Medical City of Carmen'Két
Long ago, the crater that holds Carmen'Két was a massive volcano. Now, it is merely a half-flooded circular outcropping of fertile rock upon which gardens upon gardens of herbs grow, covering the walls in a mosaic of green. Atop the natural forming "walls" sit physical wall structures with four gates allowing access for island locals, students, and tourists alike to traverse to and from the city. Within the walls, rings of shops and homes are separated by patches of rich, dense foliage that grows up from the enriched soil left behind by the volcano. On a small island, amidst the Crater's Bay sits the tower medical institution and university of St. Carmen's.
Saint Carmen's – Institute of Medicine & the Arcane
Situated on it's own little island is the medical institute, rehabilitation center, and university known as St. Carmen's. Considered one of the gathering places of the brightest minds in the realm of healing, many individuals flock here for a chance to learn from the best up and coming doctors, clerics, and healers, while others find themselves seeking out the healing services unable to be obtained elsewhere. Lecture halls are filled with ambitious young students who strive to be the next up-and-coming scholar, whether its for the beauty of research itself, to make a difference in the political sphere, or simply to gain prestige in the eyes of family and the Dremoran continent.
St. Carmen's is the center of Carmen'Két and the pinnacle of everything Carmenthia stands for...
Overview
St. Carmen's is a relatively large institution and covers approximately 30% of the city's total (surface) area. The institution itself is divided formally into three "Wards".- The Medical Ward – Perhaps the largest of the wards, it includes the "hospital" side of the Institute. Here, patients are housed, receive care, and interact with the medical staff.
- The College Ward – Perhaps the most cluttered, this ward has some of the newest buildings (with the exception of in the Medical Ward). It includes student housing, lecture halls, and a small medical wing where non-critical patients are often sent if they're willing to receive care from "not-yet-certified" health practitioners.
- The Public Ward – A small section of older buildings has been opened for public access. It includes a handful of small lecture halls (where public lectures are held), meeting spaces, study alcoves, and a relatively large library - an extension of the larger medical library in the College Ward.
Founding
In the century following the Dread King's War, the island of Carmenthia came under fire from Eredet, Nacheevi, and other areas around the continent. Knowledge without disciplined order is no good at all! That's positively unethical! The study of poisons? Archaic! We need Carmenthia to be at the center of healing in these trying times, not another poison on this glorious continent! What now is St. Carmen's was, at this time, a conglomerate of independently operating institutions of study, research medical practice, poison dealings, and necromancy. According to official accounts, the director of one of the medical institutions, a woman by the name of Carmen, rallied up the other notable leaders of the non-nefarious knowledge-seeking groups to come together under one name and one banner while simultaneously driving out those that held onto "archaic" ways. Active research into how to make poisons effective and how to administer them were to be no more. Carmen reshaped these surviving groups into Saint Carmen's, an institution of medicine, healing, and rehabilitation.Other Locations in Carmen'Két
- There is an abundance of quaint cafés and pubs for "study sessions", academic debates, and creative output sessions. Or... for just getting a necessary caffeine kick or getting trashed after finals.
- Anula'Két Public Library – a massive library located in the Public Ward that includes copies of many of the texts in St. Carmen's library, though not all of them. It is open to the public, but does charge small fees for anyone who wishes to leave the premises with any of the texts, scrolls, or tomes in their collection.
- Erethan Crematorium – a very large crematorium reminiscent of the one outside Varoona Proper. In light of current events, it appears to be quite active. The Acolytes of Ah'Shal have a boarding house nearby so they can easily tend to the dead.
- Fisherman's Ward – Clustered in smaller more rustic buildings near the docks is the Fisherman's Ward or the "Common Man's Ward". It is home to the "less-educated" crowds who primarily do "blue-collar" jobs throughout the city (often fishing) and are often migrants from the smaller towns on the island.
- Inns & Taverns – Various inns cater to different clientele: The Blue-Eyed Barracuda (Fisherman's Ward), The Floating Lantern (right outside St. Carmen's), and the Black & White Inn (attached to the Lounge)
- Black & White Lounge – Befitting it's name, this lounge is decorated entirely in black and white and is one of the more popular spots for students of St. Carmen's in the evening. Stop by for Spider Venom Ale or a Black and White cookie!
- The Den: Coffee & Tea Shop – What is a college town without a coffee shop? Would students even be able to function without their morning (or night time) hit of caffeine?
The Herb Ward
While herbs are grown all over the island, the center of "herb manufacturing", refining, and distribution occurs in the Herbal Garden Walls and within the city of Carmen'Két. Although not confined into one area of the city, per se, all herbalism, tea, and related shops and businesses subscribe to a set of "quality control" standards that unite them. Thus, they're often considered a "Ward". Surprisingly, those in the herb business have managed to keep their operations mostly family-owned. Families that are primarily responsible for growing herbs have often kept family secrets that allow them to out produce their competition in at least one herb, preventing a monopoly from occurring. This practice of secrecy in herb farming, however, does irk and annoy those in Saint Carmen's as they believe the knowledge should be shared and documented. In the past, this has led to tensions and very heated disputes. But, the families have manage to hold onto their secrets... for now.The Kartus' Brother's Trading Company
Many families own plots of land for herbs along the crater wall as well as small shops within the city. However, over the years, many of the families have transitioned to selling their wares through the Kartus Brothers. Although they are technically a general goods store, they have come to specialize in the sale and distribution of herbs. They possess a physical storefront, but the people of Carmenthia are more familiar with their most popular method of sale: via "donkey fronts" – moveable set-ups made possible by their well-trained and stalwart animal companions... and the fact that there are at least 8 brothers working there.The Textile Ward
A small cluster of buildings between the Fisherman's Ward and St. Carmen's houses a handful of seamstresses and weavers as well as 2 relatively large dye and textile manufacturing mills. As the island produces many vibrant and natural dyes, the local fashion reflects this. Students, immigrants, faculty & staff, and the elite may wear clothing more in line with the fashion of the Neg'Varos Bay, but the locals are fiercely protective of their local fashion and proud to wear the vibrant colors of their island.
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