Locations & Information
Lismore City:The City of Lismore occupies a large floating island in the Sky realm. Giving the large cave structures underneath the city, it is probably the largest of the Lismorean isles. Local lore says the city was set afloat in the skies after a great battle where even the gods got involved. The city is a hodgepodge, both of people from various species and walks of life up to the buildings, that resemble styles from various time periods of Lismore history or are incorporated to reflect far away cultures from some of Lismore's later immigrants; at present the oldest building is probably the windmil, that is part of the much newer grranary building. Among the newest structure in town is the
Hotel Fennecia.
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The City of Lismore, flanked by the Cruentus island on the right, and the Entry Point on the left.
Scholars still debate how, and even where the islands stay afloat in the sky. There are many theories discussed, but so far the best answer they managed to come up with is the simplest but least explanatory of them all:
It's magic!
Points of Interest:Like any place where people come to inhabit and cultures mingle, Lismore has a marketpalce, situated on the North East extremity of the island. Here commonplace items such as food and basic equipment can be acquired IC, and you may inquire with the local merchants about less common items.
The sale of certain alchemic produce (especially those that allow for physical transformations) and weapons of the common and arcane variant usually requires an extra permission by the royals/their ministers, other vendors just obtain a general trade license to let the crown have their cut in the profits. Generally speaking, no specific items are branded illegal for trade in Lismore, but certain things can and will get people's attentions, depending on their personal and cultural backgrounds.
Lismore's Marketplace on a sunny day.
The smithy workshop is located in the marketplace area. This is the main blacksmith facility in Lismore. Here weapons and armor and generally any metal items are made and sold. The head of the facilities, and consequently current leader of the blacksmith guild, is a character named Nina Farwell, played by Ani Aunerfal.
Those whose characters possess blacksmithing skills are welcome to claim access and use of the facilities of the smithy, but it's always nice to meet the ones in charge IC to arrange for official recognition.
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Never go adventuring without proper equipment.
Gryphons are one of the ways to get around from one floating island to another floating island in Lismore for those who can not fly or otherwise have means to make the journey through the airy void between the more hospitable spaces. They charge a small fee for their transportation services, varying from a silver coin to other objects of trading value.
The gryphons are NPCs, the only thing they do for you is take you from place to place. They offer no other assistance or information unless a GM says it so. If you attack it, the gryphon always wins! You right-click a gryphon and select RIDE! to be taken to another place.
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Evan is an easy-going gryphon. Cassiopeia is generally more grumpy.
These are an alternative to the gryphons. They open a small portal to other gate structures they are linked with. Unlike the gryphons, they are usually free for the common people, since merchants or generous nobles tend to cover the maintenance costs. Their great benefit is that they can transport heavy weights with ease, that the gryphons would struggle with. They are also usually independent of weather and other effects, that may impair flying.
However, they come with some drawbacks of their own. Not everyone feels comfortable using these magic portals, they are prone to induce nausea or other side effects. And like most other magical constucts, they can be disturbed by other great sources of magic that are not properly shielded. So if you are carrying the most powerful artifacs or are maintaining a myriad of passive spells on your person, you might want to think twice before stepping into these gateways.
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Travel by the speed of magic!
The downtown houses, called that because they are literally in the lowest part of the city (without going underground), are the home of several characters. They don't offer much in terms of luxury, but they are private spaces in a bustling city where free space is an expensive commodity.
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City living can be a bit cramped.
Most people treat the Arena as a mere training facility to hone their skills. And when there there is no other activity scheduled, that is usually perfectly fine. However, the Arena is also the place where you may duel one another in combat without fear of the law coming down on you. Be warned, if you step into the Arena to fight someone in that fashion, your life is in your own hands!
Underneath the arena is a part the city prison, where criminals are taken either because they are going to be there for a while, or because the cells back in the Guards' Tower are currently filled to the brim with people that need to stay locked up for a while.
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Nothing says entertainment like the grunts of skilled fighters and a crowd cheering from the stands.
Every town needs a tavern. The Rabbit Hole is our local 'watering hole' and often host to all kinds of small events and celebrations. The current innkeeper is Aryn Gentlepaw, the tabby cat, played by Cylliano Dreamscape. You can get food and drink there, or if you wish just hang about and chat with the other patrons. The Inn is a good source of gossip and info. Or perhaps a good place to meet someone new!
Rooms are available for those whose characters might be travelers, or looking for a place other than their own home to spend the night, or plain simply those who wish to be long-term tenants.
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Ready to join for a pint or two? ...or five?
The Vances are a family of foxramau, demon-foxes who call Lismore home, and this building is pretty much their lair. The two other large foxramau families reside in similar large estates, though the Vances probably have the most wealth on display. They are known for having tremendous amounts of coin, artifacts and other valuable resources. Sometimes looked down upon for events from the past (
"Have you heard their grandfather staged a coup against the royal family?") or issues of the present (
"Is it true that they took incest to a new artform?"), they are nevertheless an influential family in the grand scheme of Lismore.
Figures that the current head of the Vances, Djoser Vance Fu Sheng (played by Ash Hammerthall), managed to snatch the hand of Princess Yuna in marriage.
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No visit of Lismore is complete without gazing at the marvel that is the facade of the Vance Estate.
The Guards' Tower is where the City Guard, the organisation dedicated to protecting the peace within the town, resides. Here you can enter to report crimes or suspicious activities. Or can ask for directions whenever you get lost as a newcomer. Arrested people usually are first taken here for some interviews and will most likely spend time in the cells in the basement.
