City - Lay'Shadesh

The Arcane Academy

Perched on the outskirts of the city proper, along the verdant banks of the nearby Lake Konigssee, the Arcane Academy of Lay'Shadesh stands as a testament to ancient Arborian elegance. A relic from the age of the Kleriel Imperium, its exquisite Elven architecture - fashioned from an arcane well of power - retains an imposing majesty. Even though the exact age of this vast complex remains a mystery, it continues to captivate with its venerable antiquity.
An intricate network of grand, pale halls radiates from the academy's central node, giving rise to a multitude of majestic towers and creating an almost labyrinthine layout. These venerable walls enshrine a wealth of modern arcane knowledge, serving as a nexus where mages of all levels can refine their craft and delve deeper into their art.

At the heart of the academy lies a magnificent domed hall, where the intricate stellar constellations of the night sky are meticulously painted onto the soaring ceiling. The reception area is centrally placed beneath this celestial dome, surrounded by imposing pillars, and houses a circular desk with a serene marble swan gracing its center.
Each wing of the academy has a distinct purpose. The northeastern wing is home to arcane classrooms where professors guide students in mastering their magic. The northwestern wing harbors the librarium, a repository of arcane knowledge accessible for public study, with an exclusive section reserved for advanced arcanists. The southwestern wing is designated for experimental halls, a space where specialists test new relics and theories. Finally, the southeastern wing houses the Arcane Enchantry, where objects from simple tools to potent weapons are imbued with magical properties.
Accommodation quarters, dining hall, bathhouse, arcanists' lounge, observatory, gardens, alchemical workshops, a museum, and administration facilities nestle within additional buildings scattered around the main complex. All are connected by elegantly paved white pathways bordered by lush grass, with nature and architecture in perfect harmony. Trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds are a ubiquitous presence, and benches line the paths, offering respite for relaxation and study.

A statue of Arish - The Lightbearer, stands tall in front of the academy. His depiction as an elderly Elven mage, staff in hand and cradling a human infant, is a monument to his noble deed of preserving Humanity.

The City

Lay'Shadesh, though primarily a human city, borrows architectural inspiration from its Elven predecessors. The initial human settlers, who built their own habitation on the outskirts of the Elven ruins, attempted to replicate the complex design, but their hurried construction resulted in a decidedly more human aesthetic, characterized by sharp angles, blocky structures, and a seeming disregard for the integration of nature.
The remaining Elves of Sturmgard, post-migrations, were granted permission to restore their old Arcane Academy. This, coupled with the opening of magical education to humans, served to further consolidate the alliance between the two races.
The city is divided into three distinct districts. The City Proper, the administrative and commercial heart of Lay'Shadesh, is home to the grand market and the church of the Faith of Light. The City Prior, the original Elven settlement adjacent to the academy, is a green oasis of spacious villas inhabited mainly by Elves and nobles. Finally, the Commons district, crowded with smaller homes, houses the city's lower classes, including craftsmen and farmers who till the nearby fields.

The Surroundings

Lay'Shadesh is nestled within an expansive, flat landscape, dotted by several distant hamlets. Lying along the banks of Lake Konigssee, where the Main and Oder rivers converge, it often succumbs to flooding after heavy rainfalls, creating a swampy vicinity near the waters. Beyond this, the flat plains stretch out into the horizon, offering fertile ground for farming.

The distant hills, cloaked in the towering Arborian great trees, provide a lush backdrop to the south. On a clear day, the faint outlines of the southern Valpine mountains can just be discerned from Lay'Shadesh. However, its position in a wet lowland makes for a predominantly misty climate, further enhancing its atmospheric charm.

Type

City

Location under

Area - Becken

Owning Organization

Reich of Sturmgard

Characters in Location

• Arish - the Lightbearer