Platinum City
Platinum City: world renown as a bustling hub of commerce, culture, and knowledge. In a dangerous and uncertain world, its title as "the safest city in the world" is no exaggeration. This is thanks, in part, to the city's construction.
The tall, thick walls that encircle the city keep out the majority of physical threats. A magical dome, fueled by the magic of all those who cast underneath it, envelops the city and sustains the Zone of Truth spell that binds all of Platinum City’s inhabitants to honesty.
Mechanical Sentinels patrol the city with their spiked armor and unnerving single eye. They need only ask if anyone has committed or is planning to commit a crime within the bounds of the city in order to determine the current or future presence of criminals. Any who are found breaking the law are swiftly brought to justice.
The city's strict protection measures are a point of conflict amongst the citizens. Some see them as too excessive, while others believe that the safety they provide is worth the price of the Sentinels' presence and questions. Proponents often cite that its unparalleled safety has made Platinum City the only place capable of hosting one of the most highly attended events in all of Fynali: The Warden's Festival. This weeklong celebration of the Day of Salvation draws attendees from every corner of the world, massively boosting the city's economy, thus allowing Platinum City to sustain itself on that event alone.
As a city within the Iridean region, Platinum City is under the jurisdiction of Chancellor Typhon Darling. And though Chancellor Darling is the architect of Platinum City, its longest-living inhabitant, and its de facto leader, the spirit of his precious city has shifted over the last few decades due to multiple contentious decisions enacted by the Platinum Council.
The Platinum Council is the democratically elected legislative body which consists of twelve representatives, two from each of the city's six districts. The most controversial of the city's measures-- the Sentinels-- were approved by the council nearly three decades ago, and the body's subsequent decisions further exacerbated this new, harsher outlook. In 970 EoW, following an attack on the Platinum City harbor that caused two vessels to sink and 58 lives to be lost, multiple council members were unseated by newcomers, running campaigns on the promise of creating a safer city. This new era of Platinum City has led citizens to claim that "kindness is a sin" in their city, as truth without compassion has come to be the hallmark of this once deeply warm and charitable metropolis.
The Districts of Platinum City
Platinum City is broken up into six districts, each one sectioned off by walls only slightly thinner than those that span the perimeter of the city.
Citadel District
The Citadel District is at the northernmost point of the city and is the home of the Chancellor and the Platinum Citadel. The lower half of the Citadel district is taken up by a massive public park which contains a great deal of natural green space and wildlife. The center of this park is part of the citadel grounds and is made up of more curated flowers, trees, and greenery. Although there are set open and close times for this part of the park, the public is welcome to visit and explore with very few exceptions.
The upper part of the Citadel District sees the private homes and grounds of the elected members of the Platinum Council. Previously, the representatives would remain in their home district to ensure they understood the needs of their neighbors and constituents. After a revision to the law (by the newly elected Platinum Council) following the Harbor Attack, the representatives were permitted to take half of the district's park to turn into residential space specifically for the elected officials of the city.
Cottage District
The Cottage District is the city's largest residential area. Although there are some small retail locations such as groceries, restaurants, tailors, cobblers, and carpenters, the majority of the buildings here were built to house the citizens of Platinum City in relative quiet and peace.
District of the Divine
The Divine District is home to the various sites of worship for all the deities of the world of Fynali. There are temples for each of the 11 domain deities as well as one for the Warden and one large and central church dedicated to Brio. Although it uses Brio's name, this cathedral is typically used as a free worship space for most anyone who cares to visit.
Brio's Cathedral
This cathedral is the center point of the district and is used as a place of free worship to any and all of Fynali's deities (with one obvious exception). Over the years, The Bright Path-- Brio's most zealous and devoted followers-- have ensured that a part of His cathedral be set aside just for His worship, without any influence or iconography of any other deities.
Cloh's Casino
Paying respects to the Goddess of Fortune is an experience like no other. The golden halls of Cloh's temple ring with the cries of excitement of those in deep prayer. Worshippers roll dice, flip cards, and chase the highs of risk and reward. Those looking to make an offering to Cloh do so as a gamble, setting their coin down at the various tables or inserting it into levered mechanisms that line the walls and aisles. If Lady Luck smiles upon you, your tithings will be returned with more than you offered. But even if that is not the case, giving to Cloh is always a win-win. Either you leave having been touched by Fortune, or you have given your goddess an offering she has joyously accepted. There are no losers in Cloh's Casino; all who enter leave with more than they came.
Vivarium of Genesis
The Vivarium of Genesis is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Platinum City. Its outer walls are made entirely of thick stained glass and refracting crystals which allow the sun to cast prismatic displays and splashes of color across the ground around the temple. After the sun sets, small motes of bobbing light float in the space between inner wooden walls and the outer glass, allowing the colors to remain vibrant for visitors and worshippers alike.
Phasma's Sanctuary
Phasma's Sanctuary sits in the center of thick white mist. Once you step on the path to the building, the gentle light of a floating lantern guides your way to the door of the temple. Stepping off the path and into the mist isn't a dangerous pursuit and is often done by the goddess's senior clerics or followers looking for a thinner veil between the living and the dead. It is said that the voices of lost loved ones can be heard to those who dwell in the mist.
Oasis of Marista
The Oasis of Marista is decorated in a mosaic of sea glass and porcelain tile and can be entered from archways on multiple sides. The temple is surrounded by a pool of crystal clear water that those who wish to enter must wade through. It is considered an insult to the goddess to use prestidigitation, shape water or any other magical means to dry oneself inside of the temple. It is also frowned upon to use magic to prevent oneself from getting wet prior to reaching the entrance. However, once a worshipper has left and is no longer on sacred ground (or water), they are free to dry off in whatever way they see fit without offending Marista or her clerics.
