Playbelia - Southern Capital

Playbelia, the Southern Capital, is a vibrant and enchanting city renowned as the heart of the arts in the world of Astrium. Founded by the legendary bard Ignacio Playbelia, the city is a cultural haven where creativity flourishes and music, theater, and storytelling fill the streets. It is home to all the bard colleges of Astrium, making it the most prestigious destination for aspiring musicians, performers, and scholars of the arts.
The architecture of Playbelia mirrors its artistic soul, with buildings designed like grand theaters, concert halls, and galleries, their facades adorned with colorful murals and intricate carvings. The city hums with constant activity, as performers rehearse in public squares, orchestras play on every corner, and street artists capture the beauty of daily life in sketches and songs. Magical lanterns light up the night, casting a glow over the city’s many stages, where performances continue long after sunset.
Known as the City of Melody, Playbelia’s streets pulse with the rhythm of inspiration, and its citizens embrace the belief that art is the purest form of expression. From the soaring towers of the College of Lore to the subterranean halls of the College of Whispers, every facet of bardic tradition is celebrated and nurtured here. Artists of all kinds travel from across the world to study, perform, and leave their mark on the legendary city of Playbelia.

Demographics

40% Humans 25% Elves 15% Dwarves 10% Gnomes 5% Halflings 5% Other (Tieflings, Aasimar, Genasi, etc.)

Government

Playbelia is governed by an elected council known as the Strings of the Harp. The council consists of representatives from each of the bard colleges, a representative from the Transmutation College, and elected officials from the city's guilds and artisan communities. Decisions are made collaboratively, with an emphasis on ensuring the arts and creativity flourish in the city.

Defences

Though not a city known for its military, Playbelia's defenses come in the form of magical wards and the highly skilled bardic colleges. Illusion magic is often used to protect the city, disorienting any potential invaders. The city also has an elite guard known as the Songblades, skilled in combining martial prowess and music in combat.

Industry & Trade

The primary industries of Playbelia revolve around the arts, including music, theater, painting, and sculpture. The city exports finely crafted instruments, enchanted artworks, and magical clothing. Tourism is another major industry, with visitors flocking to the city for performances, festivals, and artistic inspiration.

Infrastructure

Playbelia boasts modern infrastructure that blends magical and technological advancements, especially in the artistic sphere. The city has a robust public transportation system powered by arcane and elemental energies, and the streets are lined with enchanted lanterns that light up in sync with the city's performances. Public stages, open-air concert halls, and rehearsal spaces are scattered throughout the city, free for all to use.

Districts

• Melody Ward – The cultural heart of Playbelia, home to the city's bard colleges and theaters. This district is always alive with performances and showcases.
• Harmony Heights – A wealthy residential district, home to the city's elite artists, patrons of the arts, and famous performers. This area features luxurious homes and exclusive galleries.
• Echo Plaza – The central marketplace where merchants, artisans, and street performers congregate. The streets here are lined with tailors, jewelers, and magic item vendors.
• Arcanist Quarter – Where the Transmutation College and the city's magical research institutions are located.
• Stringfellows – A working-class district filled with the everyday citizens of Playbelia, from bakers to builders, all connected to the city's artistic culture.
• Luminous Shore – The waterfront district where the city's docks are located, bringing in goods and visitors from across Astrium. The shore is also a hub for aquatic performances and festivals.

Assets

• Harmonius Armory – A blacksmith that specializes in finely crafted, musical-themed weapons and armor.
• Songweaver’s Apothecary – An apothecary that provides potions, herbs, and remedies, many of which are said to enhance one's creative abilities.
• Lumina's Threads – A famous tailor shop, where garments are enchanted to shimmer and glow with vibrant colors during performances.
• Arcane Artifacts – A magic item shop where performers can buy enchanted instruments, stage props, and accessories.
• Crescendo Gallery – An art gallery showcasing the works of local and traveling artists.

Guilds and Factions

• Bardic Union – A guild that represents all performing artists in the city, ensuring they have fair wages and ample opportunities to showcase their talents.
• The Muses – A secretive faction of patrons and influential citizens who fund the city's greatest artistic endeavors and recruit promising talent.
• Arcane Innovators – A faction of wizards and artificers based in the Arcanist Quarter, dedicated to blending art with magic.
• The Lightkeepers – A guild responsible for maintaining the city's magical lanterns and light-enhancing technology.

History

Playbelia was founded during the 4th year after the marblehaven divide occured after the events of that lead to the destruction of realmshatter. Ignacio Playbelia took the people seeking peace and trying to find joy after the events of the Pandora War and founded a city of the arts, known after the man that helped the people find a new home - Playbelia. To keep his legacy alive, the people of Playbelia established a number of bard colleges that have created some of the best creative artists Astrium has known.
Today it utilises technology to further enhance artistic experiences with lights for concerts of even light drawing for artists.

