Halcyon

[brief description]

History
Founded in the year 629 as a result of the dragon Kovar demanding seven total tributes from the Jade Wood, Charon and Old Bedlam in exchange for stopping the City of Flesh's Grand Liturgy, eight towers seemed to spring up during late winter seemingly over night, housing each of the tributes and the dragon themselves. Those offered during this treaty from Charon were Fenridar Renhorgear, an expert in Transmutation, and Malecharsus and Griniek of the Heroes of Bucolic. From the Jade Wood came the expert in Conjuration Septos Waystone, the expert in Enchantment Morosa Moss-stone and the expert in Illusion Kalas Tepreplih, and from Old Bedlam came the speculated instigator of the Grand Liturgy, Grand Necromancer Jakob.

Strangely enough despite being considered a tribute, Kovar's goal seemed to revolve around their participation in the creation of Halcyon, with an equal distribution of power divided amongst the eight. Collecting resources from the Herma mountain range adjacent to the north which provided the stone and precious metals needed for it's construction, the dragon's presence caused the resident dwarven settlements that resided on and beyond the mountains to aid in the cities construction for fear of displeasing the entity. During this time, each of the tributes worked on magics of their specialty all for the benefit of Kovar for an unknown purpose.

By the year 641 the cities walls had been constructed and fortified by the special enchantment that Fenridar had made for the blueprints of the Phantom Arena that would later be built in Charon. Defensible now to the common worker, the dwarves worked a mine north of the city further gathering resources to built housing and other smaller buildings within. Halcyon was approached during the fall with a request for a formal treaty with the existing cities on Dreamer's Respite, forming the Edrium Alliance and unifying Edrium against threats such as the sins. During the remaining Second Era of Peace, the active practices of Jakob's Necromancy caused controversy with the cities populace, who opposed the archmage's use of deceased workers and soldiers for animated dead to further mine and gather resources.

During the Second Era of Peace, Archmages Fenridar, Malecharsus and Griniek passed away, allowing Ekizuvius to become the Archmage of Transmutation, Fallus Muhl became the Archmage of Divination and Morgan Freyil became the Archmage of Abjuration all through selection based on their prowess.

Halcyon participated little during the Third Rising's start in 730, but became much more involved when the city was the target of a direct attack by the Sin of Wrath resulting in the death of Archmages Morosa Moss-stone and Kalas Tepreplih. Tensions rose as the deceased's apprentice and son Venecia Dimplenewt and Brard Tepreplih became the new Archmagi without proper selection, leading many to believe that the Sin's attack was guided. A reformation to the selection process stepped into practice in the year 795 becoming more democratic in nature at the passing of Fallus Muhl, where their son Zhinn's Muhl was selected as the new Archmage of Divination.

Later on during the Third Era of Peace Morgan Freyil passed away with Sidium Muhl being selected by popular vote to become their replacement.

In the year 890, Archmage Jakob mysteriously disappeared with attempts to divine their location proving inconclusive. Fastina Irdiglim was selected shortly after to become their successor, with high approval ratings at the removal of Jakob's undead workers in favor of Animated Object's used for resource collection.

In recent events, the Archmage of Transmutation, Ekisuvius, was slain during an attack by the Sin of Wrath before she was put to rest. The former archmage of Evocation, Kohvar, disappeared mysteriously as the city of Avarast was placed on the peninsula of Roldania. A replacement for these two seats has yet to have been founded.

Culture
Status and citizenship in Halcyon is largely dependent upon ones ability to bend the weave, with those able to manipulate more powerful spells offered more opportunity within the city. Raw power is only the basis for judgement however, as ones specialty contributes to sections in the city that may be more accommodating than others for each individual, based on how one touches upon the weave and the school of magic they most influence. Evokers are the most common among new apprentice level arrivals, particularly those that draw power from an innate bloodline.

Entertainment
The avid scholar and merchant will find much to do and often tends to prosper in Halcyon with the housing of the Grand Libraries and the Magic Market. There is little in the ways of chance gambling, with diviners tending to make the practice redundant, while sporting events tend to escalate tensions to dangerous levels among the arcane community split as they vote for their favorites. Tabletop games like Dragon Chess, Three Dragon Ante, Conquest and Vilia Sanctum are quite popular, with those playing for stakes tending to hold learned magics as opposed to innate ones.

