Valenda is the capital city of The Meridian Empire. It is a bustling port city.
History[]
According to myths, Valenda had once been the ancient city of Alcara, home of the Fates pictured inside every Deck of Destiny. They had built the city with their magic. Magic so ancient and undiluted, even centuries after the Fates had vanished, remnants of their glowing enchantments remained, turning the hills of Valenda so bright that at night it could illuminate half of the Meridian Empire.
Valenda is broken up in various districts, including the Satine Quarter, the Temple District, University Circle, and the Docks. The city has brilliant streets and it can be visually overwhelming.
As part of Empress Elantine's seventy-fifth birthday celebration, Valenda is hosting Caraval.
Notable Locations[]
The Temple District[]
The Temple District is where the churches to the Fates are located. It is known as a brazen part of the city, but is very attractive. Every entry has carved panels, decorative architraves, glass awnings, and gilded keyholes. This is where Evangeline Fox comes when she searches for the Prince of Hearts' church. It is described as a region "once so tragic, but now it promises faith and magic."[1]
The Satine District[]
The Satine District is elegant and one of the most glamorous parts of the city. It is a labyrinth of glistening dress shops, hat shops, and sweet shops that are all the colors of fresh flower petals. One of those stores is Minerva's Modern Wear. It's advertised as "clothing the progressive half of Valenda, since before the Elantine Dynasty, and we'll be dressing them after as well."[2] Jacks sends Tella there telling her that if she is going to pull off the charade of being his fiancƩ, she will need to dress the part.
The Spice Quarter[]
The Spice Quarter is illicit and infamous. It is where people travel when they want to buy an assassin's contract, untraceable poisons, people, or human body parts. It is the home of gambling pits, drug dens, and brothels, all of which are illegal in Valenda. Thus these places exist below ground in primeval passages accessible only through passwords and hidden doors in the exotic spice shops above ground. The Spice Quarter's buildings are dark and packed between alleys that smell terrible and rancid. Every other post has painted signs tacked to them. Many say either "Wanted" or "Missing Person." One of the businesses in this quarter is the mysterious Elantine's Most Wanted.
During Scarlett Dragna's reign as Empress, Scarlett attempts to put an end to the illegal happenings taking place in the Spice Quarter. She cleans it up, thinking that all of the crime is gone, but it isn't. Den owners move their businesses to Jacks' gambling den. It is believed he may have warned them prior to Scarlett cleaning up the area.
University Circle[]
This district is imperious and arrogant.
Idyllwild Castle[]
Idyllwild Castle looks like a combination of a ruin and a fantasy. It is surrounded by a moat of dark water. The opening night ball of Empress Elantine's birthday celebration of Caraval is held by Elantine's heir at the castle.
Notable Inhabitants[]
- Agnes Tourmaline
- Nicolas d'Arcy
- Donatella Dragna
- Empress Elantine
- Esmeralda
- Evangeline Fox (Formerly)
- Julian Santos
- Kutlass Knightlinger
- Liana Fox (Deceased)
- Luc Navarro (Formerly)
- Marisol Tourmaline (Formerly)
- Maximilian Fox (Deceased)
- Paloma Dragna
- Scarlett Dragna
- Poison
- Theron