A map of the City of Memory - keep reading for information on locations!
See image on DeviantArt. Artwork by J-Haskell.
See image on DeviantArt. Artwork by J-Haskell.
Recommended Lore
To have the best experience with the Wrath of the Sun King event, we recommend you at least read up on the following lore if you haven’t already:
- Sundrake history (reading other sections on sundrake culture is reccomended, but the history page provides background for the Tyr Kingdom’s current situation).
- The Shadow
- Hyleg & the Scions of the Sun
A General Overview of Memory
Memory is a sacred city, the heart of sundrake culture, and believed to be the location where the first of their kind came to be.
It is not a city for the living, however; only dead sundrakes can call Memory home. After death, their bodies are burned and placed within translucent vessels created in their likeness - ranging from coloured glass to diamond - and interred within the city. If a sundrake is not properly put to rest they will never pass on, and their angry spirit will haunt their family forever after.
The only living dragons in Memory are several Scions of the Sun, who maintain the city and protect it from vandals, and the mourners coming to inter a loved one or visit the dead. A system of mirrors is scattered across the city so that, at dawn and dusk, beams of sunlight flare out across the buildings, turning it briefly into a glittering basin of light.
It is currently late spring/early summer in the northern Tyr Kingdom; although much of sundrake territory is tropical, up here in the peaks of the Sunflecked Reaches the weather is quite mild, and nighttime brings with it a slight chill. On rare, cold nights, speckles of frost form on the ground, and it’s best to avoid sleeping outdoors for long.
It is not a city for the living, however; only dead sundrakes can call Memory home. After death, their bodies are burned and placed within translucent vessels created in their likeness - ranging from coloured glass to diamond - and interred within the city. If a sundrake is not properly put to rest they will never pass on, and their angry spirit will haunt their family forever after.
The only living dragons in Memory are several Scions of the Sun, who maintain the city and protect it from vandals, and the mourners coming to inter a loved one or visit the dead. A system of mirrors is scattered across the city so that, at dawn and dusk, beams of sunlight flare out across the buildings, turning it briefly into a glittering basin of light.
It is currently late spring/early summer in the northern Tyr Kingdom; although much of sundrake territory is tropical, up here in the peaks of the Sunflecked Reaches the weather is quite mild, and nighttime brings with it a slight chill. On rare, cold nights, speckles of frost form on the ground, and it’s best to avoid sleeping outdoors for long.
The City of Memory
Information on locations in Memory as of the WotSK event.
1 Northern Caverns
The northern caverns were only discovered a decade ago after a section of the earth at the rim of the caldera collapsed and revealed a pitch-black system of caves below the ground. Though the Scions who tend to the city have made a few cautious attempts to explore them, no one is certain how far into the darkness they extend.
In the interest of preventing visitors from getting lost, the entry to the caverns has been visibly marked, and no one is allowed to enter without good reason. Thankfully most of those who come to Memory are in mourning and have little interest in making a detour into a set of unmapped and dark caverns, so the Scions have not needed to spend their time guarding it. |
2 The Suntowers
A ring of copper-roofed towers, covered in shiny mosaic tiles that glitter in the light of the sun, that surrounds the city of Memory. The construction of the Suntowers was a difficult process, started as a gift to the sun god Hyleg from Queen Antares Celestial in 380 A.E.D and only completed in 411 by her daughter, Queen Vega Celestial.
These towers are famous throughout the Tyr Kingdom for the way that glass instruments within capture the light of the sun as it circles through the sky overhead, redirecting Hyleg’s brilliance into the sacred city below. At the right time of day, this scattered light hits the mirrors and glass prisms scattered throughout Memory’s gardens, turning the city briefly into a glittering basin of light.
In recent years there have been some concerns from the Scions tasked with keeping the city of Memory that, due to the natural erosion of the rim of the caldera, some of the Suntowers might fall into the city below. Efforts have been made to reinforce them to prevent such an occurrence.
These towers are famous throughout the Tyr Kingdom for the way that glass instruments within capture the light of the sun as it circles through the sky overhead, redirecting Hyleg’s brilliance into the sacred city below. At the right time of day, this scattered light hits the mirrors and glass prisms scattered throughout Memory’s gardens, turning the city briefly into a glittering basin of light.
In recent years there have been some concerns from the Scions tasked with keeping the city of Memory that, due to the natural erosion of the rim of the caldera, some of the Suntowers might fall into the city below. Efforts have been made to reinforce them to prevent such an occurrence.
