Regius

### Information

Deep in the western coast, surrounded by lush green areas and the largest population of inhabitants in most of the known world, Regius is well-recognized as the “Bastion of Growth”. Considered as the only real megalopolis in the entire continent, it attracts flocks of immigration from surrounding lands as there seem to be space and opportunity for everybody. But the truth was soon discovered, those who thrive here are those ambitious enough to put their money where their mouth is and are ready to cross any boundary to make it true. This land is not for the meek. So, local authority does not mind the coming and going of immigrants, they soon realize that to live here and survive can only be done by the tough and well-disciplined. Explaining why as many try to find a home here, there are plenty decided to have had enough with local struggles. It is also called the infinite city since it is the most urbanized center of population. There are many big buildings, a lot of business and the sensation of belonging to an ant colony is always there. Money talks in Helios, even more so if you plan on being a citizen. Even so, there are still some in disposition of finding ends meet without falling into a clandestine life. And normally, these people never see themselves rise over the local guilds, but they can find an acceptable comfortable life usually under the blessing of a local patron or work organization. If something is there to be said in Regius is that there is a place for every sort of skills. The flourishing economy brings with its good tides entrepreneurs from the strangest lands. Most locals tend to be human, but Regius being a city of interest, it is constantly visited by Aetherians, seeking meetings at the local OA Academy or requesting permission to research in its vast library; Nobles, who secure their riches in the huge underground bowels of Helios United Bank; and the likes of who constantly seek sponsorship for the development of science and magic alike

### **Important Places**

* **Grand Hotel:** It is the first stop among wealthy tourist and the home of affluent nobles. The Grand is a marvel against the natural terrain. It is a sophisticated building whose art deco façade does not escape the eyes of any pedestrian passing by. Getting in is a whole experience as guest are led in through a golden gate which mechanically opens inviting them in, this directs to a central fountain of dancing waters where the statue of a Coin of Fortune stands. She brings good fortune and riches to those who dare get them. As you visit, you will witness how the staff dresses in nice well-presented uniforms and have an ear to listen to your requests. Around the fountain there is a small carriage station where you can be transported on a tour of the hotel or go directly to reception where visitors can book rooms, chateaus, or emperor’s suits. The hotel itself provides cultural events, art demonstrations and has elegant spacious bar-casino where you can fancy elegant drinks from top-of-the-shelves drinks or you just can  try your fortune in one of the many displayed games at the facility. Hearsay is that at times Grand Hotel is an overly price joint of excess, the truth is that there is no better place in the world I would rather enjoy myself.

* **Helios United Bank:** The presence of The Helios United Bank is that of a mountain overshadowing a valley. It sits as an enormous ominous fortress at the top of a hill. The entrance directs to luxuriously decorated gigantic halls with many offices and entrances always busy with people coming and going.  Each room is heavily guarded by Golden Spears, bank militia trained to serve and protect the interests of the organization and a coached charisma to treat clients well, even when they are forced to tackle them due to disturbance. Some registered comments say they have never been so nicely detained before. The local staff wear slick black suits, men have their hair short and woman have their hair extended in ponytails. They are always welcoming and smiling, sometimes they seem to have been hypnotized to become part of the staff.   Furthermore, the United is all about business. It is open from the break of dawn until the late fall of night. Here people come to open accounts, deposit, and withdraw money. If you have the proper reputation and history transaction with the bank, you may even be given the possibility of getting a loan. But make sure you can pay back since United collectors are well-famed for treating debtors with an iron fist. All things considered, the bank has a reputation for being tough, but fair. So human transit is common to be seen, although divided in money castes and business doors, there are crowds constantly getting in and out.

* **Minebay:** A strange company based on unsupervised commerce where all sorts of goods are handled one way or another in an action. Many adventurers, investors and traders keep an eye of the special offers given by Minebay. The strange thing is that the shop itself does not have a headquarter, but it has many agents spread all around the city who oversee the distribution of items. Anything can be sold or bought here, the profess the proverb “Ask no questions, hear no lies”. The prices are always moving up and down depending of the demand and the products always arrive to your location in a way or another; sometimes a strange horse riders appears with it, a birds brings it to you or you are send to a location to pick it up. This business in particular is seeing unexpected growth, but it is also creating a society of people dedicated to manipulating market prices as much as possible

* **Overworld Academy:** Most of Regius's culture see magic as an artifice of the past. Magic, although powerful, has three constant elements that make it not practical for the local people. For once, it is but fleeting, most magic spells are about temporary effects which can be good in battle, but poor in a developing society. On the second point, magic is finnicky and chaotic, at times you are testing your fortune with dungeon magic and at other times you are asking the assistance of a demon. As a final nail in the coffin, only beings whose blood got mixed with mana would be subject to this power. All in all, a very limited discipline to take advantage the talents of a society. OA emerges from this distinction, offering a new path of knowledge based on the comprehension of the world around us, using material simple things into complex contraptions and filtering basic elements into more desired compounds. In other words, technology is the answer to replace the need of magic, and even understand the world beyond the abstract eyes of mythology.

