Crypta Labyrinthus

Ubi Malum Vitae (Where Evil Lives)

United Britannia and Hibernia    Places      Crypta Labyrinthus

Located under the witch city of Alatius (near Edinburgh) in United Britannia and Hibernia, the Crypta Labyrinthus is an underground series of vaults that constitutes a large and bustling city that houses approximately 35,000 witches. The witches (called the Mala) are almost exclusively Dark witches and wish to take over Ilyrium and UBH as a whole and rule witches all over the world. The people of UBH do not know the Mala exist.

The Mala

Main article: Mala
The Mala are the witches who inhabit the Crypta Labyrinthus and are ancestors of witches who left Ilyrium in 73 CE. Almost all of the Mala are born with Dark Magic as a result of selective breeding; however, a few witches are allowed to be born with Nature Magic, Elemental Magic, Healing Magic, and Illusion Magic for the maintenance of the city. The witches born with the aforementioned magic must be registered, as there is only a fixed number of those witches allowed, and if the child's birth is over-allotment, they are quickly executed. (The irony of their ancestors' fear of execution chasing them to the city and their subsequent execution of some witches is lost on the Mala.) Although Dark Magic does not necessarily mean the magic is evil, the Mala always utilize Dark Magic malevolently.
The Mala are a cold, unfeeling people; the generations of Dark Magic has caused ill-effects on the witches and many lack a basic understanding of empathy or compassion. They tend to be brutal and self-centered, and relationships amongst themselves are weak and serve only the purpose of breeding more Dark witches. Dark Magic has also caused the Mala to be unquestionably powerful, and their exploration of Dark Magic means that they can complete magic the witches of UBH can only dream of.
Ultimately, the goal of the Mala is to take over Ilyrium (and UBH in general) and take revenge on those that chased them underground. Their utopia would be one of only Dark witches, with humans and other witches completely subservient.
Currently, the Mala are restless, and the odious and evil effects can be felt in Ilyrium.

Some legends suggest that those who fleed the newly founded Ilyrium are, in fact, still extant. However, most academics today find that nearly impossible: for one, no large amount of magic is detected in any outlying areas of United Britannia and Hibernia, and second, their quest for Dark Magic would almost assuredly mean they would have destroyed one another quickly. Certainly, this is the most favorable outcome, for if these dissidents had survived, their Dark Magic would be viciously strong and lethal.
--A portion of a Dark Magic history book

Founding

Crypta Labyrinthus was founded by separatist witches in 73 CE who were angered by the Immortalium's new edict outlawing Dark Magic; the punishment for one born with Dark Magic or found using Dark Magic was a swift and brutal execution.
In 73 CE, all of the witches born with Dark Magic agreed to leave Ilyrium to found their own city. However, before they could make their departure, the Immortalium uncovered their plans and advised that witches planning to leave would be hunted down and executed. Seeing few options, the witches did leave and immediately retreated to underground vaults created by magic. Because magic is difficult to detect through stone (granite, mostly), the witches hastily constructed the vaults of granite and went permanently underground.

Relationships

The Mala have little contact with the outside world; the only exception is the spies who are scattered throughout UBH in order to gather information on UBH witches. The Mala consider the witches of UBH inferior to themselves and have an even harsher opinion of humans than those of UBH: they believe humans should either be killed or bonded in servitude. However, despite that opinion, the Mala do not interact with humans in fear they may draw attention to themselves before they are ready.

Legacy/Downsides

The colony of Crypta Labyrinthus presents a definite danger to the witches of UBH (and perhaps the rest of the world). Because almost all other magic has been bred out, the concentration of Dark Magic (as well as the focus on it) means that the Mala are extremely dangerous. Since Dark Magic has been outlawed for so long, its limits have never been tested by the witches of UBH, and thus, the power of the Mala is utterly unknown.

Government

The government of the Mala is extremely similar to Ilyrium's Council and is called the Imperium. Unlike in Ilyrium, however, there is a single person in charge of the Imperium (who can override any decision of the Imperium) called the princeps. The princeps is an inherited position, and the current family has ruled as princeps for over 600 years.
The laws of Crypta Labyrinthus are fairly simple: murder, rape, and stealing are illegal; the witch must work; and children must be registered with the Imperium. If the child does not have Dark Magic (detected by a Sensitive) and the allotted number of witches with other magic is reached, the child is immediately executed. Most crimes, including murder and rape, are punished by swift execution, and often without a trial.

Industry & Trade

The Crypta Labyrinthus is completely self-sustainable. Due to magic, much of the city is bathed in natural sunlight, allowing vegetables, fruits, and grains to be grown and livestock kept. Water and power are magically supported and sanitation is not at all an issue.
Like in other societies, the children attend school (in this case until the age of 16) and then either continue on in their education or learn a trade. Since the community depends on one another for survival, no one is allowed to be unemployed unless the person is unable to, for health reasons. Those that refuse to work are imprisoned or executed.

Infrastructure

The Crypta Labyrinthus is comprised of 28 stories and houses about 35,000 witches. This incredible series of vaults contains an immense number of institutions, including schools, hospitals, kitchen/bakeries, restaurants, common rooms, churches, markets, sunrooms/playgrounds, catacombs, and bathhouses.

Living quarters

Living quarters are assigned according to family size and wealth; those with bigger families and those that can afford it are allowed larger living quarters. All living quarters consist of bedrooms, a dining room, a bathroom, and a kitchen, although larger public institutions exist regarding the latter two due to the sheer number of people living in one residence.
Very few people live spaciously; the vaults cannot be expanded much more due to a number of natural obstructions. However, at this point, the vaults are not crowded and most people can move about fairly freely.

Architecture

The Crypta Labyrinthus was built under Alatius and utilizes the architecture of a bridge in order to create the many arches that dot the entrances of many parts of the city.
The city is entirely made up of granite, since granite is one of the only materials through which magic cannot be detected. Even the doors to various rooms are made of thick granite as no one wants there to be any chance of magical detection.
Most of the city is sparsely decorated. Due to the Mala's cold temperament, the city is very austere and decorations are mainly centered around murals depicting their ancestors' journey and the foundation of the city or futuristic events in which the Mala will be the supreme leaders of the world.

Type

Underground / Vault

Population

Approximately 35,000

Related Ethnicities

• Mala

Inhabitant Demonym

Mala

Characters in Location

• Melina Chase

Related Professions

• Emissarius

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