City of Glass
An ancient city trapped under glass.
The city thrived before Marmon cast his wake of destruction. Nobody knows exactly what form that destruction took, only that it left behind two deserts, the Sea of Glass and Marmon's Scar. The city, much like the desert that surrounds it turned to glass in the aftermath of Marmon's fury. The city is perfectly preserved, except for the eerie absence of any creature. The glass preserved everything as it was, right down to uneaten, or half eaten meals still on the table under a sheet of glass, but with nobody to eat them...
Purpose / Function
The City of Glass was once a prosperous desert city, situated atop and around a large oasis. It thrived on it knowledge of glass crafting, and their works of art were prized throughout Avenaria. The city grew as more desert people sought fortune amidst the glassblowers of the city. It also served as a hub of activity for the Sea of Glass, where people brought goods and art to be sold or traded. The Sand Stalkers figured prominently in the city's wealth. The Stalkers would gather rare components for both crafted items and some alchemical substances. These alchemical creations emulated powerful magics, and gave the people of the City a way to rival the Dwarves in the creation of magic to a lesser extent.
Design
The city itself covers an area roughly half a square mile, that used to border a large oasis. This oasis provided not only water and flora for the denizens but also an easily accessible trade location, as caravans and other travelers could stop and refresh water supplies as well as escape the burning sun.
Entries
The city itself is mostly open, so entry is easy to make from virtually any direction. There are however, eight larger roads which correspond to the eight cardinal points on the compass.
Sensory & Appearance
As people enter the city they are struck mostly with the eerie silence that permeates the buildings. Normal sounds even of a small village or city simply do not exist. Save for the the occasional tinkling sound of glass buildings settling, the city itself makes no other noises. Other living creatures instinctively avoid the city. During the daylight hours the city itself radiates heat as the glass warms under the desert sun. Surprisingly, the interior of the buildings offers shelter, and a cool escape from the draining rays of the sun.
The city buildings show little to no wear and tear despite laying open to the ravages of a desert that would normally see glass worn and scoured. None have returned with any answer as to why the glass remains protected.
Valuables
Potentially there could a vast wealth of treasures within the City of Glass. All evidence points to a population that disappeared without warning, or preparation. If meals, half eaten, remain on tables, then one would think that valuables would also be trapped under glass. Yet with this apparent and available source of wealth, nobody has ever returned with any souvenir from the City of Glass.
Alterations
Unfortunately, they did not account for or did not know the nature of the glass in the Sea of Glass. Through constant harvesting of the glass, they created a lush backdrop for the glass crystal to grow in. Without realizing that they were clearing away dead glass, and by doing so, uncovering fertile areas for new glass growths. One such instance is thought to be the catalyst of the city's doom. The glass blower's guild boasted to foreign nobility that they could craft anything that the nobles requested. When the request for an entire ship crafted from glass was made the guild members cleared vasts swaths of glass from the landscape. The ensuing vacuum spurred wild growth, and that growth is what took over the city
Parent Location
Environmental Effects
In cases where people try to liberate some of the more valuable items from the city, the city itself protects its treasures. The reason for this is the city itself. The glass of the Sea of Glass is a living entity and when the Sea overtook the City, the City took on a life all its own. Should people attempt to unearth valuable items that the glass has encompassed, the city will react violently. The city will create Glass Golems which will defend the City against the trespassers.
Prism Effect: At different times of day the sun strikes the angles of the building at precisely the correct angle. The result is a prism effect, which sprays colored light in all directions. In larger areas of the city, the blast of colored lights can actually act as a high level color spray
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