City of Magic

The Prime City of Magic is the religious, cultural, and academic capital of the god Mystra, Oghma, and their worshippers. It is located above the clouds of north-western Ruashoth.

Appearance
The city itself is composed of multiple floating islands, each raised from the Ruashothean ground beneath many centuries ago. An aurora borealis-like thread of magic connects each island high above the city, named the Mystrian Arch. This Arch is supposedly a great feat of magic, a thick string of shifting stabilised weave that enables each island in the city to fly.

There are many islands, some small, some very large. The main island is Aerule Enclave, housing many tourist destinations, taverns, shops, and the large teleportation circles open to the public to access the city. Housed in a huge circular open-air courtyard guarded by both lawful force and mage hunters,

The Transkip Circle is the main means of entrance into the city. A 150ft wide teleportation circle enables many people to teleport to the city independently at once, making Aerule Enclave the first place many people visit upon arrival. Also on Aerule Enclave sits a tower of staggering height, reaching a sharp pin point at its apex which seems to touch the Mystrian Arch. This tower, Orbit's Mast, is the home and headquarters for the Order of the Magi. The first floor is open to the public, showing a history of the city, of magic, and of various other arcane things throughout time.

On its own island sits the Prigosys, the city's largest temple to Mystra, Goddess of the Weave. The Prigosys seems to be the source of the Mystrian Arch, and is open for all those who wish to worship the Arcane Goddess.

Another separate but almost equally as large island is Sylvira Isle, the academic hub of the city. This island holds both the Institute of Magic and The Great Library of Candlekeep. The island is a hugely student-focused area, with low prices for services, areas for study, and plenty of taverns. A more residential, older, and less-policed district is Vox Island, featuring leaning houses over small alleys and shady taverns.

Atmosphere
The city towers above the clouds, a white fluffy blanket that coats everything beneath the floating city. On a clear day the cloud line fades away, giving sight to the continent below - swathes of green rainforest, multicoloured flying creatures, browns of wood and bark, among many other colourful and vivid sights.

The air in the city is among the clearest, freshest, and most brisk air in Allion. Lacking somewhat in humidity, the air is good for thinking (if also a bit chilly). Well-crafted coats are often sold at reasonable prices in garment stores throughout the city, and robes are the main fashion.

The buildings within the city are hewn from a light-grey stone, which have been carved with different swirls, patterns, and scrapes from the concentrated magical energy within the city. Each brick within the city is different, people often paint and design their homes incorporating these stonecarvings. Blues, purples, reds, and light greens painted into these patterns adorn the walls of the city, with the magical lighting sharing the same colour.

People of all shapes and sizes walk through the stone-paved streets of this city. Exotic races are not surprising to the denizens here. Often times, extravagant spellcasters of varying levels of renown pass through the street. For those looking for an autograph from a famous spellcaster, the best time to catch them is while they walk from place to place. Celebrities often have their own books thrown at them by hopeful burgeoning mages attempting to have a small bit of the caster's magical energy pass to the tome, or even a signing if they are exceedingly lucky.

Transport
Travelling between islands is an important part of life in the city, and denizens have a few options to choose from. Free public teleportation circles exist at specific points on the main islands which are manned by tired, overworked, and underpaid student scholars from the Institute of Magic. The circles have a strict opening and closing schedule, becoming accessible at 9:00 and closing at 19:00.

If you miss the transport circles, the city is serviced 24 hours a day by the Lightning Rail, a wonder of magic and engineering across Allion. This train-like contraption has multiple carriages that visit stations on almost all islands, and costs 5gp per person to use. Many tourists find using the Lightning Rail as a must-see experience on its own, the rail flying between islands without tracks or guides.

Should you lack the coin for the rail, the final option for transport is the Spellbreaker Leap. All the islands have pools of wild magic at various places, which can be used by skilled casters to jump from isle to isle. There is, of course, a high risk of missing the jump and falling thousands of feet to your death. Sadly, this is a sight one often sees in the city.