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 Agerson

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 Hall

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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Singers

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

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

Random Spotlights

Alabaster Heights

Alabaster Heights is a solidly middle-class neighborhood nestled around the wealthy towers of the elite.  It's home to the servants, soldiers, shopkeepers, and other hirelings who see to the needs of the rich and powerful. Most of the homes here are simple and small, but well-kept and modern. In turn, the many middle-class residents of the neighborhood are served by markets, taverns, and shops, as well as services that cater to the needs of the more wealthy.

Places of Note

The Aldarite Shrines here are smaller than the great temple of Hope's Peak, but are a very popular place for the local residents to pray, seek guidance, or offer donations. They serve as a place of community and fellowship for the residents.

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Emlyn

Emlyn is a suspect in the murder of Thea. He is a customer at Soft Blooms where Thea works, and he works at the Lukasak Tannery in the Smelting Row.

Emlyn has short light brown hair and dark brown eyes, and about 5'10" in height. He is known for being particular about when and how he does things, always showing up at the same time, drinking from his own tankard, etc. He is also very good at telling time.

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Vakandans

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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