Valanista : The Floating City | PLOTLINE Event Thread!!!

[Sey]

The Capital City of Valena
Valanista : The Floating City



Reference Picture of Valanista: Waterfall City by James Gurney

idea Current Events idea

With the arrival of King Adrian Valen's 75th Birthday, the City of Valanista is preparing for his Diamond Jubilee Celebration. Members of the Lyceum and the Council of Advisors have leaked that finally, after all his years of ruling the Good King will name his Heir - a choice between his two Children: Seyrin Phaedra Valen and Cyril Takoto Valen.

For 3 days the entire city and country will be in a period of Carnival and all Universities and places of State work will be closed in celebration. While celebrations will be held across the Country, hundreds of people are making the journey to the Capital to be at the center of it all...

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Perched upon the precipice of Ibaean Falls, widest waterfall in Selant at 2 miles wide and curved like a horseshoe, rests the centuries old Capital city of Valena poised majestically over the water.

A center for trade and education, Valanista controls the delta of the Ibaean River and the falls upon which it is built through a system devised by the Water Mages of Yiisaus University. The Ibaean Delta and River are areas containing large concentrations of Water Elemental Stones which have the ability to control all aspects of the element. It is upon these stones that Valanista is built and it is the stones that protect the city walls and structures from erosion and collapse into the Sea of Halledus.

The system of Water Stones within Valanista also controls travel throughout the city. The city itself is a mile wide along the falls and almost a mile and a half stretching back into the Ibaean River. Harnessing the flow of the river into the delta, the Engineers who built Valanista routed some of the water into the city and created canals that thread throughout it's heart.

It is these canals that most Valanistan citizens use to travel quickly throughout the city. A Corps of Water Mages work as Gondoliers and run the Gondolas that bus people around the city. Personal boats and Merchant's freights and wares also travel these canals which are best navigated by the Water Mage Gondoliers.

3 of the 4 most notable and grand structures within Valanista are located at the heart of the city and surround the small bay that was created for large merchant barges to be able to enter the city and deposit their wares. The 3 structures are the fabled Yiisaus University, the Merchant's Guild around which the marketplace is held 6 out of 7 days of the week and where Merchants sell their wares from all across Selant, and the Artisan Guild.

The campus of Yiisaus University spans across 1/4th of the entire city and is comprised of 7 buildings and it's Grand Library, the oldest building of the campus and known for it's extensive stacks and large Hall in which graduation ceremonies are held, City Meetings for Valanista and other large events. It is also a city landmark, as the main entrance of the Library towers is a 4 faced clock tower that towers 400 feet into the air and chimes the hours as they pass in the bustling city.

The Merchant's Guild consists of the Bay House, Administration Building and the piazza - open square - in which the Marketplace occurs. The Bay house has 4 large Bays in which ships dock and unload their wares to be sold in the market or sent downriver to be received by the larger, seafaring galleys. The Administration Building contains offices of all the large corporations which do business within Valanista and also house the Guild Masters of the Merchants in which they collect and regulate commerce and industry within the City. Both buildings are noted for their use of exquisite architecture throughout the structures and the offices are filled with all the amenities one needs to smoothly run a business.

The Artisans Guild is similar to that of the Merchants Guild and contains the offices of the Guildmasters of the various subjects of art - Pottery, Blacksmithing, Whitesmithing, Painting, Carpentry, etc. - but the building reflects the work of the master craftsmen of the guild. Ornate columns and sculptures cover the walls, gorgeous wood work and masonry follow you into the halls of the Guild and in each wing, the best works of the Masters are displayed in hopes to inspire their fellow artists.  

[Sey]

Bellinarus Palace

Consisting of the Eastern-most structures within Valanista, the Royal Palace of Valena rises majestically above the flowing water and mist of the Ibaean Falls. Named "Bellinarus" after the master architect of the grand structure, generations of Valens have lived and died within its beautiful marble walls.

Housing the Valenan Monarchs for centuries, the Bellinarus Palace consists of a central building with 2 wings. The Central Building is known as the Palace of Swans as it houses the living quarters of the Monarch and their family and for the numerous stained glass windows in which the image of the swan is a most prominent symbol.

The Northern wing consists of the Royal libraries and studies and is where the Monarch meets closely with the members of the Council of Advisers, Members of the Lyceum, Foreign Nobility and other esteemed guests.

The Southern wing consists mainly of the Grand Hall - a massive chamber in which the formal affairs of state are held, such as Balls, Galas, and other social events. The main kitchens and greenhouses are also located in this wing, along with the servant's quarters.