styles, made in the same light of the palace! With dotted ostentatious taverns and lavish theatres, I wish I could’ve expressed my awe and wonder to the nobles that walked the streets of this district but alas, I knew my invisibility would fade before I could hold a real conversation.”
– Journal entry #37 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
The Shining District is the district where all of the various noble families can be found within Kiyosima. When Kiyosima was first established, and the Empire of the Sun made its plans for a Human and Elvish diarchy, the noble families were established and were meant to set the example for the rest of the citizens and migrants coming to Kiyosima. Although the new citizens that were not nobility did not fall into the example of the Shining District, they have still held strong as an integrated nobility that does not care for Elvish or Taiyō differences. Instead the Shining District has become a place of political grace and rumors. Everything that any noble does is public, out for discussion, and constantly debated within the noble circles. Since the nobility of the Empire of the Sun is exceedingly hard to marry into, the families and clans; their history, business, and general personality have been hammered and chiseled into a perfected state that all nobles must abide by. To act against one’s family code and crest is considered scandalous and immoral, and many younger nobles find themselves exhausted by the performance they must continually act in the ever-judging Shining District.
To enter many governmental buildings within the Shining District requires a Sunstone or a Sunstone Signet Ring, as many of the torii and doorways are locked with basic Solarmantic enchantments that require fundamental Solarmancy spells to be casted through Sunstone Signet Rings or Sunstones themselves to open.
The Royal Courthouse
On the Eastern side of the Shining District is the Royal Courthouse, a courthouse that only holds trials and legal matters against cases that are akin to murder or high treason. The Royal Courthouse is a multi-tiered, ornate and traditionally crafted courthouse made of mahogany and marble with golden and sunstone detailing that dispels all magic upon entry, and although it is not often used, it is a very public event if a person is ever put on trial in the Royal Courthouse, and Grand Lawbearer Allucina Felaurian has to take the gavel and give her ruling.
The House of Lords
On the Southern side of the Shining District is the House of Lords, where legislation is written, debated, and amended by the various lords of Hiyokuna Tochi and those who are under Empire rule. Representative Iaynore Suulmathin is usually the voice that begins such debates on legislature, and is often the one who calls the most meetings and debates to the various lords so that they can discuss what is best for the entirety of the Empire; not just Kiyosima.
The High Prison
On the Western side of the Shining District is the High Prison, a prison that is designed specifically to strip away magic and keep those who have done the worst to the Empire locked up for years and years to come. The outside of the High Prison looks akin to a simple marble building, however upon stepping inside, the High Prison has several enchantments to make the High Prison nigh impossible to escape.
Firstly, the High Prison has three layers, the third layer being a layer of utmost secrecy that only the Queen and the highest ranking Solûns are aware of. The first layer is an extradimensional space that one enters when stepping foot into the High Prison. On the outside the High Prison looks only to be two stories high and looks to house a hundred or so prisoners, however on the inside the High Prison expands greatly and reveals that there is no outlet to the outside world other than the gateway to exit the High Prison which requires a modified Sunstone that only Wardens carry. In this first layer of the High Prison, many call it the Void, as it is darker in comparison to the rest of the city, with little to no ambient light, and absolutely no natural light. The Void can hold several hundred prisoners.
The second layer of the High Prison is the Panoptican, which requires three Wardens to speak three separate runic phrases that are changed weekly to open the gateway to the Pantopican. The Panoptican has one central tower that the Wardens have access to, and surrounding it is a circular prison, where each cell is spacious, but magically lit from all walls, so there is absolutely hiding. In addition to this, the wall of the cell facing the central tower is magically reinforced crystal; so the prisoner can see the blindly bright tower, but not who is within. Because of the way the Panoptican was carefully constructed, none of the prisoners can ever tell if someone is within the central tower, and none of the prisoners can see any of the other prisoners. The three wardens that contain the runic phrases are the only three wardens allowed to enter into the central tower, and their cycle of who is keeping watch is a closely guarded secret and they are personally chosen by General Godric Gloryrunner.
The third and final layer of the High Prison is a well-kept Empire secret that only a handful of Solûns and the Elvish monarch know. The final layer of the High Prison can only be accessed through teleportation and holds criminals who were sentenced to death or life in prison. The final layer is deep underground and it is where the Bloodmines exist. When Corellon had defeated the Traveler, the Mageslayer deity, a portion of his celestial body was ripped and shunted away from the Mageslayer deity as an act of petty cruelty. This mass of celestial flesh has been found deep underneath the Empire, and when the gnome who discovered Solarmancy, Mydira Goldstamp, had found it; she pioneered the first Sunstone, which requires celestial blood to manufacture. The Bloodmines are now a place where the criminals that are forgotten or dead are placed into for the rest of their lives, mining and extracting the volatile celestial body of Corellon, to harvest its celestial blood for the creation of more Sunstones.
