Cor Quae'thum {City}

Perched on the highest mountain of Celestia Peaks, reaching above the clouds, shines the ancient university of Cor Quae'thum. The university rivals the mightiest cities in size and population, and with its collection of arcane knowledge and artifacts, its power rivals even the greatest of empires.

The history of Cor Quae'thum dates back to the very first years of recorded history. The nymphian Maeve originally founded Cor Quae'thum as a chapel to Gnol-Dotera, where she taught the ancient luni and anyone else who found their way there. Over the centuries, her teaching drew seekers from far and wide, and they grew the chapel into a grand cathedral. As generations passed and the throng swelled, more buildings rose around the cathedral, and Cor Quae'thum turned into a city.

Even in the present day, well over two thousand years later, the cathedral to Gnol-Dotera is still the center of the city as well as its mightiest building. As is befitting of the Weaver of Words, the cathedral is also the central building of the university, containing private rooms of professors, lecture halls and the greatest library in all of Varzzen.

Around the main cathedral are other buildings related to the function of the university. These include additional classrooms, storage rooms, dining halls and reinforced buildings for more volatile research. There are also some private homes of university staff, which are among the oldest buildings of the city.

Outside the university proper lay the rest of the city. The city unfolds in a mosaic of architectural marvels, each era etching its legacy into the stone. One thing remains constant: each building is designed to withstand the test of time. Generally, the closer a building is to the university, the older it is. Thanks to the long lives of most common races, the luni and the chilopodians, most of the closer houses are inhabited by them. Few luni or chilopodian sees a reason to move away from a perfectly good house. The long lives of the inhabitants can be seen in the architecture: all buildings are made of sturdy stone, so that they can survive as long as their owners.

The buildings are not just the homes of university staff or students. There are also independent researchers and diplomats, as well as artisans of all kinds. Many buildings are also for public services, such as schools for children, smaller, more specialized libraries, and temples for all deities of the Order Pantheon.

Around the city proper, vast farmlands cover the mountainsides. The farmlands grow most of the food the city consumes, as well as many kinds of alchemical and magical herbs. Normally growing anything at such heights would be unviable, but thanks to the amount of magicians in the city, there is plenty of magic to ensure always a fruitful harvest.

The streets of the city are always unusually quiet for a city of Cor Quae'thum's size. A large reason for this is the climate: Cor Quae'thum’s position, cradled far in the north and lofted upon high peaks, bestows it with a chill breath. Furthermore, strong winds constantly blow through the streets, turning the cool air into a freezing gale.

As a result, much of the city is covered in gigantic glass domes, which protect both the people and the buildings from the elements. In addition to the university, covered areas include many public squares. These include the market, where one can buy anything from the mundane to the arcane, and the forum, where people can gather and debate, hold speeches or sing and dance.