The Floating City of Lerion

"And here will stay my crowning achievement; a beacon of hope and freedom for any Arcane practitioner who wishes not to bend their knee towards others. I desire to see this stay for eternity, even when I watch onward from the realms beyond mortal life." - Cedric Briskwind, Founder of Lerion

Humble Origins

The Floating City of Lerion was neither floating nor bore that name in its early days. Originally, it was the small village of Nadahn nestled in the plains west of the Worldspine mountain range. Nadahn boasted a mixed population of Humans, Ehlen, and Dwehrlen, all of who wished to live a quiet life in the countryside. Or, at least, that is what they led outsiders and their old families to believe.
Nadahn became a bed for the free practice of Arcane Magick amongst its populace. Pyromancy, Cosmancy, and Necromancy; all studies of Magick considered to be taboo or heresy were legal within the village, provided they were open with the rest of the villagers on what they were doing. Nadahn residents believed that the fear of these Magicks came ultimately from fear of the unknown. It was through free practice that even The Collective wouldn't provide that they could gain an understanding and, hopefully, an acceptance of these Magicks amongst the wider Risen populace.
It was from the small village of Nadahn that Cedric Briskwind came to be. Cedric was an Ehlen who, thanks to his parents' studies and practices in their long lifetime, became a prodigy of a Cosmancer at a young age and grew popular amongst the people of Nadahn. When he heard that the second selection process for the Circatrix Arcanum was taking place in his elderly years, he knew that he had to go. Cedric gathered five of his closest allies from the village and made for the Grand Tower of the Collective where the process would take place. They remained victorious throughout all the tasks, and he became the third bearer of the Circatrix Arcanum.
Throughout the competition, the secrets of Nadahn became revealed and Cedric gained a large number of followers that wished to join him in his home village. It was there that he met with the other residents and decided to turn the small village into the landmark that it is known as today with his World Spell. Great chunks of earth were pulled from the ground and suspended permanently in the air for the creation of the first floating city throughout all of Nora. The tops were kept flat and grassy to promote building and accommodated much more space than what it previously took up. Nadahn barely boasted two dozen structures; this new city would allow for almost three square miles of development above the ground.
The new city would be named Lerion, after Cedric's father who first taught him the ways of cosmancy. Cedric Briskwind stayed with the city for the short remainder of his life. Despite all the power that comes with the Circatrix Arcanum, bearers of the mantle of Master of the Arcane tend to live shorter lives. It is believed that he infused much of his life force into the foundation of the town and the enchantments that continue in it today.

Bastion of Arcane Liberation

Lerion today continues to uphold the ideals of Nadahn and Cedric. Arcane practices remain open and free still as long as they are properly announced to the governing council. Some factions and governing entities throughout Nora, such as the Arturians, the Collective, and Nioyaathep, have denounced the city under allegations of heretical practices or great malpractice and endangerment because of this. Practicing Arcane Magick such as Necromancy or Sangromancy goes against the very foundations of various religious beliefs. Despite this, no parties have officially attacked Caer Lerion thus far outside of the War for Magi Ascension and the occasional fanatic terrorist cell.
The Floating City has a modest governing body, simply known as the Lerion Council. The Lerion Council is typically made up of highly respected residents from various professions. It is rare for the council to have a meeting regarding any affairs other than approvals for singular Arcane practices within the city. Only when something or someone poses a great threat to the city does the council pull its weight over matters. Residents of Lerion appreciate their freedoms and, being the ones who comprise the council, this body of government respects their freedoms. Any member of the council who oversteps their ruling will often be excised from it quickly.
Lerion has sprawled out amongst the rocky surfaces, dwarfing the small village it once was with a conglomerate of houses, warehouses, labs, and towers. There is no unified aesthetic to the cities' structures and they remain as varied and wild as the various people who have flocked there throughout the years. Most Arcane practitioners who could not find a home amongst the Collective or the Ivory Tower of Sicerrone have found their way to the Floating City to develop their skills and studies. As is common with Magi, any who reaches a certain level of skill will often build a tower to house their experiments and ambitions. This has led to a constellation of differing spires that scrape the clouds above their floating foundations.
Being that the city practices Magick outside of what one could find throughout the rest of Nora, it has become a bed of desired trade and private tutoring. The Alchemists and Magismiths of Lerion are highly desired for their unique creations found exclusively within. Because of this nature, trade with outsiders is not very common yet it is highly profitable when it occurs. The most commonly exported items are Magick Scrolls to bring knowledge and use of their Magicks to others throughout Nora.

Magickal Entry

Being that the city floats several hundred feet above the ground, one cannot enter through regular means. Flight, be it through Arcane Magick or the use of a mount with such capabilities, is the most common entrance and exit. Teleportation is rare, but not entirely unseen. Any Risen without these capabilities can often purchase bussing via a spell or a shared ride for a high price. This is meant to serve as both a powerful defense against ground armies as well as an obstacle preventing common folk or any without the means to make it up to the city from entering. Cries against the unfairness and attitude towards the poor have fallen on deaf ears thus far.

Wartime Neutrality

In keeping with their views on the Arcane, the city and its residents have remained neutral throughout external conflict, choosing not to get involved in any wars that do not directly concern their wellbeing. It was during their only invasion in the War for Magi Ascension that their council agreed to engage in battle against the Collective with the other involved parties. They sent a powerful force of Arcane practitioners to counter the Collective's own forces and made for a terrible enemy in their display of power. Since then, however, Lerion has continued to keep to themselves during troubled times. There is no standing army for Lerion as it is just a city, though the combined power of the Magis within could rival a country. Lerion instead relies on an unofficial militia of residents willing to protect their lifestyles.

Flying Beasts and Guardians

One of the more popular landmarks decorating the city is the rookeries dedicated to the many gargoyles and wyverns throughout Lerion. Gargoyles make excellent defenders of the various Magi towers with their tough exteriors and resistance to Arcane Magick. Their fearsome appearance also lends them to make aesthetically pleasing statuary during inactive periods of service. The idea to breed wyverns in the city was actually proposed by Cedric Briskwind shortly after the city's founding. Wyverns are extremely loyal when bred and provide both protection and transport within and around the Floating City. Their natural poison also lends itself to alchemical experiments benefitting the populace and trade of the city.