Archaic
The Bastion of Knowledge and History
Archaic, The Eldest city of Zol. Archaic sits nested in the northern foothills of The Fetterpeak Mountains. Archaic is coveted for its ancient buildings formed of massive light grey stone slabs, and coveted library known simply as The Archives which is held within the campus of The Kybis Assembly.
The Kybis Assembly is one of Zol’s prestigious academic institutions. Unlike its rival, Kerketh Academy which looks to innovation and a better future, the Assembly looks to gain the lost secrets of the past. This is done by uncovering secrets from before The Undoing and unraveling the mysteries of The Old Tongue.
# Overview
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Opportunity | Home to The Kybis Assembly, the city is known to hold secrets of the past that the institution seeks to unravel. These unlocked secrets tell us much about Zol and The Old Tongue. Within the city lies The Archives, holding texts from all over Zol since the undoing, and rumors of ones from possibly even before that. |
| Main Challenge | Sometimes secrets should stay hidden. The Kybis Assembly occasionally discovers something destructive and evil. On top of that, the Assembly is very secretive and protective of their information. The whole city is very strict and many visitors complain about constantly feeling watched. |
| Climate | Temperate/High Altitude |
| Cuisine | Hearty Meat and Potatoes, Magically Created Foods, Imported Wine, Ale |
| Export | Education |
| Size | Medium |
| Outer Villages | Some |
| City Leader | Lord Philen Boran |
| Primary Language(s) | Human, Common |
| Majority Racial Group(s) | Human |
| Majority Religion(s) | Trinity-Centric |
# Major Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Distinguishing Features | Mountain Location, Uncomfortable Atmosphere, Well Guarded, The Kybis Assembly |
| Architecture | Massive utilitarian structures of relatively featureless grey stone |
| Color(s) | Black and Gold |
| Symbolism | A Shield Bearing an Eye |
| Defenses | Mountain Location, City Garrison, Assembly Mages, High Walls |
# People Groups
| Group | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nobility | Social Class | Those charged by the crown with running the city, or successful business owners. |
| Common Folk | Social Class | The working class of the city, most of which live just above the poverty line. |
| Beggars | Social Class | Those unable to find work. Be it because of health issues, mental state, addiction, or some other personal reason. These individuals are extremely poor and are occasional persecuted for their begging and made to be slaves. |
| Slaves | Social Class | Those charged with significant crimes who are forced to work and serve in recompense. |
| Students | Social Class/Academic Station | Those at the lowest level of education within the Assembly. These students gain entry to the school via very high tuition costs and recommendation letters, or by direct invitation from an Insightor or reputable Preceptor. There is a comradery amongst students but it is usually overshadowed by the competition between peers. |
| Preceptors | Social Class/Academic Station | The second highest level within The Kybis Assembly. These individuals are researchers given resources by the academy, and act as the professors of the more entry-level classes. This rank is typically granted when a student has learned a few words of The Old Tongue. |
| Insightors | Social Class/Academic Station | The masters level within The Kybis Assembly. These individuals are charged with overseeing the daily ins and outs of the Assembly as well as the education of the student body. Acting as the professors for the more high ranking courses these individuals typically know many words of The Old Tongue. |
| Grand Insightors | Social Class/Academic Station | The grand master level within The Kybis Assembly. These individuals are surrounded by legend and mystery. Some people (even some students) think they do not exist. They are of the most skilled mages within Zol, and their sole responsibility is to seek the deep and eldritch knowledge hidden within the world. Many of these individuals do not even associate with anyone below the rank of Insightor. |
# Goods and Services
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flatstone Keep | Keep | The city’s keep. |
| Archaic Convergence | Teleportation Circle | The city’s teleportation circle |
| Archaic Station | Train Station | The city’s train station |
| The Old Tavern | Tavern | A large tavern popular amongst students |
| Reade Inn and Wine House | Tavern | An upscale Winehouse popular with the city’s nobility and high ranking members of the Assembly |
| The Wide Market | Market | The city’s main market |
| The Kybis Assembly | College | The oldest college in all of The Three Corners. This place of study is very secretive, exclusive, and expensive. Known to produce some of the most powerful mages in all of Zol. The college’s focuses on unlocking the deepest, most powerful secrets of Zol. Located in the center of the city. |
| The Grand Archives | Library | The largest, and oldest archives in all of The Three Corners. The Grand Archives contain more tomes than one could read in two dozen life times. Despite its central location to the city, its access is limited to assembly members. Furthermore many sections of text are off limits to most assembly members as well, as they contain forbidden knowledge. Located in the center of The Kybis Assembly’s campus. |
# Authority
The city is overseen by Lord Philen Boran, servant to King Galliard. Lord Boran is an old and sickly human man that is fiercely loyal to the crown.
Notably within the city, The Kybis Assembly does not respond to the authority of Lord Boran, but instead only listens to the Galliard Crown itself. Some within the city believe that the Grand Insightors have more authority than the city lord himself.
# Laws
The city subscribes to the Kapeshian Laws, but many say the Assembly does not have these laws forced upon them like other organizations within the city.
# Modern Importance
In modern day Archaic is seen as a powerful resource to Kapesh. This is due to the influence of The Kybis Assembly on the grand scale. The assembly is much smaller in numbers than Kerketh Academy or The University, but its members are statistically much more skilled and dangerous.
Entry into the assembly is very difficult as it is extremely expensive and requires recommendation from an upstanding member of Kapeshian society.
The Assembly is mostly made up of Humans. Some claim this is just because of its location while others believe that it a product of racism. However the university has been accepting more and more students of various backgrounds over the years.
# Historical Importance
Archaic is the oldest city in all of Zol.