Welcome to the Vigilants. You are one of the thousands of people living in the imperial capital of Sentra, the jewel of the Empire

For some of you, this is home—a comfortable and familiar place you've known your entire life.  For others, the city may only be a brief stop, perhaps one of many in your travels.  But regardless of how you came here, you share the same streets.

Depending on who you are—and where you live—Sentra can be a beautiful city of wonder and splendor. Yet that perfect city is only what many people see on the surface.  There are those that understand there is more to the city, that there are flaws in it that run deeper than what most will see.  There are those that know what lies beneath.

The Story

Niman was a student studying theoretical thaumaturgy at Pallida University. Originally from Seidland, he was granted a scholarship granted by one of the foundations of House Fournius. He has no family in the city.

He died from an acute case of Arcstone poisoning, which should not have been possible given his circumstances. An autopsy revealed that his internal anatomy was mirrored.

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Renatus is home to the School of Arcane Theory and Application at Pallida University.

Faculty offices, study rooms, and collaboration spaces are on the third floor. The second and first floor are classrooms, with one larger auditorium-style lecture hall on the first floor. The basement houses the workshops and laboratories. There is a service/freight levitator connecting the floors, as well as a staircase near the center of the building.

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The Singers were mentioned by Mordenkai, who called himself a former Listener of theirs. He says that they would speak to him, a chorus of voices, and tell him what to do. They extended his lifespan, and may have given him other supernatural powers as well. He does not remember the things that he was asked to do, but seemed to grow fearful.

The latest Listener is unknown, but Mordenkai believed that they are currently in the city of Sentra. Cephius er'Ceasian may have been that Listener.

The Singers match dark tales of elvish bogeymen called ustasi duyarti (which roughly translates to "puppet master"). They sang to their victims to force them to do things against their will.

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The City

Read about life in the city and the neighborhoods and people that live in them:  City Life

Random Spotlights

The Imperial Palace is not just a home for the Imperial family, but also the center of the empire's political and cultural life. Located on the western edge of the city, near the convergence of the rivers Oenus and Aniene, it is surrounded by a high wall with multiple gates that allow entry to the vast complex.

Inside the palace, the gardens are a testament to the empire's wealth and power, with neatly trimmed hedges, colorful flower beds, and groves of fruit trees. There are also several temples within the palace walls, dedicated to the various deities, including Aldar, Kolrehs, and Lotrad.

The centerpiece of the palace complex is a massive artificial lake, which provides a tranquil space for fishing and boating, as well as a scenic backdrop for outdoor concerts and performances. The lake is fed by a series of fountains and waterfalls, which create a soothing background noise that can be heard throughout the palace.

The various buildings within the palace walls house the Imperial family, as well as their countless servants, guards, and courtiers. The buildings themselves are built of the finest materials and are adorned with intricate carvings and murals depicting the empire's history and achievements.

Overall, the Imperial Palace is a symbol of the empire's wealth, power, and cultural achievements, and it serves as a reminder of the might and majesty of the Imperial family.

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Appius worked as the Imperial Huntsmaster earlier in the reign of Emperor Hadrianus. His daughter Quirina became the Empress Consort. He retired and left the Imperial Palace after her death.

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Vakandans are the worshippers of Vakandis. To the uninitiated, Vakandis is simply the goddess of thieves (and other unsavory occupations, of course). To such people, she represents all that is base and crass about society and mortals in general. To them, the goddess’s name is more of a curse (although they would never use her name in such a way, for fear of incurring her wrath or notice). Her worshippers are nothing but scoundrels and rogues, unfit for polite company.

But to those thieves that live by her codes, however, the goddess is playful, watchful, enticing, and seductive in all the dangerous ways possible. To them, she is not the goddess of thieves, but rather she is the patron deity of all those living by guile, cunning, and craftiness. When one of her worshippers courts danger, they almost treat it as if they are courting the goddess.

Her church is not very organized, and there has never been an organized central church dedicated to Vakandis. She has little care for ornate temples, elaborate rituals, or other trapping so common in other religions. Because the faith of the Lady of the Moons remains so loose and open (especially compared to those of other religions), it can be difficult for people to understand what she represents.

Surprisingly, there is a religious text called the Tome of Secrets. The book is not widely distributed or read, although there are no restrictions on who may read or possess it. What is truly unusual about the work is that only a cleric of Vakandis can actually remember what was read, and only such a cleric may memorize or recite passages. Others, even the most devoted layperson, cannot remember what he has read in The Tome. If he writes down a section of the book, even the transcribed version becomes immediately forgettable. Despite this, everyone who peruses The Tome of Secrets gains a deep feeling of fulfillment and spiritual well-being that remains long after the words have been forgotten. If someone recites passages from the book out loud, the audience gains a similar good feeling, but quickly forget the words they just heard.

Priestess
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