Description

[Andreas the Wise]

Intro
As you first set eyes on Illumo Corealis, you see it is not one city, but in fact four full cities, with canals of water all around them, and a small island in the middle. On this island stands a single large stone with many runes on it, and from the correct manipulation of this, the water level can be raised and lowered in various parts of the city, leaving land bridges between the districts, spraying up water in places as fountains, and even draining it entirely so that it appears to be merely four districts with a small amount of plains in between. However, despite its nickname of the Quad-City, to believe it was four cities would be foolish. It is in fact seven districts, but the other three are less traditional. Each district manages a key area of city functions, and could not operate alone. But together they make up the only colony of MANA, and the most magical city in Novatainia. The design was imparted to Lord Andreas in a dream, and represents total magical unity. Though each district has its own purpose, is tied to its own element, and favours its own type of magic, the city is inhabited by people of all races, new and old, and no one is consigned to any one district. The water surrounding it, and canals in many parts of the city, are there to assist Mermen in moving around, as well as making it look very aesthetically pleasing. And if it glimmers nicely on the solid crystal buildings, who's going to complain? Every building in the city was constructed at its start, and is made from crystal grown by He of the Crystal Tree, and indeed, lesser crystal trees can be found in all parts of the city, above and below, and are often full of magical energy for use in emergencies. Not for nothing is the city called "The Bright City", for at night, all of they buildings glow faintly, though it is said they could shine more if certain people willed it so ...

Astrality
Though Illumo Corealis was originally built as a normal (albeit magical) city, with the coming of NCM the whole city was shifted to the Astral Plane, along with the accompanying land and water. From Illumo, it looks like land stretches out to the horizon, though it is widely believed that most of this land is illusionary. It is clear that the land extends at least a kilometre out from the city on the Astral plane, but somewhere beyond this point are many powerful shifting charms, such that, without even noticing it, people walking away from the city suddenly find themselves on the Material plane. Likewise this occurs with the water, though as non-magical trade ships dock in the port, the crossover location is even less clear here. For all practical purposes, however, Illumo Corealis is a city on the Astral plane that nonetheless you can walk to and from on the Material plane.

The Sheaf
Illumo Corealis was built as a united city, not intended to be used in private magical wars. As such, its defences are largely non-existent, except for one, made necessary by the unique shape of the city. Each of the four major districts is a quarter of a circle, the same size and shape, though differing heights. The Northern District stretches very, very high into the sky, its buildings layered out and downward from the single top point, at the very north of the city. The Western and Eastern districts curve down also, though at a far gentler slope than the Northern district (starting where it stops, in terms of height) and mirror eachother. The Southern district, though raised at its northern end, is almost entirely flat. The Sheaf is a huge wall of living crystal, magically prepared, and ready to spring into being when needed. At those times, it envelops the sides of the four major districts, encircling the whole area from the peak of the Northern District, high in the air, till it is only a metre high at the very bottom south of the Southern district, growing there out of the very water of the port. When it is up, the city is invulnerable from all attacks from those sides, and, having been designed with that slope, can very easily fire down on people below attacking from the front. As a last resort, a magical shield can be placed down the slope from side to side of the sheaf, but this requires a strong mage presence in the city. The city was also built in such a way that it would not cast excessive shadows - as the sun moves from east to west, all areas of the city get maximum light.

Workers
Though indeed all the races live and work within the city, the majority of its more menial tasks are carried out by its vast golem population. The golems are all free golems, and work under an agreement with the Academy which both provides perpetual maintenance of them, and thanks for their very creation. The golems' clay has been dyed in all the colours of the rainbow, and one corresponds to each day of the week. Each golem gets one day a week off to just be a golem, but as there are so many around, and their days are all different, the city manages quite well with only 6/7th's of its golem population at any one time. Whenever there is a fire or, for other reasons, people are in danger, all the golems come and help, even those whose day off it is. On their days off, some of the golems frequent the Sky District, debating philosophy and ethics with other citizens.

