Zehiron

The spherical hovering metropolis of Zehiron is a monument to all of wizardkind throughout the whole cosmos. It is a constantly expanding white gem of wizardry, resembling that of the ideal Arabian Nights mythos, housing near limitless libraries and laboratories of magical research and study. It had been founded by the long-dead archmage Castion, who in his pursuit of mystical perfection had become an influence on those who surrounded him, and had gradually opened his laboratory to talented refugees that built upon his initial findings with a dozen generations worth of constant progress. It is an isolationist self-governed state, controlled by the council of thirteen archmagi, named Ashe'kai, that continues to enforce Castion's ideal culture and keep the magical city afloat in its original vision and purity. The city's expansion is controlled by a system of leyline-connected plates, every single building existing as a movable object that could be rearranged to the liking of mage-architects that plan out its expansion. Every single major section of the city is separate, yet accessible through extendable plate bridges that are capable of lengthening for as much as needed according to newly changed distances.

The Western Cages

The Western Cages is the western quarter of Zehiron, containing the majority of the gathered animals and their naturally-preserved habitats that serve as study places for their mystical connections to the universe and unique workings. Newly discovered creatures, who are found to have supernatural affinities for magic or biologically impossible physical attributes, are added once proper ecosystems resembling their native planet are prepared for use. Safe experimentation is enforced, for it is believed that no harm should come to these sheltered beings.

The Eastern Academy

The Eastern Academy is the eastern quarter of Zehiron, serving as the main school for new mages to undergo so as to awaken their spiritual abilities and provide the theory required to become a proper mage by Zehiron's standards. It is here that most younglings spend the majority of their lives, learning the otherworldly arts. Once their studies are complete, they are allowed to pick a branch from the nearby Forest of Destiny so as to have the Tree of Eternity shape it into a stave that properly reflects their natural talent towards the magical schools, and become lower mages called Ashe'nye. The Academy itself is characterized by long-winded halls, variously elevated classrooms, and nonsensically connected towers.

The Northern Archives

The Northern Archives serves as the northern quarter of Zehiron, standing as the full amalgamation of Zehiron's collected knowledge on all of magic and storage for enchanted items. While racial secrets are still hidden from its reaches, it contains all the information on countless other uninhabited or primitive planets, centuries of magical study conducted by Zehiron's generational researchers, and in its deepest, most safely guarded pits - Castion's own resting body, with his diary preserved as a monument to everything he had ever achieved and learned in his lifetime. It is said the verb 'casting magic' is a play and reference to his name.

The Southern Armories

Those who had no natural talent for magic are sent to live, train, and work in the Southern Armories. They live under worse conditions, for they are considered to be lower-caste individuals who will be living their lives as meatshields for the mages that would fight from afar. Zehiron's vast riches are less expressed as compared to any other place in its vicinity. The untalented are called the Ganatar, being forced to train to unlock their ascended ki energies and hone their bodies for physical combat. They live under a time limit, for should they fail to achieve anything with their training, they will be executed to preserve Zehiron's food stores and have fewer mouths to feed. Those who manage to train to an acceptable standard become butlers and bodyguards to middle-level mages, part of a combat duo called the Gan'ashe. The area itself houses mundane training equipment, subpar housing, other defensive mechanical siege devices, and the majority of the prisons.

The Grand Dome

The middle of Zehiron acts as housing for the whole of the mages, and a commercial/entertainment center where many can spend their hard-earned currency. As Zehiron is isolationist, the currency is earned through duty and chores, eventually circulating back into the Council before being handed out further by their attendants. The standard money of the galaxy is not useful here. The absolute middle of Zehiron is where the Ashe'kai resides, living in their council chambers and gathering when meetings are required. The Grand Dome is constantly bustling with life and activity, harboring the greatest concentration of people around, domesticated animals, flying objects, and magical tricks.

The Tree of Eternity

The Tree of Eternity is believed to be one of the oldest living sentient trees in the cosmos. Some rumors speculate that it was the same tree from which Castion took a branch and shaped his own staff. Nowadays, harming the tree in any form is grounds for immediate arrest, and possible execution depending on the damage done to it. It is here where students insert their branches from the Forest of Destiny and have the tree transform the stick into a staff for their use as an Ashe'Nye lower mage. These staves remain with the mages for the rest of their lives.

Population: 3 million
Government: Mageocracy
Threat Level: Low
Resource Level: Medium