Mage City
Mage city is the largest gathering of humans in the land. These humans crowded within these walls seek shelter from the evils of the land, protection from the High Mage Veranem. The city sprang up around his castle because of the threatening evil.
At the very north is the inner sanctum, the castle and its minor buildings surrounded by an inner wall. Its gates leading out to the city usually open only twice a day, at dawn and at dusk. Mages who wish to enter the courtyard and set up booths of sale and such must do so in the time the gates are open in the morning, and then they must leave at dusk or else climb the wall themselves. Veranem is never seen in the courtyard. To the east is the chapel, to the west is the stable.
The castle itself holds only Veranem, his rooms and libraries, and whatever guests he chooses to see. The minor buildings house the servants, apprenticies of Veranem and their schools, the kitchen, storehouses, and various other necessities to serve the castle and Veranem's needs.
A road runs straight south from the castle gate, to the city's outer gate. Four other roads also begin at the castle gate and fan out into the city. These five roads represent the five elements and are usually referred to by these names; Wind, Water, Magic, Fire, and Earth. The four cross-secting roads are referred to as the four parts of the day, Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Night.
To the immediate west and east of the castle, are the fine sections of the city, the expensive inns and taverns and mage schools. Just south of the castle are four triangles of residential areas for mages, divided by race; human, forest elf, high elf, and fairy. All others reside in the areas to the east and west. These are fairly decent houses, kept clean and with fine minor roads.
The other eight sections of the city get poorer as one gets to the south. These roads are dirty and muddy, the structures are crumbling, and the back alleys and taverns shouldn't be traveled at night. This is a nest of theives, bandits, and rogues.
The market just before the city's outer gate is a general market for trading wares, and selling food and weapons.
The city's outer gate drops and remains down all during the day, crossing the southern fork of the Eternal River that surrounds Mage City.
The High Mage Veranem
