Sithern Environment :
The lands of the autumn court comprise several large cities, surrounded by open farm land populated by smaller villages. Between these cities and villages sprawl deep, ancient forests. Wind swept hills and highlands along the coast lead to oceanside cliffs. There are parts of the realm that are lush with the coming harvests and the beauty of the golden foliage of fall, and there are equal parts that are cold, verging upon barren, where you can taste the coming of winter in the air.
While most of the small towns are quaint and by mortal comparison may even seem lost to time, the cities are another matter entirely. Large avenues teem with life as the people go about their business. The architectural style in the city is grand and impressive, what humans might equate to a mediterranean or western European style- of stone and marble, massive towers, arches and spires. Wide avenues are lined with shops and cafes, and almost every street has either a small center green or is lined with an avenue of trees.
Seat of Power : The Ephemeral Throne in the Golden Hall.
The Palace and Capital
The Golden Hall
The palace at the heart of the Autumn Court. It is not a hall of literal gold, luckily the queen was talked down from something so gauche (more out a desire to be obnoxious than anything), but there are accents of red and gold to be found in the banners, the upholstery and the art upon the walls. Trees in their full Autumn splendor line the approach to the palace and can be found in every courtyard upon the palace grounds- though the grandest of them makes up the seat of the Ephemeral throne itself. During the harvest festival and other celebrations, long tables are brought forth to the hall so that the feasts and celebrations can be enjoyed directly in the heart of the palace.
The Great Library
Perhaps the largest library in all the realm. Upon entry, one will be greeted by a grand rotunda, with two large wings and several floors. It seems impossible, but when one wanders the stacks, it seems like the shelves of books can go on forever, as if the rows stretch and shrink with the desire for knowledge. Within its walls are thousands upon thousands of books, manuscripts, artifacts and even magical orbs that contain the memories of the past. The library contains all sorts of information, ranging from the history of the fae to the basics of healing to last year’s most famous kitchen witch recipe book.
Of course, not all of this information is readily accessible. The librarians safeguard the more precarious bits of knowledge, the more advanced magical texts and all of the magical orbs. Access to the hall of remembrance is only granted to those accessing family memories, or those with special pardon from one of the four court leaders. As for those who work in this vital institute, to work as a librarian in these hallowed halls is an honor akin to becoming a head mage or professor of the Autumn University itself. Magical spellbooks do have a tendency to try and go missing, sometimes for a century or more, so those who work to wrangle the books have their job cut out for them.
The Crystal Observatory
Crisp Autumn nights allow for some of the best stargazing. Perhaps that is why the Crystal Observatory was built in the Autumn capital. A place to study the stars and celestial bodies of the fae realm, the crystal observatory is both a place of study and simply a popular place for stargazing by visitors all across the realms.
Founded by the current Queen of Autumn, Kieran.
Autumn University
The Autumn University is perhaps the most respected university across the fae realms. While there are smaller places of study spread throughout the Autumn realm, sometimes offering better focuses of specific study, the Autumn University holds the prestige of royal backing and involvement. The head of the university sits on the royal council and the university is often consulted with some of the menial problems that plague the realm.
As for the campus, some of its facilities are spread throughout the capital city- but the heart of the university also dominates its own part of the city. The university is primarily made up of towering stone buildings filled with lecture halls, laboratories and warded places to safely conduct ritual and spell work. And yes, like all good magical universities, secret passages, hidden rooms and portals to other parts of the university are quite commonplace.
