Ciraluna

City Description
The City of Ciraluna is one of principle, to live and learn. Be that any way someone can. Many embrace this motto by partying the whole night, to the extent that in some parts of the city the streets and taverns are as busy if not busier when the sun goes down. As a result there is a work hard play hard mentality here and people come from all over to embrace and enjoy the festivities and celebrations. However it's not just all drinking and dancing the night away that some of the people of Ciraluna comprehend life. Combat and fighting also holds equal weight and a victory in staying alive after a battle is celebrated as it would be a night of partying. Soldiers often view an upcoming battle and fighting as something to look forward to and sometimes enjoy the deadly moments in the sand and rocks, and when its all done they reflect back to the motto, they lived and now have learnt more with battle hardened experience.

For those people who maybe do not live as large as others do, they will instead dedicate their life to learning. So much so that the renowned mages guild, The Ascended Intelligentsia built their main office within the city. But it's not just learning of the arcane art that have brought people seeking knowledge here. Fighters come to search for new masters to train them, blacksmiths, herbalists and even cooks come to find, trade or discover new techniques. The whole city constantly learning and evolving together.

Ciraluna also has a very strong connection to the moons, Aylin and Thel Tan. So much so they partly named the land after them. The reason for that is split into two, one is what the moon brings, food, life, celebration and a days end. The second what the moon symbolises, wisdom, instinct, birth, death, immortality, enlightenment and equilibrium. All these things the people of Ciraluna live by and spiritually understand.

"To Life and Knowledge", *Hand over heart and then backhand over forehead* - A mantra that many Ciralunans live by

"May they find eternal wisdom in the sand" - A saying if someone passes away

Districts
Loosegrip - To the East of the docks lies Loosegrip, this a mainly residential area set on the sandy hills, most houses are built slightly above ground to stop from sinking but not all, there are also some taverns and merchants here, but all sell quite basic goods but nothing too extravagant. The district is also purposely placed the furthest away from the Second Sun Strip. So if people weren't into the none stop hustle and bustle, they could get some peace and quiet.

High Rock Rise - Above and overlooking everything is High Rise Rock. Once a cliff and has been all but destroyed, instead sculptured to support the palace and not segment the city. Up here the Palace was build and overtime and the more modern the city became the more other buildings where added to not just the top but built into the cliff, for example the Nexus is built both on the cliff and within.

Shadowstep Center - Under the constant shadow of High Rise Rock lies Shadowstep. Set in the middle of the city, Shadowstep is two thirds on land and a third of the district is built underneath and kept alight by glowstone. This part of the city is where most of the cities supplies is kept in storage, but that also means it's where a lot of trade happens as its its one of the two districts thats connected to the docks.

Second Sun Strip - To the far west of Ciraluna lies the true heart of the city. The Secound Sun Strip is the reason most people come to visit the city, it's also where most of the entertainment is held. And with glowstone being on every street the place never gets too dark. There is something for everyone here, a plethora of different types of taverns, street performers wanting to show off their craft, competitors of nearly anything to watch if you're interested, and without a doubt some sort of street brawl to watch or even join in on if you want.

Geography
Ciraluna was once the central linchpin of three great nations, and although those nations are no more, the city is still the center of much of Zephren. To the North leads out of the desert to the dwarvish hills of Hurn Thorim, and the lakeside town of Ethus. If you keep going eventually youll come across The Ceevilian Empire. To the East is the ever fluctuating Nation of Freelund and the first town you'd come across is Gragtown. Also east is the very secretive Jinxs. To the South you'll find Mathilia floating aimlessly and past that, barely explored ocean. Finally to the West, lies the constantly bickering factions of the Iraberg Isles and the elven forrest/city of Waywhin.

Weather
Being on the edge of the ocean, a desert and hilly/ grasslands, Ciraluna can get very hot and also quite windy at times. There is sometimes rain but thats rare and only comes in from an ocean storm.

