Kudsall
Kudsall, capital of Zecria, is a city where magic isn’t just a tool, it’s the law of existence. Rising like an illusion from the barren wastes, Kudsall glitters with fountains of conjured water, glass towers that hum with arcane energy, and streets paved in marble and quartz. Within its walls, everything is enchanted, from the lamps that burn without oil to the palm trees that grow despite the surrounding desert’s hostility. To enter Kudsall is to step into a place that feels less like a city and more like a manifestation of Bothos’ divine imagination.
Yet beneath the beauty lies a rigid hierarchy: if you can wield magic, you belong; if you cannot, you survive only by serving those who can. Non-magical individuals are treated as second-class citizens, tolerated mainly as merchants or artisans selling magical goods. Even so, once every few years, the Grand Arcane Tournament opens the city to all, its spectacle deciding the next leader of Zecria. The current ruler, Grand Arcanist Solaris Divir, is seen as the voice of Bothos, god of Magic & Stars himself—a figure whose word is not questioned, only revered.
Demographics
A mix of elves, humans, tieflings, dragonborn, and other magically gifted races, alongside magical constructs and familiars. Non-magical individuals make up less than 10% of the population and are segregated to merchant districts.
Government
An autocracy ruled by the Grand Arcanist, whose position is won through mastery in the Grand Arcane Tournament. Laws are shaped by magical tradition and the interpretations of Bothos’ will.
Defences
Magical wards woven into the city’s foundations, elemental guardians, and a standing force of battle-mages. In times of crisis, Grand Arcanist Solaris Divir himself can call upon Bothos’ blessings to create starlit barriers said to rival divine miracles.
Industry & Trade
Dominated by the creation and export of magical items, spell scrolls, and enchanted constructs. Imports mundane goods and raw materials, often transmuted or magically altered to suit the city’s needs.
Infrastructure
Every building and road is magically reinforced, and teleportation circles connect key districts. Enchanted constructs maintain cleanliness, while floating platforms serve as transportation for the elite. Libraries, academies, and artifact vaults dominate the city’s layout.
Assets
- The Grand Arcane Tournament Grounds, where Zecria’s leadership is decided.
- The Astral Library, containing tomes said to be dictated by Bothos himself.
- The Crestforge, where nearly all of Nineveh’s magical items are inscribed with the Zecrian crest.
- A network of Floating Platforms used for fast travel within the city.
- Magical defenses capable of turning Kudsall into an impregnable fortress.
History
Kudsall was the first major city erected after the Great War, conceived as a sanctuary of arcane order and designed by Bothos, god of Magic & Stars. Over centuries, it became the beating heart of magical advancement in Nineveh, though its obsession with the arcane has created deep divides between the gifted and the mundane.
Points of interest
- The Astral Library – A seemingly endless repository of spellbooks and cosmic knowledge.
- Grand Arcane Tournament Grounds – An arena of shifting magical landscapes where power decides leadership.
- The Crestforge – Workshop where all Zecrian magic items are marked and perfected.
- Bothos’ Observatory – A sacred spire for stargazing, rumored to allow communion with the god himself.
- The Mirage Gates – Enchanted gates that make Kudsall appear as a barren ruin to outsiders until they are allowed entry.
Tourism
Visitors come seeking magical items, rare spells, and the chance to witness the Grand Arcane Tournament. However, outsiders often find the city’s segregation jarring, and only the most magically inclined can truly thrive here.
Architecture
Glass and marble dominate, with towers that spiral like constellations and parks sustained by illusion magic. Every building feels alive, reacting subtly to those who enter, an intentional design by Bothos to reflect the “living dream” of magic.
Natural Resources
Almost none locally; everything is imported and magically transformed. The true resource is arcane energy itself, drawn from the stars through Bothos’ blessings.
Founding Date
~700 years ago
Alternative Name(s)
City of Stars
Type
Capital
Population
~32,000, though the number swells dramatically during the Grand Arcane Tournament.
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
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