Caduceus, The City Of Purity
"Go forth Aerafel, take your new power and build a kingdom bathed in light. Shelter the innocent and push back the poisons of this world." - Virgo, Goddess Of Purity
"The holy city of purity, where the good and holy live in the light of the hearth and those impure are forced to live in the dark. This place is the reason you are alone and everyone you know has been murdered before your eyes. Together we'll destroy this corrupted light and make a temple from the ruins." - Forneus, The Demon Alchemist
"I've spent 7 years in this hellhole. Donning a human guise in the surface forced to tolerate the prejudice of the surface dwellers. In the undercity I can remove my human guise and walk the streets as me. I use my magic to aid those Oni that the upper city is supposed to take care of but of course I can't expect them to give a shit about us. I attack trade routes to give food and supplies, I Rewind the water supply but I can't fix the air and all I can do is rewind the sick only for them to inevitably get sick again. My soul energy is constantly down and I can't be everywhere at once, I'm going to be just as useless to these people as I was to my family. The only solace is what Forneus is plotting." - Saveara Cromwell
In the frigid holy heartland of Asphodel, the capital of Virgo's faith Caduceus resides as a symbol of the Virgin Mother's purity, warmth, and radiance.
⭐ Origin
During the Dark Ages of Zodia when the Cult Of Mephiles had enslaved the people in the northern continent. These cultist where strong but hedonistic, undisciplined, and adored their Necromancy but as their thralls froze in the cold people where used to make new ones.
Virgo saw the suffering of the people and wanted to dethrone the evil cult so she would go on to build a culture of purity, discipline, and light. She made her spire and numerous doves from holy light to seek out anyone who could embody her purity. She discovered a human man who had fought of the slavers and made his way to the spire. As he encountered Virgo in the Spire he was uplifted from a weak human into a celestial, took the new name Aerafel and a holy scepter capable of healing the injured, curing the sick, creating light that could provide warmth and harm. He took his scepter, spread his radiant wings and went to what was a slave run mine in the snow hills and fought back in what was called "The Retribution Of Light" where numerous monsters and cultists where reduced to ashes and Virgo sent a beam of holy light that not only evaporated the mining facility but dug so deep into the ground that it made a well of geothermal heat.
This site became the first settlement of the people and would be called Caduceus. The mines where used to gather materials to build this new city and use the geothermal well for endless power. As the remaining cultists where purged from the lands Asphodel grew in size and power was once a hole leading to the core was a large theocratic capital, 650 miles in diameter.
The city has a thick wall defending from the outside, the outer section was 325 miles of farmland & druid gardens, the center was 325 miles & home to the people had bustling markets, parks, and temples, the center was where the castle was located where Aerafel & his family lived.
⭐ Population
The population of Caduceus is 40,000,000. 70% of the population is human, 20% are Oni, 2% are Elves, 2% are Half-Elves, & 1% are Celestial.
While everyone else lives on the upper city enjoying fresh air and sunlight while the Oni population dwells in the undercity 5 km underground. Deep in the network of caves and tunnels the people have to breathe stail air & are treated poorly by the people of the upper city. As they make up 100% of the miners in the undercity and have to rely on druids to purge pollution or their water & food will become polluted and cripple them.
⭐ Religion
The people of Caduceus worship Virgo, Goddess Of Purity, her faith permeates the culture and laws of the entire Kingdom. As the Goddess Of Purity her faith encourages her followers to live a life of temperance and purity, to not over indulge into passions and hedonism as that over indulgence will create dependence making both mind and body impure.
Poisons, drugs & sugary foods are contraband, both men & woman are expected to abstain from promiscuity and only indulge in romance when actual love is present not just lust. Those who are overly lustful or show signs of dependence on actions or chemicals are looked down as impure and corrupted.
The people despise Necromancy as its seen as a perversion of life and the most corrupted magic. Arcane magic isn't trusted by people of this city and it's not taught in any educational institution within the Kingdom since the arcane arts aren't limited by what Virgo allows it's seen as inherently dangerous.