Gods
The main god that is worshipped here is Selûne, goddess of the moon. She has always been an integral part to this land and thats partly why the place was named after her. The other gods worshipped bare some relation to celebration as its a festive city so gods like Lliira, goddess of joy and Milil, god of poetry and song have a strong footing here. Oghma, god of knowledge also holds a place here mainly with the mages or academics throughout the city. Lastly and surprisingly Savras, god of divination and fate. Has a small following within Ciraluna as many monks of The Path follow signs that lead them here.

City Life
The people of Ciraluna are very passionate about everything, nothing is halfway done here. As a result there are a plethora of opportunity for people of any background and to come here and show off their skill and impress. Be that in fighting, cooking, dressmaking, playing an instrument and so on.

With constant competition, people are constantly looking for the next big thing or creating new things to attract people to their tavern or stand. A few made in Ciraluna are, Ummon, a local speciality which is basically dip, or savoury dish made from cooked, mashed nuts blended and smoothed out. Rosso milk, made from the Rosso nut, it's a plant milk derived from whole Rosso nuts by extracting the plant material with water. And Glowstone and rock that can glows in the dark.

The discovery of Glowstone was paramount to the people of Ciraluna, it changed everything from the restriction of what a person could do in a day, to the way of living. Now people where no longer restricted by darkness, when the sun went down. Now people could carry on what they wanted to do and have the safety and convenience of light to help them. Glowstone is a fossil that when any type of liquid is applied gives off a glow of that colour (i.e Water, blue, Blood red, mead, light brown). The fossils come in all shapes and sizes and can be cut down or broken into and shaped. It looks like any other rock however it has a white glass/ crystal vain running through it and depending how much of this vein runs through the rocks depends how much light the stone gives off. The stone was discovered by accident when academics where theorising on why the rare and only native around Ciraluna, Whitescale fish glowed in the moonlight, they tunneled underneath Titans Footprint to see if that held any clues and where shocked to find the caverns and tunnels under the lake were fully lit and it was as bright as being on the surface.

Notable Locations
Building/ Shops

The Leatherback Exchange – A small shop buys, sells and trades books and scrolls. His motto: ‘Books should be read not lie in dusty old libraries.’

The Jade Flower - A jewellery shop also an expert an engravings and anything that needs a delicate.

Surtur's Sulphur - Blacksmith and specialist fire enchanter.

Poppys Pucker Picked Peppers - A pepper shop but also sells other spices.

The Battered Pirate - Fresh Fish stand and equipment shop on the docks of the city.

The Hivemind - An arcane shop that buys, sells and swaps magical knowledge and/ or artifacts. attached to the Nexus

The Grain - General good store for nearly every need.

The Aroma Bistro - A extravagant restaurant that sells imported food from all across Ellarith and Zephren.

The Cultivated Collar - Exotic clothing thats well embroidered and suited for the hotter tempter and culture. Locations

The Nexus - The HQ of the Ascended Intelligentsia. A place where people come to learn or share knowledge. It has everything a practitioner of the arcane arts needs. A vast library of book, scrolls, academic papers, a selection of magical artifacts that can be studied or used to help ones task. The Nexus is always full of people ready to lend a hand.

Titans Footprint - A large body of water that serves as the docks to Ciraluna, also the shape slightly resembles a giant footprint.

Saltstone Harbour - The very large horseshoe shaped harbour is one of the the only three ports in Zephren and by far the most popular.

The Twilight Palace - Build on the edge of a cliff, coming out and overlooking all of the city, this palace is where the royal family live and outside in the courtyard is where they take court.

Rosso Range - A huge farmland where the local Russo Nut is grown.

Military
Due to Ciraluna being its own independent city state there isn't much of a grand army. However there are obviously city guards who are more than enough. If the situation arose where a bigger number of troops where needed. Ciraluna would have a more than capable militia. the city is also quite a wealthy so it would and would be able to hire mercury groups if needed.

