Starrise

Starrise, the capital of the Starseeker Duchy, is a breathtaking marvel of Elven engineering and celestial reverence. It is not a city built on a mountain, but one built into the very face of the highest peak in the Central Dragon Peaks. Its population of 30,000 High Elves, artisans, and scholars lives in a vertical world, their lives dictated by the turning of the stars.

Architecture and Geography

The city is carved into the mountain's white and silver stone, a series of massive, interconnected terraces ascending thousands of feet from the valley floor to the summit.

• The Silvervein Gates (Lower Tier): The city's "ground level" is a heavily fortified series of tunnels and switchback roads carved into the base of the mountain. This is the only point of entry for land-based trade caravans, which are rare. This district houses the city's miners, smiths, and the less affluent artisans who work the "Star Metal" mined from the peaks.

• The Silver Terraces (Middle Tier): This is the heart of the city's 30,000 citizens. It is a vast, open-air terrace carved from the cliff face, hundreds of feet wide. The architecture is elegant and light, with homes, shops, and libraries all carved directly into the mountain, their facades open to the air and their balconies offering terrifyingly beautiful views of the valleys below. The entire terrace is lit at night by silver and blue faerie fire, designed to mirror the constellations above.

• The Celestial Spire (Upper Tier): At the very top of the city, accessible only by a slender, winding stair and magical lifts, is the home of the aristocracy and the city's leadership.

Key Districts and Landmarks

• Starrise Castle: The ancestral home of House Starseeker, this fortress is a breathtaking spire of white and silver stone that seems to be a natural extension of the mountain's peak. It is here that the new Duke Starseeker (Corella's eldest brother) holds court.

• The Crystal Observatory: The highest point of Starrise Castle. This massive, magically-domed structure is made of flawless crystal, allowing the Starseeker mystics to conduct their astronomical observations. The Duchy's political and military decisions are guided by the "will of the heavens" interpreted here.

• The Bladesinger Cloisters: Located on the Silver Terraces, these open-air plazas are where the Duchy's elite Bladesinger honor guard trains. The sound of their singing blades is said to be the only thing that echoes through the quiet city during the day.

• The Moonblade Forge: A sacred, and now less-used, forge located deep within the mountain, beneath the castle. It is here that Duchess Elama Starseeker (Corella's mother) practiced her art and where the Starseeker Moonblade was kept before Corella claimed it.

• The Sky-Lifts: Starrise is a city of verticality. Massive, magically-powered crystal gondolas and lifts connect the Silvervein Gates to the Silver Terraces and the Celestial Spire, allowing for the movement of goods and citizens.

Culture and Economy

The people of Starrise are predominantly High Elves, known for being proud, traditional, and somewhat isolationist.1 They value discipline, arcane skill, and a deep reverence for their "celestial" duty.

• Economy: The city is largely self-sufficient, surviving on a mixture of high-altitude agriculture, arcane craftsmanship, and mining.

• Exports: The Duchy is famous for its "Star Metal" (a rare, meteoric ore ideal for enchanting), its precise Astronomical Charts, and the services of its master Bladesingers.

• Atmosphere: The city is known for its profound quiet. The air is thin, cold, and clean. At night, the city is a mirror of the heavens, lit only by starlight and the soft, silver-blue glow of its magical lanterns.