The Solar
The Sun-Drenched Court
The highest point of the city, both geographically and socially. The Solar is a district of broad, sun-bleached avenues, meticulously manicured gardens, and breathtaking estates belonging to the Great Houses. The air here is clean, scented with expensive flowers, and thick with a palpable, simmering paranoia. Access is restricted, and the ever-present Sentinels of House Serrano, clad in silver-inlaid armor, ensure only the privileged may enter.
Life in the Sun
Life in The Solar is a performance. Every greeting, every gesture, every gift is laden with political meaning. The decadence here is less about sensual pleasure and more about the overt display of power—lavish balls, exclusive tournaments, and political salons where the fate of the city is decided over glasses of chilled wine.
The people of The Solar are a mix of the Highborne nobles who rule the Great Houses, their vast retinues of servants, ambitious courtiers, skilled artisans catering to expensive tastes, and the stoic Sentinels who guard them all. It is a world of rigid hierarchy where a well-placed word can be more devastating than any blade.
Locations of Interest
The Governor's Palace
The official seat of Amaresia's ruling council, this stunning masterpiece of architecture is where the Great Houses meet to debate the city's future. Its most famous feature is the **Hall of Echoes**, a grand chamber with such perfect acoustics that a whisper from one corner can be heard clearly in another, making it a place of dangerous secrets and careful words.
The Valeriano Menagerie
A breathtaking, yet terrifying, private garden belonging to House Valeriano. It is filled with exotic and dangerous creatures captured from the Veridian Maze, each one a living symbol of the House's reach and power. Attending a party in the Menagerie is a sign of great status, but one must be wary of what lurks behind the perfumed flowers.
The Serrano Proving Grounds
A massive arena of packed earth and tiered stone seating where the Sentinels of House Serrano conduct their rigorous training. It is also where the Great Houses often settle disputes through proxy champions in duels of honor. A victory in the Proving Grounds can elevate a commoner to a hero, while a loss can spell ruin for a noble's reputation.
Notable Goods and Services
While the common markets of Amaresia teem with life, The Solar offers goods and services of a quality—and price—unimaginable to most. Access to these purveyors is a privilege in itself.
- Masterwork Armor & Weaponry: Several renowned smiths, under exclusive contract with House Serrano, operate private forges here. They produce arms and armor inlaid with gold and precious gems, offering unparalleled craftsmanship for a princely sum.
- Precursor Artifact Authentication: For those who acquire relics from the Maze, the Sages of House Alcaide offer discreet (and expensive) services to authenticate and identify their properties. Forgeries are common, making their expertise invaluable.
- Exotic Poisons & Antidotes: Tucked away in the Valeriano estates are master alchemists who cultivate rare flora from the Maze. They can procure subtle poisons capable of bypassing a food taster's palate, as well as the only known antidotes for them.
- Private Tutoring & Espionage Training: Retired courtiers and spymasters offer their services to the children of the elite, teaching the delicate arts of political maneuvering, etiquette, and information gathering.