Arantia, City of Towers

The city of Arantia has been the Kingdom of Breccia’s capital for the last five hundred years. Perched atop a colossal, shimmering mountain that constantly emanates raw aether, it is completely dominated by mages, which makes arcane power not merely a tool but the very lifeblood of its society and defense. The mountain itself, known as “Aetherstone Peak”, pulses with a magical energy noticeable even to those dull to aether, illuminating the city day and night with an ethereal glow and drawing the brightest, most ambitious spellcasters from across the known world.

Within Arantia, society is structured around a complex hierarchy of mage factions, each housed within its own colossal, intricately designed tower. These towering structures are not just residences, but fortresses of magical research and political intrigue, their very architecture reflecting the unique magical schools and philosophies of their inhabitants. At the pinnacle of Arantian magical scholarship stands the Arcane Enclave, a body composed of the most powerful and ancient mages. Although the kingdom of Breccia is ruled by a king, the Enclave acts as a loose governing council in the capital, mediating the ceaseless rivalries between factions and dictating the grand magical endeavors that shape the city's destiny.

Aetherstone Peak is, undoubtedly, the ultimate source of Arantia's prosperity. The mountain's endless flow of aether fuels every aspect of Arantian life, from the intricate levitation charms that allow citizens to glide between towers, to the powerful wards that protect the city from external threats. Yet, such concentrated power is not without its risks; spontaneous aetheric surges often unleash devastating magical phenomena, and whispers persist of ancient entities stirring within the mountain's depths, drawn to its immense arcane signature, or even the source of it, as some claim. The mages of Arantia walk a thin line, constantly striving to harness the mountain's power while subtly battling its inherent, untamed nature.

As a city focused on the study of the arcane, Arantia houses the most formidable collection of magic knowledge in all of Iskandria. This alone makes Breccia a force to be reckoned with, because the mages there will do anything in their power to preserve (and keep) that knowledge. Consequently, Arantia remains a formidable, yet often isolated, force on the continent. Its arcane might commands respect and fear in equal measure, deterring direct confrontation but fostering suspicion among more conventional powers.