Alcion
"Remnants of the past."
Can...can you travel to such an ancient place?
Architecture
Known for its accessible location and numerous trade opportunities, it was no surprise Alcion was regarded as the central city of Old World Kladeon by just about everyone. This ancient city thrived on trade and was responsible for the import and export of goods and services throughout the entire continent. Many individuals quickly amassed great fortune, drawing in rich and royal blood alike from all over to set up dominion there. Thus, Alcion earned the nickname, “The City of Royals.”
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Meticulous planning went into designing the buildings of Alcion. Being the central city of the world came with a lot of pressure. The architects built up a plan to deal with two important problems. Because the city survived off of trade, Alcion had to be a landmark that was easily recognizable to the rest of Kladeon. Secondly, the typography of the area surrounding the location was prone to floods, and when your buildings are mostly made of stone, runoff can easily spell disaster.
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Both issues were solved by utilizing the architecture itself. Every building was built to be tall. The goal was to make the city of Alcion look like it could, “reach the heavens themselves,” a testament to the power Alcion possessed and a warning to those who dared to oppose it. Because of this, huge stone towers, vaulted ceilings, ribbed vaults, spires, pinnacles, and flying buttresses were the norm across the whole city. Coupled with the intricate and lavish artistry that decorated every inch of these structures, Alcion’s architecture was as intimidating as it was beautiful. The majority of Alcion’s buildings are made of brick and limestone, with wooden accents or bases. While they’re built to last, they don’t take to rainwater very well. So, to prevent flooding, the city’s pathways were strategically placed to have a big enough gap to allow rainwater to flow between the stones. The water then collects into various ditches and canals scattered across the city, which in turn, divert the rainwater out into the fields and rivers surrounding Alcion. There were also tiny wells positioned around key landmarks in the city so that citizens could collect water when needed. This way, water was both regulated and distributed through the city by a unique irrigation system.
The Gargoyles of Alcion
While gargoyles and grotesques differ from sector to sector, these small, goblin-like ones are the most iconic.
Gargoyles are also a common sight within the walls of the city and act as location markers to those passing through. If someone were to get lost in Alcion, they’d look to the Gargoyles to find their way. Just about all of them point towards the city centre. The frequency of gargoyles also increases the closer you are to the heart of the city. There are many legends and myths surrounding the gargoyles and their purpose, and the stories differ depending on who you ask. Some say they work as Alcion’s protectors, scaring off evil spirits that might try to cause harm to the city. Other’s say they’re just a fancy way to divert rainwater, and are more important culturally if anything. Whatever their original purpose, the gargoyles are as old as Alcion itself. Unfortunately, both their history as well as the city’s were lost to time a long time ago.
Devante: Guardian of Alcion
Devante was a kind and noble spirit who loved Alcion more than anything and guarded it with a fiery passion. It’s said that the knights of Alcion were trained by their guardian personally, and were the best of the best when it came to protecting their beloved city. Becoming a knight of Alcion was an incredible honor, and those who took upon the mantle were blessed with physical changes so that all would know of their commitment. In turn, Knights swore to never leave the walls of the city, and to defend it until their dying breath. When Alcion fell, its guardian vanished along with Alcion’s history. It’s said that the spirit fell into deep despair because of Alcion’s downfall, and left the city entirely to wander the earth alone. It’s difficult to say what exactly transpired due to the lack of Old World information, and scholars can only imagine what might have occurred. Not to mention only a few have made the journey to Alcion, and curiously enough even fewer have returned. A statue of Devante stands in the heart of Alcion. Scholars speculate that the statue must have been built immediately before the fall of the city, as upon further inspection it seems to be fairly new—compared to the rest of the city at least—and seems to have suffered the least deformation. Save the missing left part of its face and the weeds overtaking it, this statue is considered the most well preserved relic of the city.