Wasi - The Wasi are the city guard, here in such a place of expression there is no sort of stranded issue armour or weapon instead the Wasi are recognisable by a half black half white sash coming over their left shoulder and some even have a matching leather band over their forehead. Although as stated there isn't a stranded issue weapon most Wasi weapon of choice is the Scimitar or falchion. To show you are a well experienced and a formidable opponent some use a deeply intricate and engraved Kilij.

Midnight Guard - These heavily armoured solider's are the elite guards that protects the royal family and the palace. They are very easily reconcilable when you spot them or they make themselves known, However its not always so east to spot them, especially at night. Their armour seems to shimmer in the light but i the hardness it becomes near invisible. They guards can choose whatever weapon they like, most Midnight Guard were once experienced Wasi but not all. Their armour is all black with a while trim. The individual can also use that white metal to shape and decoration their armour however they choose.

History
Growth

Once just a small fishing village that was marked as a cease fire zone in one of the many war's of the 3 powers. Which at the time was Lozerian to the north, Az'Dorak in the east, Iraberg to the west. The rulers and generals would come here to Ciraluna for peace talks or sit-downs. This then left anyone else with them to have time off and due to there being no fighting allowed the fighters and politicians etc would relax and enjoy some time away from the war. Over time this small village was given the reputation of a place of relaxation and enjoyment. When the war finished and the peace treaties written up, one of the agreements was for this land to remain independent and to never march and army onto it, which all agreed. However Ciraluna was now famous for its festivities and people still came to enjoy themselves. The place grew from a tiny fishing village into a lively party town and the bigger it got the more entertainment came and once again more people would come and so on and so on.

Change

During all this time the no fighting rule still existed and over the years many believed it to be law (which it wasn't) and most wouldn't even bring weapons. However one on the rumor of a large town of gold and drink the powerful pirate captain BLA BLA and his BLA BLA fleet sailed into the city. Met with minimal resistance they took the city and most of the gold in it. They left a short time after and the town fell into ruins, no longer this safe haven many left. 3 years later just as the town started to pick back up again BLA BLA returned. The town of Ciraluna once again tried to defend itself but they never truly recovered from the first attack. However after looting much of the town, instead of leaving BLA BLA decided to stay, and for a time ruled the town his way and killed anyone who tried to stop him. It happens one of the people BLA BLA murdered was the brother of the then Prime Arbiter Aagazor Bloodskin of BLA BLA. This angered him greatly and in full knowledge of what he was about to do Aagazor marched his Blood Hoard into the city, even though he knew it could once again start a war of 3 powers. The Prime Arbiter didn't much care and stormed the large town. Aagazor fought with BLA BLA on the shores of Ciraluna. The Prime Arbiter lived up to his name and defeated BLA BLA and the Blood Hoard erased every sense of BLA BLA and his BLA fleet, even down to the footprints they left on the sand.

The single moment every trace of BLA BLA was erased, Aagazor left. Declaring that he has shamed himself for breaking an oath taken by his grandfather, and to let him leave in good faith. He vowed never return and let it be known he wants not of war but will bring one if provoked. Shortly after a meeting between the leaders of the three powers Aagazor Blookskin of Az'Dorak, BLA BLA of Lozerian and Sif Hightower of Iraberg took place. Here Aagazor told his tale and the others agreed not to go to war. They also all came to the conclusion that Ciraluna is a place all benefit from and would all equally help rebuild it to the town it once was. But to keep it that way they a few things would have to change such as protection. Therefor each power would send an Emissary and band of fighters to look after the town. At this time many high level warriors and guardsmen of each of the powers knew each other from coming to the city to enjoy its festivities and some even became friends. As a result there was no sense of backstabbing or scheming to get the upper-hand, all people placed to keep the peace and protect the land, did just that and genuinely got along and acted in the interest of all.

Political scheming after each power slowly started to fade for one reasons or another (In fighting in iraberg, rebellion in Az'Dorak and Lozerian for more power)

Brings civl war

The first Al Salir kills them all

Secrets and death have ruined this place. Life and knowledge is the way to live to enjoy it here