Aestilon

Kalzendil stands upon a hill at the geographical heart of Aestilon — a radiant city of stone and light, said to be ruled by a sage descended from The Princess.

The city rises in graceful tiers, its pale grey walls crowned with blue-roofed towers and fluttering banners that dance in the winds of the Aestilon Fields. Sunlight spills across cobbled streets and polished marble plazas, illuminating the gold-adorned mansions of the noble houses — their gilding both a mark of status and a display of wealth drawn from trade with Rudiana in the mountains to the north.

Each district bears the subtle imprint of its dominant faction. Near the halls of The Treant’s Roots, gardens and parks thrive amidst living architecture. In the quarters of the Order of the Sages, disciplined courtyards and banners of blue and white line the streets. The Triumvirate raises shining temples to the Three Goddesses, their spires rivaling the citadel’s own.

Despite the balance of power, tension between the Order and the Triumvirate never truly rests. Both seek the ear of the noble houses, whose rivalries shimmer just beneath the surface of the city’s calm.

Kalzendil’s radiant image draws all manner of travelers — pilgrims, artisans, scholars, and wanderers — and serves as the meeting place for the Seven Sages, who gather here to decide matters that affect all great cities.

Kalzendil is ruled by a sage descended from The Princess, her true name unknown. Her rule seems largely ceremonial, with the noble houses administering the day-to-day matters of state. Nobility in Kalzendil is not inherited by blood alone, but bestowed or revoked by divine right — only The Princess herself may name or excommunicate a noble.

Kalzendil crowns the *Golden Rise*, a broad, gentle incline that lifts it above the surrounding plains of the Aestilon Fields. The slope is gradual enough for farmland and villages to flourish upon it, but steep enough for the city’s towers to be seen from miles away — a true beacon at the world’s heart.

From its gates, well-kept trade roads radiate outward in all directions, linking the great cities of the realm. Caravans bound for Piam and Toru pass southward through golden grasslands, while stone-paved routes lead north toward Rudiana and west toward Rurua, the floating city above the Elemental Wastes. To the east, winding forest paths connect to Iaras and Borunoa, where the air grows cooler and wetter.

This network of roads has made Kalzendil not only the ceremonial center of Aestilon, but also its pulse — the meeting point where trade, faith, and knowledge converge.

The people of Kalzendil mark the passing of the year with light, gratitude, and remembrance.

• The Prime Quest (Winter’s Dawn):

Each year begins with solemn celebrations honoring the ancient sages who defeated the Great Evil. Lanterns and silver banners line the streets, and the noble houses sponsor public feasts that last through the night.

• The Festival of Light (End of Winter):

As the frost fades, every household and the many tourists in the street release a floating lantern into the sky. The lights rise together in a sea of gold and blue, their glow visible even from distant cities. It is said these lights rekindle the strength of the sun for the coming year.

• The Harvest Festival (Autumn):

The city’s farmers and merchants give thanks to Arbia, Goddess of Plants, as she is once more swept away by Farore, Goddess of Air and Growth. Markets overflow with produce, and the air fills with the sound of song and prayer.

Beyond these great observances, each faction and noble house adds its own customs — from solemn rites of the Triumvirate to the open tournaments of the Lanista Gladiatoria. No matter one’s origin, there is always a reason to celebrate beneath Kalzendil’s golden light.