3 Memory’s Gates
A ring of walls and gatehouses surrounding the city of Memory itself. Although these were originally constructed with the idea of being used to defend the city in a time of conflict, the Memory’s Gates have never seen actual use, and over the years have primarily become a place for Scions to store extra supplies and for guests in the city to stay overnight. Most of the new arrivals to the city of Memory have taken up residence in them.
The inside face of the walls is covered in mosaics meant to match the verdant scenery of the Silent Gardens so that, when viewed at a distance between trees and flowers, the garden appears almost unending.
Shortly after the arrival of the refugees and Schist’s soldiers in the area, Scion Skoll made efforts to organize what little weapons and means to defend itself the city has in the northernmost of the gatehouses, stockpiling everything from weapons to bits of old stonework. When not otherwise occupied by her duties, she can be seen here organizing efforts to hold the city against King Tigerlilly’s soldiers as long as they can.
The inside face of the walls is covered in mosaics meant to match the verdant scenery of the Silent Gardens so that, when viewed at a distance between trees and flowers, the garden appears almost unending.
Shortly after the arrival of the refugees and Schist’s soldiers in the area, Scion Skoll made efforts to organize what little weapons and means to defend itself the city has in the northernmost of the gatehouses, stockpiling everything from weapons to bits of old stonework. When not otherwise occupied by her duties, she can be seen here organizing efforts to hold the city against King Tigerlilly’s soldiers as long as they can.
4 The Silent Gardens
The Silent Gardens are an expanse of carefully-tended plants and waterworks that cover the majority of the city of Memory, a peaceful place to wander through networked with paths and with urns containing the remains of dead sundrakes scattered amid flowers and at the roots of old trees. Small shrines to Hyleg and benches to rest upon sit at multiple points along the paths that lead the way from the city’s gates to the Gleaming Chapels, Hyleg’s Eye, and the Radiant Sanctum at the heart of the garden.
The Scions charged with keeping the city are meticulous gardeners, keeping the plants of the Silent Gardens well-tended and removing any weeds that might harm the wide array of flowers and flowering trees that have been planted there over generations. Many plants have plaques next to them and have been donated by wealthy sundrake families in honour of dead loved ones. During the spring and summer, the sweet smell of flowers can be picked up on the breeze from miles away.
During holidays in the Tyr Kingdom, the Scions will often decorate the most well-trod paths through the Gardens with banners, colourful glass beads, and patterned paper lanterns.
The Silent Gardens also has a thriving population of bees and butterflies, the former of which are tended to by a small number of dedicated beekeepers who tend to Memory’s apiaries as part of an essential effort to keep the gardens healthy.
The Scions charged with keeping the city are meticulous gardeners, keeping the plants of the Silent Gardens well-tended and removing any weeds that might harm the wide array of flowers and flowering trees that have been planted there over generations. Many plants have plaques next to them and have been donated by wealthy sundrake families in honour of dead loved ones. During the spring and summer, the sweet smell of flowers can be picked up on the breeze from miles away.
During holidays in the Tyr Kingdom, the Scions will often decorate the most well-trod paths through the Gardens with banners, colourful glass beads, and patterned paper lanterns.
The Silent Gardens also has a thriving population of bees and butterflies, the former of which are tended to by a small number of dedicated beekeepers who tend to Memory’s apiaries as part of an essential effort to keep the gardens healthy.
5 Hyleg’s Eye
A small pond near the centre of the city of Memory, Hyleg’s Eye gained its name for the way that, at midday, the water’s surface reflects the sun perfectly, making it appear as though it has found a place upon the earth to rest. Legend claims that it was here, using the reflection of his own image as an instrument of creation, that the god Hyleg created the first sundrake, drawing the glowing orb forth from the water’s surface as the first Suntouched eggs.
The pond itself is a quiet, serene place. Lilies grow along the surface of the water and reeds border the shoreline, making it a lovely and quiet place to relax after the day’s stresses.
The pond itself is a quiet, serene place. Lilies grow along the surface of the water and reeds border the shoreline, making it a lovely and quiet place to relax after the day’s stresses.
6 Gleaming Chapels
The Gleaming Chapels are beautiful, sheltered platforms scattered throughout the Silent Gardens for visitors to rest in while visiting the dead. Narrow wooden supports and veils of silk that can be tied back or pulled down allow the breeze to pass through, but the roof overhead protects whoever is resting there from the sun. Flower-bearing ivy creeps up along lattices near the entrances of each ‘chapel’, and within there are benches, tables, and large cushions for visitors to use to relax.