### **Relevant Characters in Regius:**

* **Fasbian Rotthumburg, The Corporate Broker**: A social animal of the high class that is only seen in the highest circles of power around the world. Some say he uses the power of the invisible gates to move around the world, others just know he owns the biggest stake in the caravanner’s business and finds first class accommodation wherever he goes. It is a tall thin man, lacking muscle, or bone structure to be a physical threat but with eyes of vivid consciousness, with an ample forehead, shoulder-bound brown hair and no mustache nor beard. What is most prominent, it is his hooked nose. He dresses in simple elegant clothes, most of them dominated by either black or white. When he speaks, he does it slowly as he had all the time of the world. He never seems to rush for anything, and it is always analytical about things. He is known to be a controversial advisor able to guide demons and celestials alike., all for the correct price. Even though he is supposed to be the head of the United Bank, his affair is mostly handled through her personal secretary as he keeps himself busy with traveling. Almost nobody knows what his agenda is or where he is at.  And whenever he appears, it is only because there is big business at hand.

* **Justicar Veranda of Lucher**: Marshal in command of the Golden Spears, she is the highest-ranking authority when it comes to military or law affairs in the region. Every year she is selected from a few candidates to serve as protector of the domain and rule lawyer to all the people in Hellios. Even though she possesses the biggest amount military power, most other interest group got their own forces. The difference is that she is the one serving by being paid for everybody, so handles the Chorpus of Disputes and the Servitude, or system of legal punishments. Her decisions and those under her are always full of wisdom and accepted by the majority. She is always in full golden military regalia, with her trusty fire sabre by her side and squadron of her soldiers at hand. She keeps an officious kind of attitude and is dedicated on patrolling the borderlands of Hellios where most criminal trouble can be found.

* **Murwan, the Golden Hand:** Murwan used to be known as a borderland raider dedicated to training the poor into his mercenary band. He was not an exceptional at looting, but everybody recognized his talent to escape any difficult battle and come back twice what he had had under command. The speculation states he had knowledge of routes through ravines, caverns and dungeons. In addition to that, many say that is his silver tongue that makes him such a character that whoever captures or defeats him, always give him a chance to work for his side.  In one such many occasions, he lost his hands in a fencing duel, but whoever asks him or his friend what happened, he just says he wanted to swipe his ass with gold. Soon after his accident, he started to change his bandits into ruthless mercenaries. Then, he reinvented himself as a heroic guild leader and establishing a company of adventurer, this did not last long because heroic and his methods were less than compatible. As he grew fatter and older, decided to step back from the action a make his soldier something of a business company. This way he decided to work by buying and selling items in a trade network open to all to buy, the problem still seems that the acquisition of many of the products is still in itself clandestine. Anyhow, adventurers around the world use the Minebay regardless of its reputation. Murwan is an old man, but he feels still young, he is fat and strong, long bearded, and white-haired. Small nose and huge eyebrows over his brown eyes. He seems to be always drinking something and offering food any chance he gets. Many consider him a dork, until you test his wits.

* **Principal Cadiss Degma, the principal of OA:** From a young age Cadiss was deemed a genius because she was able to enact any blueprint of a building, machine, or object from solely expecting it for a few minutes.  Being in good luck with the gods, she was born in a wealthy family who took part in risky ventures, and gave Cadiss a peculiar education where every year famed sages would come from different places in the world to teacher her something she did not know about. No subject was too big or too small in her education, she learned to sail ships in a storm as she argued the abstract nature of mathematics wit his teacher. She was passionate to become an expert of many things. When she grew up and saw her parents retire from her life and live based on their earnings, and all this was hers too, but she had no interest in pursuing some relax and retired life. She wanted to know… all topics she could get a grasp on. So, she started traveling around the world, meeting the common folks and those who are deemed intellectual as her. She became a wine farmer, work making wagon lines in a mine, read all about the life of the Master Builder and sailed anytime she could. Years later, she would come back to Hellios with one objective, to offer all she had learned and more. She wanted to create a university par to those pretentious school of magic.  Her parents had passed away during her journey.  She inherited then her parent’s money, which was probably second biggest treasure in Hellios. She invested this money to create an academy to her specifying desires, making it a staple of the place and a magnific architecture. Cadiss can be found in the principal’s room solving local matters or in the library. She is a petite mademoiselle of blonde hair, green eyes, and soft manners. She wears elegant intricate clothes and shows clear educated protocol. She is very accessible and has strong opinions about the use of magic; she pretty much detests it and thinks it is what is holding back Huma entirely.

### Cities in Regius

Besides the Capital aka Regius Proper, there are a handful of cities that make up the region. Each city has a very different vibe and history from one another but they all help Regius to continue to dominate the trading business.

The Cities are as follows:

Griesha

Mattisburg

Aussahan