West End

[Maeve]

The intellectual center of the Mouth, this borough houses no less than three magic schools, one military academy, countless libraries including the Lycaeum, and the naval fortress known as the Arsenal. Surrounded on three sides by the wide Scillus rivers, the vast fleet of the Mouth finds it's protective home here as well as most of the city's numerous and diverse magi.

Castigus Institute

The Castigus Institute was once the grandest building upon the street- its white marble walls a symbol of the moral integrity its students were expected to uphold. The architecture is of a time long past, a time of columns and sculpture. A grand staircase, columned entryway, sculptures lining the front, everything about the building was designed to suggest perfection. Of course, like all things within the Mouth, the Castigus has changed with time.

The need for more space has led to the expansion of the structure- and whoever chose to build them gave little regard to the grandeur of the structure. Made of a plain gray stone, the six annexes stick out like oblong tumors from the sides and back of the original marble structure. Functional, yes- but detracting by their mere presence. The color of the marble has gradually faded to off-white. The once grand staircase is now fractured in places. The sculptures are either broken or long gone- or moved into the interior for safe-keeping.

Still, the building is breath-taking at first glance- standing out starkly against the modern architecture- appearing as an ancient wonder, captured and bound by times it does not belong to. Still, the long staircase maintains its function, leading to the tall, arched doorway, leading into the heart of the Castigus Institute.

[Maeve]

The Ghearan College
The Ghearan College stood tall and proud in its strict regality. Every inch of it practically buzzed with serene and confident power-- the many stained glass faces standing from its tall and expansive surfaces like multicolored eyes, proclaiming their famed mages to the entire world. The tallest spire glittered its gilded welcoming beacon toward any who might have strayed down this road on this particular morning. Overall, though, the streets were frightening and intimidating-- especially to strangers-- even though this was one of the better portions of the city.

Within, he found that the marble floor of the entrance hall leading into Ghearan College is white almost to the point of luminescence. The light from the stained glass windows lining the left side of the hall reflects onto of the sheer surface of the floor, producing an almost exact copy of the depictions within the windows. The image cast upon the floor as surely as if it were painted.

Magnificent portraits of all the great mages of World's Mouth are shown, elaborate whirls surrounding them, symbols of power and wealth. The depictions are set in stained glass, giving an impression of grim luminousness and eternity. Markus de Glorifyl stands solid amid the torrents of fire that would eventually claim his life, and perhaps that dark silhouette is that of Ivero, his sightless eyes ever watchful.

At the far end, the hallway opens into a large circular room, with a glass ceiling letting the light in. The walls are plain and unadorned, perfectly smooth as they stretch up to the arched glass ceiling. In the very center of the space there is a dark wooden desk, upon which numerous papers are arranged into neat stacks. It is clear that the desk is arranged so that he can see any approachers long before they see him. A very secure arrangement, no doubt.

Behind the desk sits a very muscular young man dressed in what appears at first to be a thin hoodless robe of the lightest blue. The garment is tied about his waist, slightly open at the neck. The man seems to be preoccupied with something, although from his feline posture it is clear that his reflexes could quickly change that fact.

Behind him, a series of doors lead into the interior of the college, behind which the echo of voices can be heard, and perhaps the whisper of an arcane tongue, and the ever present sound of bodies in motion.

Prismatic College
A rather large, drab building sits somewhat off the center of the city, on a square surrounded with small trees. A large carving into the front wall, above the main entrance, introduces it as Prismatic college, once home to hundreds of students in the magical arts. The college grounds now are far quieter than in the days of old. The college is quiet and calm but no longer still and forsaken.

While the open, silver door still gleams a welcome it is no longer the bold thing it was at its height. Instead it stands ajar just enough to allow admittance without showing its interior to all about. A large colourful bird its plumage awash in reds, purples and blues is perched on a stand just inside the door, taking cover behind the portal.

As a curious soul peeks around the door, it opens its eyes, and the flames within regard the soul as it croaks, "Student of the Aether, come within, all else remain without."

