The Radiant Palace

Awldor    Settlements      Radiant City of Sol      The Radiant Palace

Those with any real power in Helia are allowed to conduct business in that golden palace- so the saying goes.

— Phidi Strideheart, Traveler

The shining central feature of the Radiant City of Sol is the Radiant Palace. This building is the largest contemporary structure in Sol and possibly the largest in the continent. The Radiant Palace is the home of Helia's King and family as well as where official government and military business is conducted. It is designed to evoke the image of the sun. This design is most apparent when viewed from atop the Golden Spire which the palace's grand inner courtyard surrounds.
The main structure of the palace is composed of a series of concentric rings. The roof of the palace is plated with gold (an expensive upkeep applies), and the exterior walls include ornate facades as well as painted stone statues. The image of the sun is the most common decoration.

Palace Rings

The walls are adorned with many works of art many of which glorifies the Kingdom's ongoing conquests. Each ring serves a different purpose for the expanding Kingdom.
Royal Ring - The innermost ring is the personal space of the King and his family. It includes sleeping areas and several recreational rooms. It also views and accesses the inner Mehrnaz Garden.
War Ring - This ring is where the highest ranking officials of Helia's military discuss and debate wartime matters. This ring also houses three Schutz Crystals which provide Sol's protective shield against Magic Storms and other threats.
Governance Ring - This ring is where the throne room may be found as well as the offices of several high ranking political officials of the Kingdom.
Judicial Ring - The Judicial Ring is used to handle the many legal matters that occur in Sol and elsewhere in the Kingdom's territory. The most serious matters require the attention of the King.

That single building has so many functions that calling it a palace seems disingenuous.

— Phidi Strideheart, Traveler

The Golden Spire

Sol's city's towering central spire, it is covered from top to bottom in gold ornamentation. This gold is highly polished to reflect the sun's light in order to bathe the immediate area in a golden light. This shining effect is set to be overwhelmed by Vimak's Orrery sometime in the future. At night, large lanterns are lit so that the tower may remain a shining beacon of the Kingdom's glory.
The entrance into this tower is a state secret known only to the King and his inner sanctum. The King of Helia will make important public declarations from a balcony on the tower. His voice is carried from the spire to the rest of the city through the King's trained speaking voice and the proper application of thaumaturgy.
The King only makes declarations from the spire for important matters- or to improve his image with the populace.

Vimak I's Wall

As the palace is important to the successful governance of the Kingdom of Helia, a fortified wall was constructed as a defensive measure during the reign of Vimak I. These walls are the strongest defensive measure in the city. There are ten straight stretches of wall with five containing large gates. The gates are constructed of wood fortified with steel and plated with engraved electrum on their outer faces for decoration. These gates require a combination of engineering and the strength of several soldiers to open.
Between the wall and the palace's outermost ring lies the Jahanara Gardens. These gardens contain several exotic species of plants that are carefully cared for.

I thought about secretly entering the palace's lower levels. The sight of the guards gave me a strong instinct not to try it.

— Artur Neha, Traveler

Palace Lower Levels

It is common knowledge among the Helian populace that the palace has secret lower levels. It is generally agreed that these levels must utilize the buried ancient city on top of which Sol was constructed. What is not known is how many levels there are nor what is hidden there. Could these lower levels house vaults filled with treasure? Or are the King's Elite guarding something more valuable.

Type

Palace

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Palace Rays

The building has ten different wings or "rays" that make up each ring of the palace.
As suggested by the name "rays", these wings are triangular in shape to represent the rays of the sun.
This effect is further enhanced by the great roads that extend outward from each ray.

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Palace Amenities

The Radiant Palace is outfitted with a variety of luxuries, most for the personal use of the royal family and other high ranking officials:

• Swimming pools
• Saunas
• Royal bathhouses
• Training arenas
• Royal dining rooms
• Art rooms
• Ball room
• Royal family library
• Royal family museum

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Note(s) from the Archivists:

I wonder what will happen to this palace when Helia collapses? - Archivist Edward
It will probably be among the first places ransacked. Most will probably want to go into the lower levels and take what is there for themselves. - Archivist Rena
Gotta admit, I'm kinda wondering about those levels myself. - Archivist Edward