Aesiria
It is a time of peace; it is a time of mirth!
There are rumors of a city cloaked in the energy of the divine, of a city where the moonlight is healing and the waters glisten with the sun’s rays. There are rumors of a city hidden away from the rest of the world, indiscoverable and unknowable to even Vox, the Silent One (as false as this is). There are rumors of a city so beautiful that even Aohiri's great dragons are incapable of entering.
As a former resident of this city, I am here to tell you that it indeed exists. Aesiria, the City of Faith, is a reality born of a lucid dream. It is a city of peace, of belief, and of promise. It is where the downtrodden find their fortune. It is a mythical city that drags the confused and idealistic away from the clutches of reality. To the utterly broken, Aesiria is a place of perfection. But, its perfect nature means nothing imperfect must ever see it. And that is why no one can touch it.
Unfortunately for its leaders, they may have already failed preventing this.
Demographics
Since my birth, Aesiria was a city of dragonborn. Like most dragonborn settlements on Aohiri, the Aesirians may draw from many ancestors, and this reflects in their breath weapons. There are some dragonborn, however, that draw from something else entirely. Residents of Aesiria may tell you of some dragonborn that strengthen in the moonlight or strike with a fire that may equal the Sun’s. These dragonborn are referred to as the “Vrakisk” (meaning “child star” or “star children”).
The Vrakisk represent the upper echelon of society, and they are typically members of the clergy or the royal guard. Though they are only about 8% of the overall population, the authority they wield trumps the rest of Aesiria. Impressively strong, inspiringly benevolent, and humble in all regards—these qualities make the Vrakisk as respectable as they are.
Aside from professions you’d find in any average settlement, I know for certain that the majority of Aesirians are Echo Hunters, engaged in a universe-wide effort to repel beings of destruction from Aohiri. Perhaps it is because of the Echo Disaster that Aesiria is so closed off from the rest of reality.
Government
Aesiria is a monarchy, and it has been ruled by the Von Arkinos for as long as I could remember. Despite this, their powers are limited by other, less-powerful branches of the Aesirian government, of which there are three. These branches make sure that the Von Arkinos family is faithful, fair to Aesirians, and law-abiding. Though it has not happened, it has been said that the Von Arkinos would be swapped out with a different family should they become corrupt. The current head of the Von Arkinos family is unknown, so most Aesirians refer to Sirius Von Arkinos when talk of a leader ever comes up.
Defences
The bridges that join the Aesirian islands are warded by powerful magic, preventing entry to different sectors at certain times of the day and allowing passage at others. These bridges are manually controlled by the executive branch, ensuring that truancy and trespassing are at a minimum. Any floating islands that are locked from the rest of Aesiria by disabled bridges cannot be teleported in or out of, preventing lawbreakers from reliably escaping. It is known that the Aesirian bridges work under a sort of filter system, and those of sufficiently-high rank are capable of bypassing this arcane lock.
Infrastructure
Magic permeates Aesirian soil, and the government makes full use of its capabilities in order to make life easier for its citizens. The primary method of long-distance travel in Aesiria is via the teleportation pads that can be found on each of the islands. They are easy to locate due to the soft beams of light they produce, a light which flares when someone transports themselves to another location. There are some islands that are only accessible through teleportation. Much like Aesiria’s bridges, these teleportation pads can be manually disabled by the Aesirian government, preventing teleportation in and out of that particular island.
Tourism
Very rarely have foreigners stumbled across Aesiria. Its nature means that it is nearly impossible to come across by accident; a native must give foreigners permission, and even then, the government may throw the foreigner out if it deems them problematic. Foreigners that have been permitted to stay in Aesiria are those without hope, so the idea of tourism is something that Aesirians cannot fathom. But should one be allowed to temporarily stay in Aesiria, they’ll be moved to one of the southeastern islands where they can be carefully monitored. Because the nature of Aesiria means that its citizens’ beliefs can shape its appearance, tourists will likely find their wishes here somewhat realized.
Geography
Aesiria is a collection of floating islands, each with its own distinct appearance and resources. The reason it is described as a “city” is that the name “Aesiria” typically refers to the largest island, the one that sits at the center and holds the House of Von Arkinos. Most if not all of the Aesirian islands are self-sufficient, and the ones that don’t are carefully maintained by the central island to ensure stability. Below the floating islands is a gently-rolling sea of clouds beyond which nothing can be observed. This sea of clouds appears to be a natural occurrence due to the location of the city, but it actually serves as a gateway out of Aesiria.
Founding Date
Unknown
Alternative Name(s)
The City of Faith
Type
Large city
Population
Unknown
Inhabitant Demonym
Aesirians
This is a really interesting place. I always like cities (or floating islands) that are mostly hidden from the outside world and are a closely guarded secret. I'm curious as to who the 'I' in the article is. I may be being blind, but I couldn't work it out. :)