[Placement for Map]
City Structure
Secyclion can be divided into three main districts. The 'Toichos Kikkimos', the oldest district on the island which sits directly on the calderas is a mismatched array of buildings sitting within the volcanic pores that are formed after the eruption. So named because of the distinctive brick red color of the caldera The most famous part of the district is the 'Agora Kikkimos', the 'Red Market', which is a market square perched on top of a plateau-like protrusion from the face of the steep cliffs.
At the very top of the group of dormant volcanic ranges near the middle portion of 'Rhea's Reach' is the largest volcanic pore, and seated within it are the important Governmental buildings. Palati Ariadne as well as the Fort Helicon, the Garrison for the City Militia is located on the plateau. Certain portions and wings of the Palati Ariadne are open to the public and tourists, where a paranomic view of the entire Nephele Bay can be observed, coupled with the best view of the sunset in the entire City.
'Hellios', at sixteen stories lighthouse that is connected to Fort Helicon is being maintained by the City Militia, for the ships docked in the Secyclion Harbor to navigate in and out of the dangerous waters during the Darkening.
To those who are new to the City, traversing the steep mountain paths of the 'Toichos Kikkimos' can be an arduous task because the steps that lead from one stacked layer of the caldera is not connected. This means that the entire City seems to basically resemble a 'Snakes and Ladders' mat placed against the face of the caldera, with a vast and intricate network of the steps carved into the walls, with buildings nestled around the regions where the land is viable for settlements, scattered all over the cliffs. Most of the buildings are carved out of gypsum, which is a white, translucent, thread-held crystal, giving all buildings a silvery glow and the most artful shimmer when the light cast from the lighthouse falls on it, turning Secyclion into a quiet murmur of romantic lights.
Neos Megalis is the second biggest establishment located on the North Eastern lower lying regions of Secyclion. The buildings are completely different from those on the 'Toichos Kikkimos', not just in materials, but also in its general design. Usually carved out of the strong mineral Ignimbrite, the tough rock is able to withstand the constant lashing of the wave washes during high tide and during the monsoon.
Doors are usually build over a flight of stairs that are made from the same materials, and poles with markings line the streets like flood indicators that are prevalent in flood-prone areas. This is because during the monsoon season, the water levels remains constantly high, causing the streets of Neos Megalis to turn into canals during the wet season months. Boats become a more convenient means of transport if one wants to travel from place to place and keeping dry at the same time, while at the same time
Numerous local legends and myths surround this period of time when the entire Neos Megalis is flooded, especially during Autumn Equinox when the Hunter's Moon has ascended the skies. Market squares and shops are usually build on the same Ignimbrite mineral, raised platforms high enough to handle the flooding when it comes. Bridges that seem out of place during the dry seasons only makes sense when the high tide reaches its peak.
Finally the Galanos is a small Estate that houses about five hundred residents perched atop the Northern Cape of Secyclion, where the caldera region named 'Pan's Range' sits. The range is gentle sloping, and on slight elevated ground is the Galanos. Built out of a special form of volcanic rock dolerite, the mineral is strange in the way where it appears blue when wet or when it is just broken. The entire Estate is carved out of the same mineral, and the Arcana Academy -- Pandora's Obelisk, a magnificent structure consisting of three minarets entwined together to form a single structure.
The Estate is one of the most expensive places to live in on the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia, and many Nobles have a share on the prized Estates that allows one to have a breathtaking view of the group of Island Cities on the Eunesian seas, while quiet and quaint enough, allowing them to have a share private waterfront land and mingle around some of the Empire's rich and famous. Many of the residents within the Galanos are not permanent residents, but merely treat the rare crystal homes as their summer or vacation houses.