The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is an ancient place. It was formed from a life stone. Legend has it that Cordell, a god, was gifted the stone by Zeus, and his brother, ravaged with jealousy, stole the stone and thrust it out into the world.
For his negligence, Cordell was sent from the White Castle to discover where the stone had fallen. When he finds it, the land of the Sanctuary is already forming. The Field of Lupins is the first vegetation to grow upon that land, and from that field, it is said that the first Sanctorians rose and a beautiful civilisation was formed with Cordell as the High Elder.
Over many millions of years, the Sanctuary grew into a great city surrounded by rolling hills and rich fertile land. At the centre of the city is the Great Town Hall, which looks over the square. Just outside of the city is the Field of Lupins. It is there that Sanctorians are born, and it is there where they go at the end of their lives and begin their journey to their towers.
The Field of Lupins
The Field of Lupins was one of the first features to form at the Sanctuary. It is a sacred and mystical place where the first of the Sanctorians rose from the ground. It is also the place where Sanctorians go when they are near the end of their long lives. It marks the beginning of their journey to their tower.
It is thought that the Field of Lupins marks the spot where the Life Stone landed. The rock, which rises up, has formed the stage for many a speaker over the many millions of years it has stood. Cordell himself stood upon the great rock on the day that he vanquished his brother and addressed his new civilisation for the first time.
A deep magic resides amongst the lupins, and some believe that it is connected in some way to the Lord of the Stars.
It is said that before Lexium was sent away with Moyels, he left part of his soul within the walls of the house. No one is quite sure why he did this. Fernando always believed that, even all those years before the second coming, Lexium knew his fate. He knew that eventually he would fall.
The House of Lexium
"Lexium wiped the thick layer of grease and sweat from his forehead as he laid down his sack, for what he hoped would be the last time, outside his home. He looked around and saw that the harvest was nearly due. His home was made from logs and had a thatched roof that looked as if it had been neglected for years in his absence. The paint on the weatherboarding was peeling, and the windows were translucent with dust. How long had it been since he had been here? So much time, so many adventures, and so much lost.
The house sat away from the city of the Sanctuary in the middle of a field upon a high hill, which looked out over the crystal-clear waters of the ocean. He allowed himself a short smile as he ran his hands over the red-painted front door to his house. He was home. The sun was high, and the Sanctuary air was warm and comforting. He could feel his soul beginning to recharge after all those long and painful years of darkness. However, this contentment did not last long. The war was indeed over, but at what cost? The great generals Masshawus and Olson were gone. Whether they were dead or, even worse, turned, was still a question being asked by some. It would be put to the council at some point over the next few days once all the homecoming celebrations had come to a close. Lexium turned his back to the front door to look over his beloved city; some of the great buildings glistened in the sunshine. He could hear the cheers of joy and see the magical sparks and fireworks set off by the more mischievous individuals of the Sanctuary.
He sighed, turned back to his door, and opened it. He found nothing but cobwebs and dust. No one was there to greet him; no one had been around to tend to his house in his absence, which was just the way he liked it. Unlike most of the magical folk of the Sanctuary, Lexium chose not to use his magical powers too frequently, and therefore the first thing he did, having fought the most terrifying armies the world had ever seen, was to reach for a mop and a duster." (Darkness Rising)
The Isle of Thorns
The Isle of Thorns was formed shortly after the Sanctuary rose up from the ocean, following the duel between the brothers, Cordell and Regis.
"The terrible screams of his brother were crushing, as Regis was consumed with fire then thrown far out into the distant sea. His body collided with the water with a violent hissing and sank until he crashed into the seabed. Jagged rocks rose up instantly, breaking the surface of the ocean into an archipelago of islands, which would one day be named the Isle of Thorns or, more commonly, the Isle of the Banished." (The Shadows of Pangea)
Since its formation, the Isle of the Banished has long been a haven for skulduggery and outlaws. Since the ancient wars, it has been led by Lord Doran, who has his own interesting backstory. Some believe that the mother of Satanicus originated from this most dangerous place.