The City Guard is officially headed by Guard-Captain Drucilla Fu Sheng (played by Drucilla Ceawlin), though most of the day-to-day work is handled by her second-in-command, Lieutenant Miriamella Valentine (played by Cylliano Dreamscape).
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Better make sure to always enter this building out of your own will.
Lismore's seat of power, the Tower Palace, is the residency to a large number of members of the Fu Sheng family, who form the current line of royalty within these lands. The tower was constructed right after the city was set afloat in the skies, based on a tower the architect saw in a dream, and it was lavishly decorated with marble, stone and gold, reflecting a new era of prosperity and peace for the city.
It is in here where open court, or town hall meetings take place, and where the High Council of lords formally gathers. The current emperor is Xahu Fu Sheng (played by Hazel Alchemi) and at his side is empress Ewyllyn Fu Sheng.
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Lismore's seat of power
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A scroll containing the city laws is posted at the base of the tower.
Here is where Lismore's books and scrolls are stored. You can find history and legends and lore in here! The master librarian is called Abbadon (played by Ani Aunerfal). The building also houses a small museum and Lismore's master time-keeping astronomical clock is located on the top floor of the library building.
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A good book is a good friend. It will talk to you when you want it to talk, and it will keep still when you want it to keep still – and there are not many friends who know enough for that.
Monumental tower that serves as a gathering space for the Ramau population living in Lismore. Traditionally their local leaders reside in the upper layers of the tower. While at one point in time it used to be a religious building, nowadays the ground floor serves a more mundane function: Here you can find Lismore's first dedicated bakery, opened on the 273rd day of the 25th Year of the Fourth Age. It is still run by former Ramau refugees who found a new home in Lismore and their offspring. They specialize in traditional Ramau baked goods but also have all sorts of cakes and breads and pastries from around the world!
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If baking is any labor at all, it's a labor of love. A love that gets passed from generation to generation.
Sitting right in the middle of downtown Lismore, the park is a place to meet and greet your neighbors or to sit down for a few moments and contemplate life. The flowers and plants are usually well kept throughout the seasons. There are benches to rest, the song of flowing water surrounds a fountain and a statue commemorates fallen heroes of the past. You see Lismoreans play chess during the summer or build up snow foxes in winter.
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Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at both ends.
Officially recognized as
Lismore's Institute of Arcane Arts, most people just refer to the place as Zenko or the Academy. Next to the library it is the official place for studies in Lismore. Once an order of warrior monks with an Oriental flavor, the members of Zenko now focus on teaching ways to harness the magical powers within. A certain focus also rests on managing to handle said powers well and not to turn into a threat for your fellow men.
Additionally, the institute specializes in harnessing the power of a physical manifestation of magic: The Tass. Thus they usually help out and interact with the caretakers of the tass refinary. Exposure to tass has led some Zenko members to undergo a metamorphosis, becoming manabeasts: Creatures whose flesh is magical (known as aer).
The Zenko Academy is led by Lady Relina Harem (played by Felix Stourmead).
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I have learnt much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and most from my students.
One of the most surreal structures in Lismore, the Tass Refinery is a building precariously dangling from thick metal chains between the City island and the Cruentus island. Here, mana is refined into physical form, tass, and into a rarer liquid form, the vistus.
As a truly industrial operation, the refinery is a dangerous place. Free-floating mana levels are extremely high and prolonged exposure could lead into mana-poisoning and potential mana-corruption.
The tass refinery is headed by Jack Lanterns and his wife River Lanterns, played by Caex Silverfall and Symphicat Resident respectively.
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Floating buildings - Lismore likes to bring out the best magic and the other sciences have to offer.
Here is where potions are made and sold, where alchemist make their experiments, and the occasional abomination is created. The guild is open to those with alchemy as a skill to use the facilities. Those whose characters practice alchemy are welcome to claim access and use of the facilities of the alchemy guild, but it's always nice to meet the ones in charge IC to arrange for official recognition.
The Alchemy guild usually co-operates with the Academy on the subject of Alchemy and related topics. Heads of the Alchemy Guilad are Arlen (played by Ani Aunerfal) and Ike Harem (played by Felix Stourmead).
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Watch out if things go Boom in Lismore. More often than not, this place is the source.
The farm's terraces and the stables provide some of the foodstuffs that help sustain Lismore's population. The large granary building houses most of the goods that can be stored as medium- to long time supplies. A lot of fresh food also passes through here and gets redistributed to vendors, taverns and the kitchens of those noble and wealthy.
For those with an interest on local history: The windmill tower is probably the oldest structure left on the city isle. It dates back to the times when Lismore was still firmly grounded in the Old World, before the ascension to the Sky Realm. The rest of the structure was build around the tower when the former granary was destroyed during an attack. To this day this windmill still is in operation, grounding most of the local grain.
Of course the farm also yields some plant & animal products that are not suited for consumption. Most of these are used by Lismore's weaver and textile works, which occupied a floor in the granary building. There local fabrics are made to then be sold to merchants and clothing makers.
The farm and its facilities are under the jurisdiction of Lord Athian Hoggard, Overseer of the Granaries of Lismore, and Radem, the purple rabbit. (The players are Athian Hoggard and Darren Azemus)
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Lismore's Granary
Lady Ara Foxxian (played by DarkFoxxian) is a local artist and lives in a quaint little timberframe house by the lake on the city isle, right next to the beach. Thus her place is a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
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Here she can paint in tranquility or spent time with family members and friends.