Rochley

The city is governed by a Magisterial Council, a body of elected officials made up of merchants, craftsmen, and retired scholars, and led by the Lord Mayor.
The Dean of the Arcanum, Caldra Ivydown, holds an honorary seat on the council (since she has a seat on the Council of Regents, she is unable to officially hold office elsewhere) but rarely votes unless magical matters are at stake.
Laws prioritize the protection of magical property and public safety, particularly regarding unsanctioned spell use within city limits.
Heavy taxes fund both the upkeep of the Arcanum and public services like magical wards, healing clinics, and arcane street lamps.

Major Exports

Magical items (low-grade enchanted goods), books, scholarly scrolls, potion ingredients, refined glassware, rare inks.

Major Imports

Rare spell components, precious metals, exotic animals (for magical research), luxury goods.

Many residents make a living either directly or indirectly through the Arcanum — as scribes, potion-brewers, artifact restorers, or innkeepers for the endless stream of visiting dignitaries and scholars.

The Golden Quill

Guild of scribes, bookbinders, and publishers.

The Arcane Practitioners’ Assembly

Loose collective of wizards, artificers, and magical researchers, separate from the Arcanum but influential in city politics.

The Crystal Hand

An elite group of merchants who specialize in rare arcane goods and relics.

The Wardens of Rochley

A local city watch trained in counter-magic and spell defense.

Rochley was originally a hillfort village, founded around Year 755, guarding a key river crossing.
When the Arcanum was established after the Tanarian Arcane Expulsion in 1223, Rochley exploded in size. The city became known across Iroth as a haven for magical learning, rare research, and experimental spellcraft.
During Wescovia’s civil unrest periods, Rochley remained largely neutral, focusing on preserving its magical traditions.
Today, it stands as a symbol of knowledge, restraint, and (for some) quiet ambition.

The Arcanum

The famous heart of the city - a sprawling campus of stone towers, ivy-covered lecture halls, greenhouses, and crystal observatories. The Grand Hall of Spells is a public marvel; the ceiling constantly shifts through constellations and famous spells being demonstrated in ghostly light. Only accredited students, faculty, and invited guests may enter the Arcanum's inner grounds.

The Sigil Market

The primary open-air market square in Rochley, known for the sale of magic scrolls, minor enchanted objects, rare herbs, and mystical curios. The market is heavily patrolled by the Wardens, a special force of Wescovian militia, to prevent magical theft or duels.

The Levitating Lark

A famous (and slightly chaotic) inn known for its "enchanted floors," where furniture and guests occasionally float for a few seconds when someone claps loudly. It is a favorite among younger Arcanum students and adventurous visitors.

The Moonstone Archives

A private library of arcane texts not affiliated directly with the Arcanum, and owned by a secretive collective of retired wizards, the archives are rumored to house forbidden or long-lost knowledge banned from public use. The existence of the archives is the subject of some debate in the city.

The Shimmerwell

A small, natural spring at the outskirts of the city, infused with latent magic from the ley lines that run beneath Rochley. Known to enhance spellcasting for a few hours after bathing in its waters (or drinking, if you dare). It is carefully regulated by city ordinances; overuse is strictly forbidden.

The Wardens' Bastion

The headquarters of the Wardens of Rochley, the Wescovian militia's elite magical enforcement unit. It, and several other locations in the city, are fortified with layered wards that prevent teleportation, scrying, and planar breaches. The bastion includes holding cells that are dampened with anti-magic fields.

Rochley draws from all kinds of visitors - Aspiring mages, scholars, and historians, nobles sending their second or third children for magical education, alchemists seeking rare ingredients, adventurers looking for enchanted gear or research commissions, and many many more.
Tourists and visitors often stay in old, ivy-draped inns like The Levitating Lark or the slightly more upscale Silver Sigil House.
The Festival of Embers, held every spring, celebrates the founding of the Arcanum with spellcasting exhibitions, enchanted fireworks, and lectures open to the public.