Taipono
“No matter where you looked in the city, you could always see the Taipono, this Palace of the Sun. Surrounded by those four pillars of sunlight on each corner of the sacred grounds, even during the night, it glowed in the same radiance as it did during the day. It acted almost like a beacon for the entirety of the city, letting everyone know that the Empire of the Sun was here, right here, in case somehow you had forgotten. I imagine this was intended, a form of subtle propaganda and suggestion, magnified by the fact that this palace was built on an man-made elevated piece of land, quite literally above everybody else. They could’ve taken notes from my people, but it was still effective in what it did. I know there is something else within this District that I’m not finding. I can feel its presence nipping at my ankles and weighing at my shoulders, and I feel as though I have to find it.”
– Journal entry #38 from Deemus, the Wandering Giant.
Taipono, or the Palace of the Sun is the palace where the two monarch families reside. Created by a talented Elvish architect in tandem with an equally talented Human architect, much of the marble, mahogany, granite, travertine, and flagstone are created with a combination of the architectural styles of human and elvish culture alike. It is filled with intricate and well-kept gardens designed for Elvish trancing, relaxing, and conversation, a number of balconies that give the palace an open feel to the public, and a variety of bridges that connect the multi-tiered palace in various places. Ever since the discovery of Solarmancy, the palace has been refurbished to contain stained glass windows made of more transparent sunstones that glow with radiance during the day and the night as well the typical sunstone filigree that lines much of the stonework of the palace.
Taipono is split into three sections, the Human, the Elvish, and the Communal. The Human section is where the Human monarch and their family resides, where they have their own living quarters, personal kitchens, and dining rooms; and the Elvish section is where the Elvish monarch and their family resides, where they also have their own living quarters, personal kitchens, and dining rooms. The Communal section is where one can find the Throneroom of Taipono, where the monarchs spend their time debating and discussing the matters of the Empire, and where important dinners or events are hosted in the various ballrooms or the Royal Dining Hall.
All throughout Taipono are a combination of Solshibos, highly trained Solarmancers and Royal Taiyoken; Taiyoken that have been hand picked by General Godric Gloryrunner that have donned gilded armor with Sunstone filigree so that they glow with radiance as they patrol the palace grounds.
Fairgounds
The Fairgrounds, for the most part, is relatively empty if it is not a holiday. Although it is a direct route to the Shining District and is directly South of Taipono, it is only used when there is a need for public speeches or festivals. Created by the Gold Prince in 4,885 AR, after the destruction of the Heart’s Stone and the reconstruction of the space to be more conducive to fairs and holidays, it is empty unless there is an event to be had. When there is an event or holiday, such as Day of the New Year, Moonweaver’s Night, Day of Grey, Winter’s Crest, the Spring Festival, Day of the Archheart, The Harvest Festival, or Sun’s Glory, the Fairgrounds becomes a bustling square of festivities and feelings of nationality. Because of the Gold Prince’s policies, the businesses that are given spaces within the Fairgrounds are chosen randomly and sponsored to be there, therefore they are encouraged to give entertainment or sell products for much cheaper prices then they normally would be, so it is accessible to every audience. Additionally, all of the noble houses within the Shining District are legally required to be present during any of the festivals or holidays, to help ease tension and ground nobility by having them interact with much of the populace.
Not only are businesses and artisans randomly endorsed to promote diversity and a lack of monopoly, but entertainment services and exterior designers and decorators are also sponsored as well to create a unique feel every year. To do well during a holiday season not only means to bring in more customers, but it also provides a higher chance to get a company’s name on the board for these entertainment services for the next holiday or fair, so the holiday seasons are often met with hopes of overachievement. There are few things to expect every year due its diversity of what service is being chosen, but one can anticipate good food, good drink, cheap prices, unique entertainment, and a variety of themed festival games.
The largest festival every year is Sun’s Glory on the 17th of Fezzurath, during the peak of Summer. This holiday marks when Kiyosima was first established, however when Solarmancy was discovered it also was celebrated during Sun’s Glory and the two eventually became synonymous and are now celebrated as one in the same.