Kiln's Crucible
Kiln's Crucible is made from rough igneous stone and pulses with heat from the rocks below. Worship of this god takes the form of written prayers that are tossed into a rolling wall of fire at the head of the temple.
Void of Nocturne
Nocturne's site of worship is steeped in the darkness of his domain. Those who come to pay respects and pray to this god must navigate his temple on blind faith alone, as sight (even darkvision) is no use here. Lights-- magical or not-- are not welcome within Nocturne's Void and, in fact, are extinguished almost immediately. Nocturne asks his followers to rely on their other senses to navigate his chapel, as succumbing to the shadows can allow you to see more than they ever could with eyes alone.
High Keep of Korzo
The entrance to this temple is up a spiral staircase around a single tower. The vestibule at the highest floor is a small area, round, comfortable and draped in thick, rich-colored velvets and curtains. Those who wish to pray to Korzo can do so here; however, to those who care to pay the ultimate respects to the God of Heart can do so by opening the only other door at the top of the tower and stepping out onto the thin, railing-less ledge facing the rest of the city. To truly worship Korzo and his domain, one must take a courageous step off the ledge. It is not completely clear how this test works-- if there is an atmospheric 'Feather Fall' spell in place, if the clerics watching from the window cast an intervening spell, or if Korzo himself reaches out to ensure the jumper makes it safely to the ground-- but the results are clear: those who jump from the top almost always make it safely to the bottom.
Library of Psyona
Perhaps the most aptly named of all the temples in Platinum City, the Library of Psyona was built with books and knowledge at the center of the design. Anyone, follower of the goddess or not, is free to visit and borrow from the vast collection, or simply find a cozy corner and read in silence for the duration of their stay. The borrowing of these books is done, strictly, on the honor system. Anyone can take as many books as they please and keep them as long as they would like. The only fine one might accrue for not returning their borrowed books to this temple is the ire of a powerful goddess, which is a much more effective book-thief deterrent than the coppers charged by the local Platinum City Library.
Tabernacle of Nihm
The Tabernacle of Nihm is carved from a single large rock that was pulled up from the ground below Platinum City. Those who come here to worship find themselves more grounded and steady amongst the spirit of the Goddess of Earth. A large piece of this temple is devoted to those who hail from the Underdark; a tunnel, illuminated with glowing geodes, burrowing deep into a wide cavern in the cool earth.
Nova's Complex
Stepping through the doors to the inner sanctum of Nova's Complex is a roll of the cosmic dice. Will you find yourself in a windmill just outside of Sunkenstar in 344 EoW? Or perhaps a yurt in the frozen Tundra in a time unknown? Praying to Nova means taking a dive into chaos, crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. Since you could find yourself in the lair of Astral Bees-- or worse, Hell Wasps. But worry not, you need only walk back the way you came to return to the streets of Platinum City. Even clerics of the Complex don't know exactly how it works, but they believe anyone who is willing to venture into the sanctum experiences the will of Nova herself-- if you believe such a goddess exists, of course.
Spriggit's Grove
Hiding within a copse of trees and other flora is Spriggit's Grove, a temple dedicated to the sights, sounds, smells, and spirit of nature. Worshippers step inside the grove and the sounds of the city outside vanish, replaced instead with the twitter of birds and the rustle of leaves in the wind. This sacred space is a place where one can come and soak in the natural world for as long as they like.
The Warden's Embrace
This large, circular temple is known as The Warden's Embrace. Its design and ambiance are replicated from the very first temple devoted to the Warden, erected in Sunkenstar in 4 EoW.
Harbor District
The Harbor District is home to the city's ports, where both cargo and passengers come and go to the Swiftide Sea via the Sterling Bay. Fishermen and tradesmen populate this district and sell their wares at wholesale prices to those who know whom and how to ask.
Some of the bigger stores in the Merchant's District build their warehouses and factories here, as the Harbor District acts as the industrial center of the city where raw resources don't have far to travel from the boats that transport them.
Merchant's District
The Merchant's District is the most famous shopping district in all of Ardesia-- and likely all of the world. It is one of Platinum City's largest districts and is home to big-name stores such as BrawlMart and Pomegranate as well as hundreds of high-quality local shops for any retail therapy a shopper might need. Also, the Adventurers' Guild International can be found in this district, centrally located for any passing adventurer to pop on in. Since this district is the most visited by tourists, many lodging options can be found throughout.
If culture is what you seek, the Merchant's District has you covered there, too. The Platinum Theatre is world-famous and features art and artists of all kinds, from dramatic stage plays to musicians. In fact, Platinum City's darling, Miku Nakamura has given some of her very best performances on the Platinum Theatre's stage. You can also stop by some of the continent's best restaurants, which feature cuisine from around the world. Stop by Taur Yum, an eatery best known for its delicious Elven dishes, its owners transplants from Hatharcha's home of the Wood Elves, Taur-Iaun.
Warden's District
The Warden's District was Platinum City’s only district for the first few decades of the city’s existence. As more people flocked to Platinum City and the safety it offered, the city began to spread. .Eventually, it grew so large, it was split into districts. But the original city-- now known as the Warden's District-- still remains at the heart of the new, massive one.
Within this district there are plenty of homes, a scattering of businesses and shops, the Platinum City Museum, the library, and the district's biggest attraction (both in size and traffic): The Warden's Coliseum. The coliseum hosts multiple tournaments a year, but its most frequent events are the intense and theatrical Gladiatorial Grand Slam matches. A point of controversy for the fans of the GGS is that the matches aren't 'real', and that they are 'staged' for dramatic purposes. But real or not, the matches are a blast, and always worth the price of admission.