[Maeve]

the Lycaeum Library
Standing tall among the crowded buildings of the West End, the Lycaeum Library is imposing and serene. Somehow, the stepped entryway has a quelling effect on conversation- whether the effect is magical or psychological (or eerily, both) is uncertain. All that can be assured is that the place has a reputation for mystery- and the marble walls, cleanly polished to the point of phantasmal reflection, certainly add to the ambiance of such tales.

Although the broad entryway, with its widely tiered steps, is impressive- more impressive is the sheer size of the building. Three stories tall, but also long- and surrounded by a clutch of bare trees, seeming to grasp the building within their tangled grip. Regardless of season, leaves never grow upon the trees- but they have stood for long without being claimed by death.

There are rumors of underground archives- larger than even the upper stories- tales of ancient books of power, kept safe here from even the mighty reach of the Purificatio. Shadows have tread this earth- but so has the light. A place of utmost thought and contemplation, it is (more than any other building in the city) the domain of the magi, in all of their shapes and forms.

[Maeve]

The lost Elf inn
The lost Elf inn was typical of the inns in the elf quarter. From the outside it looked like any other house along the street, all that made it stand out was a sign over the door.

Upon entering the visitor would walk straight into the common room. At the far end was a small bar, behind it was a young elfess serving. Scattered about were a few small tables, a few taken by what was probably the normal evening's clientele.

On the right of the bar a set of steps lead up to the next floor above the steps entrance was a simple sign in elven and human "Rest Here". It obviously lead to the rooms to rent.

A sign on the wall, again in elven and human gave the prices.

5 banner per night. See behind the bar.

[Maeve]

The Elven Quarter

The Elf Quarter

This area in the West End is where the majority of the elves make their home. There are a few other races, though these are usually those that have nowhere else to go.

With the mind-set of the peoples of Worlds Mouth, it would be understandable to expect a run down dirty squalid area, full of half built shacks, occupied with the lowest of the low.

The opposite could not have been truer. Any visitor to this area would be astonished to find neat clean streets and alleys, bright painted houses, smiling happy children playing. It was true that a lot of the properties need work, and some looked like the smallest puff of wind would knock them over. The elves rarely had enough money to actually improve them, so they did what they could with their own ingenuity and hard work.

Trees and shrubs where scattered along the main street leading to a small market area where the elves traded what goods they made and grew. This market was the focal point of quarter and there was always something going on throughout the day and night. A few houses close by had been turned into shops for more continuous goods, like bread and candles.

Brightly lit houses, flowers and plants everywhere, to remind them of the good things and that they were elves and not just the slaves they seemed to be most of the time. This was the place where they threw off any oppression and the sneers of the main populace and became themselves once more, even if it was for just a little while.

Visitors were always greeted warmly, though tinged with suspicion. Most of these visitors were harmless, and were perhaps really just visitors, or genuine people coming to trade or meet someone. However they were all watched carefully with at least one pair of eyes on their every move.

There were a few inns around, and even fewer of these had rooms to let, though it was very rare for anyone not to find a room for the night.

During the day the place was generally quiet as a lot of the elves went off to various areas of Worlds Mouth where they worked. The occasional noise could be heard as some one was doing repairs, or painting or planting. However most of the sound heard was that of children laughing an playing in the street, for despite everything, this was probably the safest area for anyone in the whole of Worlds Mouth, let alone the West End.

However despite everything the elves did or said, the Worlds Mouth loomed over the quarter like a shadow, holding it in the darkness of Oppression........

[Maeve]

The Cradle


The Upper Scillus River is wide and deep- with several large sandbars protruding from within its banks, resting comfortably above the waterline. These landforms increase in frequency as one moves away from the harbor- several of them possessing small structures, some long since abandoned, others inhabited by drifters and the homeless.

One in particular stands out, on the largest sandbar, the domed structure so large that it extends into the water on all sides. Blackened completely, it seems the last ruin of a city scorched by fire. Nothing moves nearby- there are no makeshift shelters on the surrounding sandbars. There is only the smokey-hued dome, so large that it seems almost to extend to the bottom of the river itself.

There is an eerie peace around this place- as if it is a hallowed place, or perhaps it is cursed. Nothing moves- there is only calmness and tranquility.