Deep Sea City – Capital of the Deep Sea Kingdom
History of the City
Deep Sea City stands on a site steeped in memories and tragedy. Before becoming home to the
Sirenids the area was dry land: a vast coastal plain inhabited by cities and fortresses that, according to myths, were submerged by the wrath of the
Ancient Myths over 4,000 years ago. In the midst of the clash between the Old and New Gods of Valenor, the lands were swallowed by the waters, transforming into an underwater abyss littered with ruins, bones, and deadly relics.
When the Sirenids decided to colonize the area, they did so with a specific purpose:
to guard the scars of the past. The first communities settled among the submerged remains, adapting ancient stone structures and combining them with living coral, anemones, and crystallized shells. Over the centuries, the Sirenians developed a unique architecture, where the natural and the artificial blend in an almost organic harmony.
The city grew rapidly, aided by the currents that connected it to other settlements and by the symbolic value of the place: the very heart of the Sirenian collective memory. After the proclamation of Dorialia as Queen of the Currents (1309 CE), Deep Sea City became not only the political capital, but also the cultural, religious, and military beacon of the kingdom.
Its name, "Deep Sea City," reflects the city's dual nature: a living and dynamic metropolis, and at the same time a silent guardian of the depths that no one dares fully explore.
Current Situation
With a population approaching
50,000, Deep Sea City is the largest metropolis in the Little Ocean. However, it is not a homogeneous city:
The Singing City, the part of the city that does not sink into the rift, consists of buildings constructed by the sirenians, reshaping and reconstructing in their own image the ancient ruins that lay on the seabed. Among these structures, numerous coral, stone, and mother-of-pearl towers emerge today, housing some of the largest collectives of the sirenians.
The Central Rift divides the capital in two halves. The Upper City, the more superficial areas, are home to sirenians who prefer a simpler, almost peripheral lifestyle, far from the pressures of the big city.
The Luminescent Depths, on the other hand, are home to the naturally bioluminescent Sirenians, who have built neighborhoods glowing with blue and green light within the walls of the ravine. This evocative and mysterious neighborhood is known for its almost dreamlike atmosphere and high concentration of mystics and singers.
The city is also home to a
colony of Scylla, a fascinating and respected race. The Scylla live in a neighborhood considered among the most elegant in the city, a district of translucent domes and enchanted coral gardens. Their presence helps strengthen the city's role as the magical center of the kingdom.
A sign of the times is the construction of
waterless environments, spaces protected by magic and alchemical structures that allow surface delegates to breathe and move freely. This is a project commissioned by Queen Dorialia to strengthen diplomatic relations and welcome ambassadors from Elemon, Neamara, Touran, and the Brotherhood of Smauglegit.
The city is not, however, immune to tensions:
The darkness of the Little Ocean is creeping ever closer to the borders.
Trade with Magmhorin is being tainted by incidents of slavery against the Sirenians.
Bands of abyssal raiders threaten the trade routes and outlying villages.
Internal rivalries between the coral towers collectives fuel fierce competition, mostly symbolic, but which sometimes degenerates into overly heated rivalries.
Deep Sea City is therefore a vibrant, vibrant capital, yet riddled with contradictions and fragilities.
Important Characters
Dorialia, Queen of the Currents
Young and charismatic, she has ruled for only a few years but with great determination. She lives in the
Palace of the Tides, built entirely of mother-of-pearl and sea crystals. Her priority is to stem the darkness's advance and strengthen relations with the surface kingdoms.
Neythir of the Deep
A bioluminescent mermaid, spiritual leader of the Luminescent Depths district. She is known for her hypnotic voice, capable of resonating with the currents, and for her neutrality in politics. She is a respected figure, often consulted as a mediator.
Maelith the Streamweaver
Matriarch of the Scylla's community, a mage of extraordinary power. Considered her people's ambassador to the court of Dorialia, she is one of the most influential figures in the field of magic. Some say she holds prophetic visions tied to the fate of the Central Rift.
Maelirion, Keeper of the Trident of the Abyss: Bearer of the Trident of the Abyss: a legendary warrior and tireless defender, a living symbol of the strength of the Sirenid. He doesn't always agree with the queen, but he protects her faithfully.
Seymira, High Priestess of the Still Waters: High priestess of the conservative faction, an elderly and cunning woman, convinced that the queen is too inexperienced to tackle corruption, one of the most critical voices towards Dorialia.
Kelvorian, Speaker of the Clear Waters: A pragmatic druid, he leads the faction loyal to the queen.
Iriel, Keeper of the Relics: The mysterious leader of a secret order, no one knows her face.
Kelithan the Deepsinger: leader of the Wave Voices, a bard who preserves the people's millennia-old history in his melodies. He is a mediator between factions and often an ambassador to the surface nations.
Locations and Resources
The Central Rift
A gigantic rift that divides the city. Its walls are hollowed out and adorned with living coral. The deepest districts glow with bioluminescence, creating breathtaking vistas.
Palace of the Tides
The political and symbolic heart of the city, erected on ancient sunken foundations. The mother-of-pearl walls reflect the luminescent rays of the crystal shells, making the entire building a beacon of light.
The Scylla's District
An elegant area of translucent coral domes and magical gardens. Here live the polypomorphs, whose magic enriches the entire city.
Coral Towers
Dozens of community towers rise from the compressed sand of the seabed. Each tower houses a collective of sirenians, often related to each other. The competition to build the tallest and most beautiful tower is a centuries-old tradition.
Waterless Neighborhoods
Protected zones under construction where surface ambassadors can live and roam. They are considered an architectural marvel, a testament to the desire to open up to the outside world.
Shell Markets
Busy places where metal nodules, gems, magical crystals, and especially the famous sirenian jewelry are sold. The stalls are often illuminated by luminescent plankton lanterns.
Folklore and Details
The Festival of the Towers
Once every five years, the coral tower collectives present their works. The tallest and most beautiful tower receives the "Coral Crown," an award that brings prestige to the entire collective.
The Sobenar of the Capital
The coming-of-age ceremony for all sirenians of the same age, celebrated here with a week of marine spectacles and dances in the Central Rift, the Singing City, the Upper City and on the surface.
The Sea Creature Contests
The most spectacular competitions of trained animals take place in Deep Sea City. Winning a contest in the capital is considered an unparalleled honor.
The Legends of the Rift
It is said that in the darkest depths of the gorge live dormant creatures, relics of the Old Gods' wars. The Scylla, in particular, believe that one of these beings will awaken at the time of the "Last Tide."
Conclusion
Deep Sea City is more than just a capital city: it is a living, breathing organism, built on the ruins of a lost world. It is both a beacon of hope and a frontier city, keeper of secrets that could change the fate of Valenor.
For a group of adventurers, Deep Sea City offers politics, mystery, trade, external threats, and dark truths buried in the Central Rift.
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