Starrise Castle: The Celestial Spire

Starrise Castle is the heart and soul of the Starseeker Duchy. It is not a traditional fortress of towers and walls built upon the ground; it is an architectural marvel carved from the summit of the Duchy's highest mountain peak. From the valley floor, the castle appears as a natural, elegant spire of white and silver stone, its highest towers and observatories catching the starlight and gleaming like a beacon over the 30,000 citizens of the city below.

The castle is a vertical city unto itself, a massive administrative and military center that employs between 3,000 and 5,000 citizens. These guards, militia members, servants, arcane technicians, and courtiers make the daily vertical commute from the Silver Terraces of the city below, using a series of massive, magically-powered Sky-Lifts and high, arching bridges carved from the mountain's own stone.

The Foundation (Lower Ward)

The lower levels of the castle are carved deep into the mountain, serving as the fortress's logistical and military backbone.

• The Grand Garrison: A cavernous, multi-leveled barracks and armory capable of housing the Duchy's 1,000-strong formal militia. It includes vast training halls, armories, and smithies that ring with the sound of steel.

• The Citadel of the Bladesingers: Separate from the militia, these cloisters are dedicated to the training of the Duke's elite honor guard. The sound of their singing blades and magical song echoes through these stone halls, a constant reminder of the Starseeker family's martial tradition.

• The Service Tunnels: A massive labyrinth of kitchens, storehouses, cisterns, and workshops required to support the thousands of staff who work in the castle.

• The Moonblade Forge: Located in the deepest, most secure part of the foundation, this sacred forge is where the Starseeker Moonblades are maintained. It is now mostly silent, kept as a shrine to the late Duchess Elama Starseeker, and awaits a new master artisan.

The Celestial Spire (Upper Ward)

This is the main body of the castle, with soaring arches, open-air terraces, and chambers that are open to the sky. It is here that the 3,000+ staff conduct their daily business.

• The Hall of Stars: The Duke's throne room. It is a vast, open-air chamber with a floor of polished black obsidian that perfectly reflects the sky, giving the impression of floating in space. It is here that the Duke Starseeker (Corella's eldest brother) holds court.

• The Courtiers' Labyrinth: A sprawling network of offices, libraries, and meeting halls where the thousands of administrators, scribes, diplomats, and servants manage the day-to-day affairs of the Starseeker Duchy.

• The Noble Residences: The private solar of the Duke, as well as the quarters for his sister, the Countess, and the suites reserved for visiting dignitaries (like the one Corella forsook).

The Summit (The Apex)

At the very highest point of the mountain, where the stone meets the sky, are the castle's most sacred and important locations.

• The Crystal Observatory: The "eye" of Starrise Castle and its most famous feature. This massive, magically-domed structure is made of flawless crystal. From here, the Starseeker mystics and Onomancers (Wizards who, like Corella's sister Princess Mintrys, study True Names) interpret the will of the gods from the stars, guiding the Duchy's political and military decisions.

• The Sky-Docks: A high-altitude platform, separate from the main city docks, reserved for the Duke's personal griffon mounts and any airships visiting the castle on official business.