Starlight Point

Starlight Point is the capital city of the The Isles of Basilla and is quite active at all hours. It sits close to the sunny beaches of the Pearl Sands, as well as the road leading to Junori's main temple, the Cradle of Stars. Festival season is a busy time of year for the city, causing an influx of tourism, especially for the Cigar Festival. Tobacco farmers and their associates come from all over the islands to sell their products, including high-quality cigars and ashtrays. Mask making is a popular community event during the festival season, and locals dress themselves in colorful costumes.   Open-air markets flood the streets year-round. Artists display their works to eager travelers. Even rare forms of art are found easily in Starlight Point, including complex beadwork and tattoos. Starlight Point's plazas are packed for performances held by local musicians, and most nights are full of excited chatter and dancing. The sea breeze carries the scent of cured tobacco and baked treats throughout the city. Starlight Point is the birthplace of a popular artstyle called "Bloombrush Surrealism". The style is known for its dreamlike quality and unusual use of colors. Anatomical accuracy is pushed aside for exaggerated features and shapes.   Despite that, the art's subjects aren't unnerving to view because of the soft, pastel colors on the canvas. Bloombrush surrealism dates back many centuries and was inspired by the ancient artworks of tribal catfolk. It's not a style that seeks to represent reality, but rather, it's a style that seeks to depict feelings. A public mural called the "Passing Seasons" often showcases bloombrush artworks. The paintings only stay up until the next equinox, where new works are put up in their place. It creates an ever-changing, community-owned piece of artwork that anyone can contribute to.   Visually, Starlight Point is a place of natural beauty and coastal, rustic charm. Its architecture is a mosaic of pastel, stucco buildings tucked in wherever they will fit. Stone staircases wind around them, with bridges to connect them in other places. Small gardens bloom on nearly every surface while stray cats lounge on the terracotta roofs. The locals greet visitors with open arms, so long as they're respectful. Many family-run restaurants are hidden throughout the capital, sharing their food communally with those in need. Local favorites include grilled seafood and rice dishes, as well as spicy stews.   Starlight Point is a place of inspiration for many artists all over the world. It's a city of living folklore, with temples to Junori lit up with star-shaped lanterns or starlit glyphs. Residents have a healthy relationship with death and grief, so funerals are celebrated as vibrantly as birthdays. Neighbors share their gardens and often raise their families together. As a capital city, Starlight Point is well-connected with merchants that pass through regularly. It's not without its downsides, though. Decades of overtourism have left some locals feeling displaced and frustrated with the intrusion into sacred spaces.   Overtourism also causes prices to spike during the festival season, making it harder for low-income families to get what they need. Given its tropical climate, strong storms and hurricanes are a threat throughout the year. The storms risk closing down or damaging ports and homes closest to the sea. Outside traders take advantage of the city's open-air markets to peddle stolen goods and knock-off artworks but eventually draw the ire of the Golden Claw Fellowship.