Arguably the most unique geographic region in Galadria, The Sedes are a sprawling collection of massive floating islands. The mechanism by which the Sedes came to be suspended amidst the clouds is a matter of hotly contested research and debate. Scholars from across the world have been studying the phenomenon for as long recorded history, and generations upon generations of knowledge-seekers have built their homes among the disparate city states that dot the region.
Today, The Sedes are seen as the pinnacle of modern magical and technological progress. With the rise of the Mercantile Alliance of Free Cities and their cross-continental trade network, The Sedes have grown scandalously wealthy through the export of mass-produced magitech artifice, particularly airships and freelance spellwork. The also boast some of the best universities in the world can be found nestled amongst the sky-islands, and immigrants travel from across Galadria to attend.
The standard of living in The Sedes is understandably extravagant and, naturally, the cost of living there is reflective of that. Space is at a premium in these towering cities, leading to upward growth on most of the islands. The exceptions - islands that remain untouched by urbanization - tend to be privately owned by some of the wealthiest people and organizations on Galadria.
While each city is individually governed, most belong to a loosely organized union known as the Sedean Security Alliance. The SSA oversees the coordination of three major sectors - trade, inter-island transportation, and national defense.
The SSA also has a small, but highly dedicated law enforcement arm that specifically targets dangerous, irresponsible and inhumane research. The agency is known as the
National Security Bureau, and NSB investigators hold a commission that sends them across the continent in the pursuit of protecting Sedean national security interests. The wealth that backs the organization is enough to open almost every door in the world - with the exception of Taboo, where carrying an NSB badge is an immediate death sentence.
The largest of the city states that dominate this region each have their own specialty, leading to a distinct diversity in cultural between them, despite their shared heritage and wealth.
Key Locations
Seychelles - Known as "The City of Fortune", it is the largest and most populated city in The Sedes. It is at the absolute forefront of technological progress, with a particularly advanced energy sector utilizing the power of coal - most of which is sourced from
The Troynoye Metro. Seychelles is a city of contrasts. It boasts some of the most beautiful works of civilization ever created, and is home to some of the wealthiest celebrities on the continent. But it is also riddled with crime, poverty and corruption that runs deep into its seedy underbelly. Even so, the city sees more immigration than anywhere else in Galadria, as it sells its denizens the idea that anyone is capable of making it big in the City of Fortune.
Magister's Rock - The oldest and most venerable of the cities of The Sedes, Magister's Rock is a bastion of arcane knowledge. It is home to the greatest wizarding university in the world - Magisteria. While its peers have turned towards technological advancement or a blend of magic and technology, Magister's Rock has remained firmly committed to the pursuit of arcane knowledge above all else. This purity of vision has allowed it to flourish in harmony with its environment. It is the greenest of the cities, and known for its safety and cleanliness.
New Flucht - Dubbed "The Big Sprocket", New Flucht is the youngest of the big four. The city was born from the vision of one visionary gnome - Ignatius Tekk. Tekk is best known for pioneering the steam technology that powers the modern railway systems across the continent. He took every dime earned of the vast wealth that came from establishing the rail network, and used it to establish a new city upon the destroyed remains of Flucht, which had recently fallen to a cataclysmic Dungeon Break. Now, the city stands as a unique monument to Tekk's dream of a steam-tech utopia.
Arcturus - Ruled by the legendary Archmage-General Klein Ackermann, Arcturus is one of the world's most supreme military powers. It is an authoritarian city-state wholly focused on the development and implementation of magitechnology. Home to the legendary Arcturus Academy and its associated Arcturus Institute of Research, it is a city of magical marvel. It is also a city of absolute order. Crime is virtually unheard of... because it is punished brutally. The city has a permanent curfew and is patrolled by the standing military. But for those willing to tolerate the lack of freedom, the standard of living is unmatched.
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