Scion Talc has converted the northernmost of these into a small medical centre, offering bandages, medicine, or even simply offering a listening ear to those who need it. Most of the others now see use as sleeping quarters for those taking refuge in Memory.
Scion Talc has converted the northernmost of these into a small medical centre, offering bandages, medicine, or even simply offering a listening ear to those who need it. Most of the others now see use as sleeping quarters for those taking refuge in Memory.
7 Southern Caverns
A series of caves beginning along the southern side of the caldera that shelters the city of Memory, the southern caverns have been turned into a reservoir of water by the Scions generations ago, with some of the deeper caverns used as cold storage to preserve food. Some smaller pools of water may also be used for washing clothing and dishes, though due to being quite frigid, most of Memory’s inhabitants preferred to fly to the local river to bathe in the warmer water instead.
These caves are well-explored and the pathways are marked with decorative stone tiling and candlestone embedded in small niches carved into the wall, making it hard to get lost even if one tried. |
One of the underground lakes in the Southern Caverns.
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The Radiant Sanctum
An example of a stained glass window from the Radiant Sanctum, featuring the god Hyleg.
Art by SilveryStormWing. |
Located in the middle of the caldera that houses the city of Memory, the Radiant Sanctum is one of the most revered and sacred buildings in the entirety of sundrake territory. The Sanctum is a massive temple devoted to the god Hyleg and predates the fall of the Elder Drakes; it is here that, for the past few centuries, every dead sundrake’s ashes have been sent to be put to rest. Even for those who do not worship the sun god, it is a place of serenity and refuge, representing unity in death and promising that no matter one’s birth, there will be a place for them after they are gone.
The temple itself stands tall over the rest of the city, higher than everything surrounding it save for the rim of the caldera itself. While it originated as a much humbler building, it has been extended and lavishly decorated with shimmering mosaics and massive panes of stained glass in centuries since. At the very heart of the building on the upper floors, where urns are first brought when they arrive in the city to be cleaned and then relocated elsewhere, stained glass windows borders all sides of the round room, and for a few minutes each day when the sun goes down, the entire room becomes bathed in brilliant, multicoloured light, as the light of the setting sun is reflected across the city. In the lower, communal room where prayer to Hyleg is typically held, the Scions of the Sun have set up tables and areas for those taking refuge in the city to get food and sit down in peace to enjoy it. So long as they’re not overly disruptive, anyone is welcome to stay within the Radiant Sanctum and enjoy the peace and quiet it provides. |
Schist’s Camp
A sprawling mass of tents north of the city of Memory, crawling along the foothills of a mountain. Although from a distance the camp may appear to be in disarray, especially when compared to Memory’s ages worth of splendour, under the leadership of Captain Schist the area has become strictly organized, and supply and armour caches are under heavy guard.
White silk banners depicting the golden sun emblem of House Tyr are flown throughout the camp, fluttering in the wind and visible even from the cusp of the city of Memory - a reminder of the King’s influence, even outside of the Sunlit Province. |
Other Areas
Misc. sections of the map.
The Branching River
Woodfell Forest
Woodfell forest surrounds the city of Memory and the surrounding mountain peaks, spreading out across the Deepwoods, Sunlit and Brightsand provinces.
Woodfell forest is believed to grow over the site of an ancient massacre, where a group of maddened Elder Drakes attacked a sundrake city; the Drakes were eventually killed, but they took hundreds down with them.
If you venture deep enough into the woods, the ruins of the city poke out of twisting roots and vines like old bones. While efforts have been made to find the bodies of the murdered sundrakes, it is not uncommon to find a piece of a skull or fingerbones poking out of the earth, and locals believe that the dense, dark forest is cursed and haunted by their vengeful spirits.
Woodfell forest is believed to grow over the site of an ancient massacre, where a group of maddened Elder Drakes attacked a sundrake city; the Drakes were eventually killed, but they took hundreds down with them.
If you venture deep enough into the woods, the ruins of the city poke out of twisting roots and vines like old bones. While efforts have been made to find the bodies of the murdered sundrakes, it is not uncommon to find a piece of a skull or fingerbones poking out of the earth, and locals believe that the dense, dark forest is cursed and haunted by their vengeful spirits.