Religion
The prominent figure of worship within Halcyon is Nethys though all religious followings are largely accepted, barring those whose practice of worship violate the cities laws or rely on moral ambiguity. Many divine casters often express that they feel like subjects of study when they pray or meditate to their patron in a public area. Many scholars often take notes of such rituals due to the tangible results of divine casters, leading to a disparity in temples open to the general public.

Magic and Technology
The Wizard City prides itself on it's status as one of the most magically advanced metropolises on Dreamer's Respite, boasting the highest number of magic users able to tap into the 9th ring of magic working together. Common magic items tend to circulate around the city as frequent as a hammer would be found in a blacksmiths forge, with most services tending to be automated or semiautomated due to animation spells. Most homes are protected by magical reinforcements that aid in thwarting lock picks and other forms of breaking in.

Each Halcyon citizen is given a small badge developed by Zhinn's Muhl that is attuned to their aura, which shifts and gleams when in contact making impersonation of another very difficult. These items often unlock additional services within Halcyon, such as moving sidewalks for faster transportation around the city, along with entry into the Eight Towers.

The Eight Towers
The oldest structures in Halcyon, the Eight Towers serve the Archmages as their home and worshop for their studies and responsibilities to the city. Each of them stands at least two to three hundred feet tall, with the tower dedicated to Evocation set slightly taller than the others. They are positioned equidistant to each other in a circular shape with the Grand Libraries and Magic Market in the center.

Halcyon Streets
The formal name for the housing around the Eight Towers, the buildings are colored and styled dependent on which tower casts it's shadow over them. Those closest to the Tower of Necromancy are painted black, Illusion are painted orange, Transmutation are painted yellow, Evocation are painted red, Abjuration are painted white, Divination are painted purple, Conjuration are painted blue, and Enchantment are painted green. While stylized choices are allowed to home and business owners, it is against the cities policies to change a buildings colors unless it's to merge with a neighboring cities pallet with approval by the council.

Grand Libraries
The centerpiece of knowledge and crown jewel for scholars in Halcyon, the Grand Libraries hosts an extensive collection of works ranging from mundane history to alchemical formulas to cared for and worn spell books. Almost all spells you could wish to learn are said to be found inside, with forbidden knowledge and rituals locked in a well fortified and hidden 'Restricted Section' available to few.

The Magic Market
The main marketplace which surrounds the Grand Libraries, merchants sell magical items and spell reagents as commonly as one could find produce at a farm. Prices tend to be inflated here due to the popularity of goods among magic users, and while those of higher ranking statuses may receive discounts, it considered difficult to find any item being sold for it's true appraised value.

Notable People

 * Archmage Zhinn's Muhl - Arrogant but ultimately doing what is best for Halcyon as it's current head of council, Zhinn's Muhl is the cities archmage of Divination.
 * Archmage Kohvar (Resigned) - The former oldest reigning archmage, Kohvar stands as Halcyon's primary expert on Evocation.
 * Archmage Venencia Dimplenewt - Known for her alluring charm and fey ancestry, Venencia is Halcyon's archmage of Enchantment, and primary diplomat with foreign affairs.
 * Archmage Ekizuvius (Deceased) - An eccentric gnome rumored to be the cause of monstrous hybrid creatures like owlbears, Ekizuvius was Halcyon's archmage of Transmutation.
 * Archmage Fastina Irdiglim - A common controversial figure among the clerical communities, Fastina is an openly spoken lich and serves Halcyon as it's Archmage of Necromancy.
 * Archmage Sidium Muhl - Brother to Zhinn's Muhl, Sidium is the archmage of Abjuration in Halcyon and is responsible for the majority of the cities wards and defenses.
 * Archmage Septos Waystone - The inventor of the Waystone and archmage of Conjuration within Halcyon, Septos is the second oldest member of the council.
 * Archmage Brard Tepreplih - Archmage of Illusion and trepid of strangers, Brard attends all meetings and travels through the city through an illusory double.