Northern District
This district is devoted to Culture and the Arts, and thus to Soul Magic. Within it are contained art galleries, museums, concert halls of all types, and theatres filled with endless performers. Being the tallest district, it also contains much of the housing for the city, and so many people call this area home. The performances and artworks which have less in the way of magical effects are exported to mainland Novatainia, and as such this district produces much of the culture for the nation. Its special element is Air.

Western District
Devoted to Creatures, the western district is full of menageries and even housing for some of the more intelligent beasts. Much of MANA's ever growing population of creatures is now permanently based here. Devoted to the element of Fire, it is no surprise that the crystal is often thicker here, so often do dragons and balrogs let off flame in joy. It also manages Mathemagic, and it's not unusual to see mages showing off their prowess in this area here.

Eastern District
Home to Plants and the great Gardens, the eastern district contains the massive nurseries that were so important to Lord Andreas. Devoted to Heart Magic, the area is said to contain every single known plant, magical and non-magical, and it isn't surprising to walk from a herb garden suddenly into one full of carnivorous plants, though these are often kept in greenhouses for others safety. Many potions are brewed here, with all the magical ingredients, and the area is devoted to the element of Earth.

Southern District
Containing the port, this district handles trading from Novatainia's vast economic empire, and it's not unusual to have ships from several nations docking here at a time. Quite how non-magical ships dock at a city on the Astral plane is unclear to many, but it is suspected that this part of the city is littered with hidden portals to make the effect work; and is thus the only district to also exist Materially. Devoted to Financial Wizardry, and the element of Light, it is less obviously magical than the other parts of the city, and handles the majority of visitors. It has much in the way of temporary housing for sailors, and warehouses for the storing of goods. The majority of the city's magical wares are sold from here.

Lower District
A deep cavern below the city, the lower district deals with the matter of War, and handles Strength Magic. Here are the great smithies, forging blades, shields and armour. Here the arrows are fletched, staffs made and robes woven. Here also the new war machines, such as the MANA Catpult, are made, and sometimes even invented. Tunnels running off from it are filled with a special fungus which glows, providing light - somewhat ironic, since its element is Darkness. Candles and chandeliers hang in the main cavern.

Lake District
Built similiar to merish cities, the lake district is just within the lake, though deep enough underwater ships do not hit it, and handles Research, both magical and scientific (though with Mind Magic, the difference is sometimes hard to see). Some areas of this city are air tight, allowing other races down there, and some are open to the water, and popular with mermen, Krynii, and the more adventurous divers. Here all manner of new ideas are expounded. Its element is Water.

Sky District
At the very peak of the Northern District lies three huge stones, one laying on top of the other. By walking through them, one gates to the Sky District, hanging above, built on the clouds themselves and handling Government and Philosophy. The library here contains a copy of every publicly available magical book, though some more dangerous ones still are found only within other academies. In the Forums, citizens debate philosophy and other areas of wisdom. Its element is Lightning, and it uses Spiritual Magic.

The Middle Council
Though the city has its own government, meeting in the Sky District, which handles internal affairs, the city is also home to the Middle Council. Once there was the High and Low Councils, dividing the races into two groups, though both have long since perished. The Lords of Magic have created the Middle Council to bridge this gap, and on it is seated each Lord of Magic, the rest of the Arcane Quartet and representatives from other academies, and occasionally human Kings. It also contains representatives from the other six of the seven original races, their own leading mage, and (with the notable exception of Angels), their leader and second in command. Newer races have at least one representative also, normally their leader. The Angel leader is unknown, and they take it in turns to have three of them on the council. It is also in this council chamber that the seven orbs are held, when not in use.

Learning and Teaching
One noticeable exception from the city is an area devoted to learning magic, and the teaching of it. This is because this is handled by separate academies, and instead of founding another, the city remains connected to MANA but has no teachers of its own.