⭐ Infrastructure
• The Holy Hearth: A gaping hole made by Virgo's light so deep geothermal heat comes through. This Well 100ft. in diameter became a holy symbol and the primary energy source for the capital. Through a tungsten pillar keeping the heat inside and letting out just enough to keep the place warm the Holy Well produces giga joules of energy that has kept the city powered for centuries.
• The Hearths: Large crystal hearths perched on the walls and displays around the city. These hearths are adorned with holy runes that reads "warmth thy home". Once spoken by a priest the runes glow white and make iridescent holy light that supplied heat and life to the area and those around it but it would incinerate sacrifices and unholy beings, as it was unable to hurt Virgo's people. These hearths can be found in every single home and temple in the Purity Kingdom.
• The Canals: Large man-made rivers that connect the city to glaciers and the ocean. These canals make up a system of rivers that supply fresh water to the city.
• Temples: As a theocratic kingdom Caduceus has numerous temples in their walls that educate the masses. The largest temple called "The Sanctuary Of Purity" has been a place of refuge for the sick and diseased. Within each temple is a hearth that people give offerings to Virgo through.
• Druidic Groves: Large gardens that the Druids use to grow various flora. They grow herbs for medicine and potions, special divine fruits that make more Druids, special trees, ect.
• Farmlands: Large fields at the edge of the city where agriculture and growing of livestock occurs. Hundreds of pounds of crops are grown as well as cows, pigs, ect.
• Phlegethon Citadel: Once a mining facility at the east of the hill range, once the mines became dry it was converted into a mega prison. The Phlegethon Citadel holds numerous prisoners and is rumored to have experiments done on the prisoners.
• The Caduceun Mines: A network of caves and tunnels deep under the undercity and used to gather rare ore & gemstones. The mines leak out toxic gases and runoff that bleeds into the undercity and must be purged by the Druids through their ritual magic.
⭐ Defenses
Caduceus is defended by walls that surround the entire city. Made of stone, 150ft. high, 2ft. thick, and has sentry turrets perched on the top.
These turrets are called Lucent Spears and imbued with holy runes. These runes let the turrets fire powerful lasers that will harm enemies and heal allies.
The city is also defended by the Templars of the Order Of Purity, an order of 500,000 Paladins that defend the city and fight outside it.
⭐ Organizations
• The Vesta Dynasty: The ruling family anointed by Virgo 1,000 years ago. Started and lead by Aerafel who has his 8th consort Physis the Arch Druid. Together they have lead the people for 120 years. Should Aerafel be deposed his son Raziel will take his place.
• The Vicars: A group of 50 priests who are tasked by Aerafel to run the temples in Caduceus. They have faithfully ran temples, performed sermons and tithes, educated the masses for all of the cities history. The Vicars are expected to be compassionate with the magic Virgo grants, they are expected to heal the sick and injured and make the hearth shed warmth for all, alongside their acolyte subordinates.
• The Circle Of Purity: A circle of 100 Druids. These women are chosen from the Clergy and sometimes the populace to undergo a ritual to gain primal magic. The Druids are lead by the Arch Druid and while they can be auxiliary forces in combat they are meant to sing the hymns of Virgo, to keep the farmlands going with their magic, use rituals to keep the city clean from pollution, and tend to special gardens and orchards.
• The Order Of Purity: The main military and law enforcement group of the capital city, lead by Samael a Celestial warrior who was in the old war with the old cult and has centuries of experience not only on the battlefield but with people. Made from 500,000 men who enlist to become Paladins. Clad in heavy steel armor, & weilding glaives both enchanted through holy runes they slay monsters with their holy blades. They'll often ride on the backs of Griffons and Caduceun Boar they can move around at high speeds on land and air. While they use holy light in their blades they are capable of less lethal means of dealing with the populace as they can use their words tinged with holy magic to command people.
• The Mercury Men: A Guild founded by Aerafel to delegate matters of commerce, mining, smithing, & potion brewing. The Mercury Men controll all markets in the city wether in the upper or lower cities and handle all matters involving foreign trade.