world
The Eternal City (Shahr-e Javid)
The last bastion of humanity during the Long War, now a sprawling steampunk metropolis.
History
The Eternal City was founded during the first approach of Némand in recorded history, when the Divs first breached into the mortal realm. What began as a military fortress evolved over centuries into a massive, tiered metropolis—part citadel, part industrial complex, part cultural center.
Structure
The city is built in concentric circles, each representing a different social and functional tier:
The First Circle (The Heart)
The innermost ring houses the Council of Voices, the grand temples to the Yazatas, and the most powerful Guilds' headquarters. Architecture here is pristine: polished brass, golden domes, and crystalline windows. Steam vents are discrete and decorative. Only the elite have access.
The Second Circle (The Works)
The industrial and military zone. Great forges, Engine-Ark stables, Automata manufactories, and the barracks of the Army of Mazda. The air here is thick with coal smoke and the constant hiss of pressure valves. Workers and soldiers populate this ring.
The Third Circle (The Streets)
The residential and commercial heart. Markets selling everything from spiced tea to minor magical devices. Artisan workshops. Theaters and tea houses. The middle class lives here—comfortable but aware of the machinery that keeps them safe.
The Outer Ring (The Margins)
The underbelly. Cramped tenements, illegal Angra-fuelled workshops, gambling dens, and the headquarters of Les Souris (The Mice) resistance. The poor, the desperate, and the rebellious dwell here. Official patrols are rare; gang rule is common.
The Wall
Surrounding everything is the Wall—a 200-foot-high barrier of reinforced Athanatic Steel and stone, studded with cannon emplacements and Vapour-Lance batteries. It has never been breached in recorded history. On its ramparts, soldiers stand eternal watch, just as the one who would become the Broken Sun once did.
Power Source: The Hearth-Cores
At key points throughout the city stand the Hearth-Cores—massive Tier 4 installations that provide power, heat, and light. They are housed in tower-furnaces that burn day and night, fed by coal and consecrated oils. Each Core is maintained by a dedicated Engineer-Priesthood.
Culture and Daily Life
Life in the Eternal City is a blend of ancient Persian customs and industrial-age pragmatism:
- Morning: The Call of the Cores—a harmonic resonance from the Hearth-Cores—wakes the city. Markets open. Factories begin production.
- Noon: A moment of silence for the Fallen—a daily remembrance of those lost in the Long War. Even the engines quiet briefly.
- Evening: The lighting of the Street-Lamps, which are small magical devices that draw power from the Hearth-Cores. Cultural events, theater, and public debates occur.
- Night: The city never fully sleeps, but it slows. The Outer Ring comes alive with shadowy activity.
Current State
In the era of the novels, the Eternal City is experiencing tension. The Long War is ancient history to most, but Némand's approach is stirring old fears. The Shadow Court is growing in power. The Army of Mazda and the Guilds are at odds. Les Souris is agitating for reform.
The city is a powder keg wrapped in brass and steam, waiting for a spark.