Sian
The Shifting Jewel of the Confederation
Hidden behind veils of spellwoven mist and cloaked in the artistry of illusion, Sian, capital of the Capellan Confederation, is a city that breathes deception and elegance in equal measure. At once a fortress, a palace, and a theater, Sian is the beating heart of House Liao’s power—a place where every gesture carries meaning, and every shadow may conceal a dagger or a diplomat.
Set in the emerald valleys of the Eastern Fold, the city rises from tiers of black jade, silver glass, and enchanted marble, each level a testament to Capellan ambition. The Imperial Spire—a towering obelisk wrapped in light-bending runes—dominates the skyline, seat of the Chancellor and core of the state’s vast intelligence network, the Maskirovka. Its walls are mirrored obsidian, said to reflect not what is, but what must be seen.
Sian’s beauty is legendary. Cherry blossom gardens bloom eternally beneath enchantments that slow time. Ornate bridges span canals filled with luminous koi, bred to shimmer in response to nearby magic. Music echoes across quiet plazas, played by automaton orchestras and unseen performers. But beneath the elegance lies an ever-present tension. Surveillance is constant, courtesy of unseen eyes and illusion-cloaked agents. Most citizens accept this as a virtue: vigilance in the name of unity. The city is a crucible for illusion magic—a craft that House Liao has elevated to high art and lethal strategy. Within Sian, entire quarters may shift in appearance overnight. Halls of governance may double as arcane mazes. Visitors often leave unsure whether they have truly seen the city, or only what the Chancellor wished them to see.
Diplomats walk carefully here, unsure whether they are negotiating with men or mirages. Merchants find their wares scrutinized not only for quality but for hidden messages. Even Capellan nobles tread lightly, for loyalty is prized, but independent thought without permission is a dangerous luxury. In recent years, Sian has become increasingly active in the political sphere, particularly following the Jade Accord, which brought mercenary factions into Liao’s web of influence. The city has adapted accordingly, blending foreign barracks into illusory cloisters and turning once-restricted towers into testing grounds for joint military experiments—some say even golem integration trials. Despite the power plays and paranoia, Sian remains an undeniable marvel—a city that dares to shape reality as it sees fit, where truth is just another mask waiting to be worn.
To know Sian is to question your own senses.
To live there is to surrender to the art of control.
And to rule it… is to hold the mirror in which all others must reflect.
“Sian is not merely where House Liao rules—it is where perception itself is drafted, sculpted, and perfected.” — Prefect Zhang Li-Huan, Ministry of Internal Vision
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