Serannian
A wonderous city resting on an island which floats in the sky. To get there one boards a ship and sails from Celephaïs to the point where the sea meets the sky. Such a voyage usually lasts for several days, but may take up to several weeks depending on conditions. When a ship has reached that point it simply lifts off the sea and into the sky and continues to sail on to its destination.
The island of Serranian is roughly circular and covers approximately twenty square miles. The bulk of the city is constructed along the eastern and southern shores and covers almost three-quarters of the islands surface. The city is surrounded by high walls made of marble which are armed with cannons all around. Most of the buildings of the city are built of pink-veined marble with an architectural style that is Greek in nature. The city's harbor lies along the south--eastern shore, and the wharves are carved from the very stone of the island. The Bay of Serranian is normally filled with clouds which float at the level of the shore, forming a fluffy surface for the ships to sail upon as they arrive or depart. Like Baharna, Serranian has two lighthouses to aid ships in navigating to port.
However, one of these lighthouses projects from the bottom of the island beneath the "waves" of the Bay. The two lighthouses are actually one structure which extend from the top of the upper building through the rock of the island to the bottom of the lower building. They share a common entrance near the harbor master's offices.
At the center of the city stands the massive, many-turreted castle which is Liona's seat of office when she resides upon the island. An imposing structure, its high dome rises above all the others of the city and is covered with beaten bronze which blazes forth in the light of day, like a second sun in the heavens. Near the palace stands the Hall of Proclamation. From here the decisions of the city's council, or of Queen Liona, are made public. Often it is the scene of lively public debates between rival philosophers and scholars on a wide range of topics. This is where the patriarchs of Serranian's cats resides. He is a wise old tabby, and is fond of engaging those dreamers who are fluent in the language of the cats in the same sort of lively debate which goess on around him.
Just as in Celephaïs, Liona prefers not to stay in her palace here. Here too she has erected an Italian-style villa house to keep as her residence. It lies in the western portion of the city and is surrounded by a high stone wall. A pair of iron gates open into a large courtyard which is in the middle of the well tended gardens filled with ivy-covered oak trees. The manor house itself is made of gray stone, with a single tower rising above the level of the walls. Again, as in Celephaïs, Liona's servants dress in the fashion of Italian butlers and maids. However, due to the limited space available on the island, this is the only piece of Italian which Liona has created here. Much of her time in Serranian is spent either here or at the Museum.
The Museum stands on a promontory point at the far eastern end of the island. The only way to gain access to the Museum is across a narrow, low-walled causeway which leads directly to the Museum's only entrance. The causeway has just enough room for two people to stand abreast, so those entering and existing must share the way. It is an unofficial policy that when crossing the causeway one should keep one of the low walls on his or her right hand side; this forms two lanes of traffic, one for entering and one for exiting.
A great round structure with a high dome, the Museum stands three stories tall and has windows made from an unbreakable crystal. The causeway leads to a small courtyard containing a statue of the Queen. A narrow pathway leads off the courtyard in both directions, surrounding the Museum. On the far side is another small courtyard with benches and a spectacular view of the Dreamlands below. The snowy cap of Mt. Aran and the mystery-filled Tanarian range beyond can be seen from here on clear days.
Visitors to the Museum pass through a great archway beyond the King's statue and find themselves in the main gallery. This gallery extends all the way to the top of the dome. From here visitors may wander around the first floor, or they may ascend, via winding staircases, to the other two floors. Most visitors never get past the first floor, for this is where all the Museum's valuables are on display; gems and jewels, golden figurines and ivory statues, priceless antiques, and works of art all are shown here. The upper floors contain those items which can be found in any museum: mummies, books, bones, and the like. Interestingly enough, none of the museum's exhibits have labels or explanations attached to them.
Unlike the rest of the ships of the Dreamlands, the ships of Serranian do not need the aerial gulf stream to sail into the sky. Each of the ships of Serranian has a special hold in its hull which is filled with the flotation essence. This enables them to remain aloft no matter where they may sail, and to venture over the length and breadth of the Dreamlands. They control their altitude by releasing ballast or gas as needed, but otherwise are sailed in much the same fashion as water-borne ships. Regular ports of call for these vessels include Celephaïs, Ilek-Vad, and Dylath-Leen.
Type
Large city
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Owner/Ruler
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