Points of interest

• College of Lore – The most prestigious of the bard colleges, where historians and storytellers train.
• Harmony Hall – The largest concert hall in Playbelia, known for its perfect acoustics.
• Ignacio's Rest – A statue and memorial garden dedicated to the city's founder, Ignacio Playbelia, located in the heart of the Melody Ward.
• Luminary Fountain – A magical fountain in Echo Plaza that changes colors and shapes to the rhythm of music played nearby.
• Crescent Stage – An outdoor amphitheater overlooking the ocean, where performers regularly put on shows during the evening, with the sea as a backdrop.

Tourism

Playbelia attracts tourists from all over Astrium for its legendary performances, festivals, and bardic competitions. The city's annual Festival of Strings is one of the biggest events, drawing in musicians and performers from every corner of the world to compete in front of thousands.
Songspire - 17th Umbravor
Songspire is Playbelia’s grandest and most cherished celebration, a five-day festival held annually to honor the city’s founder, Ignacio Playbelia, and the spirit of artistic expression that defines the Southern Capital. The entire city transforms into a canvas of creativity, celebrating various forms of art each day, including music, theater, poetry, visual arts, and dance. The festival is a vivid manifestation of the city's cultural heartbeat, where both seasoned artists and newcomers come together to inspire, perform, and create.
The Days of Songspire:

• Day of Harmony (Music) – The opening day, dedicated to the art of music. The festival begins with the Opening Chorus, a city-wide symphony performed by bards, musicians, and performers of all kinds. Every street and square in Playbelia resonates with melodies as magical lanterns in the shape of musical notes and instruments light up, casting a warm glow over the city. Throughout the day, musicians and composers from every corner of Astrium play on Open Stages, filling the air with songs that range from ballads to symphonies.

• Day of Masks (Theater) – The second day focuses on theater, with actors, playwrights, and storytellers performing in public spaces. Grand plays, comedies, and tragedies are performed in the streets, while The Masquerade March takes place in the evening, where citizens don elaborate costumes and masks to participate in or watch dramatic reenactments.

• Day of Echoes (Poetry) – The third day is devoted to poetry, spoken word, and storytelling. Poets and authors gather in public squares to share their verses. The Poetry Duel is one of the day’s highlights, where poets challenge each other with improvised verses in a friendly competition. Listeners scatter through the city’s parks and plazas, with the words of great poets echoing through the city.

• Day of Light (Visual Arts) – The fourth day celebrates the visual arts. Throughout the city, colorful stalls are set up, where artists showcase paintings, sculptures, and other works. The streets become a living gallery, with interactive art pieces and spontaneous murals. In the evening, the Canvas of Light event takes place, where artists use magical light and illusions to create dynamic, shifting art displays across the city's walls and sky.

• Day of Grace (Dance) – The final day of Songspire is a celebration of dance. The entire city is alive with movement as dancers of every style, from ballet to folk to modern, perform in public squares and stages. In the evening, the Grace of Ignatius, a grand performance that features the city's best dancers, takes place in the central plaza, symbolizing the unity and grace that art brings to the world.

The Ignacio Ballad: The highlight of the Songspire Festival is the Ignacio Ballad, an epic musical and theatrical retelling of Ignacio Playbelia’s life and the founding of the city. Held on the final night, the performance takes place in the grand theater of Playbelia and draws visitors from across Astrium. The story is told through a blend of music, dance, and drama, chronicling the hardships, triumphs, and dreams that led Ignacio to create the city of arts.
City-Wide Participation: During Songspire, the entire city is involved in the festivities. Schools, businesses, and government offices close down, allowing everyone to participate. The Open Stages are scattered across every district, welcoming artists from all walks of life to perform and display their art. The streets are alive with the sounds of music, the colors of art, and the joy of creation.
Finale and the Lantern Flight: The festival closes with the Lantern Flight, where thousands of magical lanterns are released into the sky. Each lantern is inscribed with a wish or a piece of artistic inspiration by the city's citizens, symbolizing the hopes and dreams of Playbelia’s people rising into the stars. This grand finale marks the end of Songspire, leaving the city filled with inspiration and artistic renewal for the year ahead.
Songspire, with its dazzling display of creativity and community spirit, is not just a festival but a celebration of the very soul of Playbelia, where art, music, and expression are intertwined with everyday life.

Architecture

The city is a blend of flamboyant, theatrical architecture and sleek, magical innovation. Buildings are shaped like instruments, theater masks, or dramatic scenes, and vibrant murals cover every available surface. The central clock tower in Echo Plaza plays music at the top of every hour, its chimes echoing across the city.

Geography

Playbelia is located in the southern region of Astrium, near the coast. Its position gives it access to both inland trade routes and maritime shipping. The city's surroundings are verdant and lush, with rolling hills that lead to the glittering waters of the coast.

Climate

Playbelia enjoys a warm, Mediterranean-like climate, perfect for outdoor performances and year-round festivals. The coastal breezes help keep the city cool even during the hottest months, and the winters are mild.

Natural Resources

The city's natural resources include an abundance of coastal seafood and fertile lands for agriculture. Additionally, Playbelia is rich in magical ley lines, which are tapped into to power the city's arcane enhancements.

Founding Date

4AD

Founders

• Ignacio Playbelia

Alternative Name(s)

City of Melodies

Type

Capital

Population

120,000

Owner/Ruler

Vitari

Characters in Location

• King Maximillian Playbelia